Monday, October 24, 2011
My house is festooned with food- and drink-related decorations, I have tons of friends coming over for a big party in just a few minutes, and I am very excited for an evening of revelry honoring this wonderful holiday!
What? You didn’t know it was Food Day?
Well, don’t feel too badly. It’s not Christmas, after all.
And, no, I didn’t really decorate my house.
(I may or may not have baked a cake.)
Not that Food Day, whose goal is “nothing less than to transform the American diet,” isn’t worthy of celebration. But it is Monday, after all, marking both the beginning of the work week and my return from across the pond. I still have a number of stories to tell that will be posted this coming week, including an interesting outing at the market and fabulous meals featuring local produce, UK style. That said, I simply couldn’t let the day end without mentioning Food Day. The six specific principles follow:
- Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
- Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness
- Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
- Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms
- Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
- Support fair conditions for food and farm workers
The event was created by Center for Science in the Public Interest, currently in its 40th year. Its mission is to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition and provide consumers with useful information. If you are not familiar with this terrific organization, I encourage you to check out their website. I almost accepted a job there some years ago. Although my professional life and theatre company kept me in Boston, I am always pleased to tell people about the great work they do, like Food Day.
Truth be told, every day is Food Day for me. In all seriousness, I probably would have hosted a dinner party. I am sad that I wasn’t able to spend more time this year commemorating this event in a manner more deserving, but there’s always next year.
And, honestly, better yet to remember and practice principles of healthful and sustainable diets in our every day food choices, a task that I am devoted to helping you do.
In the meanwhile, dinner awaits.
