Checkout with truth, not fear or guilt

         It’s time for a confession: I dread going to the grocery store. It’s
overwhelming and takes too much time. Besides, food costs too much. And how is
a mom or dad supposed to know if they’re doing the right thing for their
family?  Go back to the basics.

         Confusion and emotionalism has made food a battleground. The marketing is
getting bigger. The misinformation grows. Activists continue to bully.
Celebrities and politicians take opinion-based positions instead of looking at
the facts.  Food shaming persists. As a
result of all of this, food buyers are filled with guilt, confusion and
overwhelm. 

         I feel your pain. Unless I have a child along to try to teach them about
making healthy choices, my grocery trips are known for speed – grab and go. Be
done with it.

         Partially because I have the patience of a gnat. Mostly because I understand the system behind the food. I know the people raising food are doing it the right way for the right reasons. I also believe USDA, FDA and EPA protocol protect our food I know the science involved (sometimes too much) – and trust it.

         I can’t just grab a bag of potatoes, pick up a steak or select cereal
without thinking about the people and practices it took to produce that food.
That’s when the misleading claims about farm families and todays farming and
ranching practices becomes personal and makes me want to run screaming down the
aisles.

         Instead, I have to find comfort in knowing I’m doing the very best I can
for my family – just as the dad next door is. Just as you are.

         What are you family’s ethical, healthy, environmental and social standards? Stick to those and measure all food claims accordingly. The truth in food lies in the way it was produced, how you choose it and the value it brings to your family. That is ultimately YOUR decision and you don’t need approval from an outside party. My hope is that you know the truths so you, too, can ask better questions and adjust as necessary.

         My mantra is to know the farmer, know the science, or know the system.  In other words, do you have firsthand
perspective on how food is raised and why a farmer or rancher uses certain
practices? Or, do you know the science behind the food claims to check that
it’s common sense?  Or, do you know the
agricultural and food regulatory system well enough to trust it?

         Here are three quick ways you can cut down on the clutter and confusion
when buying food.

Go back to the basics. If a claim causes you to question it and say “wait
a minute”, it is likely sensationalized and you should walk away.Know your family’s ethical, health, environmental and social standards –
and measure all food claims against those.If you know farming, science, or the food system, you can stay focused on
buying food that is right for your family – and quickly cutting through the claims.

         Check out with truth in
food; leave the guilt behind.

Read more at   Food Truths from Farm to Table  to arm
yourself with 25 truths you urgently need to know about food so you can
shop without guilt, confusion, or judgment. A new book,  Food Bullying , releases November 5
to upend the way you think about eating choices.