Becoming a farm wife has made me a snob about food in some people’s eyes, but it has taught me that the food we eat comes at a price. Someone took the time to grow and cultivate the food so that we can have the food that we love.
A few years ago, my husband became a full time farmer and started his own business, Anthony’s Roots.
Before becoming a farm wife, my husband and I were always passionate about food. How and where it was grown, the processes used to grow it, and how to cook it.
My husband threw around terms like GMO, CSAs and many more. Most of the time I listened, but other times I just grinned and tuned him out (I know that’s terrible, but I’m guilty)
I’ve always been passionate about food too–passionate about taste. In college I watched the Food Network and I loved experimenting with new recipes.
Since he’s taken up farming, I have a new appreciation for food. People think that being a farmer’s wife makes me a snob about food, but the truth is things I typically would never try taste different….and when I say different, I mean better!
Now that I’ve had a taste of true freshness, I’ve learned a few things:
Most of What We Eat is Genetically Engineered
What does it mean when your food is genetically engineered? It means that your food is being altered in a lab setting so that it can withstand herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. GMOs prevent food from doing what it does naturally–like the browning of apples, or keeping food from going bad longer.
A “Non-GMO” label on food suggests that all ingredients were derived from plants, animals, or other organisms whose genetic material has not been artificially altered in a laboratory.
The American Public Health Association and American Nurses Association are among many medical groups that disagree with the use of growth hormones used on cows,because the milk from treated cows has more of the hormone that is linked to cancer.
If caring about my overall wellness makes me a snob about food, then so be it.
Kids Can Learn to Like Veggies Despite Popular Belief
Trust me, I’ve had to do a little negotiating, but I’ve made some gains in getting my picky 7 year old to try different veggies.
Most recently, I had to bribe her with a snickers to get her to eat squash, but at the end of the day, I was happy because she ate the squash.
She has been more open to trying new things because my husband gets our children to help in the garden. They plant the seeds, pull the weeds and harvest the food. They are invested from the beginning, so they are more likely to try new things. That makes this mama’s heart glad!
Taking Time To Learn Where Your Food Comes From is Vital
Most kids don’t think about the hard work that it takes to get food.
(Before my husband became a farmer, I don’t know that we truly understood either.)
They don’t understand that a farmer needs rain to help his crops grow. And sometimes crops fail–which means certain food doesn’t grow.
When we go to the grocery store, we see what we want and buy it. We don’t think about the fact that buying berries in the winter means they will be sour because that’s not the season that they normally grow in.
It’s important for kids to know that our meat comes from animals and our fruits and veggies are grown. It gives them a greater appreciation for the world around them.
It’s important to teach our children the value of hard work and where our food comes from. Investing in your family’s health is a step into improving your overall wellness.
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