I know I have been a tardy poster. It’s true, and I’m sorry. There are copious reasons for that one of which being my other blog being a priority for one more month, and the fact that there really hasn’t been any strikingly interesting articles about food in the news. Have people lost their interest in food? Has the government stopped meddling in our digestion practices? I don’t think either of those are true, but I do think there are other things that are taking priority, like the gas crisis, the housing crisis, the recession. Whether we acknowledge it or not, all of these things have an effect on the way we eat. Gas prices have an unmistakable impact on the cost of food. Besides leaching money from your food budget to fill your gastank, transportation of food is becoming increasingly more expensive, which means all those fresh fruits and vegetables we enjoy year round from various parts of the world are becoming more and more expensive. We are exporting corn and unbelievable rates because it’s one of the commodities we lead the global pack in. Corn is also being utilized for alternative fueling, although this is still in its testing phases, so it’s not as big as a culprit as exporting. So, how does this effect food prices again? Oh yeah, because so much of what we eat is composed of corn products, corn starch, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and a whole slew of other products that I can’t ramble off out of memory. Now that corn is scarcer in our local market it costs more for manufacturers to get their hands on, but trust me, they’re not taking a hit for you; you’ll see the change at the cash register.
This may sound like me pushing an organic lifestyle, but it’s not. We are who we are and we all value food differently. Organic foods aren’t ever going to be cheaper than processed and as the housing crisis continues as well as increasing costs for gas putting many of us in financial hardship, Americans will no doubt be looking to save money on food. All of this will most likely mean more processed foods, more store brands; more fast food (because buying a hamburger for $0.69, is a lot cheaper than buying ground beef, buns, lettuce, tomato, catsup, etc.) Buying food locally at green markets and food coops is a great option for those of you that want to eat organic, or close to it, without breaking the bank).
So what are we to do, when we’re all trying desperately to have enough income to feed our families, pay our mortgages, and put gas in the car, and eat healthy? Choose carefully, make informed decisions, choose the best of all evils. This seems like the most obvious and best compromise, which is why I was surprised when I heard that the law requiring all restaurants with more than 15 outlets in New York City to post their nutritional information on the menu was delayed for a second time. Law makers aren’t even asking that all ingredients are shown, just caloric values, which is why I’m so astounded by the amount of food industry back lash there is. Okay, I’m not surprised, I don’t trust the food industry as far as I can throw them, and well, I don’t have a whole lot of upper body strength. The law was passed to help consumers make educated choices while dining out, and to have a reversing effect on the obesity rates of New York City. I think that knowing calorie values is limited in how much it can help, but well it’s a great start at making the public more aware. If I were making the rules, ingredients or at least additives would need to be listed, but that won’t ever happen, so having a calorie listing would be greatly beneficial.
Opponents of the bill say that it would discourage diners from eating out. I say perhaps it would encourage restaurants to be more thoughtful and provide better choices. Glass half full/Glass half empty; either way there’s still a glass. We have always deserved to know what we are putting in our bodies, but now more than ever, when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meat (no pun intended) we deserve the right to make informed decisions. That’s my soapbox and I will continue to stand on it.
