Dr. Seuss Tribute continued: Green Eggs and Ham and a Sustainable Food System

*This post will be in conjunction with a nation-wide “BlogFest” for Registered Dietitians (RD’s) (it’s National Nutrition Month!) so I will be tying in the Dr.Suess tribute to National Nutrition Month.  Should be interesting. Let’s get work.

“You do not like them, so you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say.” – Sam-I-am from Green Eggs and Ham

Dr. Seuss originally published Green Eggs and Ham in 1960 and the book has been a mainstay for reading teachers (including my mother) ever since.  Before delving into this post, it should be noted that Dr. Seuss used only 50 words (49 of which are only one-syllable) for this piece of magic.

Sam-I-am has to rank in the “Top 5 Most Persistent” of all time in the literary world.  His persistence is aimed at trying to get his dear friend to just try “green eggs and ham”.  Anyway, anyhow, anywhere, anywho - Sam-I-am just wants him to give it a shot.  It is new territory for the friend, however and can seem bizarre, unnecessary, frightening, you-name-it – perfectly understandable for someone who has been doing the same thing year in and year out. Routine can be comfortable and can often involve much less work (mentally or physically) than that which is required to change it. 

Registered Dietitians are in a unique position to act as potential ”Sam-I-am’s” for our federal (state and local not excluded) government’s current food and agriculture policy. Our current method of food production and distribution has led to 64% of Americans being overweight/obese, while 10% of us are food insecure.  We produce an average of 3800 calories of food per person (most of which is corn and soy) so it sort of seems that were: A) not doing too well with distribution and B) not producing a diverse food supply thus leading to the “overfed/undernourished” phenomenon. We must be persistent in  our efforts to show policy makers (federal, state, and local) that the health of the soil translates to the health of the food that translates to the health of the eaters – us.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food“-  Hippocrates

For more reading on our current federal food and agriculture policy and how it relates to our health:

“Show Me the Soil to Health Science – Building Alliances with Dietitians” published in the January 2009 newsletter for The Organic Center by Food and Society Policy Fellow and Registered Dietitian, Angie Tagtow

“Corn as a Health Issue” published on March 8, 2009 in the Washington Post by columnist George Will

Rev. Jess Jackson reading Green Eggs and Ham on Saturday Night Live in 1991: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPy2alWEZ-U

Here is a listing of other Registered Dietitian’s blogs that you can check out if you’d like:

Beyond Prenatals – Food vs. Supplements and Real Advice vs. Fake Advice
Annette Colby – No More Diets! A Registered Dietitian Shares 9 Secrets to Real and Lasting Weight Loss
Ashley Colpaart – Dietitians working in food policy, a new frontier
Diana Dyer – There and Back Again: Celebration of National Dietitian Day 2009
Marjorie Geiser – RD Showcase for National Registered Dietitian Day – What we do
Cheryl Harris – Me, a Gluten Free RD!
Marilyn Jess – National Registered Dietitian Day–RD Blogfest
Julie Lanford – Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention
Renata Mangrum – What I’m doing as I grow up…
Liz Marr – Fruits and Veggies for Registered Dietian Day: Two Poems
Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen – Family Nutrition … It’s our “Beat”
Jill Nussinow – The Registered Dietitian Lens I Look Through
Wendy Jo Petersen – March 11 is our day to shine!
Diane Preves – Registered Dietitians and the White House Forum on Health Reform
Rebecca Scritchfield – Big Tips from a “Big Loser”
Anthony Sepe – RD Showcase: Registered Dietitian Day, March 11, 2009
Kathy Shattler – RD Showcase for Nutri-Care Consultation
UNL-Extension, Douglas/Sarpy County – Nutrition Know How – Making Your Life Easier
Monika Woolsey – Dietitians–Can’t Do PCOS Without Them!
Monika Woolsey – In Honor of National Registered Dietitian Day
Jen Zingaro – My life as a Registered Dietitian