Traveling across the country in search of sustainability, is making me unhealthy. Don't get me wrong, we've had some amazing, delicious food that has been local, not local, organic, not organic from our hosts and restaurants, however, in the course of two months, my diet has changed considerably, as my semi vegetarian diet of whole foods and lack of hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup, has now substantially included the latter. Now, my staple diet consists of cookies, my new love of cotton candy ice-cream, doughnougts, and fried goodies, everything that is good for the body... high fat, calories, and empty calories; a diet that would make a new college student proud.

For example, as Andy and were waiting at the greyhound station calling people to stay with in Portland, I spied a hostess dingdong in the candy machine. It actually was calling my name, and though I had already had processed cookies, peanut m&ms, and a Starbucks gas station frappacino, the DingDong was clearly on my list of what next thing to devour. So with the only dollar between Andy and I, I easily purchased it.

As I sit here writing this I'm trying to figure why I have little motivation for choosing a more healthy diet on this trip, and I've come up with some reasons, as illogical as they may seem.

First off, I've been spoiled for the last ten years as I've lived in places that acknowledge that a vegetarian meal is more then celery and carrots, and strangely that's more or less the options I've received. Unfortunately as we traveled across country, more times then not restaurants, delis, and grocery stores, still don't get that garlic, butter, salt and pepper go a long way and that some people, like myself, actually do like vegetables, heck and even some are trying to eat healthier(sometimes I am, and other times not). So when I go to a restaurant that charges 8-10bucks for a meal, and the only option that doesn't contain meat is a three layer grilled cheese, fried thing, with a side of fried french fries, you bet I'm disappointed, because I then know that if I order a salad, in their innovative ways, I'll receive the iceberg lettuce, with maybe two cherry tasteless tomatoes, and the random sliced cucumber. It never fails, I think it's some law of nature; it's no wonder why people think being a vegetarian is crazy, as it sure is with those options! So i've figured that my choice has been limited, and that's why i've resorted to the sugary goodies, as I now tend to order the dessert that I know can be somewhat promising. Really, who can go wrong with dessert?

Okay so limited choice on the menu has been a factor, but maybe the other reason why I've become the unhealthy eater is because we actually haven't seen that many grocery stores in all the towns that we have traveled to. I'm personally hoping that our route or road just bypassed the them, however, some of these towns only have one street, so unless it was by the cemetery we didn't see, some of these towns had no source to get their food. Actually, that's incorrect the gas station would provide the local diet, and of course what ever we found there would become our diets as well.

In particular, I remember riding through LeRoy, MN. Though they might have had a grocery store, it wasn't on the main street that we passed so the only place we saw was the BP at the end of town. We shopped there a couple times and enjoyed our addiction of doughnoughts, and peanuts, packaged fruit, chips, and a granola bar, all of which was laden with corn syrup. As towns are closing grocery stores, what other choices are we given?

I talk of the rural areas we passed, but even in some of the urban areas we didn't find any grocery stores, and have relied on the minimarkts, conveniance stores, gas stations, and vending machines to provide our substanance. If Andy and I are forced to live off some of this food, what are the people in the towns living off of? What does this mean for our nutrition, our overall connection to the food and to the people who farm it? Basically, where IS our food coming from, and what concerns me as well is WHAT is in our food, as I can never articulate the last couple of ingrediants in my candybar or peanuts, as I feel like I need a chemistry degree.

Lastly, I need to mention that sometimes we've been eating poorly as well is because of price. As all of you know we are on a fixed budget and finding comparable prices to local and organic food is harder in these areas we've passed, again we don't have a lot of choices, but when there are, it's quite a bit higher. So I have the debate in my head, do I eat the apple that I know has pesticides on it, or go for the local produce that is much more? Usually, I choose not to eat at all, and I'll pick the peanuts back up. I don't like the option I choose, but I live with it, and then the next time choose the local eggs for the higher price and savor every bite. Price is sometimes a concern. How price is determined is just another issue of very, very large problem of what farmers get or don't get, and what is and isn't being subsidized by our government.

So lack of choices, availability, and price, I guess have contributed to my now unhealthy diet. Personally, I can't wait to get back on track with some tasteful meals. Though I've eaten poorly, I must say, that we do get a little reprieve when our gracious hosts provide us with their delicious meals. As it seems when we are with others the meals are amazing, and maybe it's because of the conversation, I'll give it that, because that has been great, but I think more so, is that the food many times comes from their gardens or from their neighbors(such as the fresh eggs we have ate), local farms(such as Moody Meats-the bacon hamburger was delicious!), or local co-op(peanut thai soup is always a good option)where there is more availability.

The local movement, or trying to eat within a 100 mile radius, has gained quite a bit of speed, http://100milediet.org, and I was a little more hopeful prior to the trip, but as i've now been on the road for two months, the towns, government, businesses, and individuals, definitely still need to talk with each other in securing more local, healthy, tasteful options for consumers, and figuring out a way where it is comparable to the price of the gas station food product.


As for Andy and I, we just need to be invited to more dinners, I guess to get flavorful/healthy food, or mini marts, continue to bring on the sugary goodies that I continue to crave.:)

Here's just some websites on food and our choices that are enlightening:
http://www.appetiteforprofit.com/faqsonfoodpolitics.html
http://www.foodsecurity.org/
http://www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/
http://www.caff.org/