Build a Food Revolution in your Kitchen
Oftentimes we think of revolutions as something on a grand scale, something bigger than us. But what if we RETHINK our concept of a revolution into something we can do RIGHT NOW, in our own homes. Imagine the power of millions of household food revolutions? The good news is that we don’t need to imagine it– it’s already happening!
Everyday, more and more people are learning about the dangers of processed foods, the hazards of chemical fertilizers; they are asking questions about GMOs and corportate labeling. Millions of families are opting for community supported agriculture, farmer’s markets and fresh, healthy foods grown by people in their own neighborhood. Increasingly, people are engaging in small-scale production of food products, like producing raw milk from healthy cows, canning and fermenting and bottling using ancient wisdom, and learning how to grow their own foods.
This food revolution is happening!
The best way to create your own food revolution is to start with the basics in your own home: learn to cook healthy food at home with your family. Cooking together not only is a good experience for families (especially those with little chefs), it’s good for your body too. Cooking at home means that you know exactly what goes into your food, know exactly how much you want to eat, and it gives you a deeper appreciation for the food that has landed in your lap. Cooking with kids also instills healthy habits at a young age! Cooking can be a deeply nourishing experience, one that can bring a sense of conviviality (or togetherness) to your family or friends. Even if you have a busy schedule (and who doesn’t?), it’s important to try to find at least one day to cook at eat together with your partner, your family and/or your friends. Having a cozy kitchen with energy-efficient appliances is important too– many companies offer stylish and efficient appliances, like these self-cleaning ovens from Fisher Paykel.
‘World Peace Begins in the Kitchen’
“We’ve come to realize that our business is a very powerful tool for change. Our choice of how we package our products and where we buy our ingredients impact our world and ripple outward. For us, world peace begins in the kitchen.”
Isn’t that a great statement?! Thank you Rising Moon Organics, for beginning world peace (and making great pasta sauce, too). But this is more than a slogan- this is a grand idea that puts all of us in a position to change the ways business is done. That’s really powerful, right? But it also means that all of us have a responsibility. But how do we accomplish this feat- where do we begin? Here are some tips for building world peace and a food revolution in your own home:
- When you can, choose to purchase goods from socially responsible companies– those that use ecological packaging, socially-responsible business practices, those made in the US from non-GMO ingredients.
- Source organic and fair-trade foods from local vendors and from afar; try to focus on locally- grown ingredients which are usually produced with good wages and local labor (but not always).
- Know what your ingredients are and where they come from: that palm oil in your chips is probably from former Malaysian rainforests, and the soybean oil in your salad dressing is probably from land once covered by Amazon rainforest.
- Don’t purchase genetically-modified ingredients (GMOs: corn, soybean, canola, cotton, sugar beets, or papaya in Hawaii). Not only are they unhealthy for bodies, soil, and farmers, these ‘foods’ are the property of gigantic corporations that work to control all the seeds and food systems in the world. They don’t test them for heath effects, actual viability or productivity- they just want to sell the seeds, pesticides and intellectual property rights that go along with it.
Disclosure: This post was supported by Fisher & Paykel. All opinions are 100% mine.
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