For years, the way I eat has been weighing heavy on my mind. I have multiple food allergies so it is necessary for me to know exactly I am eating. For years, each meal was meticulously planned and I cooked nearly everything from scratch. It all seemed so easy, living in rural Saskatchewan away from the temptations of fast food.
When I moved to Calgary to teach, it seemed like I spent most of my life commuting. Too often I found myself far from home and hungry. Slowly my good eating habits were replaced by what was fast and easily available. Not surprisingly my health suffered as a result.
This past spring, I suffered from constant allergy-related migraines. Although most likely caused by airborne allergens, my diet certainly did not help. On one of my many doctor's appointments this past spring, I came across this quote in a magazine called Allergic Living:
When I moved to Calgary to teach, it seemed like I spent most of my life commuting. Too often I found myself far from home and hungry. Slowly my good eating habits were replaced by what was fast and easily available. Not surprisingly my health suffered as a result.
This past spring, I suffered from constant allergy-related migraines. Although most likely caused by airborne allergens, my diet certainly did not help. On one of my many doctor's appointments this past spring, I came across this quote in a magazine called Allergic Living:
My life since I was diagnosed with celiac is not focused on what I have to live without. My life is focused on everything I have now – great food, good health, a new life – everything to which I can say yes. - Shauna James Ahern, GLUTEN-FREE GIRL, The Diagnosis: Life After Bread, Allergic Living
It was sort of a light bulb moment for me: I need to eat to be nourished instead of eating to fill my stomach. What is the point to dulling the hunger if we are not giving the body the nutrients that it needs? I had been filling my stomach with junk and defeating the true purpose as to why we eat.
In recent years, the news has been filled with food recall horror stories. In our globalized marketplace, it is difficult for government inspection agencies to assure the source, contents and safety of our foods. Additionally, most of our food comes from large companies:
Without a doubt, I have been influenced by movements like the 100 Mile Diet and No Impact Project. I have heard many criticisms that such things are not possible in Saskatchewan. I know it is possible because I grew up with two living examples: my maternal grandparents. My grandfather is a retired dairy farmer and my grandmother is a master gardener and probably the best cook I know. My grandparents would be more accurately described as living on the "10 Mile Diet".
In recent years, the news has been filled with food recall horror stories. In our globalized marketplace, it is difficult for government inspection agencies to assure the source, contents and safety of our foods. Additionally, most of our food comes from large companies:
As the agricultural and food industries in the U.S. have consolidated under a profit-over-all, "get big or get out" mindset, fewer and fewer players have come to dominate our food supply, especially in the area of eggs and meat. As such, a single outbreak of a contaminating agent in the system of any of these huge producers can rain down salmonella on all four corners of our country and beyond. Eating food from smaller, less remote establishments is a worthy goal... because we are all safer if one outbreak can't sicken millions. - Katherine Gustafson , Food Recalls Highlight the Dangers of Farm Consolidation, Sustainable FoodEven if I cook all of my food from scratch, I do not know exactly what I am eating if I do not know the food source. I am concerned about the resources consumed when food is shipped from far away but scares me the most is the uncertainty of the quality and contents of my food.
Without a doubt, I have been influenced by movements like the 100 Mile Diet and No Impact Project. I have heard many criticisms that such things are not possible in Saskatchewan. I know it is possible because I grew up with two living examples: my maternal grandparents. My grandfather is a retired dairy farmer and my grandmother is a master gardener and probably the best cook I know. My grandparents would be more accurately described as living on the "10 Mile Diet".
Living in the city, I need to expand the range of my food sources a little more than my grandparents. I want to work towards a prairie diet but it will take some time and research to get to the point. My idealistic goals for the future (adapted from Amy Jo Ehman's Home for Dinner: A Food Adventure Close to Home):
- grow my own or buy Saskatchewan produced food
- eat what is in season and preserve for another day
In the months to come, I'll update on more specific goals and they are progressing. I'm glad to have you along for my journey :)
1 comment:
I am doing the same thing! In fact we are eating all the junk out of our house and going shopping for natural/organic with everything I can get! I think the hardest part is milk so far!
It's a challenge and takes alot of research but Home for Dinner tells you where she gets a bunch of her food and I know its going to be so rewarding in the end!
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