Meatless January in Chicago: Urban Outreach, Food, and Politics on the South Side

Chicago health commissioner Dr. Terry Mason has a message for Chicagoans who enjoy devouring meat in all its fat-dripping, artery-clogging glory: Don’t do it.

As part of his campaign to slim down waists and lower blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol citywide, Mason is encouraging everyone to join him in going vegetarian for January.

Chicago Tribune

Dr. Mason offers instruction and education on simple, healthy meatless meals.  Someone needs to explain that replacing an 8oz steak with 8oz worth of cheese in your (meatless) lasagna is not going to help anyone lose weight.

Dr. Mason, “has advised the soon-to-be-meatless to drink at least a half-gallon of water daily and eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, beans and peas. He said some people might need vitamin B-12 supplements.”  He is also offering weekly trips and classes to help teach people how to live and eat better.  Their first meet up was at Soul Vegetarian East on 75th street, which features, you guessed it, vegetarian soul food.  Next they will visit a farmers market, and the week after that there will be a class on exercise safety and effectiveness.  The good doctor has some good advice coupled with great trips.

For some, Meatless January will be the impetus they need to get on track to a healthier lifestyle.  However, it is not a very far-reaching program.  It takes time that a lot of poor, urban families simply do not have to take trips or learn an entirely new set of health behaviors.

So, what about the rest of the city’s people?

In some circles, vegetarianism wouldn’t seem like such a radical idea. But a meal without meat is not something that has caught on with many urban blacks, the group Mason is making a special effort to target. African-Americans suffer disproportionately from diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and many other health problems linked to high-fat foods.

Meatless January needs to evolve into an urban nutrition outreach program if Mason wants to fight any of those health problems in a serious way.  Instead of urging people to not eat meat for one month, he could encourage the availability of cheaper and fresher fruits and vegetables.

As a city official, Chicago health commissioner Dr. Terry Mason could advocate for the development of farmers markets, produce marts, and grocery stores all over the South Side and other poorer areas of Chicago.  Really, it’s no wonder that African Americans have higher rates of obesity and obesity-related diseases.  Good grocery stores and few and far between in poor urban centers, while a plethora of fast food joints exist and generally accept LINK cards, the debit card for food stamps!  Having healthy food available and affordable will surely make changes that last for more than one Meatless January.

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January 15, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Health, Politics

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