One letter easily transforms food into fool.
One unhealthy food choice is eating foolishly.
Fool Me Once
A turn of the calendar page indicates April Fools Day is near. But many of us have been fools all along, duped into believing that all grocery store items provide sustenance.
Fooled for a long time, I trusted government agencies and legislators. If they allowed processed ingredients, hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, herbicides and pesticides into our food, they must be safe, right? Well actually, I hadn’t given it much thought. But, when a devastating illness forced me to become more aware of what I was eating, I learned that food produced from “ingredients” and “packaged” in a bag or box was really not so good for me.
I understand how easy it is to be fooled when I don’t have the information to know better. I also understand how I become foolish when I do have the information to know better but don’t — a classic case of acting unwisely.
Thankfully, the truth is more readily available today about what’s marketed loosely as “food.” Still, many don’t have an interest or take time to investigate as evidenced by numerous fast food chains, and shopping carts overflowing with junk food, and potential “meals” like frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (Really?) or microwavable pancakes and sausage “on a stick.” (No wonder we have a health care crisis when we don’t care about ourselves or what and how we eat.)
That bag of potato chips or cheese curls is not life giving. Becoming addicted, our cravings ignore the label of artificial ingredients — at least, perhaps, until we feel really sick.
The Pesticide Data Program of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests that any of these residues may be found on potatoes:
-
- Neurotoxins
- Suspected hormone disruptors
- Known or probable carcinogens
- Developmental or reproductive toxins
- Honeybee toxins
How long will we be convinced that ingesting contaminated potatoes won’t harm our bodies? Still craving those french fries?
Listing the overwhelming number of toxicants allowed in our food chain might make you too afraid to eat much of anything. That is not my intent, nor is it to fool you into thinking I eat perfectly healthy all the time.
Becoming more mindful of what I consume is a beginning. Making one conscious choice is one healthier step than foolishly pretending unnatural, chemically-treated foodstuffs won’t harm me. Hearing the increasing cases of cancer and allergies – even in the youngest of children, I can’t ignore the information I’ve uncovered. I simply have to value my self enough to follow it and not be fooled on April 1st — or any other day for that matter.
What are your experiences with food? Has your grocery shopping or food prep changed over time? I’d love to hear what books influenced your eating selections or habits. Please do share!
Feature photo original image by Momentmal from Pixabay
wRighTing My Life 
I agree with so much of what you have shared. It’s a shame organic is so expensive compared to less healthy and costly offerings but simple, fresh and whole go a long way too. Kudos to you for doing what you need to do to stay healthy, even if incentivized by bare-minimum healthcare. While I shudder to think of not having any health care, I do wonder if we each had to take more personal responsibility for our health if we would find our way to good food, better living, and therefore, being more healthy. Yes, lots of food for thought!
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I have several of Tiwari’s books I use as resources for health. We prepare and eat most (90%) of our meals at home using the best ingredients we can afford. We used to eat only organic and only the very best, but unfortunately finances changed and we can’t always do that. But the majority of our food is simple, fresh, and delicious. I support local organic farmers as much as possible. I think food is medicine, and since I have such ridiculous bare-minimum healthcare, I try to do all in my power to stay healthy. I know not everyone has the luxury to eat as well as I do. Lots of food for thought here!
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