Huh, what's wrong with the food system?

If you live in America and if you eat food, watch this film.  Please.



Food, Inc.
Directed by Robert Kenner
http://www.foodincmovie.com/ Or read the book.
Many people saw Food, Inc. earlier in the year, but once again I fall behind on the bandwagon.  Food, Inc. is currently out of theaters, but it will be released to DVD in a month.  Tonight I attended a viewing sponsored by the Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Food, Inc. goes beyond the fast food phenomena, and digs deeper to reveal disconcerting trends in the American food system.  Director Robert Kenner  sends a clear message: The food system needs restoration.  Such a restoration will require new public policy, revolutionized agricultural practices, and a different way of eating in America.  Though such changes may seem distant from the lives of individuals, Kenner sends another equally powerful message: American consumers have the power to affect this change as they demand healthful and ethical food.  This demand starts with our shopping carts.  

Perspectives from Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) added credibility to the movie.  The film also features Gary Hirshberg, the Chairman, President and "Ce-Yo" of Stonyfield Farm (think, yogurts).  After tonight's showing Gary Hirshberg came to answer questions from the Friedman community.  What a unique opportunity.
Hirshberg hopes that Food, Inc. will increase awareness about America's broken food system.  Ultimately, he wants the movie to lead to new conversations, and then those discussions can lead to change.   So far the movie has garnered over 600,000 views in 500 theaters and the book is in it's 7th printing.  Look for the DVD in November!
Tonight's film left me pensive.  As I walked home from the subway I mentally gathered three lessons in my head.  First, I confront sustainable agriculture yet again. Slowly my mind mobilizes from ambivalency to interest.  Yes, I believe farmers markets can make a difference!  But can I support them every week?  I wager, likely not.  
Second, I see the benefits of organic food.  No, I still do not think organic food necessarily has increased health benefits.  (That topic requires a separate post and lots of research.)  But organic food has unarguable environmental benefits.  Tonight Gary Hirshberg quoted, "There's only one reason to not eat organic: price."  Do I agree with this? 
Thirdly.  I learned that food, like any other commodity, has value associated with cost.  This seems obvioius, but Hirshberg pointed out, "The whole food system is based on low costs.  Americans are used to cheap food, but we don't remember to measure the costly externalities."  He mentions the oil costs, the negative impacts on the environment, and the rising cost of obesity and diabetes in the American population.   I need to stop scrimping, and spend the extra buck on fruits, veggies and lean protein.  I am paying for quality and investing in health.  
Tonight Food, Inc. challenged my grocery list and my plate.

Crispy Morning and Crunchy Apples


















Nashoba Valley Winery
100 Wattaquadock Hill Road
Bolton Massachusetts 01740
(978) 779-5521
http://www.nashobawinery.com/

The crisp weather set the stage for a lovely visit to Nashoba Valley Winery.  The event was hosted by Massachusetts Dietetic Association's "Socials for Success."  We started with a tour of the winery, at which point I tasted an excellent white Baldwin apple wine.  I do not know much about wine, but I was excited to taste a wine made purely from apples.  Also of note was the semi-sweet cherry wine, the rich blueberry merlot, and the unique Perry pear wine.  Nashoba distilles a variety of spirits and beers (with many fruity flavors), and traditional wine as well.

Then to the apple trees!





















































Fresh and crunchy, baked, dried, saucy, sauteed?
Now I am looking for creative ways to eat all my apples!

New "Sunny" Sweetener

Sun Crystals
All Natural Sweetener

Yesterday in Nutrition Biochemistry class my friend gave me a sample of Sun Crystals.  She recieved a complimentary pack in the mail.  I love the bright green packaging, but first I go to their website to check out the claims.
https://www.suncrystals.com/
Sun Crystals is a sweetener that contains cane sugar and stevia.  According to their website, each packet is 5 calories, 1 gram of carbohydrate and 1 gram of sugar.
They also offer a "granulated blend" that can be substituted for sugar when baking.


Stevia is a plant commonly found in Central and South America.  It has very sweet leaves (200x sweeter than sugar) but has an unpleasant aftertaste.  Until recently the FDA considered stevia as a supplement, thus banning its addition to foods.  Then in December 2008 the FDA granted rebaudioside A, an extract of stevia, the GRAS status.  GRAS stands for Generally Regarded As Safe.  With this action the FDA "intended [reb A] to be added as a general purpose non-nutritive sweetener into various food categories at per serving levels." 


The FDA website is hard to navigate, but here's the documentation for the December 2008 stevia approval.  http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/gras_notices/grn000278.pdf



Sun Crystals.  I tried it.
Has a sharp, almost metalic, aftertaste.  Very strong.  Not so "sunny" after all.
I don't like it.
*Go to their website if you want to sign up for free samples.*




The Story Behind the Scale

Dietetic Internship Rotation #1: Tufts Weight and Wellness Center (WWC)
The WWC offers weight loss treatment for people with obesity through medical weight loss programs or bariatric surgery.
Sept 7-18th.  *A Brief Recap*
What is it like to be obese, and morbidly obese?
I gained perspectives after my first rotation in the Tufts WWC.  Fortunately this knowledge has challenged my thinking and even changed my views.  (See blog post from September 8th).  I would like to share the thoughts scampering about in my head so that I can document these trite reflections.

I Witnessed: Tufts WWC Immersion Day.  Immersion Day is an introductory class for obese patients seeking bariatric surgery.  From 9am-4pm I sat with 7 other obese patients and discussed the risks and benefits of gastric bypass surgery and gastric band surgery.
Lesson: First, I learned a lot about bariatric surgery.  The clinicians kept saying, "Surgery is just a tool for you to use.  It's all about diet, behavior and exercise!"  I agree.  This 3-pronged triangle should be the aim for everyone.  Second, I learned about support.  These 7 obese individuals were supporting each other as they sought out a drastic solution for their weight.  They were learning together, sharing confessions and offering suggestions.  At the end of the day there was a special cohort in the room.  I was priviledged to be among them.


I Attempted: Partial Meal Replacement Diet.  Yes, I put myself on a meal replacement diet for one week.  During rotation I attending several nutrition education classes for the medical weight loss patients.  These patients were seeking to lose weight by substituting 2 of their meals with high protein shakes or bars.  I wanted to try it too.  But after 3 days,  I failed.
Lesson: Weight loss is hard!  Human beings love food, and any sort of diet proves difficult.  The meal replacement diet was challenging because it took time to plan each meal and grocery shop for the high protein bars.  Also, I got hungry for real food.  But my failure made me respect the WWC patients' motivation and discipline.  Changing habits, new behaviors.  Wow, this is the hard stuff.

I Listened: HOWL Seminar, "Body Contouring After Massive Weight Loss".  I attended a seminar at Tufts Medical Center about plastic surgery after weight loss.  Commonly, individuals will lose 100+ pounds and their skin cannot recover elasticity.  The skin hangs, and people may need the skin removed.  The talk was frank, the images were stark, and my mind was churning with disbelief, shock, and amazement.
Lesson: weight remains a lifetime issue.  There are new challenges every day, even after a successful bariatric surgery or weight loss.  In reality, the perseverance required for bariatric surgery and obesity can apply to all weight loss situations.  My respect for these patients rises yet another notch.  I could use a dose of this type of commitment!

Takeaway points.
Obesity weight loss is not about losing the pounds so much as reducing risk of chronic disease.  Dropping BMI points, increasing exercise, shrinking body measurements, and changing eating behaviors are all valid ways to increase quality of life.
I've realized how harsh I can be in judging people by their weight or appearance.  Every person faces the same personal struggles of balanced food intake, mindful behavior, and active living.  We are all seeking healthy and happy lives.
The WWC taught me that it's not the number on the scale or the pants size that matters, so much as the story behind each person.

My First Nibble: Sustainable Agriculture

I am completely ignorant.  That is, on topics of farming, food security and community supported agriculture.  But I am interested!  Today I had my first taste, and I think I'll be coming back for seconds.
The following provides my hastily jotted notes from the lunch seminar I attended today.  As someone with no background in the sustainable agriculture movement, I found the topic fascinating.  New vocabulary, new ideas, and a peek at a whole culture that is sweeping America.  Don't judge me for my ignorance as I proceed to share my thoughts and scribbles.

John Carroll, Professor of Environmental Conservation, Univ. of New Hampshire
Pastures of Plenty: The Future of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Conservation in New England.
Hosted by the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
.....
Carroll started his lecture with two quotes.
"Agriculture is going to come back to the center of the American way of life in a way that we couldn't imagine."--James Howard Kunstler, The Long Emergency

"Agriculture is the first victim of peak oil."--Kenneth Deffeyes, Beyond Hubbert's Peak: The End of Oil.

New England used to be an agricultural region, until grazing declined and ended in the 1960s.  However grazing will be the centerpiece for food security in this region.  (err.. which states are New England?  NE: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  Thank you, dictionary.com)

The Social Movement for Local Foods
1. The Explosion of Farmers Markets. (oh yeah!, I have noticed this.)
This is not wholesale markets, like Haymarket.  (*shock* Oh no, I like Haymarket!)  This is the direct interaction between farmers and consumers.  Farmers markets provide a substantial transfer of revenue to the farmer.  For the economists, this poses endless frustration.  Economists cannot measure exactly how much money is exchanged at farmers markets, nor how much food it produces.
 
2. The Rise of Gardening.
This includes home gardens, community gardens, and urban gardens.  Community Supported Agriculture, CSA.  http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

3. Livestock Revolution.
Particularly chickens.  Surprisingly, urban areas may be the forefront for this increasingly widespread practice.  Did you know Arlington passed a  law allowing 6 chickens per household? (Arlington is a town 6 miles northwest of Boston.  Population 42,389 as of 2000).

Benefits of Local Food
1. Food Security
Currently diesel powered trucks rely on the deteriorating infrastructure of highways and roads to deliver foods from long distances.  Quality produce may travel over 3,000 miles from California (yay, CA!), and we are increasingly transporting food from China as well.  Local foods can avoid these transportation insecurities.

2. Fresh
Local food is fresh, and fresh food is nutritious.  Yes, fresh food is usually more expensive.  Currently Americans spend about 9% of their income on food.  What if we were willing to spend 20% of our income on food?  In Europe they spend 18-23%.  If we were willing to invest in food, we would not have a problem with farmers markets or CSA prices.  (Hmm good point.  Although right now I am still a grad student.  Meaning, no income!)

How does New England become locally sustainable?
1. Pastures.
New England must get back to grazing, also called "grass farming."  Vermont leads the region with their Grass Farmer's Association.http://www.uvm.edu/~pasture/?Page=vgfa.html
2. Intensive Rotational Grazing
This type of farming requires an intimacy between the farmer and the land.  No absentee farmers. 
3. Biointensive Agriculture.
(This point went way over my head.  oops!)
....
I am happily shopping and munching at my local Trader Joe's and Shaws market, while all around me the currents of a social movement called "Local Food" ebbs stronger.  I want to learn more.  As a future dietitian, I must learn more.  I need to prepare for the day when the values of sustainable agriculture and the values of nutrition intermingle and meet.  Oh wait; that date has already passed.

Chocolate and Calcium, Yes Please!

Sometimes there are great steals in the Shaws Discount Corner!  Last week my lucky find was...














Adora Calcium Supplements
500mg calcium supplement (calcium carbonate) in milk chocolate with added 1000 IU of Vitamin D and 40 mcg of Vitamin K.  30 calories a piece.  They also come in dark chocolate.
For more info http://www.adoracalcium.com/
Yummy!  I have been eating 2 a day.  It's great because I don't like milk, I don't buy cheese, sometimes yogurt is expensive, and I always forget to take my calcium pills.  Confession:  This stuff tastes too good to be labeled as a supplement! I haven't forgetten about calcium since I bought these.  *wink*
The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for calcium is 1,000 mg/day for men and women ages 19-50 years.  Of course the optimal way to get calcium is through food (milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, kale).  But sometimes we need an extra boost.  So if you supplement, here's some tips.

Tip 1:  One Pill at a Time
Research shows that the body can optimally absorb up to 500 mg of calcium at one time.  Don't pop your pills all at once, but spread them out throughout the day.
Tip 2: The Competition-Calcium and Iron
Calcium blocks the absorption of iron.  Keep your iron and calcium supplements separate for best results.
Tip 3: Inseparable Buddies-Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium (whether through food or as a supplement) is absorbed with the help of active Vitamin D.  If you are low in Vitamin D, then the calcium will pass in and pass out and all this calcium talk is blabber.  So here's another reason to go play in the sun!

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet, Calcium.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health.
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp

Pour on the Pounds



NSBs.

Nutritively Sweetened Beverages.

This morning in my nutrition biochemistry class I heard about the new NSB advertisement campaign in New York City.  Apparently the NYC Department of Public Health spent $277,000 to develop this ad as part of a  campaign to decrease consumption of sweetened beverages.  The graphic ad will run in 1,500 subways for a period of 3 months.  I am eager to see what the results will be.

The New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/nyregion/01fat.html

Dietetic Internship, Day 1

Dietetic Internship Rotation #1: Tufts Weight and Wellness Center (WWC)

1 pound = 3,500 kcals.
My day centered around this simple fact.  One pound lost requires 3,500 calories worth of effort.  It's no small accomplishment.  

Today I started rotations at the Tufts Medical Center Weight and Wellness Center (WWC).   The WWC  is a clinic solely devoted to the treatment of obesity.  Patients with obesity are treated through several programs, including medically supervised weight loss groups, meal replacement programs, and surgery (gastric bypass or gastric-band).  Obesity is treated as a clinical diagnosis by a team of doctors, surgeons, dietitians, behavior therapists, exercise physiologists and nurses.  It truly is an amazing approach and has produced significantly successful results.

Now I am sitting on my couch organizing my notes and getting ready for tomorrow.  I stop and recognize the faint sensation that has been brewing in my mind all day.  Respect.  Today I have gained a new respect for individuals of size.  Gastric bypass surgery is no small decision.  Imagine having a stomach the size of an egg.  Imagine a life without sugar.  Exactly.  In pursuing this surgery, these patients have a motivation that I don't own.  The patients I met today had humility, to listen to clinician after clinician tell them what to do and how to change.  Many of these individuals are preparing to live a new lifestyle.  I respect the 7 patients that I met today, and I never want to forget the lessons I learned from them.

*note: In gastric bypass surgery sugar and fat are not completely eliminated from the diet.  However intake may produce uncomfortable side effects such as dumping syndrome.*

The conversations from today linger with me.  Although I will not see these patients again, I truly wish the best of luck for all of them.  I hope their surgeries are successful, their weight loss prolonged and consistent, and their lives improved in health and happiness.
Tonight my thoughts are for them.
Disclaimer. I am not a Registered Dietitian yet. I provide nutrition information intended for the general public, not for the treatment of a specific medical condition. I try to use scientific research and reliable sources when forming my opinions and messages.
Related Posts with Thumbnails