Healthy Americans --An Eventual Oxymoron?

Thirty-five baht, that’s all it costs? This was a question pondered as I scraped up the last little bit of my vegetable and rice dish on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand. Thirty-five baht, approximately one U.S. dollar, had paid for whole foods –not additives, or pre-formulated nutrient combinations, but foods grown on this Earth. Think about it. What's cheaper: an item from the dollar menu at McDonalds or fresh squash in the produce aisle? For the first time in my life, I was living in a country where cheap meals did not translate into unhealthy meals.

Returning to my home in the U.S., where two-thirds of Americans qualify as overweight or obese according to SmallStep.gov, I hesitated to believe that my old eating habits would be appropriate enough to keep me out of these qualifications. Opening a jar of Claussen® Kosher Dill pickles the other day, I read the following: “Contains less than 2% of High Fructose Corn Syrup, Calcium Chloride, Polysorbate 80…” –kosher huh? If you are like me, you may be wondering, for example, if one or more of the numerous American corn associations or lobbyists groups are playing a hand (and by that, I mean using money) to boost the use of high fructose corn syrup, an otherwise nonessential ingredient in pickles. This is one example of many.

So, what sets Thailand apart as a place where whole foods are actually cheaper than our seemingly healthful packaged foods? The answer: agriculture. In 2005, Thailand’s agricultural sector could attest to 10.2% of annual GDP –whereas, the U.S. agricultural sector accounted for only 1.2% of GDP as recorded by Earth Trends, in cooperation with the Development Data Group of The World Bank.

Undoubtedly, the presence of whole foods in the American diet in combination with exercise is essential to a healthier America. As our economy leans away from agriculture, and into the arms of foreign imports, our health as a nation becomes at risk. Let us join together in supporting our local farmers so our grocery stores may once again be filled with food grown on our own soil. What can you do? Join your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). For more information on a national-level: LocalHarvest.org


For Louisville (KY) natives, visitors, and residents, take a look at: Grasshoppers Distribution

Paige Battcher

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This post is not intended to be offensive, nor is it meant to portray an expert opinion. It is intended to encourage people to keep asking questions and to take action for the betterment of all.
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