Lobbyist for Lettuce!

on July 9, 2009
in All Posts

Reading your responses to The Protein Question is so interesting!  Different diets work for different people.  I really like to learn more about different eating styles (which is why I read meat-eater blogs, vegan blogs, raw blogs…) and your feedback is very insightful!

 

So, now everyone knows that I’m a little paranoid when it comes to our government.  :)  I think Heather from HangryPants said it best when she commented:

 

I am completely over government guidelines of any sort. After seeing Food, Inc. I became the biggest conspiracy theorist about food and government.

 

I’m probably going to go see Food, Inc. this weekend, and I can’t wait!  I’m sure it will only fuel my paranoia, but I’d rather be educated about my food than live in ignorant bliss!

 

Also, guess what?  There are, in fact, lobbyists for lettuce!

 

Anna wrote me to say:

 

Just wanted to let you know that lettuce does INDEED have a lobby…quite a number of lobbyists believe it or not!  For the most point, small and family-owned farms don’t have powerful lobbyists, but the conglomerates and seed producers have HUGE lobbyists.  In addition to the farm conglomerates and seed producers, you also have lobbyists for people dealing with fruits and vegetables. My father used to run a non-profit institute to protect the interests of fresh-cut produce producers. This included the people who pick the lettuce, bag the lettuce, and ship the lettuce.

I’m entirely sure there are other smaller lobbyists but the conglomerates and seed producers with the help of affiliated lobbyists had a major hand in the readjustment of the old food pyramid in order to up the daily necessary quantities of fruits and vegetables (my father’s company definitely had vested interest in trying to improve the FDA’s pyramid).

Sweet! Lobbyists for lettuce!  I just wish the small farmers could be adequately represented.  After all, without FARMS there is no FOOD!

 

Onwards to lunch!

 

I just had the most delicious salad (lettuce! lettuce! lettuce):

CIMG6952

My salad contained:

 

  • Lettuce
  • Baked polenta "crotons"
  • 1/2 cup dark red kidney beans
  • Sprinkle of cheese
  • Carrot
  • Cucumber

CIMG6955

Total protein: 10 grams.  Total so far today: 22.5 grams.

 

What are your favorite political/social books and movies?  I loved The Inconvenient Truth, In Defense of Food, and Skinny Bitch (you can read my review of Skinny Bitch here — I didn’t like everything about it, but it was influential!)

{ 51 comments }

 

  • Aynsley - WrenLife July 9, 2009, 8:43 am

    My fave book last year was Ultra Marathon Man by Dean Karnazis. He's also got a blog, it's listed on my blogroll.

    I can't wait to read Malcom Gladwell's latest book because I loved The Tipping Point and Blink so much!

  • Jennifer @ His N' Her Health July 9, 2009, 8:44 am

    I agree about the government! My boyfriend thinks I am nuts 🙂 I love those three books/movies too. I am currently reading In defense of food. I wish Food Inc. was playing here!! I want to see it so bad! I got the book from the library though, but haven't started it!

  • janessa July 9, 2009, 8:49 am

    I just finished Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz.

    This book makes for uncomfortable reading. It took me a few months to finish, because I had to put it down for breaks. Gail Eisnitz is an investigative reporter who, through one man's complaint (from Florida!) starts tracking the whole meat industry.
    She details how closely politics and animal agriculture actually are (it will blow your mind), speaks to the cleanliness conditions at slaughterhouses, and addresses workers' rights and health issues.
    She is articulate, intelligent, and uncovers one unbelievable story after another.
    Every single person would benefit from reading this book.

  • Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn July 9, 2009, 8:55 am

    Hey Caitlin!

    Have you every read The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair? It's an old school classic documenting the meat market in the US when it was unregulated. It's quite disturbing and.. gross.

  • Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn July 9, 2009, 8:58 am

    i just posted my admin URL above.. I wonder if people will click through to my admin page? Possible? Sorry! Corrected here 🙂

  • Anna July 9, 2009, 9:00 am

    I read Fast Food Nation back in middle school, and it put me off fast food for life. Then again, I never was a huge fast food eater, but FFN pretty much stopped me from eating anything but an ice cream cone from McDonalds ever again. I had stopped eating beef and pork in elementary school and became a full vegetarian in college, and FFN definitely was instrumental in how my diet has evolved over the years.

  • Trainer T.s Fitness July 9, 2009, 9:03 am

    I am reading Wellness the next trillion dollar industry by Paul Zane. (latest revised edition)

    He goes deep into dairy and government however more on the "sickness industry". He is against the government and for the people. Some of it does not pertain to produce so far, but his take on what our goverment is doing about the food industry in general. It is a MLM book.

    I think Zane has had some HOT pressure from it, but it is a real eye opener.

  • Trainer T.s Fitness July 9, 2009, 9:04 am

    Btw….Also I could not get your link to work on that Food Movie you are going to see.

  • J July 9, 2009, 9:06 am

    I loved the Omnivore's Dilemma, more than In Defense of Food. I just got Food Matters from the library an can't wait to read it!

  • peanutbuttr plz July 9, 2009, 9:07 am

    your salad looks wonderful. nothing could be wrong with something topped with both polenta and cheese 🙂

    and thank you for posting the video on your page. I've really wanted to see this film and this teaser might give me the motivation to do so.

  • runnerskitchen July 9, 2009, 9:11 am

    One of my favorite books is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It details her family's year long experiment in local eating. So influential! I actually stopped eating bananas for 6 months because they were not local.
    Also, my boyfriend has chronic knee problems, so I showed him your knee strengthening exercise tutorial and he's been doing the moves!

  • Red Head, Yellow Dog July 9, 2009, 9:20 am

    Another good food documentary is The Future of Food. I recently saw it can be watched on hulu! It takes a lot about genetically modified food. some parts are hard to follow with the sciencey part of it but overall a good documentary.

    and unfortunately, although lettuce does have a lobbyist, they do not have as much weight and pull as the cattle industry. Senators and reps from states where cattle raising is a main industry will fight for the meat farmers with deep pockets. money wins again. 🙁

  • evan July 9, 2009, 9:22 am

    like you, i enjoyed Michael Pollan's books, but i also loved Skinny Bitch. I am in no way a vegan (or 100% vegetarian, for that matter) but i loved that the writers debunked the protein myth – that we need tons of it to survive. they actually wrote that too much protein CAUSES illnesses such as cancer.

    this site is also really informative about pesticides in food:

    http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/

    it's scary to look at, but it's important to know the facts.

  • Haleigh July 9, 2009, 9:24 am

    I have to agree with you about government and food. I would really like to see the film as well.

    The salad looks light and delicious, perfect for summer.

  • Holly July 9, 2009, 9:30 am

    would you consider doing a review of IDOF? So many bloggers mention they've read it, but I think many, many readers (who might not take the time to sit down and read the book)would benefit from a comprehensive review (similar to yours on Skinny Bitch).

  • Sarah (LovIN My Tummy) July 9, 2009, 9:32 am

    I also know a lobbyist for lettuce. His name is Hugh Jass.

    I didn't get a chance to comment on your protein post, but I couldn't agree more!

  • MarathonVal July 9, 2009, 10:03 am

    My favorites are The China Study, Untra MarathonMan (Dean Karnazis), Marathoning for Mortals (John Bingham), and The Food Revolution (John Robbins)!

  • leslie July 9, 2009, 10:06 am

    i don't trust a single word the government has to say about food either. in a way though, i'm actually happy about that – it has made me do a lot more of my own research and become much more capable of making decisions that are tailored to my own needs.

    in defense of food and the jungle are probably the two books that have influenced my views towards food the most.

  • Paula July 9, 2009, 10:09 am

    I love An Inconvenient Truth! Have you seen Who Killed the Electric Car? I bet you'd love it!

  • Christina July 9, 2009, 10:11 am

    I loved an Inconvenient Truth. Haven't gotten around to reading Skinny Bitch yet though!

  • recipesforcreativity July 9, 2009, 10:13 am

    I loved The China Study, The Future of Food, In Defense of Food, and the book Harvest For Hope, which is by Jane Goodall. Oh, also Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

    And I am paranoid about the government's involvement in food, too, so I try to stay educated about what's going on!

  • brandi July 9, 2009, 10:26 am

    nice to know there are lobbyists for lettuce 🙂

    I really liked In Defense of Food, too.

    I probably won't read Skinny B because I would rather not be called names.

  • Hannah Ruth July 9, 2009, 10:33 am

    I would have to say Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It really inspired me to be more active in the foods that I injest.
    I have a huge garden going and plan on doing a fair amount of canning and freezing so that I can continue to eat locally this winter.
    A great way to be able to support local farmers and small farms is to become part of a CSA and/or visit your local farmers market!

  • lmoran823 July 9, 2009, 10:35 am

    Book: The Omnivore's Dilemma (I agree with an above poster that I liked it more than IDOF)

    Movie: Fast Food Nation was excellent. While it didn't put me off meat completely, I do eat much less, and think more about where it comes from. Not to mention that this film really shows how workers in the meat industry can be treated.

  • Quinn July 9, 2009, 10:39 am

    I was definitely struck when I read Fast Food Nation in college, then later when I saw the movie version, In Defense of Food and Skinny Bitch as well. Hoping to see Food, Inc. this weekend!

  • Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) July 9, 2009, 10:40 am

    In Defense of Food is a favorite of mine as well…so good!

  • Andrea of Care to Eat July 9, 2009, 10:44 am

    Caitlin,
    You MUST read "Mad Cowboy" or "No More Bull" by Howard Lyman – completely eye opening!

  • alex @ happy go lucky July 9, 2009, 10:45 am

    Being in Health Promotion, I really liked "Sicko," however, you must realize the immense amount of bias in that film. But it does give you a bit of a wake up call about health care in the world!
    I really need to experiment with polenta- how did you make the croutons?

  • Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) July 9, 2009, 10:47 am

    I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is totally suspicious of the government 😀

    I am starting to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and I really like it so far!

  • Rosie July 9, 2009, 11:15 am

    I can't wait to see Food, Inc. I just wish I could find it closer to my area.

  • Chloe (Naturally Frugal) July 9, 2009, 11:29 am

    Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is an amazing book. I just watched the movie "King Corn", which has a similar vibe to Food Inc and really changed my views on the corn industry and cattle industry.

    Michael Pollan is also a great writer and I love downloading any podcasts or talks he does.

  • Leslie July 9, 2009, 11:32 am

    I second Mad Cowboy. He's a cattle rancher who went vegetarian.

  • Jess July 9, 2009, 11:39 am

    I am trying see this movie this weekend too! I'm so curious about. I love The Jungle by Sinclair, so Food, Inc. is really par for the course with me. I am going to check out In Defense of Food. Thanks for mentioning it.

    I have to admit that I don't always buy free range/organic meats because of budget issues, but I think this is become a more important issue and I'm so glad this movie will be reaching the masses.

  • Katie July 9, 2009, 12:06 pm

    My favorite foodie book is probably Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It changed the way I think about food. I also really liked The Inconvenient Truth and Don't Eat This Book by Morgan Spurlock.

    I'd like to see Food, Inc. Unfortunately, it's not showing in any theater near me right now. That's one thing that really stinks about a small town. Guess I'll hold out for this one on DVD.

  • Johanna B July 9, 2009, 12:21 pm

    I'd love to see "Food, Inc" but it isn't playing ANYWHERE within 40 miles of here. I'd even drive to Kansas City to see it. Did you see "Super Sized" a couple of years ago?

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) July 9, 2009, 12:24 pm

    I am impressed with your baked polenta in your salad! One of my favorite movies of all time which is also political is "The American President" with Michael Douglas, though that's not making much of a political statement. As for books I love "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mireille Guiliano.

  • Raya July 9, 2009, 1:16 pm

    I'm actually in the middle of reading "In Defense Of Food" right now! I also read Skinny Bitch, and Skinny Bitch In The Kitch (at one time I was a vegetarian). The book was VERY well researched, even though the girls themselves don't necessarily have the qualifications you'd look for in someone writing a book like that. Also, I tried to make the "Vegan Mac and Cheese" from their book (I forget the exact name of it now?) and let's just say I was not impressed. I think it was the fake cheese that did me in. Vegetarian I could do but vegan? Not for me! 🙂

  • Manda July 9, 2009, 1:31 pm

    I've started Skinny Bitch. i like it so far. my sister read it and it's changed her view on food completely (she was pretty clueless about this stuff before). my boyfriend is an environmentalist so i've heard about all this 'government controlling our food' for years.

    i'll be reading IDOF and TOD soon.

    i love all of Malcolm Gladwell's work too.

    favourite movie is The Corporation (doc). i'll also be going to see Food Inc soon too!

  • Suzanne RN July 9, 2009, 1:57 pm

    Food Inc. is pretty informative– I saw it opening week in NY! 🙂 If you have already the Omnivore's Dilemma it is basically a re-cap of the book. I would HIGHLY suggest reading it, even more so that seeing the movie. It was fun seeing some of the people in the movie that were mentioned in the book though, i.e. Farmer Joel Salatin. Educate yourselves ladies!

  • Ashley July 9, 2009, 2:24 pm

    Hey Caitlin! I hope this is not too personal, I was wondering if you are still eating about 1800 calories on non active days and more on exercise days since becoming vegetarian and cutting down on your exercise. How have you found your intake levels and hunger levels affected?

  • NYgirl@heart July 9, 2009, 2:24 pm

    I'm actually reading In Defense of Food now. It has really opened my eyes to so many things and I can't wait to continue reading more.

  • Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point July 9, 2009, 2:26 pm

    ashley – honestly i have no idea — i havent calorie counted recently. but i would say probably yes because my weight hasn't changed. i think the only way being veggie has affected my hunger levels is that i generally feel lighter and have less stomach issues than when i was eating meat.

  • inmytummy July 9, 2009, 3:10 pm

    I liked Who Killed the Electric Car and Sicko. I loved Food, Inc.

  • Casey @ Double Scooped July 9, 2009, 3:21 pm

    So happy Operation Beautiful is spreading to so many people in so many places.

  • Lauren July 9, 2009, 5:08 pm

    Caitlin- There is a great article in this month's Runners World that talks about the same Protein debate. It is such a great little read and totally emphasizes everything you talked about this morning. I immediately thought of you. If you get a chance, check it out!

  • The Novice Berker July 9, 2009, 5:12 pm

    If you like Food, Inc., maybe try looking into renting The Future of Food. It's a documentary from 2004 about genetically modified foods and one of the big corporations featured in Food, Inc. (called Monsanto) is examined even more in The Future of Food. I found it pretty interesting!

    That said, I DO feel like you have to constantly watch these kinds of documentaries with a judgmental eye though. Because I realize that the filmmakers are definitely ALSO being biased in the telling of their side and in their portrayal of the big corporations as evil/conniving. That is, they also have an agenda, you know?

  • Marissa Heather July 9, 2009, 7:04 pm

    Hi, I'm new to your blog and I really enjoy reading it. While on the topic of protein – I would like to have an occasional protein shake after a workout. Could you suggest a protein powder to use? I am quite clueless when it comes to these. Thanks.

  • Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point July 9, 2009, 7:49 pm

    marissa – i drink this kind: http://theholisticdoctorisin.com/shop/product.php?productid=16371&cat=0&page=1

    it has a simple ingredient list and no artifical sweeteners!

  • roseyrebecca July 9, 2009, 8:57 pm

    I am seeing Food, Inc on Tuesday! I loved Super Size Me and The Inconvenient Truth!!

  • Island Girl Eats July 10, 2009, 8:22 am

    I hope this movie comes to where we live. I am sure that it will be enough to put me off meat for a bit! I am not a big meat eater, but I am sure that it will do the trick.

    You must post review if you get to see it. Hope you enjoy it!

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