|
January 29, 2015: “The milk I use to drink in Punjab, that was 100% fat, best whole milk in life – fresh!” My parents, as with all I assume, talk fondly of consuming food and dairy straight from the farm. Not before first mentioning that we are always sick because of the way we get food in the modern world. Picked and packed before ripening somewhere in California, shoved in a truck that then drives thousands of kilometres, stacked in some big box grocery aisle, before it finally finds its way to our refrigerator – where it likely sits for a couple more days before we prepare it. While my parent’s recollection of Punjab and old food culture may be simple nostalgia (things are hardly as good as people remember it being), the spirits of their memories are still important. Our health and the food we eat are intrinsically tied together. The studies are numerous, as is the anecdotal evidence, that we are healthier when we eat well. The focus should be, ideally, on the nutritional value of what you are eating. Junk food is bad not just because it can cause weight gain, and other health issues, but because it is replacing your ability to eat more nutritional food. We should be picking up more colourful vegetables and fruits, adding more fresh greens and salads to our meals, and drinking more water. Easier said than done for many of us, as there have been times where I felt on the verge of scurvy due to poor eating habits (how I miss those university days). We are busy, our society is structured in a way to make purchasing food as we do “easier”, and many of us simply cannot afford to buy the healthier options. So what are some solutions to being able to eat better? “Here is one weird trick that drives grocers mad!” You can grow your own food. Building a garden can be an inexpensive option to obtain fresh healthy food straight from the vine and onto your plate. All you need is some space in the backyard (or a balcony, or even by a window inside your house), simple tools like a hoe and shovel, some decent soil and compost, water, sunlight, seeds, and transplants. It is very easy to learn, and with the internet it is now even easier. Trial and error is the method, and you get some free exercise and fresh air in the process. While you will not be able to replace the grocery store, it’s still a worthwhile investment to build a garden and reap the benefits. We were all farmers at one point in history, so salute your ancestors and get to work in the dirt (free pro tip: serious gardeners and farmers don’t like to use the term “dirt”, it is disrespectful to the “soil”). Your health will thank you later. Jaskaran Singh Sandhu is the co-founder and president of KarmaGrow, a community garden initiative. He is also the Director of Development for the World Sikh Organization, and enjoys long walks on the beach. He lives in Brampton, the City of Best Quality People. |