Super Eco

Photo credit: ckforjc, SXC

Looks like we're not the only ones who think real food stands a fighting chance at making it back onto the American plate. Our friends at Change.org have put "mainstream concern about cheap food" at the top of their list of sustainable food trends to watch for 2010. "We eat unhealthily largely because our industrial food system processes subsidized corn into food-like stuff that we place at the center of our diets where fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be," writes Katherine Gustafson. "To the health-conscious or those active in food politics, that statement will come as no surprise."

Surprised? Not us. We've lent our voice to the growing chorus all year long. Get the big picture by scanning our list of the best 20 stories on what we call "real food" from the past year.

1. Can Big Beef censor the sustainable truth?
2. Safer bottles haven't canned BPA problems
3. Big Ag's growing appetite for lobbying
4. Top 10 riskiest FDA-regulated foods
5. Obama's health plan: the missing element (it's food!)
6. Unlock the facts on GM seeds
7. Demand for organics reaches all demographics
8. Cheerios are a drug, says the FDA
9. Fast food chains riding the green train
10. Nastiest junk food ingredients
11. The unexpected influence of biofuel on pest control
12. Whose fault is elite meat?
13. Vilsack leads changes in food politics
14. The oxymoron of organic junk food
15. Pork industry breeding superbugs?
16. The dirty dozen: Know which produce is heavy on pesticides
17. Artificial sweeteners: Sweet and lowdown
18. The industrialization of organic food
19. Go organic when it counts
20. Eat locally everywhere: Locavores go mainstream
21. Can you name 3 foods high in trans fats?
22. Recalls point to processed food pitfalls
23. Can organic survive the economic downturn?
24. Mercury found in high fructose corn syrup

Ok, you're right—that was 24 stories, not 20. We couldn't find four stories to trim from the list that we didn't think you need to read.

What can you do to serve up real food? Unfortunately, we're still at the "let the buyer beware" stage—so let Super Eco show you how. Here's to taking heart, taking action and eating healthy in 2010.