June is observed as Fruit and Vegetable month in the US. Bloggers are coming together at Bloggers Unite to promote this event and to encourage purchase and consumption of fresh, nutritious produce, preferably home-grown or locally grown. As more and more people around the world try to imitate the American lifestyle, importance of fresh fruit and vegetables in daily meals is decreasing by the day. Meat is the primary ingredient based on the belief that it makes you most healthy. This is far from reality. A few weeks back I happened to watch a couple of TED videos which deal with this same issue, our unnecessary obsession with meat. I thought sharing those videos with my readers to kick off the Fruit and Vegetable month (which will be a beneficial observance worldwide) would only be appropriate.
In his fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what’s wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it’s putting the entire planet at risk.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YkNkscBEp0]
Speaking at the 2007 EG conference, renegade lunch lady Ann Cooper talks about the coming revolution in the way kids eat at school — local, sustainable, seasonal and even educational food.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f96L6BkeO9Y]
The garden was planted late this season. Although fresh pea pods are starting and the potatoes are beginning to bloom, it will be late in the season when I pick tomatoes, pickles and onions. The lettuce now, that is great. As we pick it by leaves and not the plant, it will be there to cultivate our meals all season. The triangular herb gardens are doing well, have been using basil, dill and sage. The Rosemary is going to be late. We have tried to plant celery, at least what is called celery in Hungary. It will be interesting to see what comes of it. We will have eggplant coming out ears, and have high hopes for the wax beans. The plan is to can up some of them. With over 65 tomatoe plants in, in three locations. Our goal is to can alot of maters, some with onions, peppers, basil and dill. Yummy, hey folks.The berries will be ready in another month. The new patches of blueberries actually lived, hurray. I think fresh produce has made a stronger come back in the states then people realize. AJ of Letters from 2030;
Many people have unhealthy eating habits in this country, and then look for medicine to cure them, and blame the doctor for not ‘fixing’ them. We are responsible for our own heath, and just because the fast food restaurants are there, doesn’t mean we need to eat it every day!
Thanks for the comments, Andrea and Anthony.Andrea: I agree that we have gotten used to blaming others for everything and shy away from taking any responsibility. Its a very disturbing feature of the modern society. At least when it comes to your own health, people should be more pro-active.Anthony: Great to hear about your new garden :). And also to hear that fresh produce has made a stronger come back in the states than people realize. That's great news, really! Here in Australia, people do still produce fresh food stuff and shop locally. The fast food and microwave dinners are not as big here (as yet).