Future of Food

More and more people are interested in a whole foods, plant-based diet. Some are motivated by specific health concerns. Others by interest in disease prevention, peak performance, sustainability, or ethical concerns. And documentary films are playing a huge part in fueling this growing movement. They’re a great way to learn more, get inspired, and also to spread the word and inspire friends, coworkers, classmates, and even family! This article explains why — and shares 10 of our favorite whole foods, vegan, and plant-based food documentaries.

The Impossible Burger and its parent company, Impossible Foods, are taking the plant-based meat alternative world by storm. Their products are helping to cut down on factory-farmed meat consumption, which is good for fans of animal rights and of the planet. But is there a hidden dark side to the Impossible Burger’s environmental impact?

Funders and proponents say vertical farming is the future. But consumer demand may change the nature of what it means to "grow."

Once a self-reliant agriculture-dependent economy, Puerto Rico now imports the majority of its food (including, unfortunately, fast food). But some residents in a rural Puerto Rican community are reviving a historic botanical garden to serve as an example of and inspiration for bringing back local and sustainable farming — and for the purposes of cultural and historical preservation.

Although the U.S. food system is plagued with problems, heroic people have devoted themselves to improving the quality and accessibility of good, healthy food. Among these changemakers are a group of African American female entrepreneurs whose initiatives are inspiring examples of hope in action.

Chances are that you’ve seen the words “natural flavors” on numerous foods and beverages you picked up, regardless of their level of subjective healthiness. But what are “natural flavors” — and are they safe to eat?

Industrial animal agriculture is a total environmental disaster, polluting local ecosystems and contributing to climate change. While one obvious response is simply to stop eating animals, there’s a growing movement known as “regenerative agriculture” that claims that raising cows can be part of the solution to climate change and other environmental problems. We asked Dr Doug Gurian-Sherman, a leading agricultural scientist, to share the real science with our readers.

Lawns may look pretty, and they can impress the neighbors. But are their benefits really worth their costs? They can be bad for the environment, and the pesticides sprayed on them can be bad for your health, too. Have you ever wondered what would happen if we turned all our lawns into edible gardens, filled with fruits, vegetables, and herbs?

School lunches programs provide critical nutrition for more than 30 million children in the United States and hundreds of millions worldwide. Yet they face deep challenges, and often set children on a path of lifelong addiction to unhealthy foods. Want to know the whole story, and find out how you can protect your family, and the next generation? Read on!

Many foods sold in the United States are banned or fiercely regulated in other countries due to harmful additives, growth promoters, genetically engineered ingredients, herbicides, or other dangerous practices. Does this concern you? It should!

Despite all that we’ve learned about the power of food from tens of thousands of medical studies, rates of chronic disease continue to rise. And the medical establishment continues to apply brilliant science to the treatment of disease — while practically ignoring the central role of nutrition in promoting illness — or preventing it. But the times, they are a-changin'! Find out how medicine is evolving — fast — and what you can do to accelerate the transformation.

Ice cream isn’t exactly a health food, but are non-dairy ice creams any better for you? This article looks at the pros and cons of cows’ milk and vegan ice creams, answering the question of what the healthiest choice is when it comes to soft frozen desserts.