Gluten free, paleo friendly, plant-based, no added humanity
Warning: Trigger warning. Very Soap-boxy
Gluten and grain free, paleo friendly, plant based, sugar free, 11 grams of protein, keto, non-GMO! Advertising “health” food has come a long way. These tags covered a bag of cereal I recently tried using oat milk as the base. While eating it I had to stop and check myself, what in the actual f’ am doing?
Sometimes our diets get away from us. At some point I began reaching for easy, healthy foods, but this? A pea protein based cereal that barely resembles food. I felt like a feedlot cow shoveling nutrients down just to stay alive. Honesty, silage corn might be a better choice. At least the corn is fermented and can be recognized as a plant. I always finish my plate, but this time I walked away.
There is endless controversy over what is healthy or not. Companies play on the complexity of diet and showcase their products as keys to a healthy life. Powders, greens mixes, probiotic pills, supplements, branded in bright packaging intended to show others, “Buy me to because you are busy, care about your health, and the environment!”. We have taken food from our gardens, kitchens, and pantries and handed it over to factories to synthesize our nutrition. To farm our health.
Peaking in the shopping carts of other customers I find myself drawn to the freshly packaged, pre-made meals. Sexy images of food porn, all sauced up adorn the boxes of teriyaki keto this or Italian vegan that. Protein, protein, protein! It allures our instincts. We are attracted to easy calories preying on our moral values.
You know what is unglamorous? Complete, raw foods. Bags of rice, beans, potatoes, and flour. Salt. The clamshells of baby spring mix are the crossover between raw and packaged. Yes, a salad is a better choice, but by the time you eat that lettuce is there any life left?
Whole foods grew our families for thousands of years, created the traditional meals now found in the freezer aisles, built space in the home for human connection and bonding. There is something special about raising, slaughtering, and eating an animal with a group of people. That camaraderie cannot be found in any grocery store.
I understand we all have different diet preferences. Allergies are 100% real and not everyone can eat everything. I am all for a plant-based diet, totally get behind a carnivore diet. Whatever works for you in your circumstances. But have you considered that your diet is more than the food you eat?
It is the content you consume, the people you surround yourself with, the traditions you uphold, the exercise you give your body, the meditation you give your mind, the prayer for your spirit. When we buy packaged food, a little piece of our soul is sold. An opportunity is lost.
To lead such demanding lives where the companionship of a meal is less possible is a disservice. Factory produced foods are meant to feed us so our labor can more efficiently be farmed. When we stop, cook a meal from scratch, and share it with others this cycle of exploitation is halted.
This isn’t a call for everyone to grow everything themselves, retreat to a commune in the woods, or even give up shopping in the freezer aisle. All I am saying is that we are losing a part of our humanity consuming foods made in a laboratory. We are losing our power as a group, and our sovereignty to choose what is in our food. We are losing our connection to the planet, and our true power as people. The power of community.
It is easy to do. The branding is literally designed to be attractive and our monkey brains love some good marketing. Here I am on a soapbox with a glassful of oat milk! My prayer is that we can slow down and reconnect to each other in meaningful ways. Take stock of our lives and help each other come together to enjoy the simple things. Well prepared, whole foods, ideally locally procured and enjoyed.
💜 Well said :)
Powerful. 😊
Food for thought.
💜🥕 🥔 🥦 🧅 🧄 🌶️ 💜
Thank you, Alex!