And This is Why My Kids Will Never Own a Video Game
Photo courtesy of Animal Sanctuary
I am not a scientist, nor a dietician. I am a Mom who comes from a budget-conscious, meat eating hunting and farming family.
I grew up thinking vegetarians were delusional and vegans were part of a cult and anybody who bought anything organic simply had too much money.
I thought the meat on my dinner plate came from farms like I saw dotting the side of the road when I drove to visit my parents back in our little town. Farms where the cows and pigs and sheep have hundreds and hundreds of acres of grass to munch on until their number is up and then it’s off to the big pasture in the sky via a quick and painless death.
Then, like many of you, I saw the movie Food Inc. Then I saw the movie Fast Food Nation. Then I read the book. Then I freaked out.
Like all American industries, the food industry is constantly looking for ways to become more efficient. And efficient they have become. In 1933, Americans spent over 25% of their income on food. Today it’s only about 9.9%.
These efficiencies were created in large part by something commonly known as a factory farm, designed to produce as much meat, eggs or milk at the lowest possible cost. Roughly 85% of the meat consumed in this country comes from these factory farms.
Great, right?
Well, not really.
The way animals in factory farms live and die is not only inhumane, it’s unbelievable, hideous torture.
Pigs, dairy and beef cattle, egg laying chickens and broilers (chickens raised for meat) and fish all live in conditions so crowded that they don’t have room to move or lay down, much less walk (well, the fish don’t walk, but that would be really cool). They spend their days standing still in their own filth. Many are lame or diseased, and of course, to maintain efficiencies in production, go untreated and left to suffer until they are taken to slaughter.
(Click on any of the links above to learn more about the specifics of their diggs.)
But maybe you don’t care about how a farm animal lives or dies.
Fair enough. As I said, I grew up in a family of hunters and farmers and I’m familiar with the mentality that animals are animals and as top man on the totem pole we don’t have to go feeling all sorry for a chicken. Even if its feet are bloody and raw from standing in a 14” cage all day.
But the problem is that this overcrowding and confinement leads to a lot of problems for us.
In factory farms animals are forced to live in their own feces, urine and vomit and even amid the corpses of other animals. Confinement and overcrowding of animals’ environment presents the risk of contamination of the meat from viruses and bacteria and as a result, quick spread of contagious disease via the high concentration of manure and urine.
Diseases such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, swine influenza virus, salmonella and E. coli.
Yummy.
Additionally, nearly every one of these animals are given hormones to make them grow even faster or produce ungodly amounts of milk and save everyone money. The FDA claims it’s too early to link these hormones to things like breast cancer and girls entering puberty at earlier ages than ever in history but many studies are still being conducted.
But what does this mean for you and your kids? In short, 76 million Americans are sickened, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 DIE each year from food borne illness. Yes, that’s die.
But, thank God that it’s just meat, right? At least I don’t have to buy organic vegetables.
You knew that was a big lead in for my next point, right?
A new study out of Harvard shows that even tiny, allowable amounts of a common pesticide class can have dramatic effects on brain chemistry. Kids with above-average pesticide exposures are 2x as likely to have ADHD. Click here to read the full study, or feel free to research on your own.
AAAAAH!
Ok, so by now you’ve either become completely terrified or you stopped reading three paragraphs ago. In the midst of my research I was in the terrified stage, but completely at a loss for where to even start. I lived in the Taco Bell drive through. One of the worst days of my life came when my daughter turned one and we had to turn her car seat forward facing because she would see me get the drive-through sack and cry until I shared my daily McDonald’s snack wrap with her.
So what I’m saying is that if I can do it, anyone can do it.
Start small, by switching to organic or almond milk and egg substitutes. Then move to meat – organic free range chicken and grass fed beef sans growth hormones that are raised and slaughtered locally. Then it’s easy to make the switch to organic fruits and vegetables.
For the first time in my life I visited a local farmers market. They are few and far between in St. Louis during this time of year but my kids and I have made several trips to the Sappington Farmers’ Market, offering a wide variety of locally grown meat and produce.
One big change you can make is to eat at home as much as possible, but when you do eat out try to choose restaurants like Chipotle and Local Harvest that offer organic meat and great vegetarian options.
I had the opportunity to speak with Maddie Earnest, co-owner of Local Harvest Cafe and grocery store.
“I read about a store in Portland that got 20% of its items from local farmers and thought I could do better,” she said.”
Right now 50% of the items in the store (averaged over a year) are from local farmers and food producers employing sustainable farming methods within a 150-mile radius, and the goal is to continue to grow that number.
We also had dinner at the Local Harvest Cafe and I have a new appreciation for vegan dishes. I take back what I said earlier about vegans being part of a cult.
No, we’re not the perfect example. Over the weekend I had to do hangover control and ate a quarter pounder on the way home from a road trip. And it was glorious. And last night we went out to dinner and I ordered Ellie a corn dog. But I can tell you that by and large I can pinpoint the origin of our meat and produce. And they are farmers who I am proud to do business with.
But I can’t afford to buy organic.
I hear you - I’m sure for a few of you this is the case.
But for the overwhelming majority of us this is an excuse. “I can’t afford it” is another way to say “I don’t want to spend more money on it because it’s not a priority in my life.” Food has become an unbelievably low priority for us as Americans.
Yes, buying organic is a more expensive. Organic milk is about $2/gallon more. Organic meat averages $2 more per pound, and fruit and vegetables average about $1 more per pound.
If you buy four gallons of milk, ten pounds of meat and five pounds of vegetables every week this works out to about an additional $33 per week.
We got there by nixing the DVR, opting to stay in my 2004 4-door sedan vs. buying a new SUV, shopping at resale shops for clothing and books, painting my own nails, saying no to the Wii, Nintendo and other video games, and little things like hand drawn birthday cards and using newspaper as wrapping paper. We had a $50 budget for our kids’ Christmas gifts – the average American family spends about $750.
I believe that we as parents have a responsibility, no, an OBLIGATION, to our children to make their safety a priority. Yes, I would love to drop my kids off at school in a shiny new SUV. And I know the day will come when I will feel guilty that they want to play at their friends’ house because we don’t have the latest and greatest toys or video games.
But I will never, ever lose sleep over what I’m feeding them. Which I believe is the greatest gift I can give.
Click here for some easy ways to start making changes in your life.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-3058v1
http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-issues.php
http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/Factsheet/Diet/fs37.hormones.cfm
http://eatwellguide.org
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july192006/food_prices_71906.php
http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/
http://parenting.families.com/blog/how-much-do-you-spend-on-christmas
I’m unsure what the connection is between organic eating and video games? You say “and this is why my kids will never have one….” and then talk about Organic foods. In the end you talk about sacrifices. So are you saying you will never, ever be able to afford a video game? Are you philosophically opposed to them? Just not sure what the title has to do with the post. And would you really LOVE to drop your kids off in a shiny new SUV?
What I’m saying is that eating organic is more expensive, but we are able to afford it because we don’t buy our kids video games or expensive toys (among other things). And yes, I would really LOVE to drop my kids off in a shiny new SUV. With hydraulics. And green under lighting. And a sound system that rattles the windows when I play my old Doggie Style CD. And a little license plate that spins around every time Snoop says shizzle.
I’ve been educatd on this issue since the mid 80′s. In fact, my mom became a vegan in 1985 (and remained commited to it until her death in 2007) purely for ethical and moral reasons. I was a vegetarian for 10 years myself for the same reason. I eventually gave it up out of convenience. It is much easier now than 20 years ago to go vegetarian (or vegan). I agree that making baby steps is a good first start. Finding a friend or acquaintance who is an ethnical farmer to buy your meat (maybe buy a quarter or half cow at a time) from is a great way to support it, too. I love the passion in your article. Awesome post.
Thanks, Bonnie. That’s a great idea about the meat. My sister and brother-in-law own a cattle farm and once we can save up enough for a deep freeze we’re going to start sharing meat. There are also a lot of sustainable farms who will deliver their meat directly to your front door. I met several through my visits to the Sappington Farmers’ Market.
Great article, Hannah! Thanks for all the info and for just encouraging us that it’s okay, and even admirable, to deny our children certain privileges like cable and video games in order to protect their little bodies and feed them the best food possible.
Well done!
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Kind of funny that eating organic is so “in” now. My parents have always had a huge garden. Dad hunted and fished. And mom would buy part of a cow and pig each year from a farming friend or family member who’d happen to be butchering.
Those actions put a huge dent in the grocery bill. My sr year of high school, my parents could feed a family of 5 (all three kids in high school) for $50 a week. But the garden and all of the canning, freezing fish and other game was a big part of the savings.
So eating organic doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’ve got a bit of space to grow a garden, eating organic can save money.
We do buy some things organic. I stopped buying chips, soda and candy to offset the costs. And this year, I’m hoping I have better luck with my garden.
Hannah, I read your article via Kelli Stuart posting it on FB.
Please remember there are 2 sides to every story. My husband Jeff grew up on a dairy farm and has worked in the agricultural industry his entire career. St. Louis is still an epicenter for ag. I bet many of your readers have roots in or ties to agribusiness now.
Jeff and I met the documentarian who made Food Inc. on a business trip last fall. He’s a super guy and we were moved by his film. There are some unfair and unsavory practices, as in all industry. But we were also disappointed in the movie bc 1) most of the big food companies didn’t comment when asked to give their side (would you give a comment to a liberal filmaker who may be hostile to your business?) and 2) there’s a tremendous amount of good in the American agricultural and food industry that was overlooked. Quality, availability, and affordability of food for the world comes to mind.
Just some food for thought, pun intended.
Aimee – thanks for your comment. Yes, I do agree that there are two sides to every story – my sister and brother-in-law are beef and pork farmers. I tried to find research to counter what I read about factory farms but facts are facts.
Availability and affordability are definitely two big strengths of the industry but I would argue quality. Food is such an integral part of our lives and we really really have little understanding of how it goes from point A to point B to our dinner plates. Should we accept affordability over quality?
Aimee I agree with you. I think the point to be taken from Hannah’s article is that we need to be vigilant in protecting our children, right down to what we put in their bodies. It’s very difficult as a parent to consistently feed our kids healthy foods, particularly when we’re on the run. But, for me personally, I know that I often get lazy in my food preparation. I think this is more of an encouragement to me to do my research and to be willing to make sacrifices in order to feed my kids well. While I don’t worry so much about the treatment of the animals (not because I don’t care about abuse but because I figure the worst of the extreme cases are shown in movies and articles that intend to point out the bad in agriculture), I am concerned about the effects of pesticides and growth hormones in our children. These are the things that make me most want to be more prepared and more organized so I can feed my kids natural, whole foods.
I don’t think the agriculatural business is a big, bad giant. Obviously they are providing something we need the most. I do think, however, that it pays to be informed. This is good discussion! Thanks ladies!
Thanks, Kelli and Hannah.
I am a mom too and feel as strongly as you about doing what’s best for my child. We’re not made of money either. No one is in this economy. We buy both conventionally produced and organic food depending on what we need, like and can afford.
As Hannah said, facts are facts. I encourage you to do more research on the facts before you suggest parents stop buying safe, healthy, conventionally produced food and exclusively buy often over-priced organic food at the expense of other needs they may have. If you are inclined to do so, go for it. But don’t try to scare or guilt the rest of us into following suit.
For example, here’s a fact I bet would surprise most parents. The FDA has proved rBST-free milk is compositionally the same as conventionally produced milk. It’s the same thing. Except for the price. That’s right. You, the mom and consumer, are paying a premium for packaging that says rBST-free.
Facts like these are plentiful and available. Perhaps you would like to interview some folks on the other side of these issues. Let me know what kind of actual farmer or ag execs you want to interview, and I’m sure I can help you find some that would be happy to speak to you.
In the meantime, here are some internet resources you will want to check out:
http://www.knowacaliforniafarmer.com
http://www.farmersfeedus.org
http://www.bestfoodfacts.org
http://www.foodintegrity.org
http://www.sustainableeggcoalition.org
http://www.monsanto.com
http://www.nppc.org
http://www.beefusa.org
http://www.adfarmonline.com/blog/aroundthefarm/category/food-production/page/2 (blog about AdFarm president’s interview with Food Inc.’s Rob Kenner)
Well said Kelli.
Aimee, you wrote “there’s a tremendous amount of good in the American agricultural and food industry.” Please know Hannah has close ties to the ag community (as do I). Her post wasn’t intended to “knock” on farmers. She began researching this issue and wanted to share her insights and perspective.
We’re always looking for guest writers. You’re more than welcomed to share your insights and perspective on this topic or any others we spotlight.
First, I appreciate your interest and the time you’ve invested into this post. I hope we can continue to have a civilized dialogue about this important subject.
As Lisa said, my intent with the article was not to elicit guilt and certainly not to demean our local farmers. The farmers in my family work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without vacation, and they are not the exception. I have nothing but the utmost respect for farmers and the work they do. The farmers spotlighted in the second link you provided are a lot like those I know. I interviewed several local farmers operating sustainable farms around the state for this post but I had to edit for length because their concerns about factory farming mirrored mine.
My concerns are not with the local farmers, but with the massive corporations running factory farms where the majority of our meat, milk and eggs come from.
I would love to keep the conversation going with additional thoughts and points of view through your follow-up post.
I have long been a proponent of making healthy and socially responsible food choices. In fact, reducing the processed foods in my diet and going organic helped me to lose 15 pounds. I am also a firm believer that when hormones and antibiotics are given to animals they will inevitably make their way into your food supply (dude, it’s the same premise that drug testing in humans is based on).
Buying local and organic isn’t the equivalent to going to the fancy-schmancy health food stores or buying things at a premium. CSA’s and farmer’s markets often have lower priced produce that is organically grown, locally sourced, and socially responsible. Just my two cents.
It took me until the end to get the connection of the title to the content, but it’s really a good link. In addition to spending money to provide healthy food for you and your kids, you’re also potentially helping to make them healthier by limiting video games (a sedentary activity) in favor of more creative, and perhaps more active, pursuits.
Since I more or less eat as you suggest, I didn’t have to worry about making any big dietary changes when I found out I was pregnant in November. With a little one on the way, it is a little scary to think about the cost of feeding an additional person a high quality diet, but I know it’s worth spending less in other areas to fuel my body with quality food.
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