Food Fetish: Seaweed

We are in the midst of a major food crisis. The consequences are far reaching and the causes are complex.

The issue cannot be easily bundled into a neat little package that we can sell on an infomercial and then throw money at. But that's no reason to shy away from the topic.

The crisis involves, but is not limited to, rising food prices, destruction of farm land, depletion of soil, lack of nutritional knowledge and the pitifully uneven distribution of wealth.

In stark terms: a significant portion of the world's population remains poor and malnourished, while their farm land is reserved for cash crops grown only for export.

Meanwhile the consumers of those cash crops in richer countries remain "mysteriously" malnourished.

Stuffed, yes, but malnourished, as evidenced by disturbingly high rates of obesity, diabetes and cancer.


The media at large often defines the food crisis in terms of the increasing cost of foods such as meat, wheat, dairy, oil and sugar. However these foods are not indicative of a healthy diet. They are luxuries indicative of wealth.

The goal should not be to make everyone affluent enough to afford doughnuts and steak.

We need to find a practical & affordable way for people of all income brackets to actually nourish themselves.

In order to thrive, humans require access to a high quality diet consisting of chemical & GMO-free fruits & vegetables, un-medicated proteins and clean water.

Humans have often turned to seafood as a source of protein-rich high quality food.

But with fish stocks in crisis, a seafood heavy diet has become as tacky as fur coats or ivory piano keys.

Perhaps the ocean holds other treasures ready for our consumption.

Ahoy!

Along comes a piece of the puzzle that was never really missing, just overlooked: Seaweed.

It's relevance is due to its impressive nutritional profile discussed below, as well as the ease with which it can be grown and harvested. It is a lightweight food that can easily be transported to landlocked areas, and requires very few resources to grow: only salt water and sunlight.

Folks, we have a winner.


SEAWEED PROFILE

Sea vegetables are amongst the healthiest food on the planet. They are used not only as food, but also as medicine, especially in TCM.

Seaweeds contain: calcium, iron, iodine, B vitamins, trace minerals, potassium, live enzymes, phytochemicals and amino acids.

Seaweeds are said to:

• balance hormones
  
• stabilize blood sugars
  
• balance cholesterol
  
• cleanse the intestinal tract
  
• reduce water retention
  
• flush heavy metals
  
• enhance immunity
  
• act as antioxidants
  
• help with weight loss
  

Imagine if our school lunches included sea vegetables, if our doctors recommended we eat seaweed on a regular basis, and our international food aid included kombu and dulse. Imagine we dismantled factory farms full of livestock and instead built sustainable seaweed farms.

Imagine the resources and costs saved, the cruelty averted, and the burgeoning health of the average individual.

Yup, I just saw the light bulb go off! Now be a doll and share the vision with a friend.

On my twelfth birthday, I made the following wish as I blew out the candles on my cake:

End World Hunger!

Looking back, it's easy to think that my wish sounds childish and daft, however the sentiment has never been more relevant and necessary than today.

I dare you to make that wish with me again and follow through with the following actions:

Avoid foreign cash crops by eating locally

Support organic and Fair Trade programs and certifications

Campaign for more effective aid programs

Educate yourself about nutrition

Do what you can to spread information and vibrant ideas, in your own unique way

Support your local seaweed harvesters!




Dulse and Goat Cheese Salad

1/2 C tightly packed dulse (lightly baked for crispier texture)
3 C mixed greens (arugula, frisee, dandelion greens etc)
11-oz log of mild goat cheese sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
6 T walnut oil or extra virgin olive oil
4 T apple cider vinegar
4 T balsamic vinegar
1 C toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

For vegan option substitute 2 avocados, sliced, for goat cheese

serves 4







Recommended Reading

"Forget everything you know about seaweed! This cookbook guide explains how to prepare dried seaweed into the perfect weight loss and nutritional, flavor-enhancing food-additive.

Learn to make seaweed into an inexpensive weight-loss Liquid, for fat-free shakes, teas, and frozen cocktails; or a taste-enhancing Jelly, for savory soups, dips, and stews; or a mineral-rich emulsifying Paste, which adds creamy textures to cakes, puddings, and breads."








Model: Shauna Eve

Photographer: Caitlin Das

Location: Boundary Bay, Tsawassen BC