Polyface Farm, VA. Photo by Megan LovettWith spring just around the corner any day now and the local farmer’s market beginning to provide fresh produce, our mind turns invariably to food.
Food, and the effects of what we eat on our greater environment.
According to Michael Pollan, thinking about our food is a great part of what defines us as omnivores. Koalas do not need to think about food, for they are completely wired to exclusively eat eucalyptus. Humans (and rats for that matter) must dedicate a vast amount of brain space and time to determining what is good to eat. However, the overabundance and ready accessibility of food in America complicates the question for much of what looks good to eat in a supermarket has been engineered for that very purpose, with less thought to its actual nutrition content.
So with so much available to us for consumption, what should we eat? For a clear mind, a good conscience, a healthy body, what are our responsibilities in picking out our dinner? Americans especially, with our mosaic of cultures to draw upon, resulting in a virtually limitless number of cuisines and accompanying food philosophies, have been victim to not deliberating the omnivore’s dilemma enough, and either overeating or jumping on extreme diets. Michael Pollan contends that the entire country is suffering from “a national eating disorder.”
Thus he takes it upon himself to examine the effects of our food choices, not only on our personal health but on the country as a whole – agribusiness, politics, medicine and the antibiotics industry. From CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feedlot Operations) to mass production of organic produce for Whole Foods to a small family farm called Polyface in Virginia to even hunting his own dinner, the author examines the implications of four of his meals and empowers his readers to do the same.
Speaking of which, did you know that Carolina Dining Services has teamed up with the student group Fair, Local and Organic Foods to serve locally-raised, grass-fed beef in Rams Head Dining Hall? Starting this week, the dining hall will serve this beef every Wednesday at lunch for the rest of the semester. So order up a hamburger next Wednesday to support healthier food and local business!
