Anyone who has read the Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen or seen Food, Inc., Supersize Me, or any other type of movie or book like this knows that the way we consume our food from ground to table, is a system that needs help. Our current industrial food system needs help...it's not good for the environment or good for our health. Anyway, at some point in the past year I have slowly evolved from eating whatever to actually looking at what I'm consuming. I'm not going to pitch a fit if the food I eat isn't super healthy or eco-friendly. I like junk food as much as the next person. But my choices have slowly gotten more healthy, more whole, less synthetic and processed ingredients. And its not because I don't like french fries and soda, it's because anyone who actually knows what goes into their food will attempt, in the long run to choose better.
I don't eat beef. When I cook at home, I try to pick humanely treated, hormone free, naturally fed meat. If you want to go vegetarian, fine. But picking humanely treated meat will definitely lower your meat intake. 1) It costs more 2) It tastes better so 3) a little goes a lot further.
I have a garden...with zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber, corn, and winter squash...
I buy local at a produce stand and the farmer's market...
I go to organic, all natural grocery stores...
And I buy mainstream foods, because sometimes you just can't do without that Oreo.
I look at the eco-impact of the fish I eat...Look at salmon for example. The wild population in Alaska is the best kind to eat...the population in Washington state is being overfished. And farmed salmon releases a lot of pollutants to the water and the fish are fed a vegetarian diet...salmon are carnivores!
So eat what you want...but know exactly what you are eating, because maybe, just maybe, that will help people become more aware of what we are doing to our earth, to give them a motivation to protect it. To eat in a way that is good for our bodies and our environment...Just...KNOW WHAT YOU EAT!
Red Beans and Rice with Sausage (serves 4)
Ingredients: 1 can red kidney beans, 1 c. brown rice (cooked according to package directions), 1tsp ground chili pepper, 1 tsp dried oregano or 1 tbsp fresh, 1 bay leaf, 2 bun-sized sausage links such as polska kielbsa (sliced), cheese, sour cream and salsa to serve
Directions: Mix the beans, herbs and spices, and sausage in a pot. Simmer for 5-10 minutes to heat through and add flavor. Serve over the rice with the cheese, sour cream and salsa according to your preference.
Enjoy!
