Food for Thought

So I promised to write a bit about my musings on food. Recently I've been studying food production and consumption. It's amazing how little most Americans know about their food supply. We are so divorced from our means of production. And the more I learn, the more I'm trying to change my own little family's food culture.

Most people have no idea that they're eating food grown out of season and very far away. And that we've sacrificed taste and variety for foods that are uniform looking and easily packaged. We've learned to value appearance over taste in food. And we've lost many heirloom varietals of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

And meat...good heavens! Our meat is unhealthier than ever...both literally for the animal, and most definitely for us. Meat grown in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAPOs) is literally making us sick...and is cruel to the animals kept in these operations.

Other people have written far more eloquently and informatively about these issues than I ever could. Michael Pollan (In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Barbara Kingsolver (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) are especially good for the layperson.

That's all preface to saying that I'm trying to develop a little more of a "locavore's" attitude towards eating. And I'd also like to be more independent, able to make staples on my own. Towards that goal, I've been baking my own bread. My flour is more or less local (an advantage to living in the Midwest) and it's surprisingly easy...and very satisfying. I feel sort of like I'm recovering a lost skill.

I'd eventually like to branch out to having local grass finished meats in a chest freezer, learning how to can things in season, and making my own cheeses. However, every journey starts with a single step and mine is bread. And I think that was a good choice. It's not difficult and it smells really good. Plus, it is impressive out of all proportion with the actual effort it takes to make it!

I don't think it's practical for everyone to make everything for themselves. After all, some folks just don't have time. But since I do have the time, I'm happy to make myself useful to my family in as many ways as I possibly can.