Eat Better Together

Change is not always a welcoming subject. Some echo the sentiment, "If it's not broken, don't fix it." As a result of multiple health concerns related to specific food consumption, there has been a cry for change as it relates to the food industry. Experts say that unhealthy foods directly contribute to many health crises plaguing our communities today. Among these are illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Unhealthy options have become easy to access and are often cheaper than healthy alternatives. Some believe they are winning by choosing the less expensive option. However, it may ultimately equal the price of healthier options due to the amount of money spent covering medical expenses due to food-related illnesses.

Food consumption is an essential part of our existence. Food serves the purpose of providing energy and nutrients to the body. Research has shown that food and water are necessary for survival. What to eat and when to eat is heavily embedded in our culture. Making a conscious decision to choose the foods that are right for you is just as important as the act of consumption. When is the best time to eat? We have programmed ourselves to eat at certain times. This programming starts way before we can even speak. Even with newborns, we are careful to keep our babies on a feeding schedule. Instinctively we eat when we are hungry. However, some eat when sad, bored, or even attending a scheduled event. Eating better together may mean that we refrain from eating just to eat or because food is in front of us. The holidays are fast approaching, and often we tend to consume more food during the holidays. Much of the time, food offered during these special occasions are less healthier options. Even with the various time frames of eating, we ultimately control what we choose to consume.

As we seek to change the outcome of our health and the layout of our communities, we must first commit to making a change. Change can start with small steps. Those small steps would lead to total transformation with consistent work towards a collective goal. How can we eat better together? Many schools throughout our country began offering healthier options for our children. We can support that effort by making conscious food decisions in our homes and communities.

Together, we can increase the availability of nutritious and tasteful foods. One myth about healthy food options is that it is less appealing to the taste. Some options are acquired taste; however, we can make healthy options just as tasteful. One way that we can eat better together is by building community gardens.

"We begin by doing small things at the local level like planting community gardens or looking out for our neighbors. That is how change takes place in living systems." (Grace Lee Boggs) Community gardens include utilizing a central property in which fruit and vegetables can be planted, maintained, and consumed by the community. Start with local community partners who specialize in gardening. Recruit master gardeners to teach the community participants how to plant, maintain, harvest, and store the products properly. Secure consistent volunteers and community citizens who will dedicate time to the garden as needed. The garden can be raised bed gardens or planted directly into the ground. Raised bed gardens have the advantage of having a cleaner look and easier maintenance. The community can utilize volunteers skilled in building this raised garden bed, or the bed can be purchased from a local store selling farming equipment. As you educate yourself on building the garden, educate yourself on the planted produce. It is essential to understand when to grow certain fruits and vegetables. All must be planted in the right season to have the best outcome. Ensure that the property being used is feasible for planting and that permission is granted for use. Partnering with the city of county municipalities is ideal. The chosen municipality may choose to donate land to create the community garden.

Here is a list of benefits of community gardens: • Reduces food insecurity • Increase lifestyle changes • Reduce obesity • Increase intake of vegetables and fruit • Strong community ties • Increase movement with garden management • Consistent access to fresh foods

Community gardens are hard work; however, the long list of benefits is well worth the required work. Eating better together does not start and stop with the selected volunteers. The partnership extends across the community to local stores, farmer's markets, and even economic development boards. The vision is broader than the visible garden. The essential skill of gardening should be passed on to our children. Our children can not only be partakers of the produce but joint partners who learn the value of investing in valuable opportunities. Teaching our children to invest in the skill of community gardening will yield a return of better, well-rounded communities. The cohesiveness spills over into other parts of our lives. Together we win. Together we change lives and start with the simple task of eating better together.