Dig a Little Deeper

A Balanced Meal
by: Kel Amstutz
January 6, 2016

As the New Year begins, I think that everyone is trying to figure out how to make those weight loss resolutions come to fruition. So, let's talk a little about balanced meals, because we don't want a diet, after all, we are looking for a life change- it is a resolution, for the year, remember!

Balanced meals help us all to maintain energy, stamina and, well, our overall health.  Let's think about the Earth's population, it is expected to continue growing to nearly 40% by the year 2050, which in turn sustain-ably growing enough for a growing world is one of the major challenges of our time. Fortunately, having new tools and solutions are helping to ensure a sustainable food supply, which will help farmers make balanced meals more accessible to all. #foodforthought

1. The concept of a balanced meal has grown more popular through initiatives to educate Americans about healthful eating, such as the dietary guidelines of MyPlate, which is a great tool that is even sponsored by the USDA. Though the breakdown varies slightly depending on your age, gender and of course, other factors, MyPlate will generally recommend that your plate be half fruits and vegetables, one quarter of healthy grains, one quarter lean protein, and a smaller side serving of lean dairy.

2. What is the best way to help make a balanced meal more accessible, in a sustainable way? One key strategy is to help farmers have better fruit and vegetable harvests even while facing weather challenges. Another is to help farmers produce healthful grains (such as wheat and rice) and protein-rich legumes (soybeans, lentils) while using important resources, like water, more efficiently.

3. Enticing vegetables are more likely to be eaten! #truestory  Through traditional plant breeding, plant breeders cross-breed romaine and iceberg lettuce to develop a new lettuce that is crisp in texture, sweet in taste, and contains a good source of Vitamin C and folate. There are also new varieties of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers that are smaller, which can help reduce food waste.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Roughly 1 in 8 people worldwide don't have enough food to eat- more than the populations of the U.S., Russia, Japan, Mexico, France and Italy combined.

In the 1960, a typical US farmer fed 25 people. This past year (2016), that same farmer will feed 155 people.

According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, investment in agriculture is 

5X MORE EFFECTIVE 

in reducing poverty and hunger than investment in any other sector. 

I wanted to post this due to the fact that I am on a #thrive journey, which goes beyond my 3-step system. I am finding my way to clean eating in order to better my life, but on this journey comes discovery. It is important, vital, for us, as a whole, to understand the statistics and to understand why it is so important to know these facts.