Genetically Engineered Foods and Stuff

I've become somewhat of pescatarian in the past year--- I really only like to eat fish. And fish that is uncooked, as well (Sushi, anyone?). I have major issues with the United States Department of Agriculture and the food company conglomerates that are controlling the marketplace (Sources: Fast Food Nation, The Way We Eat, Documentary: Super Size Me, Documentary: The Future of Food, The Fatland of America)

I have the information available to make a smart decision when it comes to what I eat, yet I still buy my groceries at Albertson's or Smith's, and I still eat out at *gasp* fast food restaurants. And all these stores and restaurants are full of foods that have been genetically modified. U.S. food regulation agencies turn their head the other way for the right price, and so far, there has only been ONE human study of G.E. food effects. These scientists and laboratories are creating seeds that can only grow when certain pesticides are sprayed on them. Ironically, the pesticide industry has bought out the seed industry. So farmers who grow G.E. corn MUST also use the company's pesticide.

I am taking a stand against this evil and corrupt industry. I hereby promise to only eat Organic Consumers Association Organic-Certified products. I will not eat out unless I know the food is organic. I will not eat meat unless I know the farms have grass-fed their animals and let them roam free in a pasture instead of piled on top of each other on a stock farm. Seriously you guys... this is for real! I already know which grocery stores I can shop at. Take a stand with me and vote with your dollar! Don't buy fast food or non-organic products! Your health (and your future/current children's health) is at risk.

P.S. I really don't care if YOU buy organic. So we can still be friends.

P.P.S. I'm not trying to attack any of my friend-moms.

I think eating breakfast makes me hungrier during the day.

I think I'm stuck in a food rut. I have this mental block that prevents me from preparing and eating healthy foods because I think it's too difficult/long/hard/ toilsome/irritating/painful. And I'm too hungry at the time to wait longer than 1 minute to satisfy my famishment. So here comes the fast food, which provides a fleeting moment of tangible ecstasy, only to be followed by hours of internal distress as my organs try to digest the many-times processed "food". And fast food also goes against EVERY moral I hold dear in regards to eating unprocessed foods. So now I'm a hypocrite. That has also gained 8 pounds since January. Gross, gross, gross.

Oh, The Eternal Ravenousness Desires of My Abominable Abdomen. Which is aided by my big breakfast habits, which is SUPPOSED to be healthy! Yes, I know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it leaves me starving at 10 a.m., starving at 12 p.m.,. starving at 2 p.m., starving at 4 p.m., starving at 6 p.m., and so on. And when I DON'T eat breakfast, I only get hungry at about 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at night. Which is the lesser of the two evils?

So I'm finally breaking this late night Papa Johns-ish habit by finding easy-to-make healthy recipes that don't take longer than 30 minutes to make (Thank you, Yahoo! Foods). There are bounteous amounts of recipes out there that fit my particular demands. BOTTOM LINE: my (future) kids are NOT going eat Happy Meals three times a week. I refuse. It's fresh chicken or die (... of processed foods and chemicals and toxins)!! (Organic and non-caged chicken ONLY. After all, I'm a member of Omnivores for the Ethical Treatment and Humane Slaughter of Animals, better known as OETHSA).

[organic] Chicken or die!!

[organic] CHICKEN OR DIE!!!!

I'd like a Diet Coke with Vanilla and extra ice. Hold the cancer, please.

Around 2 PM every afternoon, I get sooo sleepy (I believe these are called the "sleepies"?). Definitely nap time for Tracie. I head on over to the Sonic around the corner and get a Large Diet Coke with Vanilla, extra ice, which comes to a total of $2.03 (woot woot).


However, I am somewhat slightly obsessed with what I put in my body, thanks to "Fast Food Nation", which sparred my moment of enlightenment (EW MCDONALDS... NEVER AGAIN!!) and started the snowball rolling down the Nutritional/ Ethical/ Moral Information Mountain. I was baptized into the Church of Healthy Food Freaks in March 2008. I didn't realize how much crap there is in the grocery store/fast food places/restaurants. I try to eat raw foods only--unprocessed, clean, pure, fresh, no chemicals or preservatives.


And yeah, okay, I KNOW Diet Coke does not qualify as a "raw food". But I get really tired, ok??


Diet Coke may not have any calories, but it is chock full'o artificial sweeteners, mostly ASPARTAME. Warning: For those of you who like diet colas and other low-calorie snacks or drinks: Don't read the following excerpt. Continue on in ignorant bliss 'til your insides start rotting from the chemical crap storm you put in there.

"When aspartame was put before the FDA for approval, it was denied eight times... Aspartame has been blamed for a slew of scary maladies, like arthritis, birth defects, fibromyalgia, Alzheimers, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. When methly alcohol, a component of aspartame, enters your body, it turns into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic. Laboratory scientists use formaldehyde as a disinfectant or preservative. They don't f-ing DRINK it... When aspartame is combined with carbs, it causes your brain to slow down its production of serotonin. A healthy level of serotonin is needed to be happy and well balanced. So drinking soda can make you fat, sick and unhappy." (Skinny B, 14, 32)


Ok, so, do I want to die "unhappily" being happy, sipping my vanilla Diet Coke with extra ice, rotting my insides with FORMALDEHYDE, and dance the Dance of Hypocrites as I spout off to friends and family about how red meat/any processed meat has an unquantifiable amount of carcinogens and toxins and partially hydrogenated oils ruin the digestive system?


Or do I give up EVERYTHING that is bad for me, including Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Diet Coke (the very thought hurts my heart), and practice what I preach?


I don't know! I don't know! The moral tug-of-war in my head is exhausting. It's so hard when those "sleepies" hit and I need my legal upper.


Countdown to Moment of Truth: Will I or Won't I Stand Up For What I Believe in? What do you think?: One hour, 39 minutes.