Disclaimer: Please understand that I really don’t like to take political sides or push my politics on anyone. I have always tried to see every side of the political coin and see value in everyone’s perspectives.

I deeply lament the fact that food has any political position. I wish that we all had equal access to it and that it was simpler than it is. However, it must be recognized that even from the very beginning of modern times food has been a political topic. Not only a political topic but really a political tool used to manipulate populations of people all over the world.

I wish deeply that food wasn’t a political matter or concern or consideration but unfortunately, it carries great political weight (as noted in Marion Nestle’s Food Politics book and Blog) and that is difficult to ignore. I hope that what I s

hare with you here is not taken the wrong way. Please contact me if you feel the need or desire to share your thoughts or questions with me.

I happened across a copy of the winter 2014 Yes! magazine recently and was drawn to peek inside when I saw the picture on the cover was a pot of delicious looking soup and the title read: “How to Eat Like our Lives Depend on it.” You can see where it would be difficult for someone in my field to ignore a headline like that.

Upon opening this issue of Yes! Magazine I was immediately highlighting quotes from articles that reflect my passions, beliefs and philosophy regarding food and our current food system.

Sometimes I find it difficult to articulate my feelings, thoughts and beliefs so if I read other people’s words that articulate some of my same ideas I use their quotes to express my thoughts and beliefs.

Thus, the following are some quotes from the Winter 2014 Yes! Magazine that I feel reflect my ideals, values, and thoughts on food and our food system in an articulate and concise way.

“Gathering food nourishes more than just our bodies. And so does preserving, cooking and sharing it. Our fast-food culture has little patience with this idea. Prepared food is sold as convenient and tasty, but it is loaded with fat, salt, and GMO corn syrup, and it’s making us sick. Diabetes, heart disease, strokes and obesity diminish our lives and threaten to bankrupt our health care system. Other species, too, suffer as a result of the way we eat…Industrial food is actually only cheap when the human and ecological costs are ignored…Food also nourishes community and strengthens culture.” – Sarah van Gelder Co-founder and Executive Editor Yes! Magazine

“There is a common misconception that we have to produce more to feed the world. By producing, consuming, and wasting too much in the Western World, we take away the right to food security in the poor countries. In order to feed the world, a different approach is necessary – one that considers the long-term consequences of farming methods. If we treat nature and the people who produce food respectfully, value our territory’s potential, we can live more in harmony with nature and reduce the number who are hungry in this world.” – Carlo Petrini founder of the International Slow Food Movement