Last night I finally got to watch Food Inc.! My mother was the first to tell me about it months ago. Then Kim went temporarily insane and challenged the whole dang world to eat better by nixing all processed foods. Ha! I was the first to jump on board. You see, I also went temporarily insane (Hubby would argue) after reading Kingsolver and Pollan.
image c/o USDA and Wikipedia
I thought, “how in the world can we be paying people to eat this crud?!” I willingly exposed myself to nothing but scratched foods for a month because of books I’d read, but now, having watched the film that inspired The Real Food Challenge I feel even more disillusioned by corporate farms and industrial organics. In a nutshell here are my immediate opinions of the film, the foods, the companies, and The Real Food Challenge:
- Our food situation is so much worse than I thought – even after reading An Omnivore’s Dilemma.
- I cannot get the imagery of the miles of mud and manure that our beef is raised in, nor the industry of chicken.
- I’m appalled that we humans can treat each other so, so poorly; that the dollar is more important than humans’ well-being.
- Joel Salatin is my hero. Not only can this man raise humane food in a self-sustainable manner, but he’s reversed ecological damage on his property by doing so. Raising food CAN be good for the environment! Happy Earth Day, Joel!
- Growing up an Indiana girl and having watched this film, I have learned a new disdain for corn and our country’s reliance upon it. I think I truly understand now why it was chosen as a resource for fuel.
- I will never look at a grocery store the same way when the same four or five companies are filling it up with different labels.
- We can make a difference by talking, not purchasing, teaching, learning.
- My concience is having a very hard time considering ever feeding my friends and family any of this slop. If I could only afford to purchase a few humanely raised/produced foods it would include milk and all meats – or I will do without.
Those of us here at NDIN have continued on by still eating the same types of foods as we did during The Real Food Challenge. What I want to know is who of you out there are continuing to live the Real Food lifestyle, and what your opinions are of Food Inc. (Think we forgot it? Nah, we still have a few prizes to give away for those of you that are keeping up!)
If you want to make a difference in the way our communities eat you can help! Teach a child to garden. Share your bounty with someone in need. Speak to the government. Boycott CAFO products. Buy local. Go to your farmers’ market. Start a garden.
What will you do?
Not Dabbling In Normal 
I have wanted to raise my own chickens for meat since reading Kingsolver. I am reluctant to take this on, but will set a date to do so. I already garden, and eat as strictly a seasonal diet as I can. I can tomatoes and make pickles. What I find interesting is that detractors don’t know that this stuff tastes better! I am not very organized, not one of these wonderful people who have all their ducks in a row, but I have been able to figure out how to make my own pizza crusts, par bake them and freeze them 4 at a time. time consuming things like that get easier as you continue to do them. I had part of a frozen pizza the other day, and the contrast between that and homemade rendered the frozen inedible.
I just saw Food Inc. about three months ago and wrote a similar blog post on my outrage and disgust at the food system in our country- isn’t it crazy?
Wanted to share what I plan to do (and have been doing) because of this enlightening movie:
All the animal products that come into my home are now from a local farmer. That includes meat, dairy, and eggs
Made a pledge to grow more of my own food this year, so I know where it comes from and the quality of it
Pledge to eat out at restaurants less, and buy more groceries from our local co-op, because it’s easier to find out where groceries came from (clearly labeled @ co-op) rather than asking about where food comes from at restaurants
So far my actions have been pretty productive. I feel a lot better about continuing to eat meat and I feel a lot safer as well! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
We’re still eating Real Food, and always will be. We just marked our ten-year anniversary of starting the Feingold Program (no artificial colors, flavors, or petroleum preservatives); that change was the beginning of our increased awareness of just how awful the mainstream food supply. When I think of how many toxic chemicals we’ve *not* ingested over the last ten years, I am so thankful.
My garden is growing; we are eating homegrown radishes and herbs now. Local produce is starting to come into the stores. We are (still) trying to sell our house and get out from this perfectly nice development (with all its HOA rules — ssshhhh, don’t tell them I’m growing rosemary in the front yard; edible landscaping is forbidden); I am longing to be as self-sufficient as I can on an urban homestead.
Love this site. It keeps me strong in my resolve. Thanks!
Ten years is impressive! I’m sure you have learned a lot of interesting tricks and recipes on your journey.
And tell your HOA you thought the rosemary was lavender!
After hearing so much about it, I too watched it last night. It makes you sad, really. But I don’t think you should have a disdain for corn. After all, it is one of the three sisters of corn, beans and squash-a royal triumverate. In the right form (non-GM for instance) it is a wonderful vegetable. Your disdain should be for Monsanto and how they have come to control our food and our laws and our politicians.
The question is, how do we change the mind of the consumer without being sued by these big guys? I felt so sorry for the gentlemen who ended up financially stressed just because they did not want to be an indentured servant to Monsanto.
Absolutely, plant your garden or just a pot tomato on your patio, but only with open-pollinated seed that is NOT a patent owned by Monsanto.
You’re exactly right, Robin. And those big four are making it difficult for any of us to be able to voice our opinions at all.
I can NOT believe i missed it last night..i TOTALLY forgot it was on pbs. I tried to watch it streaming but it wont load right….i did however watch all 10 videos about Monsanto. Thanks for reminding me…i think i just may purchase this one…i am aware of some of the atrocities, but im sort of afraid to watch it….especially since my husband is a grocer, and has been for the last 30 years.
I recorded it and am ready to watch it all over again!
I grow and preserve a bunch of veggies and herbs. Meat and fruit are definitly areas that need improvement though. We just moved to a new town, so we ate up all our frozen meat stock before the move and until the farmer’s markets open, we don’t have any contacts for local good meat.
Fruit is hard to find locally here in Iowa. I can find berries in the summer, and some apples usually, but everything else it seems is trucked in. :-\ Or it’s prohibitively expensive. It’s rediculous because Iowa has such nice soil and growing seasons.
We’re still renters, so planting fruit is a gamble, will we still be here in 3 years when it produces? Will my landlady approve? Although, in theory if every renter planted a fruit tree…. 🙂 I can dream right?
Someday i hope we’ll own the land we live on and I can put down some roots.
-Jennie
I watched Food Inc. this past New Year’s and it changed me. I made several resolutions right then and there and blog about my progress…
http://beckys-stockpot.blogspot.com/search/label/Food%20Resolutions%2FGoals
I’ve stopped buying any meats from the grocery store. I’ve found local pasture raised beef, pork, and poultry. I’ve found a local source for eggs. My garden is bigger then it was last year and I plan to get the most from it. I’ve stopped buying processed snacks for my kids and I’m baking from scratch whenever I can. My grocery list is now a list of ingredients instead of premade products… for the most part.
I wish everyone would see this film. It’s so important that we’re informed about the real cost of our food supply.
I agree with you, Becky. I think this film and/or Omnivore’s Dilemma should be mandatory education in school.
About 400 square feet of garden this spring (storage onions, storage carrots, beans to be dried, lots of paste tomatoes, greens), 5 apple trees, a currant, lots of pollinator flowers, and the Oklahoma Food Coop with lots of non-CAFO meats, dairy, etc.=my plan. I am working on putting in the front yard more pollinator flowers and herbs. This year I will be saving veg seeds for the first time (I have saved lots of flower seeds before). I have given out the extra heirloom veg and herb plants I grew this year. I am going to talk about how to save the seeds with them this summer and maybe we can all begin doing it.
So, I have been thinking about where my food comes from for a while and I find I have to pace myself or I get overwhelmed and go back to cheap easy habits. I try to think low stress and if I think about how this way of living is celebrating my heritage it is not about freaking out but about moving towards something rich, welcoming, and deep.
PS.: I haven’t made canned tomatoes before and I was hoping to get a recommendation on a handmill that would do the pulping and maybe the seeding too.
You bet I have kept going. I’ve just volunteered to help Amanda at The Yarden put in a huge Victory Garden in my neighborhood and I’ve become one of those annoying preachers who tell all of my friends that they can do this too. I’ve invited all the young people I know, the 20somethings who have no space and no gardening background, to come learn to garden and cook with me– I’ve got 5 people signed on so far.
And yes, I am going to keep eating this way, and making my husband eat this way, and putting in as much food as I can so I can send real food to my kids as well.
Next new attempt is mayonnaise (Jen I need a recipe! Help me out)
Check out this one. I mistakingly made it with sesame oil the first time and didn’t like it. Now I think I’ve got it down!
http://www.justhungry.com/2006/02/basics_mayonnai.html
Jen, the mayo came out just great, although my little 3-cup food processor turns out to NOT be great with a liquid recipe like this one– what a mess (it leaked). Have to figure out how to use the blender and still be able to dribble the oil. Anyway, DD liked it, which is the real test, as she has a very grocery store palate, unfortunately. If she thought it tasted like mayo, then I guess it did! Thanks.
Forgot to subscribe to follow ups. Ignore this comment!
I watched it last night. I think the part that struck me the most was the stories of the farmers. I had heard much of the rest of it before, seen worse footage than that shown on the film, but the plight of these poor guys (and gals)trying to make a living while dealing with these mega-monster companies (Tyson, Monsanto and the rest) just broke my heart.
I did have one moment of happy, though. As I was watching with tears in my eyes and solemnly vowing to never buy another processed food item or meat product raised in such terrible conditions, I realised that I have made a lot of progress towards that goal already. I still have a ways to go, but realising that I have a year’s supply of local, humanely treated meat in my freezer, a highly productive organic garden, and the know-how to keep on this path just made me feel really good.
Keeping on keeping on…I too watched it last night (again) I think I was even more annoyed this time than last.
Seriously has the world gone completely and utterly insane?
Then add Jamie Oliver’s program to how we feed our children and I want to throw out everyone in places of power and start from scratch…are there no sensible, honest, people of integrity left in government? Is the mighty dollar worth more than the health of our citizens!
OK…now I’m all worked up again. I’m going to go to the garden and kill some weeds and slugs to get my frustrations out!
Glad you got to see the movie…glad you all care! Kim
We watched it too last night. I’ve seen the trailer the night before and I made a note to watch it.
I too cannot get the imagery of the miles of mud and manure that our beef is raised in, nor the industry of chicken.
After watching Food, Inc. it really gave me even more reasons to buy local. I have been buying my meat from a local butcher but every once in a while when I’m at the supermarket, I would pick up the “on sale” meat items. Well, that is going to change. As far as buying Perdue or Tyson’s products(we get those chicken nuggets), we are going to try hard not to buy it even though we really love those nuggets.
I saw the neatest recipe for quick & healthy homemade nuggets. Essentially you boil some fresh and chopped chicken breast in seasoned broth. Let cool and pat dry. Dip in buttermilk, then in breading (I combine homemade bread crumbs and panko plus seasoning) and fry just as long as it takes to brown the breading. The nuggets spend a lot less time in the oil compared to fried chicken and it doesn’t have all that processed junk and artificial flavorings. My picky niece who only eats chicken nuggets said they were the best she’d had!
We watched Food Inc. a while ago, I didn’t find it as interesting as most. I actually was kind of annoyed with it. I thought it was a too much propaganda for the food movement without a lot of info for people to take action after watching. I didn’t like some of the things they presented, like healthy food being more expensive than fast food, etc. That is false and I don’t like it when a big movie furthers the myth. They could have had a stronger ending/call to action with more information on helping people actually make a change for the better. I believe it fell quite short of what it could have been. So I was disappointed.
I would challenge everyone to watch “The World According to Monsanto”. I liked it much better than Food Inc. You can find places to download it off the internet, here’s a link to watch it on-line (although it’s a small video not super great quality). http://twilightearth.com/environment-archive-2/the-world-according-to-monsanto-full-documentary/
I agree that it was more about shocking the general public than expounding upon action. I think for the average person that turns their head about where their food comes from that it was an excellent beginner film (Just like Jamie Oliver). As for the cost of healthy foods I felt that a lot of that was edited out (what food chain were they purchasing in, what season, was it organic, and so on). I felt it was quite vague and situational.
You bet I’ll be watching “The World According to Monsanto”. That company has affected my life in ways I never would have thought possible!
Years ago we used to order food in bulk from a co-op in Madison, WI. Sadly they went out of business. For years I have been buying organic wherever I could find it and was paying premium prices. All the while I kept saying someday I was going to go to the Local Food Store and see if I could order in bulk when they order. Well, after watching Food, Inc. last night that day arrived today. After talking to the owner I am now set up to buy in bulk once again. Yea! I won’t have to constantly run to the store, I can just have my buckets and gallon jars filled once again with my staples for breads, granolas, soups, etc.
I told everyone I came in contact with at work this week to be sure and watch Food, Inc. I will be interested to hear about their reactions when I see them next week. I feel like I am the odd ball at work as I eat my sprouts and home made breads, etc. and they chow down on chips, pretzels and pop. However, I do have two of them sprouting mung beans this week…..it’s a start…albeit a small one but a start all the same.
We watched it last night as a family. Sadly, I didn’t see anything I didn’t expect but I think it finally opened my husband’s eyes. My teenage daughter was already “in the know” but my boys (10 and 12) were shocked. Now my husband understands why I insisted we buy grassfed beef from a local farmer, processed at a small, local locker. Last summer we moved out of town onto a small acreage. I now have a huge garden and preserve our own food. We planted apple trees this spring and just finished a raised bed for strawberries that should arrive soon. I think my family may, finally, have an idea why I am so passionate about where our food comes from.
I grew up on a farm, saving soybean seed. I’m so glad my father retired before all of this mess rolled around- he is a stubborn one.
I’m glad you got your entire family to watch it! My hubby gets his information by reading my blogs, so some of the impact may be lost on him.
My husband and I watched the movie just after Christmas and, like Judy, my husband was more affected than me (I had read a lot of the info already). Like Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, I don’t think it tells the whole story, but it does help get the issues into the mainstream consciousness. It might send more people to the garden center instead of the supercenter, or to the farmer’s market before the supermarket. I agree with Susy that it’s unfortunate that the movie reinforces the idea that healthy food is expensive, though.
As for Real Food, I just finished eating homemade enchiladas (tortillas and sauce both homemade) and when we ran to the store for a few things my husband didn’t even suggest that we buy tortillas. When he grabbed sour cream, he went straight for the organic brand. He has really gotten on board with my thinking whereas he used to stop at the store on the way home and buy junk food for a treat.
Xan — you’re my hero! That’s amazing that you’re bringing people together to learn real skills. And I have a mayo recipe on my blog, too. =)
I know what you’re both saying. I was struck with the extremes of lifestyles that they chose to share. (What I missed was exactly why that family spent so much time on the road.)
Some of the movie is hype and shock value, however I understand both points of view about the expense of fast, cheap, convenient food vs. healthy, fresh food. For people who have no choice but to work two jobs – the last thing that’s on their mind is spending time in the garden or making bread. Believe me when I say I’m not defending the system – it’s obviously broken.
My mom raised me as a single parent. We didn’t receive child support, she worked two jobs, we got a reduced price on rent, we weren’t on food stamps, and didn’t qualify for welfare because she owned a car to get to her jobs. We ate as often as we could at the grandmothers’ houses, but when Mom did have time to cook we limited our meat, ate a lot of canned and processed foods – Spam, corned beef and hash, mac & cheese, hot dogs, eggs – all because it was convenient and inexpensive. She also served me raw and cooked veggies. The last thing she wanted to do was to come home at 6pm after picking me up, cook dinner and clean up, get me in the tub, spend some quality time with me before bedtime and have time for herself. My mom rocks by the way, I think she did a pretty awesome job doing all that she did. So it’s not just a matter of price, but a matter of convenience that messes with our ways of thinking about food.
Now if you add in organics – that does add an increase of price. I’d like to watch it again, but I think the whole topic was a little to vague and extreme to make the point about how bad our system can be.
I recommend a follow up reading of the book Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet by Frances and Anna Lappe. I will say no more.
Thank you! Bookmarked (now I have two)
Oops, hit the wrong “reply”– but I bookmarked Hope’s Edge too!
I once drove by a Texas cattle ranch, right outside of Amarillo. I’ll never forget it.
When you say “miles and miles of mud and manure”, it is not an exaggeration. As we drove by, I could see cows standing shoulder to shoulder all the way into the horizon. I have no idea how they fed them all.
My wife and I went vegetarian before our kids were born, and none of us eat meat now. We *have* considered buying meat (Turkey, for TG) from a local Amish farmer outside our town; but ultimately tried a Tofurkey from our local co-op instead (yes, it would have been freighted in).
We don’t make perfect food choices, but we make IMPROVED food choices from when we ate meat and were less aware of all of these issues. I think if everyone can IMPROVE their food choice, we’ll see a real impact.
The latest thing we’ve been trying to do is to cut out HFCS altogether, which is turning out to be quite a challenge. Just finding juice for our kids, or soda, or even SAUCES, that don’t use HFCS is a real ordeal! I’d love to see the government subsidies corn farmers receive be diverted to sugar farmers.
Oh — and be sure to check out “King of Corn” — it’s on netflix. It’s a similar movie.
Aaron, my mom used to work for a company that traded corn subsidies. Even back then I was surprised to hear what she told me. I remember being surprised to learn about the corn coatings on french fries (so they get crispier), the importing of mexican corn for syrups and so on. One year they sent her to Texas to talk with the cattle farmers. I don’t think one can quite gauge it without seeing it – it’s depressing and sickening. She still talks about her experiences there and she quit the job about 5 years ago.
You’re absolutely right, none of us is perfect – but if we can make educated choices and do better than we were then it is improving the food system a little bit at a time. The real impact comes when groups like us reduce our purchases of HFCS and CAFO meats.
edit: the company she used to work for sold corn co-products, the biproducts of making corn syrup.
Jarritos sodas use cane sugar. It’s also really easy to make fruit syrups that you can add to club soda. Search “syrup” on my blog.
I have continued with the Real Food lifestyle.
I saw Food Inc. and it was an eye-opener to say the least, even after reading Omnivore’s Dilemma. I think there is something about seeing it vs. reading it.
Since seeing the film I now order mostly vegetarian meals when we go out to eat. At home we have had locally raised meat and eggs for years; with the exception of wild caught salmon, blue hake, or the occasional shrimp or crab.
We have been gradually moving to more of a local diet and that will improve as summer gardens begin producing. We are preserving as much of our own food as we can to keep our diet more local in the winter as well.
Food, Inc.’s Carole Morison was at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza (CUSEA) Farmers Market last weekend. Here is an interview of what she is doing today:
From the Belly of the Beast: An Interview with Food Inc.’s Carole Morison
http://farmerjanes.blogspot.com/2010/04/cuesa-feature-on-carole-morrison.html
I teach a high school Environmental Science class. Throughout the school year, I have shared Kingsolver’s book and I plan to show Food, Inc. next week.
I agree with Suzy’s point but I think people have heard rumors for a long time and then looked the other way while covering their ears and singing “la, la, la can’t hear you.” Change is hard and overwhelming. I think it really takes something in your face like this to hit them over the head with a board.
I felt like I was a careful shopper and still had no clue what I was getting, despite buying the most expensive organic versions of things.
When I read Barbara and Michael it shook my world. I stopped the grocers overnight.
It wasn’t easy, in fact it was painful but I was and remain committed to not giving food companies or factory farmers a single dollar of my money. And it costs us WAY less to eat now then it used to because I don’t buy any processed stuff.
When you butcher your own pig on the farm it costs $1/# for pastured natural pork and curing it yourself is not that hard. All we eat now is home cured pork, grass fed beef, soy/corn free meat chickens, wild caught fish, homegrown veggies, backyard eggs and local dairy and grains that I grind myself. I’ve shaken hands with everyone who raised our food.
In fact next week I’m embarking on a new rabbit adventure. I think. A pig is one thing but rabbits are awfully cute. But it means a lot to me that I know the living and dying conditions of my meat and that is the only way I can know that.
I’m glad you guys are keeping this blog up and continuing to challenge each other. It helps to stay on track.
I suppose my comments echo everyone else’s… We, too, were disgusted with our system after watching Food, Inc. Through the Real Food Challenge and Hip Mountain Mama’s One Small Change challenge, we have made a host of changes in our household especially when it comes to our food. As we see it, the Real Food Challenge is an everyday challenge. Everyday we are challenged to question our choices, the source of our food and more. We’ve recently started discussing how to help on a larger scale, and I’m thinking of offering classes at our local community center.
Thanks to the efforts of Bob Waldrop, we in Oklahoma who are part of the Oklahoma Food Coop can buy directly from the producer. We can buy grass-fed chicken, beef, lamb, and pig. We can also buy vegetables and fruit in season. We order once a month and the order is delivered to our local communities once a month. A lot of volunteer effort is necessary to make this a thriving enterprise. It’s working and it’s great! We also have local farm markets springing up everywhere and I, for one – and know I am among many – have become passionate about gardening. Oh yes, a lot of the producers have turned to video and still pictures to show exactly how their products are produced. It’s a nationwide food revolution!