Under the Weather

 

Monday at lunch, I ate something that didn't agree with me.  I spent much of the afternoon and evening being really sick.  Even yesterday I wasn't back to 100%, although I was well enough to work (from home).  The number of times I get sick during a year usually can be counted on one hand.  Not this time... I suspect it was food poisoning.

This brings up the concept of problems in the food production cycle.  There are reports of vegetables (lettuce) with pathogentic organisms or meat that might carry Mad Hampster desease.  Food recalls for one reason or another are almost a daily occurance.  Don't get me started on the wonders of processed foods...  they are almost unavoidable in this age.

As I get older, I am becoming ever more health concious.  Diet is important, and the more natural a food is, the better:  real butter rather than margarine.  Whole wheat bread instead of bleach white bread.  Fresh cooked meats and veggies instead of frozen dinners.  Sure, the ready made meals are convenient, but if you have some spices, you can make your home cooked meals taste as good or better than processed foods.

Is there a point to the non-fresh foods?  You betcha.  If you don't have a pantry full of canned goods, you're missing a necessary emergency supply.  Food production isn't the only problem area.  The nations transportation network (i.e., the trucking industry) experiences periodic issues.  If the trucks don't run, the grocery stores don't get their supply shipments.  Remember, the typical store only has about 3 days of food for the normal rate of purchase.  Throw in panic buying, and the shelves might be emptied in a day.  Does everyone remember the toilet paper shortage a few years ago?

The point of this post is not to complain about getting sick.  Instead, I'd like to point out that the closer we are to our food, the better for our health.  Fresh veggies and meat, cooked at home are great.  Raising your own vegetables and meat animals is a useful resource, if you can manage it.  My luck with gardening is hit-or-miss.  Although my fruit trees give me a good harvest, the potatoes not so much.  But I keep trying.  Home based protein production (e.g.:  chickens or rabbits) is a no-go in our neighborhood, but if you can manage it, it will extend your food supply when the supply chain fails.  Yes, keep canned and dried foods as a back up, but don't depend on them.

Where does your food come from?