What's Wrong with Our Food System? Hello.My name is Birke Baehr,and I'm 11 years old.I came here today to talk about what's wrong with our food system.First of all,I would like to say that I'm really amazed at how easily kids are led to believe all the marketing and advertising on TV, at public schools and pretty much everywhere else you look.It seems to me like corporations are always trying to get kids like me to get their parents to buy stuff that really isn't good for us or the planet.Little kids,especially,are attracted by colorful packaging and plastic toys.I must admit,I used to be one of them.I also used to think that all of our food came from these happy,little farms where pigs rolled in mud and cows grazed on grass all day. What I discovered was this is not true.I began to look into this stuff on the internet,in books and in documentary films,in my travels with my family.I discovered the dark side of the industrialized food system.First there's genetically engineered seeds and organisms.That is when a seed is manipulated in a laboratory to do something not intended by nature--like taking the DNA of a fish and putting it into the DNA of a tomato--yuck.Don't get me wrong,I like fish and tomatoes,but this is just creepy. (Laughter)The seeds are then planted,then grow.The food they produce have been proven to cause cancer and other problems in lab animals.And people have been eating food produced this way since the 1990's.And most folks don't even know they exist.Did you know rats that ate genetically engineered comn had developed signs of liver and kidney toxicity?These include kidney inflammation and lesions and increased kidney weight.Yet almost all the corn we eat is altered genetically in some way.And let me tell you,corn is in everything.And don't even get me started on the confined animal feeding operations.called CAFOS. (Laughter) Conventional farmers use chemical fertilizers made from fossil fuels that they mix with the dirt to make plants grow.They do this because they've stripped the soil of all nutrients from growing the same crop over and over again.Next,more harmful chemicals are sprayed on fruits and vegetables,like pesticides and herbicides,to kill weeds and bugs.When it rains,these chemicals seep into the ground,or run off into our waterways,poisoning our water too.Then they irradiate our food,trying to make it last longer,so it can travel thousands of miles from where it's grown to the supermarkets. So I ask myself,how can I change?How can I change these things?This is what I found out.I discovered that there's a movement for a better way.Now a while back,I wanted to be an NFL football player.I decided that I'd rather be an organic farmer instead.(Applause)Thank you.And that way I can have a greater impact on the world This man,Joel Salatin,they call him a lunatic farmer because he grows against the system.Since I'm home schooled,I went to go hear him speak one day.This man,this
What's Wrong with Our Food System? Hello. My name is Birke Baehr, and I'm 11 years old. I came here today to talk about what's wrong with our food system. First of all, I would like to say that I'm really amazed at how easily kids are led to believe all the marketing and advertising on TV, at public schools and pretty much everywhere else you look. It seems to me like corporations are always trying to get kids like me to get their parents to buy stuff that really isn't good for us or the planet. Little kids, especially, are attracted by colorful packaging and plastic toys. I must admit, I used to be one of them. I also used to think that all of our food came from these happy, little farms where pigs rolled in mud and cows grazed on grass all day. What I discovered was this is not true. I began to look into this stuff on the internet, in books and in documentary films, in my travels with my family. I discovered the dark side of the industrialized food system. First there's genetically engineered seeds and organisms. That is when a seed is manipulated in a laboratory to do something not intended by nature -- like taking the DNA of a fish and putting it into the DNA of a tomato -- yuck. Don't get me wrong, I like fish and tomatoes, but this is just creepy. (Laughter) The seeds are then planted, then grow. The food they produce have been proven to cause cancer and other problems in lab animals. And people have been eating food produced this way since the 1990's. And most folks don't even know they exist. Did you know rats that ate genetically engineered corn had developed signs of liver and kidney toxicity? These include kidney inflammation and lesions and increased kidney weight. Yet almost all the corn we eat is altered genetically in some way. And let me tell you, corn is in everything. And don't even get me started on the confined animal feeding operations. called CAFOS. (Laughter) Conventional farmers use chemical fertilizers made from fossil fuels that they mix with the dirt to make plants grow. They do this because they've stripped the soil of all nutrients from growing the same crop over and over again. Next, more harmful chemicals are sprayed on fruits and vegetables, like pesticides and herbicides, to kill weeds and bugs. When it rains, these chemicals seep into the ground, or run off into our waterways, poisoning our water too. Then they irradiate our food, trying to make it last longer, so it can travel thousands of miles from where it's grown to the supermarkets. So I ask myself, how can I change? How can I change these things? This is what I found out. I discovered that there's a movement for a better way. Now a while back, I wanted to be an NFL football player. I decided that I'd rather be an organic farmer instead. (Applause) Thank you. And that way I can have a greater impact on the world. This man, Joel Salatin, they call him a lunatic farmer because he grows against the system. Since I'm home schooled, I went to go hear him speak one day. This man, this
lunatic farmer,doesn't use any pesticides,herbicides,or genetically modified seeds. And so for that,he's called crazy by the system. I want you to know that we can all make a difference by making different choices,by buying our food directly from local farmers,or our neighbors who we've known all our lives.Some people say organic or local food is more expensive,but is it really? With all these things I've been learning about the food system,it seems to me that we either pay the farmer,or we can pay the hospital.(Applause)Now I know definitely what one I would choose.I want you to know that there are farms out there--like Bill Keener in Sequachie Cove Farm in Tennessee--whose cows do eat grass and whose pigs do roll in the mud,just like I thought.Sometimes I go to Bill's farm and volunteer,so I can see up close and personal where the meat I eat comes from.I want you to know that I believe kids will eat fresh vegetables and good food if they know more about it and where it really comes from.I want you to know that there are farmers'markets in every community,popping up.I want you to know that me,my brother and sister actually like eating baked kale chips.I try to share this everywhere I go. Not too long ago,my uncle said that he offered my six year-old cousin cereal.He asked if he wanted organic Toasted O's or the sugar-coated flakes--you know,the one with the big striped cartoon character on the front.My little cousin told his dad that he would rather have the organic Toasted O's cereal,because,Birke said,he shouldn't eat sparkly cereal.And that,my friends,is how we can make a difference one kid at a time. So next time you're at the grocery store,think local,choose organic,know your farmer and know your food.Thank you
lunatic farmer, doesn't use any pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified seeds. And so for that, he's called crazy by the system. I want you to know that we can all make a difference by making different choices, by buying our food directly from local farmers, or our neighbors who we've known all our lives. Some people say organic or local food is more expensive, but is it really? With all these things I've been learning about the food system, it seems to me that we either pay the farmer, or we can pay the hospital. (Applause) Now I know definitely what one I would choose. I want you to know that there are farms out there -- like Bill Keener in Sequachie Cove Farm in Tennessee -- whose cows do eat grass and whose pigs do roll in the mud, just like I thought. Sometimes I go to Bill's farm and volunteer, so I can see up close and personal where the meat I eat comes from. I want you to know that I believe kids will eat fresh vegetables and good food if they know more about it and where it really comes from. I want you to know that there are farmers' markets in every community, popping up. I want you to know that me, my brother and sister actually like eating baked kale chips. I try to share this everywhere I go. Not too long ago, my uncle said that he offered my six year-old cousin cereal. He asked if he wanted organic Toasted O's or the sugar-coated flakes -- you know, the one with the big striped cartoon character on the front. My little cousin told his dad that he would rather have the organic Toasted O's cereal, because, Birke said, he shouldn't eat sparkly cereal. And that, my friends, is how we can make a difference one kid at a time. So next time you're at the grocery store, think local, choose organic, know your farmer and know your food. Thank you
Melting Pot Cooks Up New American Cuisine 美国食物新吃法 In most major U.S.cities,you can find street food carts where vendors sell meals from mobile trucks.Food is always attached to memory. And many people end up cooking the foods of their childhood -whether it's new immigrants selling their native cuisine or entrepreneurs dipping back into grandmother's recipes. But throughout the United States,a new breed of food cart is emerging.These mobile restaurants sell fusion food,bringing together several different ethnic dishes and ingredients to create a new American cuisine-like this Korean taco. "It's wrapped in a corn tortilla,Mexican,taco track.We have a spicy pork,which is very Korean,"Kamala Saxton owns Marination Mobile,a food truck in Seattle."We have put our own homemade pickled jalapenos,which is Korean or Hawaiian.And so there are a number of different ethnicities in one serving of the spicy pork taco." The Korean taco might be a new taste for a lot of diners.But Saxton feels like it's a natural combination,especially given where she comes from. "It's truely the mix played in Hawaiian,since I'm Korean,Hawaiian,Filipino and Spanish.And given that,you have someone in your family that knows how to cook one of those ethnic dishes" But fusion doesn't just happen for vendors with Saxton's diverse culinary background. Jane Ziegelman is an historian,who writes about New York street food,she says that even in places that didn't have Hawaii's multi-ethnic families,street carts will still a place where people come together and find out what their neighbors eat. "You had Irish kids eating Jewish pickles.You had Italian immigrants eating Jewish potato pancakes.You had all kinds of people drinking seltzer,which was,in fact a street food.So people were eating each others'food all the time." And this exchange affected the street food itself.Ziegelman says that knishes,egg rolls and hot dogs all underwent the same American transformation. "Foods brought over by immigrants grew in size.This is like something that happens to a lot of foods once they come to the United States.They get bigger and they get blander.” And they also get portable.Ziegelman notes that the hot dog moved from a plate to a bun and the bagel became a vehicle for an on-the-go meal of smoked salmon and cream cheese
Melting Pot Cooks Up New American Cuisine 美国食物新吃法 In most major U.S. cities, you can find street food carts where vendors sell meals from mobile trucks. Food is always attached to memory. And many people end up cooking the foods of their childhood - whether it's new immigrants selling their native cuisine or entrepreneurs dipping back into grandmother's recipes. But throughout the United States, a new breed of food cart is emerging. These mobile restaurants sell fusion food, bringing together several different ethnic dishes and ingredients to create a new American cuisine - like this Korean taco. "It’s wrapped in a corn tortilla, Mexican, taco track. We have a spicy pork, which is very Korean,” Kamala Saxton owns Marination Mobile, a food truck in Seattle. “We have put our own homemade pickled jalapenos, which is Korean or Hawaiian. And so there are a number of different ethnicities in one serving of the spicy pork taco.” The Korean taco might be a new taste for a lot of diners. But Saxton feels like it’s a natural combination, especially given where she comes from. "It's truely the mix played in Hawaiian, since I’m Korean, Hawaiian, Filipino and Spanish. And given that, you have someone in your family that knows how to cook one of those ethnic dishes" But fusion doesn’t just happen for vendors with Saxton’s diverse culinary background. Jane Ziegelman is an historian, who writes about New York street food, she says that even in places that didn't have Hawaii's multi-ethnic families, street carts will still a place where people come together and find out what their neighbors eat. "You had Irish kids eating Jewish pickles. You had Italian immigrants eating Jewish potato pancakes. You had all kinds of people drinking seltzer, which was, in fact a street food. So people were eating each others’ food all the time.” And this exchange affected the street food itself. Ziegelman says that knishes, egg rolls and hot dogs all underwent the same American transformation. "Foods brought over by immigrants grew in size. This is like something that happens to a lot of foods once they come to the United States. They get bigger and they get blander.” And they also get portable. Ziegelman notes that the hot dog moved from a plate to a bun and the bagel became a vehicle for an on-the-go meal of smoked salmon and cream cheese
In Portland,Megan Walhood fuses this American grab-and-go attitude with the food of her European family.She and her fiancee Jeremy Daniels own a truck called Viking Soul Food. "The sort of foundation product we serve is lefse,this Norwegian potato flatbread, and I grew up eating that every year at Christmastime.And then it was Jeremy who kind of had the idea to start using it like a tortilla or a crepe,and just stuffing it with all manner of different things." Viking Soul Food's most popular lefse is the meatball wrap,a recipe which comes from Walhood's grandmother.It's topped with pickled cabbage and a sauce of melted Scandinavian cheese.Now this wrap format would never be seen in Norway,but Daniels and Walhood say that it's pretty approachable no matter what your backgrounds. "Because it's neat box with melty cheese source on the top,and...people see pork and beef meatballs,and then they see cheese sauce,and they don't look anything further. They can look at everything else." Come on,Saxton of Marination Mobile agrees that fusing the familiar with the exotic helps people approach cart food. "There's something very familiar to eating a taco.If you've never had Korean food, or if you've never had Hawaiian food,fair bet that you have had a taco." As a historian,Ziegelman appreciates how food cart fusion has evolved.But history aside,for food to catch on,it's got to be tasty. "I have had a Korean taco.It's really,really good.It's really interesting the way these foods,which never grew up together and have no particular reason to harmonize, harmonize in this really gorgeous way." And if you don't fancy Korean tacos,Marination Mobile also serves a kimchi quesad illa
In Portland, Megan Walhood fuses this American grab-and-go attitude with the food of her European family. She and her fiancée Jeremy Daniels own a truck called Viking Soul Food. "The sort of foundation product we serve is lefse, this Norwegian potato flatbread, and I grew up eating that every year at Christmastime. And then it was Jeremy who kind of had the idea to start using it like a tortilla or a crepe, and just stuffing it with all manner of different things." Viking Soul Food’s most popular lefse is the meatball wrap, a recipe which comes from Walhood’s grandmother. It’s topped with pickled cabbage and a sauce of melted Scandinavian cheese. Now this wrap format would never be seen in Norway, but Daniels and Walhood say that it's pretty approachable no matter what your backgrounds. "Because it's neat box with melty cheese source on the top, and...people see pork and beef meatballs, and then they see cheese sauce, and they don’t look anything further. They can look at everything else.” Come on, Saxton of Marination Mobile agrees that fusing the familiar with the exotic helps people approach cart food. "There’s something very familiar to eating a taco. If you’ve never had Korean food, or if you’ve never had Hawaiian food, fair bet that you have had a taco.” As a historian, Ziegelman appreciates how food cart fusion has evolved. But history aside, for food to catch on, it's got to be tasty. "I have had a Korean taco. It’s really, really good. It’s really interesting the way these foods, which never grew up together and have no particular reason to harmonize, harmonize in this really gorgeous way.” And if you don’t fancy Korean tacos, Marination Mobile also serves a kimchi quesadilla
Eating fruit and veg makes you SEXIER You know eating fruit and vegetables is virtuous.But did you know it can also make you look good? People who increased their intake over just six weeks developed a healthy glow and appeared more attractive,researchers found. Scientists at St Andrews University found eating them subtly increased yellow and red pigments in the volunteers'skin. They monitored the food intake of 35 people and took pictures of their faces,arms and hands using a sensitive camera at the start,and after three and six weeks. Increasing their intake of greens by 2.9 portions a day was found to make the person look more healthy and an extra 3.3 portions could enhance their attractiveness,when their photographs were rated by others. Fruit and vegetables are rich in carotenoids,which are known to protect against cell damage from pollution and UV rays,and can also prevent age-related diseases including heart disease and cancer. But while it was known eating extreme amounts of certain vegetables such as carrots could turn skin orange,it was not known a small increase was perceptible to others- and was seen as appealing. A camera measured changes to the skin's redness,yellowness and lightness,and found it significantly changed in people who naturally increased their intake.These changes were not evident at three weeks. Using light sensors,the researchers showed these red and yellow hues were linked with the levels of carotenoids in their skin. There are hundreds of carotenoids but those thought to have the most dramatic effect are lycopene which gives tomatoes and red peppers their red colour and beta-carotene found in carrots as well as broccoli,squash,and spinach. Skin colour is also affected by chemicals called polyphenols,found in apples, blueberries and cherries,which cause blood rush to the skin surface
Eating fruit and veg makes you SEXIER You know eating fruit and vegetables is virtuous. But did you know it can also make you look good? People who increased their intake over just six weeks developed a healthy glow and appeared more attractive, researchers found. Scientists at St Andrews University found eating them subtly increased yellow and red pigments in the volunteers’ skin. They monitored the food intake of 35 people and took pictures of their faces, arms and hands using a sensitive camera at the start, and after three and six weeks. Increasing their intake of greens by 2.9 portions a day was found to make the person look more healthy and an extra 3.3 portions could enhance their attractiveness, when their photographs were rated by others. Fruit and vegetables are rich in carotenoids, which are known to protect against cell damage from pollution and UV rays, and can also prevent age-related diseases including heart disease and cancer. But while it was known eating extreme amounts of certain vegetables such as carrots could turn skin orange, it was not known a small increase was perceptible to others - and was seen as appealing. A camera measured changes to the skin’s redness, yellowness and lightness, and found it significantly changed in people who naturally increased their intake. These changes were not evident at three weeks. Using light sensors, the researchers showed these red and yellow hues were linked with the levels of carotenoids in their skin. There are hundreds of carotenoids but those thought to have the most dramatic effect are lycopene - which gives tomatoes and red peppers their red colour - and beta-carotene found in carrots as well as broccoli, squash, and spinach. Skin colour is also affected by chemicals called polyphenols, found in apples, blueberries and cherries, which cause blood rush to the skin surface
