The true gift of Father’s Day (and actually Mother’s Day) is the household moratorium on complaining. My husband, in the occasionally cunning spirit of parenthood, seized the opportunity to enlist (coerce) our teenage children to do something he wants them to do without the grumbling. Today he took them to see FOOD, INC the new documentary from filmmaker Robert Kenner about the food we now eat. I have already seen the film and think every person out there (especially runners and parents) should take the time to digest it’s message.
A visual feast of images and plethora of information, the film takes us to where our food actually originates. It will make your stomach turn and your blood boil. It asks (and attempts to answer) the very relevant question I often ask myself in the produce section of any Whole Foods market…”Why does this good organic food cost so darn much?” (actually, it’s not even just organic vs non-organic…it’s also why does broccoli cost more than potato chips). It exposes the corporate take over of the American food chain and it’s disregard for the struggling farmer. Labor violations, obesity, E coli outbreaks are all residual topics brought to the table. Eric Schlosser (of Fast Food Nation and one of the producers of the film) and Michael Pollan (author of the Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food) help sort and clarify the message in a series of appearances throughout the film.
Runners understand that an enlightened relationship with food can translate into strong runs and quick recovery. This movie’s revelations will leave you hungry for answers and perhaps empower you to join this food fight. At the very least it will motivate me to read my labels more carefully, shop at the farmers market as often as possible, and consume as much as we can from our own garden.
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