Food Inc - Scary stuff!

[Tammie]

I am just watching the Food Inc documentary.... I am so disturbed!

I can't believe how horrible food production is and how much is controlled by large conglomerates.

I cried when the mum spoke about her son getting ecoli and his death within 12 days. I felt so terrible, I want nothing more than to go and give my son a hug and tell him that I'll try to give him good food!

Has anyone seen this documentary? Any thoughts? Anybsuggestions on what we can do to feed our kids the best food in such a time poor environment?

xx.

[Netix]

I haven't seen the doco. TheBear started a thread ages ago about trying to get away from the pre-packaged, and highly processed foods. Is that sort of what you're after? https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...e-habit-74310/ Sorry if its not. I think I need to go to bed now and get off BB!

[sunshine_sieben]

I watched it a few months ago. I was already on the organic, small producer type path. But I found this documentary shocking still. I had no idea how it was all connected. It is like the mother of all conspiracy theories - and it's true!
I think EVERYBODY should watch it. Ok, some things are more about America than Australia (like the part about the Abbatoir workers), but a lot is similar here. And in other areas we are moving in the same direction.

My suggestions would be:
Find an Organic butcher in your area. Try to buy grassfed beef, freerange pork & chicken. Tastes much better and has better nutritional value. As Jamie Oliver said in his show about the plight of the chickens: If you can't afford free-range chicken breast, buy a cheaper cut, ie. free-range chicken thigh fillets. The same goes for beef. You're better off to buy a cheaper cut from a better source.
Get a slow cooker. They turn even the tough cheap cuts into melt-in-the-mouth morsels.
Milk: buy organic milk from grassfed cows. You can even make your own yoghurt from it (takes 8 hours, but you don't really need to do anything)

Avoid things like fast food (of course), TV Dinners, softdrink, boxed breakfast cereal (there's nothing wrong with toast or porridge for breakfast. If you soak oats the night before, the porridge is made in a flash).
If you can, shop at farmer's markets. Talk to the stallholders. Ask them which of their products are their own. Some of them are just resellers. Buy what's in season.
Get a bread maker or better still, check out "Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day". This book is brilliant! They have their method and basic recipe on their website.
Buy Free-range eggs. Beware though, Not all that say free-range, really are free-range.

It's late, can't think anymore..

Basically, the more you buy the ingredients rather than the products, the better.

[Yeddi]

This is an awesome doco, it lost out on an oscar to "The Cove". America has very different food safety laws then we do, but it is still very shocking. The fact that the meat has to be washed with ammonia because otherwise the poo that gets into the meat from the unwashed cows can cause e-coli is pretty gross.

[Tammie]

Yeah, I know that lots of the food laws are different, but I bet there are still plenty on dodgy things here too!

I wonder if a big problem for US is that they only have 13 abattoirs? They are so many people and very few abattoirs.... The concept of supply and demand for meat there would mean it's so easy for companies to use questionable practices just to keep up with demand.

Some of the ideas you posted were great Sunshine... There's plenty of simple things we can all do to improve our good practices... Sometimes we just take the easy options.

I lice the other thread too... But again, some times time is a factor.

I only watched the doc last night but have been thinking about the foods and products we choose lately... So far I've changed my face wash, shampoo and conditioner and body wash to more natural products.

On another note, my husband and I were discussing how unfortunate it is that we now pay extra for organic products etc when not so long ago, the 'organic' option was the norm!

[Yeddi]

You could just make your own. Never underestimate what an egg, beer and lemon juice can do for your hair. Not necessarily together of course...

[sunshine_sieben]

Mmmm, egg beer and lemon juice smoothie...
Or did you mean to apply it externally?

Apple Cider Vinegar is a really good clarifier for your hair, too. It makes it soft and shiny.
I also like Rosehip Oil for my face. And instead of exfoliating washes, I buy those gloves that are made of a looped plastic. Not sure if you know what I mean. I find they work much better and work out cheaper in the long run.

But yes, I understand that time is an issue. Even just reading the labels at the supermarket is quite time consuming.
That's why I included things like a breadmaker. This way you just chuck in the ingredients and it automatically bakes your bread while you sleep at night.

One thing I do to save time is that I always cook huge amounts. So that it would last at least 2 or 3 meals. I freeze the leftovers. So I don't have to cook every night. And when I'm feeling lazy, I don't have to resort too take-away.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not holier than tho. There are many more ways I could improve our consumption. But I feel doing a few things is still much better than doing nothing at all.

So I would incorporate one change at a time. Once that has become second nature, start something else.
I probably would start with finding a good butcher who sells free range and grass fed meat. If it is organic, that's a bonus. Ask them questions. Don't be embarrassed to give them the third degree. Where does your beef come from? Are the completely grass fed or grain finished (Grain finishing means to fatten them up with grains just before slaughter. I regard this as an acceptable practice)? Everything you want to know, ask them. If they don't know, that's not a good sign. If they don't want to find out for you, go somewhere else.

[Jennifer13]

I bought DP Food Rules for his bday last year that's by the same guy behind the doco. It has some great simple ideas to keep your food consumption healthy and basic.

We keep chickens for our eggs. Best pets and eggs ever! I won't buy chicken anywhere that doesn't supply free range. But I think it's worthwhile - there are obviously other people like me because now in our area there are takeaway places and pizza shops that use free range chicken. I ask our butcher about their sources. If no one asks they think no one cares.

We'd all be better off eating less meat and paying slightly more for the ethically produced stuff.

We've also started our own vegie garden. Tomatoes and herbs are so easy to grow and work in pots.

My concern also extends to packaging and landfill but the chickens and the compost heap take care of that.

[zap]

Shocking doco real eye opener!

[Sopdet]

We were sitting around yesterday afternoon discussing this. Having worked in the agricultural industry for quite a few years, it isn't the same as here, especially abattoirs.

I farmers market shop, I'm yet to find another organic butcher since I've moved (but am searching for one). I use natural/ethical as much as possible. But I have been doing these things for 20+ years (where possible).