Valuing Harvest

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. By far and away. Followed by St. Patrick’s Day.

I’m so predictable: An Irish dietitian. 

Thanksgiving feels really real to me. It’s about food and family and friends. And that’s it. And that’s nice. It’s got a good vibe to it.

Except when it’s only purpose to kick start the consumer flurry of Christmas. Darn capitalistic agenda! You’re ruining Thanksgiving!

In light of the economic and political crazy at the moment, I am especially grateful for Thanksgiving. First off, I’ll be having it at a farm. Surely, with good food. And with good people.

One of which sent me an invite to “Occupy the Holidays.” If this means a sit in at the Thanksgiving table for a couple of days…well then I’m all for it.

But really it is an invitation sent to remind people to “embrace community members that hurt, talk about success, listen to frustrations, and eat real food that nourishes your soul and body.” 

Nicely put. 

Maybe I like the vibe of Thanksgiving because in preschool we learned that the rustic Native American Indians taught those overly civilized Pilgrims to grow food and enjoy their company-A truly succinct, kid-friendly version regarding the harvest events in Plymouth.

Regardless of any corruption or conjured euphemisms about the event, it seems to bring about this thought process that getting back to basics and helping the community was the answer. 

Food was the currency. And it did nourish souls and liven spirits. Food’s currency has changed. Significantly. 

My dear friend sent me an article that states Congress wants pizza and French fries to stay on school lunch and is fighting the Obama administration’s effort to take unhealthy foods out of schools. 

Stay strong Michelle!

What a short sighted excuse to make artificial pizza sauces and ketchup conform with established USDA vegetable serving guidelines per day to close the deficit. I’m sure someone will be barking up a different tree when health care costs rise exponentially in the future. 

Just as the Pilgrims lacked the amount of Harvest to feed their entire crew, the government saw the benefit of feeding a terrific amount of poor quality food to a particular starving socioeconomic group. Side effect 60 years later…? 

Well besides the obvious, the American Dietetics Association is backed by companies like coca cola. I understand that in order to represent our profession to advocate for better food practices and preventative health one needs to influence Capitol Hill. Influence meaning money. It’s just a shame. Especially when our national dietitian convention meetings comply with exhibition stations that give my professional peers taste tests of fiber fortified diet coke..?

The American Dietetic Association Political Action Committee has asked for donations so our lobbyist can be “heard.” The top health care professional advocacy group to be “heard” last year was the National Community Pharmacist Association PAC. Well not surprising considering pharmacist have the ability to donate a lot more from salaries and their backing drug companies. 

Such drug companies that make cholesterol lowering medication to most likely help delay the rising health care costs. Drug companies that hold patents that lead to larger revenues. Revenues that can help pharmacist “speak louder.” A population that takes these medications who are at the mercy of the government regulated free and reduced school lunch programs and value menus. Income tax that aids Medicaid health care. 

I am all for helping the community and the underprivileged. I’m not so naïve to think the solution is simple. But it would be nice to get back to the basics a bit more. Putting more value into good food. Eating dinner at a table instead of in front of the TV. 

After all, it’s all short sighted. 

The Earth has been around far longer than we have. It makes good food for us but it will ultimately win regardless of what we choose to eat. 

It’s just nice that Thanksgiving can remind us to enjoy a harvest around a table with family and friends. In this moment.