Organicism

Disclaimer: I understand how there is a connection with eating healthy obviously leads to better health.

"Organic Foods" are foods created or grown without any pesticides, hormones, special additives or etc. They are said to not only be great for the body, because of the natural nutrients, but tastes better as well. The reason why I am blogging about this topic is the popularity organic foods hold. It seems whenever any of my friends discover "eating right is RIGHT!" They quickly begin to preach and try to convert me to the organic-ism life they've chosen.

It's almost seems like a trend. Once people have seen the hottest celebrity shopping at a farmer's market or "whole foods" time store; it becomes "the way". I think the common person understands what is healthy, eat their fruits and vegetables and try to follow the infamous food pyramid with the occasional slip of a fast food drive thru visit. For example i have a friend who is not in the best shape, he has even admitted he needs to lose all his weight. But, he also brags the fact that he's lived an organic life for 2 years. He'll ask people what they had to eat for dinner, and follow with his long drawn out explanation on how pesticides are in everyone's vegetables and he had an all natural dinner with produce from Whole Foods... and mid-snack organic oatmeal. Maybe its not my place to "judge" his judgement. But there have been numerous occasions where a person force "feeds" the idea of an organic life down people's throats.

Family Table Dinners?

->The theme song to "Leave it to Beaver" should play as I write this. But we all know the tradition of the once dad comes home from work the entire family sits around the large dining room table and enjoys dinner together. Well not to be too personal, but that was how my family was for the majority of my life. Seems a little funny now but, it started with my mother or I would prepare dinner, then after my father entered the door we would make an announcement for us four kids to set the table. After the table is set, another announcement is made declaring, "dinner is ready!" say grace, and eat. And this probably isn't too rare across America, but it still is somewhat traditional, or old-fashioned. Within the last couple years this "event" of a meal, has dwindled down to what we've named "Grab 'n' Go". These changes are the result of many occurances that have happened to our family. I wonder what the real percentages are for the decline of everyday "family meals together"?

Ohio State University's: Family and Consumer Sciences study wrote that only 42% of families eat dinner together most of the time. The reasons they give coincide with some of the reasons for my family. The study mention this decline happens when there are two parents with jobs.
A couple years ago, my mother got a second job to accompany her at home/computer job. This lead to myself or my sister to make dinner or eating out. The meals became less and less together when had less time due to work and my school schedules; followed by my sister moving upstate to school as well. So now after all these reasons, a really quick dinner is prepared or bought by someone and served buffet style....line up and eat wherever you'd like hence, "grab 'n' go".

OSU's study also described how eating dinner separate can lead to negative effects for the family. So far I see no real problems within my own family, other than a small decline of family discussions, but not too much. And no one is really too upset, but i think its a little unfair to my younger brothers (one a HS freshman, and the other a 5th grader). This is probably how they will eat for the rest of their non-adult lives. But hopefully, after writing this blog of mine, things can go back to how they were.... yay tradition!