The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

I was getting at this very issue with my messages on Friday…but those have been erased.

Once people are educated about “what’s going into their foods and subsequently their bodies, the *discpline* you mentioned on Friday becomes more meaningful.

One simple basic rule is to “read the labels.” I was surprised when reading the label on a Little Debbie donut earlier this week: 450 calories…which means if you eat 5 of those (for men) and 4 1/2 for women…you’ve eaten all you should for that *entire* day.

That’s based on a 2,000-calorie per day intake for women and about 2200 for men. (more or less for athletes or people on special diets)

John L.

Once people are educated about “what’s going into their foods and subsequently their bodies, the *discipline* you mentioned on Friday becomes more meaningful.

The discipline may become more meaningful, but are we adhering to it? This kind of info has been out there for years for ALL to glean from and yet WE have been turning our noses up at it because this kind of eating does not contain the flavor our pallet has been used to for numbers of years. This applies to many Americans, but especially blacks (as evident of the fact that we lead just about every bad health statistic out there).

Late last year, I tried to start a week-long healthy eating drive for my readers. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any participants. During this “drive”, I was challenging readers to eliminate things like white sugar, salt, white rice, etc. and increase our intake of water. A small start, but who knows? Maybe someone might run with it.

I am thinking about doing something like this again in the near future. We’ll see.

P.S. STAY AWAY FROM THOSE LITTLE DEBBIE CAKES!!!!

As I wrote, “education” is the key. Most of the populace are still under-educated on this stuff. “Reading the labels” is a *first* and easy step.

Two, I can only speak for myself…amd a few family members and friends.

Blacks are disproportionately poor, and therefore *under-educated* when it comes to eating properly.

The Muslims “got it right” a long time ago: “How To Eat to Live” is one of their most popular books.

JCL

Unfortunately, things won’t change dramatically unless organic becomes much more mainstream. Many of the larger grocery chains are beginning to “You betta RECOGNIZE” consumers’ desire to buy and eat healthier and our now stocking “Organic” aisles in their spaces.

But, it’s like seat belts back in the 50s or 60s: What in the world were auto manufacturers thinking by not making them standard equipment?!! Yeah, we often look back and go, “Well, we didn’t even have seat belts, and we survived.” But the fact of the matter is, old folks also tell dozens of stories about the “Leon Wileys” who wrapped their 57 Chevys around poles, were ejected and ultimately ended us vegetables.

So, now that we (consumers, the good gub-ment, et al) know the deal, how long do we go on poisoning ourselves, our society, our babies, with these Draconian farming methods? I shop organic “when I can,” and that’s the problem. Long ago our government should have forced the swap–in terms of location, density, reach, penetration, etc.–of the “David’s Natural Markets” and “My Organic Markets” of the world (ok, my little part of it in Maryland) with the “Shopper’s Food Warehouses,” “Safeways” and “Giant Foods” of the world (and I mean “the world”). That way, “when I can” gets switched, too, to, “Oh, I shop those pesitcide-and-hormone-laden places…when I can.”