Foods

I just started reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver (unliker her usual novels, this is NON-fiction) and I HIGHLY reccommend anyone interested in food read it.  It's about her family's attempt to eat only foods grown locally - by them or people they know.  Along the way, her husband and daughter contribute with fascinating anecdotes about the environment and food.

I've only read the first 2 chapters, but it is fascinating.  Among the many gems I've picked up, this one really made me think.  After WWII, the fertilizer companies were so successful that farms could produce a lot more.  As a result, the government reduced farm subsidies.  As a result of that, farms need to produce the maximum amount they possibly can in order to make a profit.  They're making about 700 calories more per day per US citizen than they did just 20 years ago.  And the food industry is finding new creative ways to get these foods (mostly derived from corn and soy - think corn syrup and lecithin for starters) into our food.  I never believed that overeating was the fault of society or anyone other than me, but now I'm not so sure.

The book also deals with other interesting subjects such as why asparagus is really good only within a day from being cut (I've never eaten it that fresh - I'll have to try it next spring) and how if every American ate ONE local and organic meal a week, we would save 1.1 MILLION BARRELS of oil each week (due to transportation and other costs).  That's quite an inspiring fact.  I bought some local produce and milk last night - not a whole meal, but I'm getting there!