Comments on: “But it’s organic! But it’s vegetarian!”

By: greencare

greencare — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:59:43 +0000

I like the article. Eating habits are deliberately manipulated and food pyramids regularly alter according to the needs of the market. For health, and for environment, I'd definitely go for the organic and vegie. Slow Food Fast: Thank you! I've gotten to the point where I agree with Hank Cardello (see the Stuffed book review) about the Food Pyramid fiasco--I'm ready to bring back the old-fashioned Four Food Groups (meats/proteins, dairy, vegetables and fruits, and grains). The main difference today would be the proportions--more vegetables and fruits, smaller portions of proteins (with more beans replacing some of the animal proteins) and grains, and keep the dairy low-fat. Actually, that's how most people used to eat at home before fast food became such a daily thing.

By: DebbieN

DebbieN — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:03:51 +0000

Thanks–I like your blog, by the way! I didn’t hear Kessler’s interview (hope they still have the podcast) but I posted here about the book a few weeks ago–I’d seen a review in the Washington Post, my old stomping grounds. I think we have to start reminding ourselves of what “tasty” is supposed to mean, and not just accept fat-salt-sugar combos when we hit the restaurants–this means the big-name gourmet restaurants as well, because they’re mostly keeping up with the fast-food Joneses even when they don’t realize it. It means tasting your food critically and asking them to leave out the salt. Used to be normal but people don’t do that so much anymore.

I kind of wonder if a lot of vegetarians are going for the boxed stuff more than they acknowledge to themselves. I hadn’t considered glam packaging for bulk foods–it’s got possibilities, but I think it sort of defeats the purpose: bulk foods shouldn’t have packaging at all, should they? Is that why they’re less attractive in practice than the little boxes with the exotic brand names? Are we kidding ourselves about what we really want from our markets?

You might also like Marion Nestle’s Food Politics, and she has a newer book about how to shop for food around the edges of the store for the fresh foods, and avoid all the processed stuff in the middle aisles. Think that may apply to Whole Foods as much as to any standard supermarket.

By: Sarah Washburne

Sarah Washburne — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:22:21 +0000

Did you hear the piece on NPR with former commissioner, David Kessler talking about why folks are gaining weight? He speaks to your salt discussion and argues that the food industry is purposely creative food that is so tasty that it is addictive. We can’t say no to it. You may be on the right track in that along with educating people how to cook real food, we also could use more glamorous packaging for bulk foods – sad to say.
I posted Kessler’s piece on my blog in an article called, “Middle America.”

http://www.vegetarianperspective.wordpress.com