What Is Happening To Food?

I recently watched a video about changes that will be made to candy in the upcoming future. Big corporations like Hersey’s, Cadbury, and Oreo. And you know what? I wasn’t at all surprised. I stopped liking these brand a long time ago. What it did remind me was how crucial it is for me to continue to find ways to support my own home. To educate my children and myself on why real food matters.

I’m not going to focus on the gross-ness of what these Big-Food Corps are doing…cuz there’s enough depressing things on this earth. I will highlight a bit to give depth to my entry today. A year and half ago, I saved a news article describing lab-made “butter” which is being backed by the man, the myth, the legend; Bill Gates. (please insert large amounts of sarcasm. I have zero fondness towards this person.)

It’s interesting to note that they are telling people that this bio-engineered butter will be released in 2027. Pardon my French, but I smell bull-shit. I would know the smell, I mean come on, I’m a dairy farmer. These corporations have been messing with food for sooooo long. They change the ingredients slowly. Like a frog in a pot of water. By incremental changes from cool to luke-warm to hot to boiling the frog can’t sense the changes - or the danger. Our taste buds have been put through a similar experience. Small adjustments aren’t noticed…especially by the complacent frogs - I mean humans.

Back to Hersey’s, Cadbury, and Oreo. They are announcing the same thing “changes in 2027”. They say it’s cheaper to create ingredients in a lab than to buy from farms. You and I are now surrounded by “frankin-foods”. But again, this has been happening for years. Why are they announcing then? Because people don’t care. The standard American is so addicted that not much will ruffle their feathers. By announcing it at the same time, then it becomes another norm. Lab-made candy…no big deal. Butter is made the same now! I can almost hear their slogan.

Here’s a spotlight of honesty. In my home, my kids get mad at me - asking ‘why can’t we just have the candy or the soda or the store bought ice cream?” It’s an all out battle some days. Other days they don’t mind having an apple or mango for a treat. And some moments I am human and cave to the pressure of societal norms and let them get the coveted treat. It sucks, and I rally myself to reinforce why I choose to live the way I do, with real food in the home. On both sides of our families, we are the only ones that live a nutritarian lifestyle. Where food is medicine. I think that’s why I appreciate our farm store and the customers I meet…helps to feel validated.

One way I help my children in not feeling deprived of treats is by making goodies from scratch. I do sell high quality chocolate bars in my farm store, made from real ingredients from real farms. **There are options for those not wanting to make everything!** For me, I have a family of 7, it’s just more cost effective to make things at home! So I bought a cute chocolate bar mold, and found the easiest recipe. 3 ingredients. Coconut, honey and cacao (raw). This recipe wasn’t my favorite actually. lol Yet it was a beginning step and the kids love them! I even did a layer of fresh ground peanut butter in some. That was good.

Yesterday we made homemade marshmallows with bovine gelatin powder (perfect supplements is the best!) egg whites, raw cane sugar and vanilla. So yummy!! And they’re adorable. So for Easter this year, I am giving them a homemade chocolate bar and the cutest marshmallow egg you ever did see! I also got one box of store bought candy…for me I’m hoping to switch traditions slowly. This is the first year I’m giving homemade candies for special occasions/holidays. I don’t want to force it so that’s why I got conventional candy (gag) also haha. I will say, if nothing else, my kids will remember that I didn’t eat it. And I gave them plenty of information about why I don’t eat it. Or drink it (soda). My youngest being 7, she already is knowing the difference of real food and fake food. My favorite is when she openly shares with others about fake food LOL

What I really appreciate about living in today’s world is the resources. It is so easy to jump on the phone and grab a healthy recipe. I love making treats with dates. Or creating mango smoothies…I’ve learned to tweak recipes to make them more nutrient dense. Almond milk or oat milk on a recipe is just read as RAW MILK in my eyes lol. As you find recipes that you and your family enjoy, run with that! If your family is fruity, make sure to try fruit smoothies with raw milk yogurt. If you are a fan of rich chocolate, experiment with cacao nibs! If you are struggling with crazy cravings, be sure you get a jam-packed nutrient rich breakfast. And push repeat. I have been on a cacao over night oats smoothie kick. Every morning. Same one. I make it the night before and I love it so much it gets me up early and I eat it right after the gym! Find your groove. Find your favorite real foods. Kids will follow suit when they see how much the parents love real foods.

This holiday and any holiday in the future remember that shaming yourself is not the way to do it. That brings low energy and repetitive poor habits. Allow your kids to enjoy their Easter baskets this time. No matter what you picked up. If your wanting big changes in your home with food in the near future, find ways to replace food-items with joy. Making those marshmallows was so fun with my kids. My 14 year old son licked the whisks/beaters and had white fluff all over his face. He thought he was the funniest thing. Lol. My daughter - who constantly questions my healthy pantry - piped the mallow into heart molds. She was so excited for this treat! When we find ways to make it joyful, and include our kids, it becomes a happy tradition. Then the desire for store bought treats lessens over time.

Discouragement is real. And so is societal shaming for those that want to do better than the generation before. Take courage in knowing your not alone and you can change our world for the better. One home at a time. One individual at a time. We got this. Have a beautiful holiday weekend.

XOXO,

Tasha