4 Easy Ways To Celebrate Food Day

October 24 is Food Day, a day coordinated by the Center for Science in The Public Interest to get people to eat better and fix our food system or, as the group says on its web site:  “It’s Time To Eat Real America!”

The Center for Science in The Public Interest (CSPI) is an advocate for healthier diets and safer food and they have successfully led fights for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer food since 1971. They have partnered with other groups that focus on agriculture, health, environment, hunger and animal welfare to create this day.

Food Day is hoping to make this day broad and to get as many individuals and groups involved as they can to push for “healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.”

The main purpose of Food Day is best summarized by its 6 principles:

• Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
• Support sustainable farms & limit subsidies to big agribusiness
• Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
• Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms
• Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
• Support fair conditions for food and farm workers

Like CSPI, Food Day is not accepting funding from government or corporations, although they are encouraging restaurants, supermarkets, and others to observe Food Day in their own ways.

One of the easiest ways to observe Food Day is to participate in an event near you. Nationwide, there are events ranging from food drives and community harvests and gleanings, to community dinners and film screenings. Even though the event is called “Food Day” there are ongoing activities throughout the week, and some events are going on for several months so check back to see what might be coming up near you.

Because transforming the food system takes more than changing individual behavior – it also means changing policies – CSPI is encouraging everyone to ask Members of Congress to support the Eat Real agenda and to support Food Day’s 6 Principles.

Next, shop at a local farmers’ market. There are more organic and sustainable vendors in one location, so you get the biggest selection and the freshest produce. Price is often negotiable, and although many farmers might not be “certified” organic, they do grow organically, ask them about their growing methods, and see if they do grow organically.

Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), where you buy shares at a local farm. These have become more flexible and often include other items aside from fresh produce including meat, eggs, cheese, flowers, and baked goods. They also have become more flexible with pricing and payment plans. You can find a CSA near you at Local Harvest or the Eat Well Guide.