I’ve read stories from several sources about how the food industry changed around 1950 and became driven by the idea of ‘cheap and plentiful’ and that nutrition then started to become almost an afterthought. Perhaps that was a reaction to the scarcities of the Second World War and the rationing after it. Food is a deeply psychological subject.

I’m no paragon of virtue by any stretch, but the crap some people eat these days amazes me. Down at my local servo (gas station, that is), in their food freezer, there’s a range of food called Aussie Hero that’s promoted as ideal for the busy mum to pop into her children’s school lunch box. Choose from frozen pizza slice, frozen hot dog, or whatever, stick it in the microwave at school and eat it. The brand name says so much about what life is like for most people these days and how that’s rationalised. Very sad. I used to love hot dogs, by the way, but I haven’t eaten one since Joseph Mercola told me what was in them. Say it ain’t so, Joe! Unfortunately, it is.

I’ve also been told to never eat anything that has Kraft or Nestle on the label. And McDonald’s … well, the burgers are better at Hungry Jack’s, as they say here in Oz. But that wouldn’t be hard. McDonald’s burgers are the most tasteless ever. The best burger I ever tasted was in Planet Hollywood at Disneyland Paris. Scrumptious. That was nearly ten years ago. I eat about six burgers a year these days. Like I say, I’m no paragon of virtue; but I know more about food than I did and I’m starting to be a bit more awake. I expect there will be more documentaries like King Corn and others in the years ahead to help us on the path to enlightenment. I hope so.

Thinking back to my chlidhood in the 1950s and my dear mum slaving away in the kitchen for half a day to produce the Sunday dinner, I’m not surprised convenience has been very easy to sell down the years, but, yes – not just with food but in many areas of our lives – the hidden costs of convenience are coming to the surface now.

I’m glad I’m old enough to remember when home cooked meals made from fresh out of the ground ingredients were the norm. Gives me a chance at least.

Another vote here for the food allocation in the budget. We don’t go for the cheapest food – good food costs good money.

Your nominations of “entertainment” and “clothing” definitely resonated with me – we spend a *lot* less on those than most people I know (and more on the food than they do). When I look at it that way, I’m not embarrassed in the slightest, because we have enough to wear and keep us amused… The one thing that I *am* embarrassed about is that we have a backyard and a garden, and could certainly spend a lot less on our food by growing more of it ourselves. But I wouldn’t be taking from the “food” allocation to give to the “entertainment”.

We have two growing boys who *love* to eat, and I’d much rather have good stuff available.

I just finished Pollan’s _In Defense of Food_ and felt relieved to read that although most people in the US allot 10% of earnings towards food, people in other countries (like Italy) allot something like 14-15%.

I’m not sure of our actual percentage, but it’s definitely over 10. I, like Ali, felt a bit embarrassed about that until I read _In Defense_. Now I can say I just prefer to live like the Italians! Mange!

Thanks for the link, and also for the great thoughts about the film. I didn’t even consider the Butz-in-his-nineties and diabetic-cab-driver contrast.

It is a great film. So glad those guys made it.