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2007-07-05 14:14
The 100 Mile Diet
Tags: 100 Mile, Diet, consumption
Welcome to summer! Most people at this time of year are working hard to look good at the beach or wherever else. Here's one very different diet that we thought you should hear about.
It's called the 100 Mile Diet, and even though it doesn't guarantee that you'll lose weight, it's a diet for those who know that everything we purchase, including our food, has a huge impact on what we're doing to the planet. Taking part in this diet means that everything you eat comes from 100 miles of where you are.
Lots of fruits and vegetables that are in large supermarkets are out of season and imported, meaning that they have to be shipped, refrigerated, and stored to keep them fresh. This means our food uses way more materials for packaging, more energy and fuel for shipping and refrigeration, more money to bring in, and it doesn't necessarily taste any better in the end. Yuck! The principles behind the 100 Mile Diet are simple- buying local foods means that you save all the energy and pollution that comes with shipping, packaging, refrigerating, storing, and importing, and instead, eat fresh, local foods. The majority of people who are on the 100 Mile Diet also buy from local farmers. By purchasing from small nearby farms and businesses, 100 Mile Dieters support local economies and their own communities. Plus, this way you'll also get to see how your food grown, and exactly what you're putting into your body.
For some people, this diet can be a challenge. Most people also let themselves cheat a bit when going out to dinners with friends, just to keep some sense of a normal social life. Remember, this diet isn't for everyone, especially for people who live in remote areas, or those with restrictive allergies that make it hard to find healthy, balanced meals. Vegans and vegetarians might also have a tougher time at first. But, try it out and see what you think. Even if you can't be a strict 100 Mile Dieter, including local food into your regular diet or cooking a few 100 Mile meals a week can still help. Try throwing a 100 Mile Party, and serve a meal to your friends using only local ingredients and wines.
Even though the results you want out of this diet are different than others, it's definitely the coolest. After thinking about it, it seems a silly that so much of our food comes from halfway around the world when we have fresh local foods right in our backyards, and that packaging and shipping foods is more convenient.
If you're looking for more information on the 100 Mile Diet, try reading the journal of two BC 100 Mile Dieters at the Tyee.
And remember that with any diet you start, to do your research and make sure you can do it in a healthy way.
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