The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

Living by Bread AloneThere is nothing better than eating delicious food, but for mostpeople eating is just a way to nourish the body, to have energy to workand to live to an old age. Mothers often tell their children to eat theirfood- even if they do not like the taste- because it is "good " for them.But nutrition cannot be separated from the sense of taste. Nutritiousfoods, good for the human body, whet the appetite and are delicious ontheir own account. Proper nourishment is inseparable from good flavor.Not too long ago the daily meal of the farmers in this area consistedof rice and barley with miso and pickled vegetables. This diet gave longlife, a strong constitution, and good health. Stewed vegetables andsteamed rice with red beans was a once-a-month feast. The farmer'shealthy, robust body was able to nourish itself well on this simple ricediet.The traditional brown rice-and-vegetable diet of the East is verydifferent from that of most Western societies. Western nutritional sciencebelieves that unless certain amounts of starch, fat, protein, minerals, andvitamins are eaten each day, a well-balanced diet and good health cannotbe preserved. This belief produced the mother who stuffs "nutritious"food into her youngster's mouth.139