By guest blogger and leading health-and-wellness expert Jillian Michaels
Here’s a statistic for you: One dollar will buy you 1,200 calories of processed garbage that will likely make you fat or sick, or both. Conversely, that same buck will only nab you 250 calories of healthy food (fruits, vegetables, organic meat, whole grains) that can help maintain a healthy body weight and prevent disease.
Bummer, right? What’s wrong with this picture? How did this happen? While I can preach personal accountability until the cows come home with regards to health and wellness, the bottom line is that for most American families subsisting on 50K a year, 250 calories for a dollar doesn’t cut it. Healthy food simply isn’t accessible or affordable to them. It’s tough to blame people for not living a lifestyle that is simply out of their reach.
Here’s another stat for you: In the 1960s we spent 18 percent of our annual income on food. Today we spend 9 percent. But before you get too excited… In the 1960s we spent 5 percent of our annual income on health care. Today, we spend 17 percent. Yay? I think not. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend that income on broccoli and chicken than on chemo treatments, Lipitor, or gastric bypass surgery.
As a result of these statistics, obesity and disease in America have run rampant. Two in three adults and one in three children are overweight. Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates have skyrocketed over the last 30 years. Our children are predicted to have a lesser life expectancy than their parents, for the first time in human history.
So what the hell is happening here? How has it come to pass that our food system sets Americans up to become fat and sick? Well, in large part we have our federal agribusiness policies to thank.
Although the USDA’s food pyramid recommends two to five cups of fruits and vegetables per day, its budget—mandated by Congress through the Farm Bill—encourages different behavior altogether.
Under the Farm Bill, the great bulk of USDA largesse flows to five crops: genetically modified corn, genetically modified soy, cotton, wheat, and rice. Of the $113.6 billion in commodity subsidy payments, a.k.a. your tax dollars, distributed by the USDA between 1995 and 2004, corn drew $41.8 billion—more than cotton, soy, and rice combined. And, to point out the obvious, NONE of our subsidy dollars are going toward fruits and vegetables (with the exception of apples, generally processed into cheap sweeteners).
The huge corn and soy payouts encourage overproduction, and have helped sustain a long-term trend of falling prices. And cheap corn and soy, underwritten by the subsidy program, have subsequently changed the diet of every American. These crops in particular lend themselves perfectly to the processing of cheap consumables that are passed off as food. A perfect example of this would be the booming market for high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which has been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. HFCS now accounts for nearly half of the caloric sweeteners added to processed food, and is the sole caloric sweetener for mass-market soft drinks. Between 1975 and 1997, per-capita consumption of it jumped from virtually nothing to 60.4 pounds per year. Yikes.
Why would our government set us up for failure in this way? Simple. Because the special-interest groups who stand to gain from this policy, such as Monsanto, Liberty, and so forth, lobby our representatives in Washington and make generous contributions to their election campaigns. You see, companies like Monsanto own the patents on these GMO seeds. In addition, they sell the pesticides and synthetic fertilizers the seeds require to thrive. Without the Farm Bill, these guys would be in big trouble.
So what do we do, and how do we get out of this mess? The solution is multifaceted. First, grassroots, community-driven efforts are critical in fighting federal policy to transform the American diet. Make efforts to support your local farmers. Join a CSA. Grow your own. Reallocate your funds so that you stop wasting money on bottled water and toxic cleaning or beauty products, and put it into organics whenever possible.
Second, stay educated and aware of what’s going on, so you can fight back. Did you know that President Obama has approved three new GMO crops in the last year, despite the fact that the garden in his own backyard is organic? Attend one of the anti-GMO rallies that are currently taking place across the country. Sign petitions to demand that GMO foods be labeled. Write your representatives and ask them to reverse the Farm Bill in 2012. Demand that our tax dollars go to subsidize organic fruits and vegetables, so that healthy foods will be affordable and accessible to all Americans.
Here’s what you can’t do—bury your head in the sand. We vote with our dollars. We the people must reflect this change personally, and demand these changes from our government. With diligence and determination we will win this fight. I’ll see you on the frontlines.
This contest has now ended.
It took my firstborn getting diagnosed with ADD to realize how unhealthy “normal” foods were, and I thought I was providing healthy foods for my family! thank you Jillian for keeping your voice loud and clear on the front lines for the organic cause! My family’s food budget is actually 15-20% of our monthly budget in an effort to keep an organic diet.
I am so glad to hear all this information and I wish that I lived in an area that promoted organic food and farm fresh produce. I, unfortunately, live in a remote area in that I would need to travel 1.5-2+ hours to obtain fresh items. Our grocery here is okay, but organic seems so expensive. I do read labels and try to avoid foods with any preservatives in them. It is a shame we have to shop like that. With me as a cancer survivor and my husband a heart and diabetic person, we do try to eat healthy. We do our best to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well.
Thank you Jillian for continuing to remind us what we need to do to get healthy. I would much rather spend the money to eat organic foods than to pay the doctor or pharmacy. The best part is, we vote with our wallets, AND we can lose weight and feel better at the same time. Keep up the good work – some of us are stubborn and it will take time to get many on board.
Reminds of the documentary Food Inc. I’m disappointed in our president, he’s fine eating organics and I can only afford some mac & cheese.
Jillian is great. I love her passion when it comes to our health. She will be missed on the biggest loser but I can’t wait to see her on “The Doctors”.
Awesome eye article. I shared it with my facebook friends because it was so good.
This is all so confusing and so much harder than it needs to be. I am glad my children are grown up and have fairly healthy eating habits. All this information makes my head spin. Thanks for keeping us informed.
love this information, this is my passion, this is what i always talk about, thanks for sharing. Started my own garden this year;)
so sad…but so true. If each person who realizes that this information is correct and important passes it along to just one other person, we could truly make a difference in the lives and pocketbooks of the american public.
This is so true and so sad simultaneously. And one finds quality fruit and produce, it is imported! Not many families that I know of even make $50K annually, as I don’t reside on either coast. Wake up America, as the Land of the Free is coming the Land that has Lost.
Here! Here! I happily buy from my local farmer, all my meat and eggs! I hope everyone takes the time to find a farmer near them. The food is better tasting, better for you, and worth every penny. Plus your money stays local!!
This really disgusts me. The almighty dollar is the only thing that seems to matter to our government officials. I don’t understand how they can be so uncaring about the health of the people of this country. And I think it is VERY hypocritical of Pres. Obama to make US eat GMO products when he won’t even feed it to his OWN family!! I agree that at the very least this toxic food should be labeled. We should have a choice in what we decide to eat and feed to our families.
Thank you Jillian for all that you do. You are so motivational and we need people like you out there fighting for these causes for us and our kids. You are so much appreciated.
I have blogged this very issue just two days ago with my own experiences. However, i do not spend my hard earned cash on spa treatments, or gastric bypass…..i am a wife/working mother of two. Feeding my family comes first….especially my petite toddler, who dr.’s insist i feed butter, gravy and lots of high calorie items. the rest of us eat lean meats and veggies, and lots of fruits….but it is getting too expensive to buy fresh & healthy items, and as my wallet gets thinner, but not my waist no thanks to cheaper higher calorie foods which are becoming more and more visible in my home!
Thanks, very informative
Very interesting, and sad statistics. I have a hard time trying to explain this information to other people without sounding like a crazy person. So most often I don’t. I make what I feel are good choices for my family but watch other people feed their family garbage.
It’s amazing how vicious the cycle really is when it comes to our “health care” and food. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for this enlightening information! My husband and I have been operating a mini-farm for a long time, and just recently started selling at the local farmer’s market. It is initially hard to make the change to eating wholesome foods, but once you become accustomed to it, the non-healthy foods are no longer appealing. Thank you, again!
This problem has played a major role in my life since birth. No money = eat cheaply. Eat cheaply = not as healthy foods. Not as healthy foods = lower quality overall health.
It has affected my family and many of those around us. All of the knowledge about calories and chemicals and such cannot change the fact that if you can’t afford organic and low-fat items or fresh fruits and vegetables….then you cannot become as healthy as you would like. The dollar only goes so far.
Thank you for your suggestions on how to get things to change. I will be doing my part!
This is great information, and it needs to reach out further than here. I am one of the overweight population, and we live on far less income. Buying hotdogs is less expensive than buying chicken. Ramen Noodles are by far less expensive then buying the produce needed to make a bowl of soup. I am tired of these being my excuses, so this year I planted a garden…. We’ll see how this goes
Thank you. I have been trying to make changes little by little as far as eating more organic and getting completely way from artificial sweetners and high fructose corn syrup.
LOVE this article!!!!!!!!!! I have just planted my first garden, and I can’t wait to teach my kids that their food comes from the ground, not a box!
I’ve lived too long eating crap foods, its time to start teaching our children how to eat and live healthy.
Thanks Jillian! Thanks Maria!
Thank you for this information. I love your tips on how to fight back. Now I know how to proceed.
Thank you for the stats. Sometimes its good for people to see the numbers. I do my best with organics and health food, but we don’t have a grocery store in my little town. Let alone a heathy one around. Keep up the good fight!
great information,I enjoyed
Thank you Jillian!! Your statistics really puts things into perspective. Thanks for the motivation to get out there and make our voices known. Too many people are not educated about food and how it relates to health and wellness. And they are either ignorant about the role of the government or they simply don’t care. It’s very encouraging to read what you have to say and I will be sharing this on FAcebook! God bless.
Yes, I agree whole-heartedly with the information presented thus far! I also agree with the post who said ‘what about us who make $20k/year?’ and the post saying they can afford an iPhone and not healthy food.
It is amazing to reflect on the decision processes we go through to justify our purchases. I recently bought new shoes and clothes at an outlet store nearby. That money could have been used for groceries, yes. And then I remember I DO support our local growers and local co-op with a $100 membership. The first time I heard of this member price, I automatically said ‘no.’ Then my perception and priorities changed and that was something I felt I had to do.
I also agree that we who have read this are already in a niche of our own who ARE conscious consumers. We need to pass on the information to friends and loved ones. In keeping with organic, two things run through my mind: the local co-op and Tone It Up. Both of these together will lead us back into better health and exercise habits and hopefully reduce our spending on health care ad doctor visits.
Keep it up! It’s really not that hard to buy organic veggies, even Coscto sells large bags of frozen organic veggies inexpensively. They sell other organics in bulk too reducing costs. Leave the case of water on the shelf and toss in a bag of organic produce or grains, it’s that easy!
Thank you Jillian for the insight, please keep these things coming. I am currently in school for exercise science and I would like to make a career in fighting obesity. All the info you can provide would be great!!! I can not believe Obama is approving these farms!! He is so worried about people and health care, why doesn’t he start by changing the bill so we can eat healthier!!! Also, why can’t we by smaller containers of fruits (i.e. strawberries) at a cheaper rate? My husband and I bought strawberries the last time we went shopping and they were bad in a few day!! Such a waiste!!! Who can afford to keep going to the store every 3 days to get fresh fruit and throw half of it away!!??
Thanks for giving us simple steps to take to combat this problem. If we each one do at least one of these things, we will make a difference.
Jillian, you always inspire me! As someone who works in the grocery business I see this kind of thing everyday. It is so difficult for people on a low income budget to eat healthy.
It’s so frustrating that the greed and power of big business and politics controls the food sources–garbage food that is killing Americans. I wish more people understood what’s at stake and where their priorities should lie: the health of current and future generations. Thanks, Jillian, for sounding the warning and making a call to action.
It is sad but true, it’s all about money and power. Whoever has the money has the power! My family has started our first garden this year, organic all the way:) All five of my children help to care for it. My hope is that I can influence them differently than the schools and media.
Wonderful reading ~ thank you!
You are speaking my language!! I have been yelling this from the rooftops to all my friends. My family’s eating habits have drastically changed in the last two years since finding out about GMO’s, understanding how cattle/chickens, etc. are raised.
There is so much information about there for people to consume — and once you know, it’s so hard (impossible) to go back.
Thanks!
It’s hard to find anything without hfcs in it. Wasn’t aware of the soy, and I consume a lot of it. Will need to start reading labels better. I have been growing my own food for a number of years to avoid all the pesticides and other things that get into our food supplies. Sure does taste better.
Thanks for the article. I will email my senators and congresswoman. Thanks.
Well-put and timely. Agribusiness is essentially killing us, not feeding us. It also concerns me that Americans spend so little on their food, yet don’t mind dropping money on TVs, phones, computers, SUVs…I bet if we looked at European budgets more of their budget goes towards food than Americans.
Thanks for writing this Jillian!
Knowledge is everything. Really makes you think twice when it’s in black and white. Great post!
Its sad that what our government is all about is who can support the election campaign but we as a people have a loud voice if we all say the same thing. We try to support our grass roots group here in Utah as much as we can and everyone should do it – they in turn support local farmers and growers which keeps the costs down, our group even takes food stamps and vouchers.
Very thoughtprovoking article.
Good points. Even with all these actions, we are slipping more and more behind.
Very good info!
Thank you Jillian! Knowledge is power and we need a serious food overhaul in the US.
I found this a very interesting read and really think that anyone who has tried to eat healthier has found that the it can be very expensive. However, with the information that Jillian speaks of in this article, it really gives you a better picture of this on a much larger scale. I would love to read more in her book! Great Job, Jillian!
Very interesting and informative article. Thank you!
I just read Robyn O’Brien’s book on this very topic. Its funny how life steers you in certain directions! Im glad to hear you commenting on these topics that are SO IMPORTANT right now! You have a voice that people listen to, thank you for opening our eyes to these things!
You are amazing, Jillian!
People need to just start reading labels. I think many would be surprised what they find.
I started a clean eating diet in April 2010. I fell off the wagon a few times and realized that my poorer eating habits lead to me being crankier and moodier, in addition to causing lower energy. I find it to be true that it is expensive to eat healthier ($4 plus dollars for sprouted grain bread!), but I notice also the healthier foods sustain me longer.
I’d love to see people be able to make healthier choices, without having to sacrifice the family budget. I lost 80 lbs, partly because of my better eating habits, and when people have asked me how I did it, I tell them what I eat. A couple of people have told me they couldn’t eat like that. Now I wonder if it wasn’t the food choices so much as their budget.
Love, Love, Love Jillian. Thank you for all that you do.
this is really important work. can’t wait to read this book.