Food production. Fast Food Nation. Supersize Me. Food, Inc. What the heck is going on with our nation’s food industry, and what the heck are we supposed to do about it? Most people by now are aware that it is a bit (in a word) lackluster, but is it worth fretting over? Here is my take on the sordid subject.

First and foremost, processed food sucks. I agree with that. It is chalk full of sugar, carbs, and chemicals we do not need. However, some of it is so darn good, it is hard to pass up. Plus, it is cheap, while the healthier stuff is not. So unfair. I heard somewhere that if you cannot pronounce it, you should not eat it, but I cannot really pronounce acai or lecithin, and those things are supposed to be good for you.

The point is, the body is not made to digest a lot of these chemicals. And even though a little will not kill you, a lot will affect how your body works, and, ironically, how it reacts to health food. I was taught that food is like medicine: what you put in determines how you function. Very true, but not intended to scare.

Speaking of scares, it always bothers me when articles and documentaries start promoting fear of the food industry, as if that will help anything. Fear makes things worse; just ask History. What makes things better, however, is knowledge,. And boy, do we have it. But do we have too much? Is it making us a paranoid, over-concerned society? Not if we wield it wisely.

In terms of food, I think the missing link here is balance. Not everyone, after all, can afford to buy all the best quality foods on the market, but not all high-quality foods are wicked expensive, either. The reality is, a majority of our food is mass-produced, and for some things, it takes a lot of jumping through hoops to get around that. In my opinion, the best thing to do is balance it out.

First, people have to make sure they are getting the nutrition they need from the best foods they can buy; then, they can leave room to eat things that maybe are not as good, as long as they even it out. Make sure there is good variety. Find ways to exercise. Avoid as many additives and chemicals as possible. I do not think everyone should be vegan; I do believe, however, that people can find ways to be healthier.