A couple of sobering thoughts

OK...I am not as democratic as I thought because I have not fulfilled my promise of letting the readers choose the topic. I'm waiting for one more vote. In the meantime, as I have just eaten a rather yummy meal and spent a good portion of the last hour or so talking with my masseuse about nutrition (I have deficiencies in protein or protein absorption).

Why is it so hard to get nutritious food? In the nation of plenty, we eat under nutritious food. Last year, both Sojourners and Ode dedicated a whole magazine to food. There were interesting stories: dumpster divers, organic Walmart, the cost of fuel to pick up your locally grown food, etc. My masseuse and I talked about putting good things in our bodies and how MSG is hidden in many foods at almost all restaurants.

It is hard to get nutritious food in other parts of the world. Today, I sat in a meeting learning about my organization's new Agricultural sector. It was fascinating. I have been fascinated with growing food since I was a child, as much of our produce (at least in my memory) came from our organic garden or our relatives' gardens. I mean, who else has an asparagus patch in their yard? Granted, it took quite a lot for my dad to give me a piece of soil to grow flowers, since they were not edible. He gets a little caught up in the functional when I want to create a land of beauty. But, this legacy continues in my life; I wrote my Community Organization and Development paper on city gardens; I grew herbs in almost all of my college living spaces and a few in one of my housemates' gardens. I love things that grow and tending to them. A connection to the earth makes me feel more centered and considerate. Maybe it is the nurturer in me.

I just read an interesting article, by one of the attendees at Urbana 06 which you can read here. It reminds me to be grateful for the food that I have and also not to waste. I waste all the time. It is true. I feel guilty many times...except that I would rather those calories be in the trash than on my hips. I feel guilty when I split meals, too, like I am gipping the waiter. Oh the ethical conundrums of modern life. I always feel good when I put scraps into the compost containers on our container (that my mother hates) or the bin in the yard, burying it under leaves and "dry" material. I am sure that there are downsides to this as well, but I want to stick with something that makes me feel good for a little while....