Today’s consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of sound nutrition and its relationship to health, yet many believe that eating nutritiously means making sacrifices. The media contribute to this belief by emphasizing food preparation time rather than nutritional value. Growing awareness and consciousness about global, social, and economic issues related to food and farming, such as farm-worker abuse, global warming, food waste, and the inhumane effects of industrialized farming, are increasing. In addition, malnutrition, the social pressures to achieve a distorted body image, and obesity remain significant problems for children, adolescents, and adults across all socioeconomic groups in the world today (Leddy, 2006).
Salguero (2007) states that “from 5% to almost half of the general population experiences suboptimal nutrient intake” (p. 26). While our hunter-gatherer and even our agricultural ancestors enjoyed natural, truly organic foods, the diets of 21st-century human beings are very different. Even 100 years ago, much of our food was unprocessed and unrefined. It was grown on good (often virgin) soil in fresh air with pure water. No preservatives, pesticides, chemicals, or additives were used (Trivieri & Anderson, 2002).