We've been on a food journey.
I wondered for a long time what the big deal was. Why did a roommate in college insist on buying Breyers ice-cream which was three times more expensive than the cheapest ice-cream I was satisfied with, when we were sharing grocery money?
I've long thought that the cheapest food was the best stewardship.
I was exposed to vegan foods during at a summer job in food service and then my mind cracked open. A tiny beam of light trickled in... I wondered at this long-held worldview assumption that informed my buying decisions (get it for the cheapest price possible). Is it possible there was more than one perspective? (Like EVERYTHING else I have discovered in life... life is not only blacks, whites and grays. Turns out, there are many shades of white. There is a variety of good choices out there depending on the outcomes I want. God is so amazing!! So many choices and only increasing since the beginning of time with our partnership in His creativity.
I found out I had cholesterol on the high end of the spectrum. We were unemployed, money was tight. I began to study foods that would be healthier, I stopped buying red meat...
Then money was no where and we got state assistance. We received more money than I had ever been able to spend on food previously. This allowed me for the first time to experiment with organic produce, and to look into alternate forms of protein. I began to read voraciously and watch documentaries, interviews and how-to websites about food. I spent hours in the bulk section of Winco, ventured into a natural foods store where I bought dried seaweed, and immersed myself in Fred Meyer's Natural Foods section.
My head started to hurt a bit, but in a good way as I became hooked on learning about something so fundamental as nutrition and how many people world-wide find ways to keep their bodies running smoothly. As my mind began to open even more, letting in a stream of enlightening sunshine, an invigorating energy filled me to learn more, try a few things.
We tried out all different kinds of "milk." We used
Sneaky Chef to hide nutrient dense vegetables, fruits, sardines, tofu etc. in our regular food. I saw Michael Pollen on Oprah and got his book from the library:
The Omnivore's Dilemma. We checked out Food Inc., and a harsher one whose title I can't remember relating to the treatment of low-wage laborers in the food industry; mainstream food system not only rests on animal cruelty, but human cruelty and violations of human rights.
I realize that I have judged people by their food choices. Bad me. Most of the world eats differently than I am used to eating.
We tried vegan recipes and discovered the Aztec's ancient protein Quinoa ("keen-wa"). We switched to turkey burgers. One week I bought every brand of (processed) vegan bean burgers as I read Alisha Silverstone's
The Kind Diet. On principle it is easy to be against feedlots, caged poultry, pig tail docking... animal cruelty. It's another thing to buy milk for $6 a gallon instead of $2 when you've used up your budget for the week.
Or maybe that's the real test of the strength of our beliefs and values. What do I do when it really costs me? This is my continuing journey as the food handler for my family and what I will pass on to them about food and about our values. I am certainly passing on my curiosity, passion for learning and willingness to learn and try new things.
The real cost of food is the peace of mind for me knowing that I voted with my grocery dollars for the safest, healthiest, happiest food I could. And hoping, trusting in the research that eating less pesticides will keep me healthier in my lifetime, and the planet healthier for my kids' lifetimes.
I feel good about that kind of stewardship.
Benjamin says to me one day (very diplomatically), "Thanks Mom for letting us try to be vegetarian, but I like eating meat." ha ha! Can't beat that. I still work in vegan/vegetarian meals weekly. I plan the meals and try to cook daily, not relying on processed meal-in-a bags from Costco. Food is one of my partners in raising my family. I don't judge other people for their food choices, but I certainly am excited to share what I've learned and encourage people to think outside the box, and try something new. Especially something that can be modified to your family's tastes. In that way I feel like a food scientist!
Aaron gave me a gift, once we had the new job... He doubled our food allowance so we could make these choices permanently. I still have to plan--in order to keep things within the guidelines, but his support has been priceless. And he has eaten a lot of meals I was afraid of, myself!! He's my hero!!
