I love reading. I’m not sure I’ve ever really mentioned that before. Before I had my son, I kept an impressive spreadsheet of the books I’d read, organizedby year. After I had my little boy, I stopped reading. I stopped doing a lot of stuff (some of it was exhaustion and a touch of depression) and just focused on my baby (I was obsessed with him). I think it wasn’t until my son was six months old that I picked up a book again. And I certainly did not have time to catalogue it in Excel.
I have already read Fast Food Nation, but it was before I became a mom. I’m basically a different person. I would have never eaten school food for a year if I hadn’t had my son. Although I was slightly aware of some issues in food politics, I hadn’t given that much thought about what kids eat. Even considering my profession, it hadn’t sunk in until I had my little one. I’m not saying you have to be a parent to care about the food kids eat; I’m just saying that for me having my son was a tipping point.
I’m anxious to read this book now that I’m even more aware about these issues. Eating school lunch for a year fundamentally changed my relationship with food and that of my family. I’m going to think about every mouthful I ingest.
What do you think of this book as a choice for book club? Have you had any trouble getting it?
We finally have a winner of Michelle Stern‘s cookbook: The Whole Family Cookbook. I blogged about her cookbook a whole half of a month ago — there’s no excuse for my tardiness! The winning number was:
Lucky comment #21 was from:
Jenny K
(Please email me at fedupwithlunchATgmailDOTcom)
For those of you who are bummed about missing out, I’ll be reviewing a book about children’s health and wellness later this month. Don’t worry, there will be another giveaway!
i think this is a great coice. i read it years ago and it totally changed the way i looked at food. i'll have to get out my copy and reread it.
Wow, I won! Hooray! I'll email you with my info. I think I'll also reserve Fast Food Nation from my library and try to read along with everyone here. It won't be easy, I have a full time job plus 2 little kids but it looks like a must-read. Will do my best!
Hi Mrs Q.
I know this isn't directly related to the post above, but I felt you might want to see a video I saw on another food blog about reforming school lunches in a very poor area of London, UK called Merton. Look what they are now managing to serve the kids! I think it's wonderful and we only have Jamie Oliver to thank for putting school food reform at the top of the political agenda. There in Merton, what they have achieved has only been because of parental support and insistence and look how far they have come. This is a school serving kids from about 5-11 and they seem to love the new food. If it's possible here, it's possible in the States.
Laura
http://jackiesschoolfoodblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-pictures-of-school-meals.html
Fast Food Nation changed my relationship with food forever. A seminal book. Later, I read Fat Land, and of course, the Michael Pollan books. Although I haven't read it, I've heard that Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran-Foer is a good book club read.
My (first) college had all-school – or maybe just all freshmen – assigned summer reading, and this was the book we were assigned before my freshman year. It was an eye-opening book – it's what first got me interested in food policy and politics. I'm not sure I'd reread it, but I remember a decent bit of it – I'd go over the cliff notes and throw in my two cents in the discussion, though!
Thanks everyone!!
I read this one a few years back, but I still own it and would love to reread it. I remember it as the kind of book you don't want to read over lunch. 😉
It's an excellent book. It should get the gears turning in most, and generate some strong feelings. It made me think more critically and started a solid interest and investment in buying "real" food. Despite living in a land of plenty, it's not the food we need to survive.
I think it's an excellent choice. I'm only twenty pages in, and I'm already learning a lot. 🙂 Also, it's a pretty dense book at times, so it takes a lot of motivation for me to push through it, so I'm super happy that you're doing this. I can't accomplish anything without a deadline. 🙂