Inauguration Day

". . .Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

-President Barack Obama

Yes WE can! One person can not fix all the problems facing the nation. If we are to dig ourselves out of the dire economic situation, heal the planet, protect the U.S. from terrorist threats, feed the hungry, etc; every citizen must take action. Since I wish to keep the focus of this blog on healthy food and cooking, I'll keep this post short and relevant.

For people who can comfortably afford to put food on the table, eating is, undeniably, a political act. A large percentage of the food sold in this country is controlled by a few multi-billion dollar companies. Even seemingly ecological and healthy products are pawns and profit-drivers for avaricious businessmen who prey on consumers' ignorance and indifference. Furthermore, agribusiness and major food processors have convinced legislators to protect their earnings at the expense of small, hard-working farmers and the nation's health. Every time you take the "easy way out" when hunger strikes - stop at Dunkin' Donuts on the way to work or grab a slice of pizza for lunch - you condone government subsidies which favor unsustainable agricultural practices & corporate greed and further distance yourself from the source of your food.

While I can't give you an exact equation, there is an inverse relationship between the distance a food has traveled to reach your plate and its nutritional value (not to mention its impact on the planet). Even though the local food movement has experienced exponential growth in recent years, there is still a ton of work to be done. The simple fact that people need to eat at least three times a day creates numerous opportunites for ordinary citizens to do something to support family farmers, affordably manage their health, and protect the environment from further damage. Simple changes of habit and a teeny bit of planning can make a significant difference over time. If every single person committed to doing just one thing - say, bringing a homemade lunch (like a sandwich consisting of bread from a local bakery and cheese produced in one's home state) to work every day - it would make President Obama's job a little easier.