Food is an Investment

When we go to the store, we make choices. We decide what kind of clothing, shoes, toys, furniture, or cleaning products to purchase. There are opportunities to make a decision based on price, quality, or longevity. We make these choices and are typically satisfied with them.

There is one thing, however, that many of us do not see as an opportunity, or even a decision. When we go to the grocery store we do not take this opportunity to learn what is in our food, or even where it comes from. We go in, get what we think we need, maybe even check off items from a list. So many of these decisions are based on only one thing, and that is price. We do not take into consideration what the quality is or if it can be considered an investment. I know, you are thinking that food is not an investment, it is nourishment. It is the energy that sustains us. For some, it is enjoyment and comfort.

The quality of the food we eat should always be taken into account when we are at the market. Are there antibiotics or chemicals in the food that can affect our health? Were the animals fed good food that is appropriate for them? Have the animals been treated with care? Are there growth hormones in your food?

In a perfect world, all of the food would be organic and all of the animals will have been treated humanely. But, we do not live in a perfect or organic world. We live in a world of mass production and genetically altered meat. While the meat that we buy at the stores is healthy, if you are looking for organic, or even 100% natural, question the butcher where the meat is from. If they do not have an answer for you, you may want to revisit your choices.

As an investment, our food is something that sustains us throughout our lives. It may be less costly to have hot dogs, meat loaf, and tater tot casserole for our dinners, but in the long term, these decisions are horrible and worrisome. Eating these foods cause obesity and all of the complications that arise from that. People that have good metabolism and do not gain a considerable amount of weight from eating like this does not mean that they are healthy. They can still develop the complications of obesity. These include, but are not limited to, type two diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, clogged arteries, fatigue, and high mortality rates.

With this in mind, the food we purchase and ingest is very much an investment. If we decide to eat based on price only, we are making a huge mistake. Our children are at risk for shorter life spans and unhealthy lives. Our country is the only country that has a health crisis because of TOO MUCH food! This is not something worth bragging about.

Next time you are at the store, look at quality, look at nutrition value, and do not make decisions based solely on price.It may seem expensive now, but it is a long term investment worth making.