The other day we spoke to some friends who are convinced eating healthy, organic food is too expensive. As educators about what it means to be a Green Gourmet we talk about this idea often. Because, no matter where they are from, whether they are rich or poor, teenager or elder, everyone wonders “Does eating well cost too much money?” We believe eating for a sound body and sound mind is affordable for everyone.
We told our friends the first order of business when thinking about our meals and our money is getting folks to see the value of good-for-you food. It’s hard for people to see that what they eat affects how they feel, how they look and their level of energy. To get people to understand this connection we talk about cars. Most of us know that filling up our cars with cheap gas results in more trips to the mechanic and a lesser resale value and that using high quality fuel means our cars perform better. So we remind people gasoline is to our cars what food is to our bodies. If we fill our bodies with cheap food we can not work well, feel good or live long. But if we feed ourselves fresh, seasonal and organic food we make less trips to the doctor, we have more vitality and we can live into our golden years.
The second order of business is changing people’s priorities. Many of us need a reality check. A few years ago, a teenage boy told us healthy food costs too much then bragged about buying a $100 pair of sneakers. Another day, a woman in her mid to late thirties claimed eating well is too expensive then answered a cell phone that sells for close to $200. And, on many days, people take sips of a $5 cup of specialty coffee then tell us they don’t see the point of spending so much money on food. If we are willing to use our hard earned dollars to buy our clothes, electronics and daily caffeine fix, can we not use the same funds to feed our mind, body and soul?
When we finished making these points our friends told us we made a good argument. Then they said, “True, but isn’t it still cheaper to eat fast food?”
We told our friends the first order of business when thinking about our meals and our money is getting folks to see the value of good-for-you food. It’s hard for people to see that what they eat affects how they feel, how they look and their level of energy. To get people to understand this connection we talk about cars. Most of us know that filling up our cars with cheap gas results in more trips to the mechanic and a lesser resale value and that using high quality fuel means our cars perform better. So we remind people gasoline is to our cars what food is to our bodies. If we fill our bodies with cheap food we can not work well, feel good or live long. But if we feed ourselves fresh, seasonal and organic food we make less trips to the doctor, we have more vitality and we can live into our golden years.
The second order of business is changing people’s priorities. Many of us need a reality check. A few years ago, a teenage boy told us healthy food costs too much then bragged about buying a $100 pair of sneakers. Another day, a woman in her mid to late thirties claimed eating well is too expensive then answered a cell phone that sells for close to $200. And, on many days, people take sips of a $5 cup of specialty coffee then tell us they don’t see the point of spending so much money on food. If we are willing to use our hard earned dollars to buy our clothes, electronics and daily caffeine fix, can we not use the same funds to feed our mind, body and soul?
When we finished making these points our friends told us we made a good argument. Then they said, “True, but isn’t it still cheaper to eat fast food?”
And so the work continues….
Elizabeth J.E Johnson
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