Green (and Fatter) Solutions

A University of Washington study found that some residents in north and south Seattle, Delridge, South Park, Sandpoint, Greenwood and Ballard are isolated from grocery stores. That is, they’re farther than ¼ mile walk or a 30-minute bus ride. To illustrate the point, the P-I followed a Delridge woman who climbs ten flights of stairs and spends “hours” on the bus to get to her grocery store, according to the story.

The distance alone would keep the pizza place on my speed dial, but in addition, farmers are shying away from traditional crops in favor of corn for ethanol. This, in turn, limits the supply of traditional grains, spurring the cost of those foods ever higher. Also, in 2003, a University of Washington researcher found that healthy food costs more per calorie than processed food. That’s no secret to anyone who’s been forced to live off of ramen noodles for weeks at a time. Those things cost like 10 cents a package if you buy in bulk.

Combine all these factors, and it’s no wonder people choose fast food over PCC. It’s closer and it costs less. What goes unnoticed is that ironically, green solutions -- ethanol and a lack of cheap gas and cars -- is, at least partially, making us less healthy.