The truth about corn and grocery stores
Our society is not set up for sustainability. Everything is wrapped in plastic and served in single-serving containers, made to be thrown out. This makes it hard for environmentally conscious people to try to cut down their trash production. There is a movement on the rise called the zero-waste movement. This is all about trying to reduce the waste that you create and focusing on reusable items. Some people take this to the extreme, but I don’t see that as practical. It is more important for a larger number of people to cut down their waste production than to have a few people that generate no trash at all.
Here are some tips for cutting down the trash that you create:
Buy a set of reusable utensils and bring them with you places
Have some reusable bags that you bring around (plastic bags were made just to be thrown out)
Buy some reusable produce bags for when you go to the grocery store
If you are going to a restaurant, bring a takeout container with you so you don’t have to use a disposable one
Go to the grocery store rather than bringing home food (will save you money too!)
Say no to free items that you might not need
Carry around a reusable water bottle
It is hard to find healthy food when you are going to a supermarket, you really have to look for it. The truth about grocery stores is that it seems like there are a lot of options to choose from, however, most of the items are just processed corn and soy.
Corn is in everything, even in things you would never expect. Even non-edible items such as shampoo, matches, aspirin, and diapers all contain corn in them. Corn in food does not have a lot of nutritional value. It is even hard for humans to digest. So why have we as a society prioritized corn production?
Not to simplify the answer, but it is because the government subsidizes corn production. Most farmers wouldn’t be able to make a living if it wasn’t for government subsidies on corn and soy. Since corn is artificially cheap due to the subsidies, manufacturers take advantage of this and have learned how to put corn in everything. However, this comes to a detriment for the consumer. High fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners and preservatives have made our food unhealthy and fattening. You would think the government would be subsidizing healthy foods like vegetables to make them affordable to people, but no. This is the reason why a bag of potato chips is cheaper than a bag of carrots.
One place that you can go if you are trying to avoid endless corn products and single use packaging is the people’s food co-op in Ocean Beach. It provides fresh, organic produce, and sells in bulk so you are able to bring your own jars for things like oats, beans, and nuts.
image from: https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/8563-snack-variety-brings-victory-to-c-stores
ReplyDeleteI actually took on a challenge for zero waste a few years ago and honestly, it was quite the challenge. As you mentioned, grocery stores and supermarkets sell products in wrapping that is meant to be thrown out, such as plastic bags. Even with plastic bags that are labeled as recyclable, there is no guarantee that it would be recycled as in reality only about 10-20% of recyclable plastic is actually recycled. I was actually unaware of places such as the people's food co-op, but I will definitely keep that on mind if I am to shop in bulk for fresh produce without waste!
DeleteThanks for the great tips! I never thought about bringing your own leftovers container, that is something I can do to be more sustainably conscious. My dad recently told me about an article he read that said the city wants to reduce the weight of trash by separating compostable food waste, which is something my family has already been doing. Even though they could have suggested this a long time ago, I'll still say better late than never. Also, great information about corn. I've heard that other countries like the UK barely use corn in anything which is definitely healthier and something the US should focus on.
ReplyDeleteHi Naomi! I really love that you provided your audience with options on how to be more sustainable, I think that is a really smart way of teaching people how just even the smallest things can help. It’s also very interesting about how you explained more about corn heavily impacting the everyday products that we use on a regular basis. I think it’s important to educate your peers on things like this, so they can be more cautious on what they are doing when it comes to their environment. Regardless, I do appreciate the fact that you are providing us with options and resources to help with sustainability.
ReplyDeleteHi Naomi,
ReplyDeleteThis blog has been super informational and I appreciate your desire for everyone to try to live a more sustainable life. I definitely have had trouble when it comes to this, but I've tried to help the world by using a reusable water bottle rather than plastic ones, and I also take reusable grocery bags every time I go to the supermarket. I did not know about the reasoning behind using corn for pretty much every product, so it's very interesting to hear about that. Thank you for suggesting the People's Food Co-op, I will definitely keep that in mind the next time I need to go grocery shopping!
Naomi,
ReplyDeleteFinding healthy foods, and even more specifically recipes has been one of my struggles these last few months. As an athletes who works out several hours every day, my recommended daily caloric intake is around 3200 calories. This is insane! And even harder for me to eat consistently every day! I typically struggle to eat healthy, so I have recently taken to using apps for meal planning to find productive meals to make for myself.
Hey Naomi, I really enjoyed reading your discussion. I have actually done a argumentative speech in my high school class. I was on the side of saying why corn is good, but I never believed in that side. I really liked your last paragraph about why we keep corn in our grocery stores. Farmers won't be alive if it wasn't for them being able to sell corn. I also like how you gave us tips for cutting trash down. Some people need to be reminded about what they can do. Great job on your discussion Naomi keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteHello Naomi,
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the pleasure of checking out your blog, but I am glad I was able to do so today!
Thank you for giving us tips on cutting down trash we create. I have tried to buy things with less plastic, but it has been difficult especially because those things tend to be more expensive. One tip that I will be utilizing is bringing a takeout container with me so I don’t have to use a disposable one if I am going to a restaurant. I have never done this, but it is such a great idea. I will also try to consume less products that use corn. Thank you for all this important information and tips!
Hi Naomi,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog because I have similar views when it comes to sustainability, I am from Hawai'i, and learning about sustainability has been a big part of my life ever since I was little. I really would like these beautiful places to be enjoyed by generations to come. I think it was helpful of you to include tips on how to incorporate sustainability into our daily lives. There is definitely a lot that I can work on, as none of us are perfect. I do always carry my reusable water bottle with me! Keeps me hydrated and at this point I feel lost without it. More people need to care about our land and oceans in the same way that you do.
Hi Naomi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing about this topic. I feel it is something not a lot of people are aware about or just deny the issue and simply do not want to talk about it. I really liked the tips that you gave and feel they can really help all us if we take it step by step. Especially in our society, we tend to waste a lot and since we spend the most money on plastic items we can come together and help save and recycle plastic items if we really set our minds to it. Thanks for the tip about the place in OB!