Food for Thought…Literally
I had a routine procedure the other day…yes the one you are to have when you reach fifty…okay, I’ll say it once and then move on…colonoscopy.
This post isn’t about that, no need to discuss it, but my thoughts did turn toward food when my husband mentioned about an article he read in National Geographic about feeding the world.
You see, when one must go through the prep before the “procedure”, you are only allowed to eat or drink clear liquids. Naturally I had a predisposition about this and went into motion to purchase jello, popsicles, ginger ale, and gatorade. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to manage making it through the twenty-four hour period on just a liquid diet. I tend to get very lightheaded if I don’t eat a meal at the appropriate time of day.
Needless to say, I was actually able to manage without getting any major hunger pangs, but while I was having my “procedure”, my husband read the article I mentioned earlier and he proceeded to share with me the factoids about the actual amount of food that we have in the world.
Basically, we have enough food to feed ten billion people in the world, about 2500 calories per meal per person. That sounds amazing doesn’t it? But the problem isn’t with the “amount” of food produced, but getting it to everyone. I think we all know that hunger is caused by poverty and inequality, and of course, this has been a concern…forever really.
What struck me when my husband shared this story was what I felt during my twenty-four hour of a liquid diet. I felt a bit ashamed of my fear the day before the “prep” of how I was going to “survive” the ordeal of being hungry. I did have moments of hunger, which isn’t very pleasant, but I was able to get up and have some jello or chicken broth.
The world knows what a huge problem this is, and we know there are some countries far worse off than others, but the reality is, how much does anyone actually do to help?
Maybe if we each did, even just a little, to help those in need. Support our local food banks, or donate to those reputable food drives, because you never know who’s dealing with hunger, it could be someone right next door.
Oh, and let’s not forget to also be sure and have that “procedure” when it’s time. To me, that’s just common sense.
