Foodstuffs

Michael Ruhlman has written a great blog post about real food. Go read it. Here's one of the more significant paragraphs:

The sad fact is that fresh food that is good for you is significantly more expensive than the processed crap that truly is bad for our diet, not to mention our food production system.  And the people who most need food to be healthy are the ones who can least afford it.  The millions of Americans on a restricted food budget will see little choice other than to buy the cheap calories provided by agribusiness corn.

Amen.

Comments

[Beth]

Amen, absolutely.

It's criminal how much healthy food costs. I earn a decent living but I couldn't afford to do all my shopping at Whole Foods.

[Beanie]

Thanks for the link to this fabulous blog. I don't have time for blog hunting, so I rely heavily on the wonderful recommendations of folks who are more savvy than I.

How buff are you these days? ;)

[Allan]

Ruhlman rules!

Sorry. It had to be said. ;)

[Aly]

Wow. Consider this blog bookmarked. Thanks for yet another good read!

Ruhlman, and his commenters, literally took the words right out of my mouth, and it's inspiring to know that some people in this food freaky culture do have some sense.
If anyone who read this article knows of an accredited Nutrition program (Master's level) that reflects these values, please do let me know!

[anica]

Amen, indeed.

and truly sad.

[Citronella]

I like the bit about the French paradox.

I've observed that, often, where French people tend to enjoy eating good foods and drinking palatable wines, American folks tend to enjoy eating a lot of food and drinking a lot of wine.

(Emphasize on the "tend" of course. It's not like if I had done a study on the subject.)

However, obesity and poor nutrition also increase in France... just more slowly than in the US (or is it just because the country is behind?).

[melanie]

This is the story you hear over and over again from different sources. Fresh food is more expensive than processed.

Here in SB they do a free food giveaway two saturday's a month which includes mostly fresh produce. Thats a beautiful thing.

[Steph]

thanks for sharing that blog. i actually just signed up for a CSA for this summer and have been really focusing on cutting high fructose corn syrup and other processed sugars from my diet, so that really just reinforced my motivation. thanks!

[Katherine]

Seconded.

[Kelliqua]

Yay on that philosophy! It's such a simple concept, why is it so hard for the American public to accept?

@Aly: Clayton College of Natural Health (http://www.ccnh.edu/healthy/tradnaturopathy.asp?adclfr=GGnaturopathy) has an excellent bachelor, masters and doctorate program in holistic Nutrition.

[Margaret]

YES. Good, healthy food, vegan stuff, organic, free range--it's all expensive. One of my pet peeves.

[Betty C.]

Thanks for sharing the post and the blog. I wonder if the situation is really the same in France. Last year I had fallen into some processed food habits and it seems to me we were spending more on food. This year I'm buying a lot more fresh vegetables and then making up something to do with them. I buy from "primeurs" and our local grocery store, and it seems like the total budget is less. But it's not necessarily organic produce...

[loll]

Good food is only expensive when compared to weird industrial "food" that is created to be inexpensive. I know a lot of people who could easily afford good food, but they choose to use their $$ to buy the best make up, hair products, electronic equipment and cars instead. One day people may sincerely value good food...in the meantime I think there are a lot of people out there who espouse it only because it's the fashion....when actually asked to open their wallets and adjust their own budgets, they scream "foul". ie..."If I buy that free range chicken, I won't be able to afford my Starbucks tomorrow. Gimme the one with the hormones please...."

[Mille Pattes]

Ivan m'a donné le numéro d'une ferme qui propose le service suivant.
Pour 15 euros, ils nous fournissent des légumes frais issus de leur jardin uniquement, donc de saison. Le tout dans une cagette qu'ils peuvent même livrer pour un peu plus cher.

Il y en a pour la semaine et en plus ...
1. C'est sain.
2. C'est écolo ( pas de production hors saison ou qui a traversé l'océan )
3. on zappe les intermédiaires douteux comme la grande distribution et ses pratiques honteuses.
4. C'est pas cher du tout.
5. Ils font travailler des gens en réinsertion.

Bref tout bénef...
Je crois qu'on va appeler.
bisous

[Aly]

Thank you Kelliqua!
Clayton was actually the first place I found, and one of two I am looking at. It's actually the ONLY school that comes up when you google "holistic nutrition."
I am always nervous about online/distance programs, although I have heard really good things about Clayton. I appreciate the encouragement!