Food, Inc.

Do you like scary movies? Whether you do or don't, Food, Inc. is an astonishing movie that paints the picture of what our food production/processing has become in America--down right scary. This movie impacts anyone who eats in America...(so everybody). Therefore, all people must, must, MUST watch this movie, chances are it will change your life. I know I will never look at a chicken breast the same after learning more about them. Yuck! Let me just recommend that you don't watch the movie after a day of eating lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings and then a dinner consisting of a big chunk of pork schnitzel. Oops. I rarely eat meat, but of course on the day I watched Food, Inc. I indulged twice.

Last year I saw King Corn which is an eye-opener about the overproduction of corn and the abundance of corn hidden in our food and diet. I made lots of changes to my diet after viewing this movie and I didn't think I needed to see Food, Inc. because I knew it shared a similar message. However, I am so glad I saw Food, Inc.! If I had to choose between only seeing one of those films Food, Inc. has a greater impact. The movie provides images of the production of meat and arresting information that really woke me up for good to the disgusting culture our farmers have had to adapt to in order to make it within the meat industry. It also touches on some of the corn issues that are addressed in King Corn. The movie also provides more motivation to join the organic and grass-fed movement. After watching those poor animals and the condition of the food we are eating I have officially vowed to not eat another piece of meat unless it is grass-fed or locally produced. I'm serious about it this time. Now I will call in an order to The Grass Fed Cattle Company when I have a hankering for a chunk of meat. When I want some eggs for breakfast, Farmer's market here I come! Otherwise its abstinence for me.

Moral of the post: Seriously, GO. RENT. IT. NOW. Heck, buy it so that when your future children want to watch something ridiculous from the old times or learn from history, they can see what messed up times their parents lived in. The movie at least gives me hope that each and every day we are getting closer to waking up collectively, I have no doubt one day this nation will finally wake up and realize that we've got it all backwards and we're doing all the wrong things and need to start changing. We're getting there...slowly.

Here is a link to the trailer, (the trailer doesn't do any justice to the movie, the movie is way better, but I wanted to provide some multimedia/visual to get you rolling and reeling like me).

Have you maybe seen Food, Inc. or are already on board with its message and want to do something about it? Go to www.takepart.com/foodinc to learn ways you can make a difference.

Here is a sneak peek list of ten ways you can change our food system:
1) Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages.
2) Eat at home instead of eating out.
3) Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards.
4) Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks.
5) Meatless Mondays—Go without meat one day a week. (Or more than one day...)
6) Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides.
7) Protect family farms; visit your local farmer's market.
8) Make a point to know where your food comes from—READ LABELS.
9) Tell Congress that food safety is important to you.
10)Demand job protection for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections.

Eat out a lot? Make better choices about where you eat. Here is a link to restaurants that are local/organic in the twin cities.