What is That “Food”?

I read somewhere – probably New Scientist magazine – that mothers who eat lots of Omega-3 fats during pregnancy are proven to have more intelligent kids. Since smart kids will just drive me nuts I’ve forbidden her to eat any Omega-3 fats. Transfat-soaked Crunchie-Wunchies washed down with generic High Fructose Corn Syrup sodas only please!

Seriously, it’s an interesting study that has wide implications given what our society is now feeding itself silly on. We’re eating more and more, yet it seems that we’re having more and more diseases and disorders directly related to nutritional deficiencies. Aren’t others alarmed? Or is it just me being paranoid?

And now a little diatribe about High Fructose Corn Syrup and the deconstruction of our natural foods.

rant/
Why is it that you can’t find any drinks – pop, “juices” or other bottled stuff – made with good old real sugar? Why is everything made with chemistry-set materials processed through medieval torture device-like machinery to turn what was once a wholesome, naturally-growing fruit/grain/vegetable/animal into some sort of protoplasmic Un-Food? Prominently labelled with text extolling the virtues of its “freshness” and “nutritional content”. Last time I checked, “Fresh” meant that it DIDN’T come out of a can or box or vacuum-sealed irradiated sterilized and stabilized package. Fresh meant just that – out of the garden, touched by sun and rain and the gentle hands of some farmer.
/rant

The good news is that she loves fish of all types, and like me would rather spend $20 on something fresh from the sea than $5 for Captain Highliner’s fish sticks. Never seen a fish that grew in that shape anyhow. And fish – especially oily fish like salmon, tuna, herring, sardines, halibut, shellfish and mackerel – are loaded with Omega-3 fats. The only caveat is of course to avoid or limit your intake of fish that tend to concentrate mercury – albacore tuna, swordfish (which you shouldn’t eat due to the unsustainable fishery anyhow), shark, king mackerel and others. And my own preference is to avoid farmed fish as they’re fed antibiotics and other crap that wild fish don’t eat, let alone the fake food that we force on those poor critters.

Other good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are nuts and seeds, walnut oil and flax seed oil.

I’m trying not to turn into the Food Nazi on her… she’s got enough to deal with as it is, but I find it hard not be be critical of what she’s eating as it will directly affect the smurf. Especially now, in the early development stages. Luckily she, like I, appreciates real food and we don’t eat a lot of junk food as a whole. Though her sweet tooth does cause me concern when I see her drinking those “juices” and pop sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup.

*sigh*