This week, Alexandria, Virginia became the second U.S. city to enact a Green Foods Resolution, which promotes the consumption of more healthful, plant-based foods, grown locally and sustainably. Given Alexandria’s proximity to Washington, D.C., its action could help raise awareness and advance the thinking of federal policy makers. Across the U.S., citizens are beginning to recognize the critical importance of making more thoughtful and sensible food choices, and Green Foods Resolutions are a positive result of that awareness.
The factory farming system thrives as long as our nation continues its atrocious eating habits, which are laden with meat, dairy and eggs. Our food choices have profound impacts, and the deleterious consequences of eating so many animal products are becoming increasingly clear. The risk of succumbing to the top two causes of death in the U.S., heart disease and cancer, can be lowered by eating plants instead of animals. And eating whole plant foods, including fruits and vegetables, can help combat obesity, which has become epidemic across the U.S. In addition to threatening our health, factory farming subjects billions of animals to intolerable suffering, depletes scarce natural resources, pollutes the environment and destroys the well-being and integrity of rural communities.
It is critical to push for food policy reform in our nation’s capitol, but congressional action often follows movement at the community level, and that’s why I’m so hopeful about the impacts of Green Foods Resolutions. Concerned citizens and policy makers in Alexandria are to be commended for taking action and calling for a more sustainable and healthful food system. You can follow suit by introducing a Green Foods Resolution in your local community today!
Considering this nation has an extreme obesity "problem," it would be advantageous for our state and U.S. senators and representatives to follow/introduce a Green Foods Resolution!!! I'm certain that the majority would scoff at the idea of attempting, at the very least, vegetarianism. Lordy, becoming a vegan would cause veins clogged with fat to have "the keepers of the door" to yell, "MEDIC!!" Visitors seated in the balcony would drop their tacos, triple burgers, and one gallon milk shakes!!
I am proud to be a vegan! I can walk past a farm, look into the eyes of a calf and see it's beauty knowing it will NEVER be on my dinner plate as veal!!
Okay, what's that commercial....something like "Man Up," and eat a double, triple, quad whatever that was once a gorgeous creature locked up so tightly that it can do nothing but stand 24/7. The calf is anemic - it is given a bit of milk so that it's flesh is pale - it never sees it's mother, as she has been slaughtered. NO THANKS!! EAT GREEN!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Nancy A. Speed | March 27, 2010 at 04:37 PM
Great post. Eating more whole foods is what kept our ancient ancestors so healthy compared to modern humans.
Posted by: Chiropractor | May 11, 2011 at 07:33 PM