Food Systems from Different Perspectives

Today I had the pleasure of taking a prominent Milwaukee endocrinologist sailing on Lake Michigan.  After trimming the sails in light winds and flat water, we were clipping along at 6.5 knots so we settle into the cockpit to solve the problems of the world.

We quickly got to the subject of food as he commented on how busy his practice has become, trying to convince people their diabetes and obesity are because of what and how much they eat.  Recently, one patient claimed he had consumed only coffee, juice and a sweet roll at McDonald’s for 80 calories by his estimate.  They got online and looked up the actual calories.  His “small” breakfast contained a total of 900 calories, nearly 1/2 of the daily calories needed.

This doctor’s frustration was not with farming practices, federal policy or even the composition of our food, but rather the state of denial of people about what they control- food choices and quantity.   Like illegal drugs, there would be not sellers of bad food if there were no buyers.  From the many disiplines of our culture, we are all getting to our food system from different places.   A new movie “Food, INC” will open this Friday, June 19  http://www.foodincmovie.com/ Sail on.

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