By: Rebecca K.
Food: a broad word that we all have myriad connections with on a
daily basis; whether it is from eating a meal or from working on
a nutrition research project, which in turn may influence what
foods a particular group consumes. Now is not the time for
semantics, but:
Do you know where your food or the food for the groups that you
do research on comes from?
Have you thought about this question before?
We all have our own ideas, opinions, and definitions of food,
food systems, local food, etc. Whether you think about these
topics a lot or a little in your personal and/or professional
lives, here are two new documentaries starting to be released in
theaters as of Friday June 12 that might interest you, or at the
very least, feed your brain and eyes (disclosure: as I am still
in Mexico I have seen neither movie).
1) “Food, Inc” as the name suggests is about the corporate control of the current [U.S.] ‘food system' that is heavily influenced by powerful corporations; a food system and corporations that in turn have influenced the foods consumed, and their similar potentially subsequent health consequences (e.g. excess weight gain), all over the world.
2) “FRESH” is the second ‘food-for-thought' documentary. It will likely (and presumably) get you thinking more about what a/the U.S. ‘food system' actually is and can be. From what I've read and heard, “FRESH” should feel fresh; focusing on ‘local people' across the U.S. working on alternatives to make our food system more sustainable. Director Ana Joanes says “[FRESH is] really more about adopting a new perspective, a different understanding of our relationship to each other and the world.”
Now please go enjoy a movie or two. Happy ‘eating!'
*And just in case you are one of those people who *must* read a
movie review prior to going to a movie, here are few:
- La Vida Locavore (an awesome blog about all things food) has reviews on both Food, Inc. and FRESH.
