Have you seen the movie "Food Inc."? I've known about it since it came out, but just got around to watching it. Nothing it the movie surprised me, but it did re-ignite the fire of indignation in me at how we are so misled in the name of corporate greed.

Every parent of every child in every school in our country (indeed the world) needs to see it. All of us have the right to good food.

This is our problem, not someone else's; it's yours, mine, theirs, ours. "Food Inc." isn't about staying away from meat - the meat, saturated fat and bone broths from healthy animals are all good for us.

It's about insisting that we stop the abomination of confinement farming and mechanized food production. If people demand better food, all food will be sustainably and humanely produced.

We made similar requirements with the tobacco companies who were loath to admit in public that they knew the dangers posed by their product.

High fructose corn syrup, MSG and rBGH have all been booted because consumers said: "We don't want them." Searle is trying to hoodwink us with artificial sweeteners by changing the name (are we really that collectively stupid?), but these need to go in the same way.

Monsanto strong-arms and financially breaks farmers. Some of the most powerful people in the FDA and the USDA are former Monsanto executives. Do we actually think their priority is protecting us?

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast food restaurant chain using only sustainably raised food. Several schools in our area are doing the same thing: http://www.farmtoschool.org/state-home.php?id=8. Why aren't all of our schools doing this?

Why aren't our local politicians and newspapers speaking to the visionary people heading up these schools?

Isn't it amazing how many people talking on cell phones and driving expensive cars sit in long drive- through lines at McDonald's, Burger King and Starbucks? They will say with perfectly straight faces that they can't afford good food and don't have time to cook.

Imagine how much money they would save by eating at home or buying a good, used vehicle and a more basic cell phone. Cooking simple good food takes less time than driving to, sitting in, eating at, paying for and driving home from restaurants.

In the movie, a man buys cheap food for his family but spends over $300 a month for his diabetes medication. His youngest daughter is heading straight for her father's diabetes; only she'll be there around age 10.

Consuming nutritionally dense food would heal Dad's diabetes and prevent his daughter's! Good food isn't more expensive when skyrocketing health care costs are the result.

The pollution created by confinement farming and mono-cropping and all the oil and pesticides they require poisons the planet. How does shipping food from 1500 miles away save money or oil? And why would anyone want to eat "food" that was grown, raised, handled and packaged this way?

There's nothing wrong with big business practices if they are truthful, treat people fairly and don't try to hide what they're actually doing.

The CEOs of Chipotle, Stonyfield Farm Yogurt and the incredible farmer of Polyface Farm are making money, being good environmental stewards and treating their workers and animals with decency.

Monsanto, Cargill and ConAgra are doing nothing of the sort and the state of our societal and environmental wellness is the result. When we look the other way, we sanction what is being done to the animals, the land and the workers in these horrible plants.

Ten things you can do, starting today:

1. Drink water instead of sodas and other sweetened beverages.
2. Eat at home.
3. Support the passage of state and local laws requiring restaurants to post calorie information on menus.
4. Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food and sports drinks. Flavored milk isn't real food!
5. Buy local over shipped-in organic.
6. Buy LOCAL cage free eggs, raw or vat pasteurized full fat dairy and meat with no added drugs or anti-biotics.
7. Visit your farmers markets and talk to your farmers!
8. Read labels! If you can't say it, don't eat it.
9. Tell your local and federal government food quality and safety is important to you.
10. Demand job protection and fair wages for farmers and food processing workers.

Have you seen the movie "Food, Inc." ? If you haven't, you need to. As leaders of our community, I'm asking our local politicians to take notice of where true health will come from: sustainably raised food.

We all deserve it; every single one of us, no matter what our race, creed, gender, sexual preference, age or social class. Our community leaders need to set the example. Demand this of them and we'll see our society regain its health, its dignity and set the example for the generations to come.

If you're interested in becoming more involved or have ideas about getting this important information out, please e-mail me: nancy@nancyjerominski.com

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this column are for information only and not intended to replace your current medical protocols. Always consult your health practitioner before undertaking any dietary changes or exercise programs.
Nancy is a CHEK Institute Holistic Lifestyle and Exercise coach and an ACE certified, IDEA awarded Master personal fitness trainer. She helps clients find optimal health and fitness through practical nutrition, holistic conditioning and lifestyle coaching out of her home in SeaTac. For more information contact Nancy at 206-852-4768 or visit her website at www.nancyjerominski.com