A Justice Problem Inherent

Lent is upon us again and with it, the tradition of giving something up.  The idea of giving something up is twofold:  First, it’s a memory aid in that every time you think about and miss whatever you gave up, you are supposed to remember Jesus’ sacrificial love; Second, since it’s usually (in these days) a vice or less-than-healthy habit – i.e., caffeine, junk food, etc. – it’s meant to better us and make our minds and bodies more fitting abodes for the Holy within us.  Not a bad discipline, really, so in the spirit of both this Lent, I – and by default, Son and Daughter – are giving up preprocessed foods…at least, as much as reasonably possible.  In our North American culture, giving them up entirely would be next to impossible. 

Yesterday I did a kitchen purge:  out with the SpaghettiO’s, CheezeIts, (most of) the Ramen noodles; out with the microwave Mac’n'Cheese – how good can that orange powder really be for you, anyway?? – and, with a twinge, the unopened Fruity Pebbles and Lucky Charms (I love those things).  I read the ingredients as I went and became a little frightened at just how much unpronounceable crap we really put in our bodies.  I’ve never been a wholesome nutritionist fanatic, but again, that stuff can’t be good for us. 

So what did I do with all that unpronounceable, multiple-health-problem-inducing stuff?  

Bagged it up and readied it for the local food bank. 

Now, everyone would agree, I think/hope, that giving to a food bank is a GOOD thing.  For those on and over the edge, any food is better than no food at all.  But I actually felt a twinge of guilt, essentially pushing off all my crappy leftovers rather than giving some thought to folks’ health.  Plain fact is, eating healthy costs a little money, and while I sure can’t even remotely wave at rich, I at least have the means to do it if I’m careful and not overly fanatical.  Those who can’t be choosers are gonna end up eating SpaghettiO’s for breakfast and Lucky Charms for dinner three or four nights in a row. 

Isn’t there a justice problem somewhere inherent in that?

 

~ by Mad God Woman on February 23, 2012.