Michael Pollan states in his book In Defense of Food “Health is, among other things, the product of being in these sorts of relationships in a food chain…if the soil is sick or in some way deficient, so will be the grasses that grow in that soil and the cattle that eat the grasses and the people who drink the milk from them.” It is apparent that humans have become less connected to their food. By that I mean since industrialization and an increase of technological advancements, people are less connected to the entire process that goes behind getting food from the ground to one’s plate.
Michael Pollan speaks of the health impacts and benefits that can be associated with connecting one to the soil that grows their food, however contemplative practice allows for one to be mindful of the experience and I believe there are more benefits that go beyond the scope of physical health by paying attention to these processes. By taking time to acknowledge these connections to the plant, soil, and farmers, it can allow people to be more mindful and aware of choices they are making regarding food. That being said, I believe there are people who don’t have many choices or the privilege to take the time to think about these choices and that is where I struggle in search for a solution. If producers and manufacturers for these massive food companies were to have a shift of ideologies for creating food and able to draw a stronger connection from nature to the human with plants forming that bridge between the two, maybe we could see less harm to our planet and minds engaging in the political dialogue regarding these disparities in the food system.
Sources:
Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food : an Eater’s Manifesto. New York :Penguin Press, 2008. Print.
http://www.ecodaddyo.com/in-defense-of-food-review
http://www.contemplativemind.org