Yesterday was the Fourth of July, or Independence Day, in the US. I, like many others, attended a BBQ where we ate burgers and hot dogs, drank a few beers, and finished the meal with some homemade pie. This got me thinking about what it means to be independent and to have food independence.
One form of independence is being able to raise one’s own food. Our friends made a delicious pie from cherries and rhubarb that they had grown in their own backyard.
Another form of independence involves having freedom of choice. We were able and chose to drink local beer and bison-beef hot dogs.
A third form of independence involves having a feeling of control over one’s diet and food choices. In this way, I avoided the burger and hotdog buns and loaded up on veggies and coleslaw, which left me feeling satisfied with my food choices afterward.
So, what do you think folks? What does food independence mean to you?