Get Uncomfortable with Your Food

Earlier this week I spoke with a group of DePauw students at their annual Peace Camp. The Camp is a week long, 24-hour vigil which is held in DePauw's academic quad. Students from all majors gather together throughout the day and evening to discuss topics ranging from human rights to economic justice to, this year, local food. During my session, I spoke about the trend toward eating more local foods on campuses and in our communities, the personal and social benefits of local food, and shared samples of Shagbark syrup, sorghum, local honey, and Asian pears from the Dirtpatch orchard.I left the event inspired by the students and impressed by the University's use of many local items in their food service program.

Bright purple T-shirts were being sold at the Camp to raise funds. At $5 each they were a real bargain so I couldn't resist getting a few of them. But it was the two words printed on the front of the shirt that got me. It simply said, "GET UNCOMFORTABLE". In the middle of my talk, a light bulb went off. What I was talking about was people getting uncomfortable with their usual way of buying and eating food.

For many, venturing into the realm of seeking out and buying local food for our families can be a bit uncomfortable at first. We may have to go somewhere different to get it, we may have to learn new ways to prepare it, we may have to try new things to replace old ones. But until we get uncomfortable with our old ways, we will never change them.

I recently read a study which named Carmel, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana as third in the nation for having the most processed, non-nutritious foods in shoppers' grocery carts. Sure, it's easy to grab the same old stuff as we whiz down the aisles after a hard day at work. But, I am going to ask you, if you're one of those shoppers, to GET UNCOMFORTABLE. What if you make one change a month toward adding more local food to your household? This month try some Indiana grown apples and winter squashes. You can find them in local grocery stores as well as farmers markets. Maybe next month try some local cheeses and dairy products. Explore this site-find markets near you and stop by them. Pretty soon you'll be so comfortable with these foods that the thought of your old grocery cart will make you uncomfortable! And, to me, that's a very comforting thought!