Bad food or no food....Either one can kill you.  We have food epidemics all over the world.  There are countries where people are literally starving to death because they have nothing to eat...and then we have our country....We eat stuff that's called food...but it really isn't.  This fast, convenient, reheat-able phenomena that's happening right here at home is killing us with unnecessary obesity, cancer, heart disease, and it's also affecting the health of the soil, environment, and local agriculture.

We've learned through events in history time and time again, the answer lies within us. WE are the only thing that will create change.  Waiting for corporations and other countries to fix our health problems...It's not going to happen. Only YOU can take it upon yourself to learn what you are doing to your body, your family and only YOU can take the steps to correct the problem.

Do you want to do something about it?  It's not an easy solution, but we all need to start now.  Here's a list of things that you can do individually, to change our growing food problem:

COOK AT HOME

By deciding how much salt, sugar and fat you are going to put in your food, and what types you want to use, you can take back control of your health and your weight. You will also teach your children that cooking at home can be fun, healthy and that it should be a part of everyday life.

WORD OF MOUTH

Try new, healthier options, and when you find foods that you truly enjoy, that taste great and provide delicious options to our fast food lifestyle, invite your friends and family over to try them.  By you showing them firsthand that it is possible to take a step towards change that satisfies hunger, they are more likely to jump on the bandwagon.

FAIR TRADE AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Look for global certification programs like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Marine Stewardship Council to ensure that the food you are choosing for yourself and your loved ones is grown sustainable.  These organizations help recognize reduce the impact of chemical growing practices.

GROW SOMETHING EDIBLE

If you live in the city, you can still grow something in your home that's healthy and edible.  Grow herbs in pots on your windowsill. If you live in a suburb, you may have enough space to grow a small garden.  Things like asparagus only need to be planted once, and since they are perennial vegetables, they will keep producing food year after year for decades.  Getting real, fresh food in your diet is important, and can cost less in the long run, if you raise it yourself!

HIDDEN CORN

High fructose corn syrup and other processed corn ingredients include dextrose, corn syrup solids, and even meat, milk and other dairy products from corn fed cattle.  These are hidden in your foods, and without reading labels, you're getting them into your system.  Choose healthier alternatives, and try to get rid of junk foods and replace them with real whole foods.

BUY LOCALLY

Talk to local farmers about beef, dairy or seek out local goods from Farmer's Markets. This will ensure freshness of your products, and save money, and provide local jobs.

BE AWARE OF PROCESSED FOODS

Most of your food needs to be as close to its natural state as possible. For example, most of us eat bread.  Look for bread that contains these items:  flour, yeast, and salt. Make sure they DON'T contain diglycerides and calcium propionate.

 QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

It might sound silly, but even if you eat less food, if it's healthy food, it's going to keep you healthy, versus eating fast food, that's been processed.  Americans spend over 117 billion dollars on fast food.  If we could spend that on learning about healthier options we could improve the health of our country.

COST

Try to rethink this.  The cost of obesity related health care was more than 140 billion in 2008.  Think of the money that you'll save on health bills, medicines,and other health related illnesses that are preventable.

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