I was at a bookstore over the weekend that was closing and had ridiculous prices. I picked up a book called "The Real Food Revival" by Sherri Brooks Vinton and Ann Clark Espuelas. I thought it might be cheesy (like the cover picture) or crazy, but for a couple bucks I was willing to find out. Turns out this is a great book. There are some people out there who just eat everything that is put in front of them without asking questions or even wondering where it came from. Others may just assume the USDA and other such organizations are out there protecting us. This book explores the reality that is the food industry. The fact is the USDA and other organizations are more concerned with protecting the large meatpacking companies and farms than they are with protecting consumers. Problems run rampant in the meatpacking, farming and fishing industries that jeopardize our health and well-being.
This book not only informs the reader about these issues, it also provides a lot of information on what you can do about it. It tells you where to shop, what to look for on packaging, questions to ask and many websites and books are referenced to give you more information.
I like the position the authors take in this book. It isn't overly preachy and it certainly isn't telling anyone to be a vegetarian or avoid red meat (in fact problems with the farming industry are discussed as are health benefits of grass-fed beef). The authors simply long for great tasting food that isn't harmful to eat or to the environment.
If you get a chance, pick up a copy of this book at a local bookstore or on Amazon or someplace like that. It might just change the way you think about what you are putting in your mouth.
