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Success! Spanning the generations is key. Grandma Kamela introducing Aiden to “malibu pink pop” w/ guava + pitaya + beet + goji
population with policy (such as China), while others speak of farming crickets, meal worms, and algae. As I look at my background in cultural ecology, knowledge of organic agriculture, international experience as an executive chef, and the most exciting adventure—being a dad of two boys—the basis of a realistic solution that we can attain begins to appear. Even those of us who aren’t “health nuts” and “foodies” know some basics about the need of nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, beta-carotene, iron, DHA, and more in the healthy development of children. We also know that as adults, we should prioritize certain nutrients and activities to coun- teract the effects of stress and aging. Antioxidants, healthy fats like Omega-3, adaptogens, keeping a youthful attitude, and making time for “play” are all vital to our well-being.
If only there were a 26
category of foods that can be grown sustainably that are naturally super rich in a wide range of the phytonutrients we need and can supply
us with some of our macronutrients without an excess of “empty calories...” Wait! Yes, there is! It’s SUPERFOODS! And many more companies/farms, including aquaculture, hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, urban vertical indoor farming, and ethical small farm co-ops are popping up to grow and make more of these superfoods accessible. Because of their high ratio of nutrient density to mass and calories, a significantly higher amount of nutrition can be produced in a much smaller space with far less energy and water consump- tion than other industrialized crops. The massive number of global crop production for year 2050 (much of which go toward livestock feed) and the amount of land needed to grow said foods can be significantly reduced. By growing and consum- ing more superfoods, we can make that global shift in food culture than can help us avert crisis. When we begin to value eating a delicious organic heirloom vegetable just as much as wagyu beef, the whole system begins to change. As we voice our choices thru our purchasing power, supply and demand will shift along with costs, eventually allowing these superfoods to become more afford- able and available to even more people.
Play with Your Food
You read that right—we shouldn’t lose our sense of food adventure as adults; this answer isn’t just for kids. If we as the adults don’t set the example, this shift in food culture won’t work. We need to prioritize regularly eating healthy, sustainable superfoods. If we keep a youthful spirit and shed the bitter, bad food experiences of the past, we will find an adventurous, diverse, delicious, and endlessly creative world of superfoods to cook with. You see, it’s not enough that we know about these superfoods; we have to teach our children about them, why they are so important, how to cook with them, to have fun with them, why ethical trade/sustainability/resource effi- ciency are important, and to create a lasting home for these superfoods in our culture, our homes, and our hearts.
All clichéd bits of wisdom aside, making these changes and instilling our youth with these positive habits and helping them to choose sustainable superfood summer snacks could help them grow into super kids who could change the world.
“For we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; rather, we borrow it from
our children.” —Native American Proverb
SUMMER 2021
ESSENTIAL Naples
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