Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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USDA just released the food desert map.And here is the obesity map (interesting correlations here). If you live in one of these areas, how are you succeeding, or not, on Paleo? I imagine as food prices go up, a lot of us will have to make some tough choices. I'm also concerned with how to encourage friends and family in the middle states to eat Paleo when they have inadequate access to organic foods.

flag	asked May 5 2011 at 19:22 baconbitch

	i'd say that food desert map is pretty conservative. – tartare May 5 2011 at 19:27
	those blobs should be a lot bigger than that in some places. – tartare May 5 2011 at 19:28
	I thought the same thing. They define the "blobs" by access to grocery stores. I need to review the methodology more closely. – baconbitch May 5 2011 at 20:14
	i can go to a grocery store around here and walk through and go, wow, there's almost NOTHING i can/would eat here, aside from some produce, some frozen seafood, some salsa... all the meat is garbage. it's really pretty pathetic. Fortunately I have my ways of getting good food. – tartare May 5 2011 at 20:34
	When I lived in St Louis I was shocked at the crappy meat. Seriously pathetic and over-priced. I come back to No. Calif and I'm in serious carnivore heaven. I think I remain here because of the food since I can get super awesome organic stuff at a fraction of what other's pay around the country. – baconbitch May 5 2011 at 20:43

Dirk · Answer 1 · 2011-05-05 22:00:21Z UTC

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There is an inverse relationship in the USA between income and weight. This map could just as easily be pointing out how we as a nation are becoming poorer. How can we help? Raise income levels.

answered May 5 2011 at 22:00

Dirk
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Lavendergrits · Answer 2 · 2011-05-06 12:51:45Z UTC

I have been living in food deserts and high obesity areas for several years in Virginia, West Virginia and now Pennsylvania.

In Virginia I co-founded a farmers market that brought produce into our community. There were several reasons for the desert distiniction in the area where I lived in Virginia. Rural (county population less than 4,500), low income, lack of education. The farmers market was better received by the tourists and summer residents than locals because the prices were to high.

Obesity is a huge topic that obviously can not be addressed in this small space or time however will say from observation that the people living in the areas I mentioned are typically people who are not going to start a trend or be quick to jump on a trend. They are for a lack of better description simple, down to earth people who are the salt of the earth. Generations of people who have struggled with poverty and continue to struggle. They eat what they can which includes nearly all the foods not eatten on a Paleo diet.

For myself I eat Paleo, am a runner, educated, and am not afraid to be a trend setter. Needless to say I am usually considered "odd" in the communities where I live!

It is always a challenge to find food in my community. I stock up when I go to larger cities. I compromise as far as choosing the best of the worst when I can make choices. I am able to eat 90% Paleo so it can be done.

Sara · Answer 3 · 2011-05-05 20:14:49Z UTC

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I'm definitely one of the obese people in central California where it's all lush with fresh produce.

answered May 5 2011 at 20:14

Sara
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Really? Don't you have access to good food? I live in No. Calif and I know driving through C.V. is depressing, even with all the lettuce. What are the stores like there? Are there farmer's stands/markets? – baconbitch May 5 2011 at 21:27

I have access to lots of great food. Thus why I'm obese :p Technically I'm in Northern California. San Jose/Santa Cruz. I am trying to make a food budget that supports healthy eating. Being a SAHM means I'm broke all the time. I try to get the healthiest options I can afford at Costco for now. Wish I had the ability to enjoy a farmers market. There are plenty, only one of which I've made it to in the last 8 months. (I moved from Santa Cruz to San Jose 8 months ago. In Santa Cruz I made it to the farmers market a little more often since I only had one child, and my mom to help me chase her). – Sara May 5 2011 at 22:52

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You're not far from me! I'm a single mom of two and you can totally do well just on meat and veggies for under $300/month. I found a family share in your area. Affordable too. $30/week for a family. localharvest.org/csa/M28750 I feel that CSAs are a much better value than the farmers markets. And dude, totally check into going in on a cow. Much cheaper this way. Some butchers will let you rent space cheaply in their freezers. – baconbitch May 5 2011 at 23:44

Waiting to afford a freezer (and $500 in cow). Have an order on standby with Morris. Thanks for the CSA recommendation. I'll go check it out. How old are your kids? – Sara May 6 2011 at 23:40

tartare · Answer 4 · 2011-05-05 20:42:26Z UTC

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Subsidize more small-time operation farmers, instead of big agra. Popularize sites like eatwild .com and expand the listings of farmers who practice this way. There are many good farmers not listed. Make it easier for people to buy directly from these people and legalize raw milk. Fund national school programs teaching kids about gardening and growing vegetables and herbs.

answered May 5 2011 at 20:42

tartare
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I'm going to approach my kids' school about partnering with farmers in the area. I was told our school is under contract and "can't" do that but I need to delve down deeper. The answer was just strange to me. If we all took on one school I wonder what we could accomplish? It can be tough pushing paleo as we have a lot of vegans/veggies but I think they can adopt paleo w/o the meat. LocalHarvest.org has a great site for farmers. Love it! – baconbitch May 5 2011 at 21:26

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oh man, my husband just showed me the video recently he saw on school lunches in France. Jeeeeez, it puts even my cooking plan to shame. The chefs go to the market, they eat mussels and snails and freshly made everything. One school even details precisely what the kids will be eating along with a recommended plan for what they should have for dinner at home in order to balance out everything nutritionally! – tartare May 5 2011 at 21:56

cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6902333n – tartare May 5 2011 at 22:13

That was THE best ever!!! I totally posted that on Facebook. I'm really inspired. Damn, I love the French. – baconbitch May 5 2011 at 23:53

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Holy crap. This country would be unstoppable if we fed our children like that, instead of the meat-processing plant floor scraps that we feed them now. – Futureboy Jul 4 2011 at 6:46

Food Deserts and Obesity. How can we support Paleo in these areas?

4 Answers