EATWELL SMALL BITES / WEEK 4
What does our food system have to do with how we eat?
Food is all around us. We see it in restaurants, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, farms, regular stores, gas stations, and more. What does it mean when we can get food so easily, especially cheap food? The cheapest foods can often make us sick.
The Kinds of Foods
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Whole Foods
Foods like carrots, apples, raw chicken, peppers, onions, melon, and plain nuts are foods that have not been changed from how they are in nature. These kinds of foods are called whole foods.
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Processed Foods
On the other hand, processed foods are foods that have been changed from their natural state. They are made by adding salt, oil, sugar, or other things like colors and preservatives. These processed foods are everywhere. You can find them as sandwiches at fast food places, candy bars at the gas station, and cereal and premade foods in the grocery store. Processed foods usually last a long time, are easy to find, and cost less than whole foods.
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Ultra-Processed Foods
Foods with a lot of sodium, salt, and other preservatives are called ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods can make us sick. They have been linked to health problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer.
Questions to Think About
When you look around your neighborhood, what do you see when it comes to food?
Do you see big grocery stores with lots of whole food choices?
Do you see sugary drinks being sold?
Do you see fast food restaurants and regular stores?
Which foods are easier to get, and which ones cost less?
Conclusion
When we think about what we eat, we also have to think about how the food system affects what foods we can get. Many of us don't have much of a choice in what foods are around us. With Eat Well, you can get the healthy foods you want and deserve, no matter what foods are easiest to get in your neighborhood. Hopefully, your Eat Well money will help you buy more healthy foods every month.