Sometimes in real life (not often) I get to talk about my diet and views on food. I know I am really emphatic and strong-willed on That Wife, but that’s because it’s safe here, and I can write that way. Having a face to face conversation with someone is a totally different story. So, for the most part, I’m pretty low key (until we hit a certain point in either our friendship or the conversation, then I can get really pushy and steamroll a little bit).
When I am lucky enough to have these conversations though, I have a hard time succintly defining what I mean when I say that I avoid processed food. You see, most everything has to be processed in some way to be eaten. Flour is ground, butter is churned, oil is pressed. Then I found this article called The big issue is ultra-processing and I felt like I was better equipped to explain what the heck I mean whenever I say that I avoid processed foods. As Dr. Carlos Monteiro points out though, it’s not processing that’s the problem, it’s ultra-processing.
I know the article is long, but it’s worth the time invested. If you can’t stomach all of it, at least read until the header called “The thesis”. And then scroll down and read Box 5, labeled “Two appeals”.
To quote from Dr Monteiro’s excellent article:
Properly seen, nutrition as practised is a branch of public health. The health of populations is crucial to the social, economic and other aspects of the welfare of nations. The current pandemic of obesity is a great warning sign that something has gone very wrong with the systems of governance now being operated in the world.
The issue is comparable with and related to other global crises that are now
affecting us all, including those of finance, fuel, climate and natural resources. This is not a time in history for ‘business as usual’. Nor can information and education campaigns, or charitable Initiatives sponsored by governments, industry and foundations make a really significant difference.What is needed is structural change. This can begin with groups of engaged
professionals and informed citizens coming together, and forming or reforming energetic civil society organisations. Then legislators will listen. I will support such an initiative. Who will make the move?
Yes yes yes! This is the kind of stuff that gets me really riled up. We have to move away from business as usual.
September 6th, 2011 on 8:48 am
The link to the article isn’t working.
Sounds really interesting though- everything is processed to some degree, but it’s the stuff that’s overly processed and has crazy shelf-life-preserving things happen to it that’s scary!
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Jenna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:18 am
I think it should be fixed now. Thanks for letting me know it wasn’t working!
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September 6th, 2011 on 8:48 am
Okay, I started to read it, but this is some seriously in-depth stuff. I’m going to need to read this at home, not at work, and come back to it! Thanks for making all of us think though, I want you to know that I appreciate all of the work you put into sharing these articles and books!
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September 6th, 2011 on 9:19 am
Love it. I feel the same way when the convo turns to the SAD/industrial ag or food/etc., and have a hard time expressing my thoughts in a succinct way. But I try and slog through…this quote says it better than I ever could of course. Thanks so much for sharing!
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September 6th, 2011 on 12:38 pm
I try my best to avoid overly processed foods for myself and my family as you do. We mostly eat a traditional diet with exceptions for social situations. I agree with a lot of the article and much of what you write about food (except that we aren’t going in the direction of vegetarianism, I believe meat is a very important part of the human diet). What I don’t agree with is that we need legislators to dictate what we eat. I recognize that they do that already by subsidizing certain farming practices and giving the FDA the authority to regulate claims and I wish a lot of that were dissolved. Even though I think most people should eat like I do, I don’t think it’s any of the government’s business to enforce that by law or subsidies. Each person needs to make informed choices about their food.
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Erin Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
and just imagine what kind of healthy, intelligent society we would have if everyone gave it as much thought as you do.
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Meg Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I don’t think the government or political games (federal, state, local)should prevent people from eating in a way that is healthy either.
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September 6th, 2011 on 2:24 pm
It seems like this country wants people to stay unhealthy and charge ridiculous amounts of money when people do get sick.
I called my insurance (Blue Cross, Blue Shield) and asked if I was covered to see a nutritionist. Despite paying $247 out of EVERY paycheck, I am not allowed to see a nutritionist UNTIL I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes!!!
Seriously!?!
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