Food Security in America?

For my one class, I read "Garden-Based Nutrition Education Affects Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Sixth Grade Adolescents" from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. This study confirms that nutrition education along with gardening is more effective in increasing fruit and vegetable intake than just a nutrition class or no intervention. Although fruit and vegetable intake doubled, averaging 4.5 servings, this is still below the recommended 5 servings a day.

In the four days I've been home, I've noticed America is rather fat. One in three persons in the US is overweight or obese, using BMI. Food is everywhere; it's advertised, sold, and produced...everywhere.

In Cambodia, food was a life or death commodity. Overconsumption of calories is still rare in the provinces. Rice production is dependent of rainfall and flooding and if it's a bad year, there's no food. Food security is a huge issue and the one organization I worked with was working to meet this need. Integrated farming systems, including home vegetable gardens, rice production, and fish ponds were encouraged as a way to sustainably produce food for a poor family. The health of the family likewise increased by the consumption of nutrient dense food.

In America, food is also a life or death commodity. However, it's overconsumption that can kill. And yet, fruits and vegetables are not eaten in adequate amounts. For some places, fruits and vegetables are not available due to seasons, cost or dislike. But isn't this a food security issue? Shouldn't there be enough nutritious food available for everyone...whether coming from a rich country or a poor country?

Is there a correlation or am I just trying to see something that isn't there? Is this my way of grasping at something I can understand? I don't understand my home country anymore. Maybe I never really understood it but just assimilated because that was the easier path. The simpler path. The expected path.

Why do we travel? We do we move? Isn't it just easier to stay put? It is. But it's so bland, so dull. Challenges and opportunities for personal growth don't arise when we remain in one place.

I'm challenged by the stark contrast I see between overweight Americans and underweight Cambodians. I admit it's part of a greater personal struggle to try to tie this two worlds together and possibly understand each a bit better.