VEGETABLES, BLACK FOLKS, AND THE GOTDAMN CORNERSTORE !

YES I SPELLED IT GOTDAMN.
MISSION #85483395.....FIND FRESH VEGGIES IN THE HOOD

I BEGAN MY SEARCH AT CORNER OF "EVERY INNER CITY BLOCK USA". I WALKED IN TO THE SMELL OF CIGARETTE SMOKE AND COOKING MEAT. I BEGAN TO CHECK THE AISLES. I SEE COUNTLESS OVERPRICED CANNED GOODS WITH DUST ON THE TOPS BUT NO VEGGIES. I QUICKLY SPY A LUNCH COUNTER AT THE BACK. SURELY IF MEALS ARE BEING SERVED, THEY ARE BALANCED RIGHT? I OBSERVE...HMMMMM...ARE THE ONIONS ON A CHEESTEAK CONSIDERED A VEGATABLE IN YOUR FIVE A DAY? WAIT A MINUTE, SOMEONE HAS ORDERED BEEF AND BROCCOLI! I DO RECOGNIZE THIS VEGGIE BUT IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT DRENCHED IN BLACK,GREASY SAUCE......MISSION SORT OF ACCOMPLISHED

DEBRIEFING....
THE CORNER STORE TAKEOUT IS SELLING US POISON! IN THIS DAY WHEN THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. WHY DO WE EAT THIS WAY?I MEAN I AM NOBODY'S HEALTH NUT BUT IT SADDENS ME WHEN I SEE MOTHERS BUDGETING THERE GROCERY'S IN THE STORE BY PURCHASING "GRAPE DRINK" AS OPPOSED TO REAL JUICE OR WATER EVEN BECAUSE ITS CHEAP. I WANT TO CRY WHEN I SEE YOUNG PERSON AFTER YOUNG PERSON WALK INTO THE CORNER STORE AND ORDER SOME GREASY SANDWICH OR DEEP FRIED WINGS THAT ARE FRANKLY NOT BEING PREPARED WITH ANY ATTENTION TO CLEANLINESS. GOODNESS GOODNIGHT, FAT IS THE NEW CRACK AND ITS DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITY.

OF ALL MY INNER CITY DRAMAS THIS ONE BURNS ME UP THE MOST. I PROPOSE SOME SORT OF TAX BREAK OR PROGRAM TO BRING AFFORDABLE , FRESH PRODUCE TO THE INNER CITY AND A MOVEMENT TO SHUT DOWN THE CURRENT MODEL OF THE CORNER STORE. LETS REDEFINE IT SO IT ACTUALLY SERVES THE COMMUNITY.

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Comment by Elizabeth Thomas on November 5, 2010 at 11:17am: I had to change the way I think about food and exercise. Disicipline has been come one of my favorite words lately.....

Comment by chantaunya Muhammad on June 30, 2010 at 2:47pm: Stay away from the corner store it will kill you. we can spend money on every thing else, please find a good whole food store, it will pay for it self in the end. No doctor bills

Comment by Marie Chanté Flowers on March 20, 2010 at 11:51am: lol, in some cases we all do...however not all the time Nick...

Comment by Nick Eden on March 19, 2010 at 3:11pm: I dont know Marie....I kinda like having the itis after a god meal, lol

Comment by Marie Chanté Flowers on March 19, 2010 at 1:52pm: Karima, honey we start with ourselves. We can all agree that it's bad. TOO DAMNED BAD! I look in the mirror and think "fat be gone" everyday! Thinking about it and doing something about it is two different things. Not until I start investing in my future by buying and cooking healthier meals, spending a few extra dollars for walking shoes as opposed to heels, and clean water instead of sweet "fruity" drinks, did I start feeling better about me. Besides, am I the only one who thinks "Grape Drink" gives you the BG's?

I understand cynical. You (we) have every right to be. And you're right, it's about de-programming ourselves and our families. My grandmother nearly cursed me out when I told her I cooked my Collard Greens for 2 hours with Smoked Turkey Wings instead of Ham-Hocks, unlike the traditional all night with salt pork and by products. It didn't bother me. At the end of the meal, everyone was satisfied, well fed without itis, and ready for good activities...

Education is key, and yes, I know there is a link between our health and the chemicals inside foods and drink, but also in the products we use to clean house. Reading and learning what is essential. By doing this for my household alone, I have kept myself and my children out of the doctor’s office and off of the medicines they'd prescribe. C'mon now, who wants to take something that may cause hot flashes in the middle of the night and diarrhea?

You hit it on the nose..."Disease Prevention"...and again, it starts with us. Our families. The children’s we rear and spouses we vow to love through sickness and health. In hopes that poor health won't be the death that do us apart. I can not tell you how it breaks my heart to see what I see in the family I was born into. No one seems to know (or understand) the depths and toll that poor health and life choices take on us all. Do I allow this to stop me from wanting to be healthy? Not anymore. What good is a vegetable with no nutrients?

Comment by Karima Simmons on March 19, 2010 at 10:29am: I am an American and yup, I'm pretty VEXED! LOL! I am a self proclaimed food Nazi! I read waaaaaaay too much about food and it really does break my heart to know what's going on. And everyone absolutely should, "know better to do better," but it's like where do we start? Our standard of living is just so harmful. I am a working mom and i hustle EVERY night to put a square meal on the table and that is so HARD for so many families. So ok, don't feel like cooking every night? Let's do take out. Yeah but like Aja said, in most neighborhoods, take-out consists of the Chinaman or KFC. No thank you! I'd rather sit in the kitchen all night every night to instill "healthy food" values into my children (and de-program my husbands bad habits). It's the price you have to pay. I am cynical about our governments role because the rules are dictated by deep pocket special interest groups and not "the people." The US and South Africa are the only countries in the world whose governments support the mass use of Genetically Engineered Foods. The citizens of other countries protest that shit with the threat of full-on riots and we just sit back and eat. and eat and eat and eat.

I believe in disease research and don't think that anyone deserves to suffer from diabetes or any other affliction but c'mon. We spend money to create drugs to keep people living in their condition. I'd rather see that money spent on disease prevention. Then we won't be so reliant on drugs that keep us dependent and POOR! You don't think there is a link between the chemicals used in foods and cancer? Diabetes? heart disease, etc? There's is no reason the ingredients list on my store bought bread should be 3 inches long, size 3 font! That's just nuts! And our government perpetuates that ever time they choose to deregulate (popular republican term) an industry and "experiment" on us. :(

@Nick- hell yeah, kids don't have play clothes! lol! It's really no need when you come home and sit in front of the tv! My sons teacher has a rule about "good" clothes. Don't wear them to her class. They get dirty. The kids paint. they sit on the floor, they play outside. No one rests in her class so if your child comes home clean every day, she's not doing her job! I love for this. <3

The problem is just so far reaching. It's the government. It's the food manufacturers. It's the schools. It's the parents. It's the children. Damn. Why is it so easy to do wrong? I guess the devil is sitting on everyone's shoulder when it come to the food debate. I'll just go ahead and sit in the corner, eating my organic chicken and reading my Michael Pollan books while the world falls apart! :)

Comment by Nick Eden on March 18, 2010 at 8:50pm: I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, so fresh produce and seafood was always readily available in abundance. After living in Atlanta for about four years, I just grew frustrated with the "grape drinks" and "grease burgers" I see kids walking around with everyday. I've never claimed to be the healthiest eater, but even with all of the soul food my mama cooked, she still instilled the importance of fresh fruit, vegetables, and alternative forms of cooking other than the deep fryer. It hurts me to see that not only are kids eating bad, they're no where near as active as most of us were as kids. None of the kids know how to climb a tree, make a mud pie....hell most of them don't REALLY know the difference between regular clothes and "outside clothes" lol. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions, but for the most part I see kids rolling around GA eating cinnabuns and drinking coffee! When you combine bad eating habits with no physical activity, you create a recipe for disaster.

Comment by Marie Chanté Flowers on March 18, 2010 at 5:28pm: lol! Karima, are you an American? Sister, you sound vexed! At best it reads that way. Nevertheless, I understand, your argument and you're right: "it does cost less over the long term to eat right." Consider this: when you know better, you'll do better! Unfortunately, it's easier said than done. Some Americans are more susceptible to such disease due to family predisposition. And, many women during pregnancy will find that they are diagnosed with with what is called "Gestational Diabetes" and we're still not sure what in our bodies causes this! Some scientist/doctors believe the weight a woman gain (if gained quickly) while pregnant may cause the illness.

With all due respect, I was your size at age 9 and the pediatrician told my mother to monitor my activities by keeping me active. Long before learning that both my mother and father (God rest his soul) have (had) diabetes and both their parents were not only diabetic, however also developed one form or another of cancer. However, because I know better, do my best to practice healthy living and monitor my blood pressure/sugar and doctor visits regularly, my numbers are good.

With that being said, I am certain, that not only is what we eat a problem, but also the air we breathe with all it's pollutants, the soil that grows our fresh, organic, canned other otherwise foods and the water/s we drink also detrimental to our health. And, as a mother, but more importantly a person and child of GOD, I say tax dollars (maybe not yours) should be used to do this and other research so that we Americans can keep our asses healthy and off the slabbing blocks!

{I love you back Aja.}

Comment by Karima Simmons on March 18, 2010 at 8:59am: @Marie's Comment- "It's cost more the eat healthy, but it's worth it."

This is what "they" want you to believe. It's costs LESS over the long term to eat right. Consider another popular debate right now... HEALTH CARE. We spend so much money to fight diseases that shouldn't even exist simply because Americans are fat and dying from fat! My tax dollars should NOT be going to diabetes research because Americans can't keep their asses out of McDonalds! Let me spend that money on my organic, locally grown, not from a can, produce!