There’s obviously something strange about welcoming myself back to my own website. This entry is something of a meta-post, which is a fancy way of saying that I want to write about this blog as the content of this entry. I haven’t posted for over a week. I have had much time to contemplate the value and goals of this blog especially in the context of my sanity and well-being. And so with this introduction, let me attempt to hash out the ideas that have grown inside my head.

Originally, this blog served 3 functions: 1. to share my meal planning strategies, 2. to discuss food politics and 3. to write a social studies curriculum. These goals are fairly broad and do reach in three different directions. And yet, over the course of the last several months, as this site has developed my ideas have splintered and new directions sprung forth.

For certain, these three main objectives will remain. The meal planning is constant since it is are way of life, both in the kitchen and our household budget. The politics are incredibly overwhelming and sometimes I just don’t know where to begin. There are so many issues in the food movement of interest to me, I find it challenging to stay focused on one or two. In case you did not know, the “Food in the News” column on the right side of the blog is there to grant me some solace in the whirlwind of food-related articles online. I do think it’s important to participate in these online discussions and I will continue to do so. More on this momentarily.

Behind the scenes I have looked into other projects that could both generate blog posts and deepen my knowledge on food issues. As my mind wanders and I consider the endless possibilities of food writing, I decided to hammer out some specific goals for the blog in this larger context of ‘what to write.’  I came up with a list of 7 topics. In descending order, I want to share the current directions I see for writing on this site – all food related; each tackling the nuances in my interests and ongoing projects.

1. Comment, discuss and criticize food-related articles that come up each week. As much as I have my own ideas to extrapolate, everyday there are interesting articles that I really want to share. There is so much information and I hope to write at least once a week on one of the many issues in the news.
2. Developing the “Healthy eating and meal planning” course. Finally I have an opportunity and challenge to practice what I preach and not with the normal audience. I hope to also write weekly about this course – planning for it and talking about it as it plays out. In fact, today I wrote the lesson for the first class! I will post this tomorrow.
3. Slave-trade tomatoes. When I heard about this on the radio I was deeply upset by the content of the show. I mentioned in a previous post my interest in writing a letter to the companies that sell canned tomatoes. I am still on this task, it just seems like it got lost in everything else. Mark my words now, this is the 3rd most important task before me. And I think that is significant in and of itself.
4. Interviews. Some friends of mine who are directly involved with the food movement in ways other than my own have suggested that I interview them or others. I recognize that my reader base is not comparable to other sites, but again, it comes down to sharing the knowledge with whoever wants to listen (or read it.) Starting next year (2010) I want to seriously start these projects. Even one a month would be awesome. Keep a look out for these articles in the coming month(s).
5. Food flow charts. Instead of writing about the issues, I love the idea of visualizing the topics too. This project has remained on the back burner while I’ve thought of everything else. Although I am still putting this together, I hope to have a monthly flow chart exposing another way to think about the problems and solutions.
6. The Weekly Menu. Even though the weekly menu is not a side project, it is a weekly post. Thus, I must remind myself of its importance. Though, of all the mentioned article ideas thus far, this one will be easiest to fulfill!
7. Home Cooking. Unlike most food blogs I am not devoted to sharing recipes all the time. I do enjoy photographing the cooking experience and posting the process online. I will continue to do this, but know that it is at the bottom of my list.

So official or not, these are my blog priorities. With the new year around the corner, I find myself making new lists left and right. I suppose these are my goals for my online identity, distinct of course from the real, tangible me. The real test is accountability. Do you think I have what it takes? Well, it’s just a matter of time to find out…

Related posts:

1. Food in the News
2. A Bad Blogger
3. Meal Planning Guide – Your’s for only $5!
4. A Shout-out (to myself)
5. Reality Check – where is weekly menu 25?

Tags: food literacy, Food Politics