Here in Canada it is easy to eat food that is bad for us and the environment. We eat junk food imported from all corners of the world and drink rivers of pop that are feeding the obesity epidemic. Something has got to give, and I hope that it is not our planet!
Think about what people would have eaten in your area 100 years ago, and when you go shopping try to hit up a local farmer's market or buy local produce at the supermarket. Try to buy basic ingredients and make your food from scratch -then you'll know exactly what's in it.
David Suzuki calls eating local "an act of rebellion against a food system that's detached from any notion of ecological reality." Local foods travel on average 101 km (which seems like a lot) but in comparison, supermarket food travel 5, 364 km! This means that imported supermarket foods caused up to one thousand times more greenhouse gas emssions than local foods!
So, lets try to eat local and eat seasonal!
One of my favorite winter-time recipes (and bonus - it's vegan!) is carrot soup! It is super tasty and super easy to make!
What you need:
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tbs minced fresh ginger
- 6-7 large carrots
- 5 cups vegetable stock (I just use 5 cups of water and add 5 teaspoons of stock powder)
- 1 cup orange juice (ok... not super local, but pretty tasty -apple juice works too and you can probably find it local!)
- salt and pepper to taste
What to do:
Chop up the carrots and throw it all into a big pot.
Let it boil until everything is soft.
Once everything is soft, toss the whole kitten-kaboodle into a blender and blend until smooth.
Eat and enjoy!
I love carrot soup! (But mine is not vegan...) However, the carrots and onions sold at my local supermarket come from China, the stock and the orange juice from the States. I hope the salt and pepper are local...
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's possible to eat local in Vancouver, but here in Kingston you'd have a hard time. I try to buy local meat (sorry...), but that;s about it. Yes, people a 100 years ago ate precious little that was good for them. They hated their diet.
Good try, but I don't think it's possible.
P.
Hi Paul!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your comment.
First of all, I want to put emphasis on my choice of vocabulary: let's TRY to eat local/seasonal. I realize it is nearly impossible to transpose the entire modern diet, let alone at this time of the year, to local/seasonal eating. However, think about supplementing your diet with local foods and eating more simply.
I am empathetic to your situation: I lived in Kingston for three years, and moreover I grew up in the rural Alberta with miserably cold winters and only 4 month long growing seasons. However, this didn't mean I wasn't able to enjoy home-grown or local food year round. It just requires some thought and foresight in certain situations. For instance, it is January and I am still enjoying homemade applesauce from my family's appletrees! It is also possible to can all sorts of other produce, and at home, we keep potatoes and such in our basement cellar where they last almost through the winter.
I agree, though, that in Vancouver it is definitely easier to find local produce at this time of the year. My housemate volunteers at a farmer's market so we have access to local produce and other products (honey, dairy, eggs, etc) year-round. While the selection is a bit limited right now (root vegetables, squash etc) it is possible to find local food here.
I bet if you looked around, did some research and asked people you found find a way to incorporate more local food into your diet as well. I volunteered for this farm last year, and then have a CSA shared boxes delivered from to your door twice a week from June to October. Perhaps you will feel more inspired in the summer?
www.rootradicalrows.com
I would also like to point out that something in our way of living has to give: the earth cannot sustain this growing population, and we, as those living in the top 10%, need to really think about the resources we are using.
I am trying to do these things, but I realize that not everyone will be able to do them (now or at all) either for geographical or financial reasons. But just saying that it is not possible is not really an honest answer.
Cheers! and thanks again Paul - you're really keeping me on my toes!
Heidi