FOOD VIGILANTE

Some ideas have been long standing accepted standards, enduring the test of time and testing. Take for instance, gravity. It almost seems cliche. No one doubts it, we all feel it, it is inescapable. Other ideas have had their problems over the years. For example, the shape of the world. As I am sure you know, people used to think that the world was flat, a huge disc floating around the sun. Oh, wait, we used to think that the sun and all the other bodies in space floated around the earth! Humankind advanced, instruments of observation improved, some dude took a boat ride over the “edge” and from that point on our world got round, spun around the sun and started to shrink. This wasn’t an idea that rattled just a few cages, this was a shift in societal beliefs that led to a period of chaos, disregard and even deaths! Not many changes have caused such a worldwide gasp since then, except, of course, for the recent adulterous ways of Tiger Woods.

There have been other generally accepted truths disproved over the years.

The advertisement on this building is as precarious as the deteriorating brick on which it’s painted. Even smokers know, today, that there are just no health benefits to smoking. But there was a day…

Where am I going with this? Well, I am interested in many things food related. Food at the store, food in schools, whole food, processed food, organic food, there are a myriad of questions to be answered. Well, since you are all generally busy stuffing your faces, I (with great love and affection for all of you) struggle with these issues day in and day out. With this in mind I would like to challenge some long time and basic beliefs. I want to shake the foundation of what “is” by examining what “was”, what “has become” and what is “going to be”.

Today the Duchess and I had our gardening day (pictures and progress report soon). Early in the day, the Duchess was seized by a quick sneeze. I responded by saying “bless you”. She retorted “thank you”. All was well. As I thought about this, I recalled times when people have sneezed and no one happened to say “bless you”. This omission of a well wish after a sneeze is most often regarded as rude, inconsiderate and downright mean. Often the sneezer even becomes a little or a lot annoyed. You have seen this happen, and maybe have been one of the parties involved. The point is that this exchange only occurs because that is what we have all been taught to believe is right and proper. Should a person really feel jilted by silence after a sneeze, no not really. It does feel good, however, to hear a “bless you”. This is my point, it feels good. It seems right. It is what we have alwaysknown. (Disclaimer: I do not recommend omitting “bless you’s” after sneezes, the world is not ready for such change)

What I am about to say might come as a surprise. I am concerned with the consumption of milk, sugar and flour. I know, I can hear the screams, the keyboards being slammed and the Hollywood-like gasps! I know, with high-fructose-corn-syrup and hydrogenated oils out there, what the hell am I doing messing with our beloved “big three”? Let me explain. I still consume milk, sugar and flour. I am not ready to sail into the abyss just yet to see if I’ll fall off into oblivion. You know I feel odd about drinking from a cow, although milk tastes so good, and cheese, oh, don’t get me started! Sugar consumption is out of control! Lastly, flour. I am just not convinced that flour is the best vehicle for the nutrients that found in wheat. I’m sure the Barilla Pasta company is taking their advertising proposal off the table as we speak.

I go into this with an open mind. There are so many things wrong with the food provided for us these days that it even seems to me a bit frivolous to spend time on these feel good, comfortable and long used foods. But, they don’t call me FV for nothin’. I have mentioned before that I feel this blog has been like a gift of three ships. So I will sail and see if I can find new ground, new ideas and maybe rattle the foundations of what we believe is the truth.

Milk could be a flat Earth. Sugar could be smooth, throat cleansing cigarettes. Flour could be an unneccesary, but feel good “bless you”. We’ll see.

Wish me luck, if not, well, bless you.

FV