Choice words

Vegetarian Times, Sept, 2004 by Carla Davis

Years ago when I was writing personal essays for college applications, one of my assignments was to pick an adjective to describe myself and to craft an essay around that word. I picked the word "natural." In the ensuing composition, I described my rich life absent of drugs and alcohol and my what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude that affects everything from the makeup I wear to the friendships and work I pursue. At the core of being natural, I believed then, as I do now, is being free of anything artificial or pretentious.

I bring this up because in this month's "Etc." column, Senior Editor Alan Pell Crawford asks, "What Does 'Natural' Mean?" (p. 69) in the context of food packaging. All of us go to the market with preconceived notions of what "natural" food is. It's unadulterated--and healthful, right? Not necessarily, Crawford asserts. The word "natural" on a food package may mean next to nothing because "natural," unlike "organic," isn't regulated. A package that claims its contents are "natural"--implying that it's free of chemical additives--may be misleading. Disconcerting, huh? Tell us what you think about truth in food packaging by writing to us at letterstotheeditor@vegetariantimes.com.

September is National Organic Harvest Month. In this issue, we're highlighting some thriving organic farming and gardening programs at our nation's colleges and universities. Find dorm-friendly recipes from students and faculty at Stanford University in "Organic Fall Cooking," p. 56. Greens were never so yummy!

Speaking of recipes, do you have a favorite original recipe you'd like to share with VT readers? Send it to Food Editor Sandy Greeley at agreeley@aimmedia.com. Or do you have a favorite cookbook you're willing to critique in VT? If you'd like to be a part of our all-volunteer Cookbook Club, send me a note at cdavis@aimmedia.com.

Even if you don't want to share a recipe or review a cookbook, I'd still like to hear from you. In honor of back-to-school month and in an ongoing effort to learn more about our readers, here's an assignment I hope you'll consider: What word best describes you, and why? Hmm, are any of you "natural"? I'm betting ...