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Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

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Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#61

Post by SlowRobotAhead »

fsloth wrote: post #10
fenwick67 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many of the items on this list are very cheap today.

This. Western world has a bit skewed view of food anyway, since most distribution is handled by large companies that optimize for their own profit, and this applies to producers as well. We couldn't survive without modern "food chains", but that does not mean the crops used by the modern processes are the only viable ones. Rather, they are the most popular ones for which the processes have been optimized for.

>Western world has a bit skewed view of food anyway, since most distribution is handled by large companies that optimize for their own profit

Where in the world is food distributed by non-companies for no profit? Venezuela? Cuba?

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#62

Post by random878 »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #42

Fava beans. You can make a very good falafel out of them and they’re cheap. I believe falafel is the future

It's the first thing I recommend if someone asks me about vegan fast food (or healthier alternative to other fast foods). Forget all that impossible burger nonsense, a great falafel place is the best!

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#63

Post by 2T1Qka0rEiPr »

firethief wrote: post #59
2T1Qka0rEiPr wrote: post #35

> Eating less common varieties of vegetables... drives demand which will increase the variety of types of crops grown, which, in turn, makes the food system more resilient I get this, but it seems fundamentally at odds with economies of scale which surely the natural market would gravitate towards. Seems like government intervention would be necessary here to overcome the externalities that growing a single variety a…

On the supply side, government intervention is what it takes to internalize externalities. Monocropping is only the most profitable choice when the cost of heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is low.

Interesting, but could you elaborate? Are you saying governments are subsidising fertilizers and pesticides? And if so, why would that only be to the benefit of monocropping and no in general?

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#64

Post by random878 »

sebasmurphy wrote: post #26
papermachete wrote: post #3

This is a joke, right? Call me when they sell this at my local groceries' (for cheap).

If you have one, go to your local asian/world supermarket. They'll usually carry a lot of things on this list that you won't find at your standard large supermarket chain or even at whole foods.

Bingo. It makes me laugh when people push this myth of ingredients like this being expensive.

Do they think all those Indian mums are maxing out their credit cards to cook daal?

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#65

Post by firethief »

dmix wrote: post #25
fsloth wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Western world has a bit skewed view of food anyway, since most distribution is handled by large companies that optimize for their own profit, and this applies to producers as well. We couldn't survive without modern "food chains", but that does not mean the crops used by the modern processes are the only viable ones. Rather, they are the most popular ones for which the processes have been optimized for.

A huge part of it is that they make money on what people want to buy as well. I’m sure if they put seaweed and cacti in most American grocery stores most people would skip them for what they think will be good for dinner. Therefore having zero profit without the companies margins having anything to do with it. What’s available has typically played a role but it’s not the only metric.

Where do you live, Maine? Every grocery store around me has seaweed and cacti and I live in the sticks. Only the most demographically challenged parts of the country lack Asian and Mexican options in the supermarkets.

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#66

Post by mises »

NumberWangMan wrote: post #44
mises wrote: post #27

It's worth noting for anyone that advocates this sort of diet that it is a luxury. Many people mention that you can make good food on such a diet, but it is doubtless time-consuming. What of those who work by the hour? And the ingredients are expensive. Many of the fancy foods on here come from Whole Foods, not HEB. Even if they become affordable, the time aspect is still important; most don't want to spend 2 hours c…

Meat is very calorie dense due to the fat content -- if you don't eat it, you need to substitute a plant food that is also relatively calorie dense (like beans, lentils, or potatoes) but also, probably just eat more of it. I found that I needed to eat more when I became a vegan, and even more now that I'm trying to put on muscle mass. Also, beans are a good substitute because they tend to dampen blood sugar swings, d…

> you need to substitute a plant food that is also relatively calorie dense (like beans, lentils, or potatoes)

I tried this; not much help. I was used to a diet of essentially no carbs (and had found it beneficial for me), and actually switched because I had a friend who would not shut up about not eating meat and wouldn't stop until I did. I can indeed eat more, but occasionally I would get full and still not feel "full".

> meat is harmful to our circulatory health

I'm not so sure about this one. I've read about the adverse effects of IGF-1 with respect to cancer, but that seems to be more because it is a growth hormone. Is it any wonder a growth hormone can cause caner to grow? IGF-1, by keeping new cells forming, could help mitigate things like lower bone density and lower muscle tone with age.

I've tried replacing protein-calories with carb-calories. I gained a good amount of weight doing so, and didn't feel nearly as good. I'm much happier and healthier back on my old diet. Lots of meat (mostly white)/eggs/fish, a good amount of veggies, some fruit, lots of nuts, lots of dairy. Almost no sugar/soda/fried stuff/other such junk.

Maybe different people do best on different diets, and we should recognize that what's good for one is not always good for another. What irritates me is when people get sanctimonious about it and say that I'm evil if I don't eat their diet, even when my quality of life, health, and productivity is significantly better doing it my way.

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#68

Post by 2T1Qka0rEiPr »

luckylion wrote: post #57
2T1Qka0rEiPr wrote: post #35

> Eating less common varieties of vegetables... drives demand which will increase the variety of types of crops grown, which, in turn, makes the food system more resilient I get this, but it seems fundamentally at odds with economies of scale which surely the natural market would gravitate towards. Seems like government intervention would be necessary here to overcome the externalities that growing a single variety a…

Growing a single variety is likely too risky. While you may be able to minimize the risk with artificial watering, pest control etc, if it strikes, you'll end your company. Most companies don't aim for a series of all-or-nothing-bets even if the odds are in their favor on each one, they hedge their bets.

This might be true, but there are plenty of cases where this is exactly the case (e.g. bananas, rubber). Also, as the article points out, there are "heirloom" crops which would surely mitigate this danger somewhat but would presumably still be perfect for economies of scale - e.g. due to the reduced marginal cost for R&D to build machines etc. appropriate for harvesting?

Re: Foods for healthier people and a healthier planet [pdf]

#69

Post by lucb1e »

> The Bambara groundnut is considered ‘complete food’ because of the balance of macronutrients accompanied by the amino acid and fatty acid content.

Is a "complete food" a food that supplies most of what we need? I've heard one could almost live on potatoes, with only some vitamin supplements, is that also a 'complete food'?

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