The email contained eight photos of different families across the world and the varying amounts of food and cost that they purchase each week.  The differences are striking.  The things I noticed: the processed crap that is ingested by Western societies versus ‘traditional’ culture, the comparable weight of the families and the food they eat, the health and vitality of those who eat whole foods versus processed foods.

Seriously, take a look at these people.  Look at each picture in detail.  

There are so many things that can be said about this.  Some of the pictures are heartbreaking, and not just the obvious ones.  I think the amount of sodas consumed by the Mexican family is just as heartbreaking as the lack of food that family in Chad have access to.  Did you notice how much fast food, and how little whole foods (one plate of fruit), the American family had? Look at the amount of food can feed 13 people in Bhutan versus the amount of food that feeds four in Germany.  And finally, look at the amount of waste created by the Western families.  

We write a lot about the affect of food on our environment, economy, and our bodies.  I think these photos are a clear indication of what problems exist surrounding our food culture.  Many of these families are not eating food, they are eating chemical calories.  And, when you look at the packaging and the marketing that goes into having a family select on brand over the other, you realize this isn’t going to end.  The corporations that make processed food do not have your best interest in mind.  There main concern is profit.  

We are in a food crisis.  However, I doubt many people really understand that because they have access to food in astronomical ways.  Many of these families.. many of you who read this… have never seen pictures of how people survive outside of the United States or ‘western’ homes.  We are extremely fortunate to have the abundance that we do.  I think when the peak of this food crisis hits many people are not going to know how to survive, and that is scary.

I would be interested in knowing what your interpretation of these photos are.  Please feel free to comment about them with your opinions.

urban farm in Cuba

As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the subsequent trade embargoes put on the country, Cuba turned to small sustainable farms to offset reduced rations of food.

They have proven extremely popular, occupying 35,000 hectares (86,000 acres) of land across the Caribbean island. Even before the hurricanes, they produced half of the leaf vegetables eaten in Cuba, which imports about 60 percent of its food.

“I don’t say they have the capacity to produce enough food for the whole island, but for social and also agricultural reasons they are the most adequate response to a crisis,” said Catherine Murphy, a U.S. sociologist who has studied Cuba’s urban gardens.

Another benefit is because of a work share program, many in the community make double the national average at $43/month.

In contrast, 80% of US farms are commodity agriculture and do not produce food for consumption. And, the average farmer has to have another job in order to supplement the income just above the poverty level.

I have written for a while that I feel we will soon see an unimaginable food crisis. We have lost our connection to how our food is produced and made and it will only hinder us when we face uncertain times. My belief is that we can take a lesson from Cuba by creating community gardens, rooftop gardens, and much, much more.

Again, how is this NOT child abuse? Find my original post about that question HERE.

Here is an interesting article about food waste.

The food crisis is not one of lack of food but over production of food that cannot get to people who need it, therefore becoming waste. The point of the article is to also bring to light the volume of water that is used to make the food, therefore it is wasted, as well.

I think the thing that stands out to me about this, and similar articles, is that we need to look at the whole life span of what we buy, whether it is food or other goods. To produce beef it costs 2500 gallons of water per pound. When you throw that away, you have contributed to the waste of not only that item, but everything it took to make that item.

Here is an interesting article about food waste.

The food crisis is not one of lack of food but over production of food that cannot get to people who need it, therefore becoming waste. The point of the article is to also bring to light the volume of water that is used to make the food, therefore it is wasted, as well.

I think the thing that stands out to me about this, and similar articles, is that we need to look at the whole life span of what we buy, whether it is food or other goods. To produce beef it costs 2500 gallons of water per pound. When you throw that away, you have contributed to the waste of not only that item, but everything it took to make that item.