Day
1 was thoughtful. Thinking about the victims of the hurricane who lost
everything and would have to use 'food stamps" to build back their
staples, condiments, etc. Thinking about how important it is to stock food
pantries with healthy items that are hard to get in food deserts and just too
expensive. Thinking about how if you don't have money for food, you don't
have money for distractions and eating "comfort food" becomes
an activity. Thinking
about the food service director in the Food Stamped film who just
wanted to give the children calories to fill their stomachs. Thinking
about how there is a lot of wrong thinking out there. Remembering how the
nutritionist at Children's hospital in the early 90's told us that calories
were more important than our "organic" ideas and watching our kids
get hooked on Spaghetti-Os and colored cereal with marshmallows in the
hospital! Thinking about the other food service directors in the film
teaching kids about healthy eating, exposing them to farms and gardens and
delicious dishes with fresh vegetables that they ate!
Day 1, Jim and I
talked about what we would eat so that there would be enough for the week,
trying to eat healthy and not be hungry, praying to be part of a movement that
will grow a more just and healthier culture.
I've been reading through the blogs, and you are the first person that has seemed to know about food deserts. They make this challenge even harder. (It is possible others have known, but not written about them.)
ReplyDeleteAddressing hunger is a serious issue. I feel that in many ways it may be the key to addressing a number of the problems we have as a nation. From violence to jobs, it seems to me to start with kids. The kids who go to school hungry not having access to good foods will be less likely to learn. Kids who don't do well in school are less likely to get out of poverty, and that puts us where we are now.
I wish I knew how to make a real difference. I applaud you for your efforts.
Hi, and thanks for your comments. Food deserts are a huge issue. Anecdotally, I think many of the folks taking the challenge do know about food deserts - they came up frequently in discussions prior to getting started. Interesting, then, that few people have written about them. Perhaps one learning is that when we are hungry, it's easy to lose sight of larger issues that also concern us - or, as you point out, focus on important things like school.
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