Let's Talk Food: Responsibility

Let's talk food. The festive season is winding down. You have made, and possibly broken, your New Year's resolutions. Did you swear to lose weight, take off a few pounds, maybe cut back on the desserts and second helpings? There is a tendency, on the part of those of us who can, to over indulge during any holiday. However, the December-January festive season seems to bring out the worst and the best. We prepare, purchase, give and devour delightful meals, delicious desserts and to die for chocolate treats.

We eat and we eat. After all what is a celebration without good food? I agree. Food plays an important role in our celebrations, but why are some of us able to overdo when so many go hungry? Well that is just one of the questions we will be exploring each week as Field to Table and Suite 101 enter another year.

We will also take a closer look at urban agriculture and the family farm as we explore the relationships between community and your breakfast. We will follow some of your favourite foods from the field where they are grown to your table where they are consumed. We will even dedicate a column or two to what happens after you have eaten and the journey that results. We encourage your questions, comments and critiques.

As always, the columns will include book reviews and links to relevant sources which will help you understand the food chain. Everything eats.

To kick off the New Year, in this first column of 2004, I want to discuss briefly responsibility. Specifically, the importance of taking the responsibility for what we eat. We are responsible for the buying decisions that we make. We need to hold ourselves accountable for the way we conduct our daily business. Food acquisition plays a major role in our Life. Food is one of the most important activities we undertake, yet we are always trying to get it cheaper and cheaper. Are you aware of the consequences of an influx of cheap food? Do you know what happens to the environment when price is the driving factor? Who benefits most from our current food system? What role do the multinational corporations play in determining what you eat and where it comes from?

These questions and more will be explored as we travel through the calendar year. In order to take responsibility, we need information and resources. Each week Field to Table will examine the food chain and help you find the information you need to make decisions. Next week we will look at the certification process.

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic