Kernels Of Truth

I like to think of myself as the kind of person who likes winter. I love snow and thick, comfy sweaters and big mugs of hot cocoa. So I wasn't too disturbed by the blizzard that hit Cleveland this weekend. It's actually kind of nice (minus the slushy, slippery roads). I especially enjoy relaxing on a cold, winter night with a good book.

As many of you know, I had a serious bought with a Twilight obsession a few weeks back. The good news is that I've started reading a new book that isn't from the Twilight series. (The sad news is that I'm doing so in part to slow down the process of finishing the series. I only have two books left to go, then it will be over!).

Anyway, the book I'm reading now is The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. My husband read the book, and recommended it to me, and it really is eye-opening and heart-breaking at the same time. Nearly three years ago, I made the decision to become a vegetarian based on a variety of reasons (health, treatment of animals, social justice concerns, environmental concerns) so I've done my research on the devastating affects our diet can have on our planet and the beings, human or otherwise, that we share it with. This book takes it to whole different level as Pollan breaks down our modern food chain, link by link. The results are shocking and compelling--and I'm still on the chapter about corn! I never thought corn could be so interesting, but the developments that have shaped the corn industry which has in turn shaped the factory farm industry and the processed foods industry is fascinatingly horrific.

We are what we eat--we've heard that mantra a million times--so as Pollan says, we are a lot of chemicals and corn, and even more petroleum. Check it out.