“There is a social stigma attached to reading the food labels at our school,” said J at the breakfast table this morning.

Her comment came on the heels of our breakfast conversation about why people keep doing things to themselves that are harmful even after they learn about it. The conversation started with S who told us about how soda or pop (or any sugary, carbonated soft drink) is bad for one’s health, especially one’s oral hygiene. I contributed by telling S and J about a science experiment that my brother did when he was in high school. He submerged false teeth in Coke and saw that the false teeth had become completely blackened and broken after just one week. S and J talked over each other trying to tell me about one of their classmates who is already addicted to Mountain Dew and the caffeine in it. They giggled and told me at the same time that his nick name has become “Mountain Dude.”

I wondered out loud to them, “Why do people keep doing what is harmful to them even after they learn the truth about the harmful thing, person, or deed?”

I then commended both of them on consistently applying what they learn to their own lives and modifying their own actions in accordance with the new knowledge they gain. I gave them the example of Cheerios. When Charles and I didn’t know any better, we fed them Cheerios. It was one of the first solid foods they ate, and it remained a favorite of theirs until a few years ago when we learned about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and we got rid of Cheerios and stocked our pantry with only organic cereals. J still misses Cheerios, but she knows it isn’t good for her, and she refrains from eating it most of the time. (An exception was when she was on a school trip to IslandWood last year, and she snagged some into her breakfast bowl!)

S and J always loved to read everything written on their cereal boxes ever since they started to read, and they still do. Especially after what we learned about GMOs and cereals, now they read food ingredients with special care before they eat any new packaged, processed foods. They call out hydrogenated oil, trans fat, chemical additives, and any other ingredients that are unknown to them, and inform us that such food items do not pass muster.

Whenever possible, they choose organic food because it is not only good for their bodies, but also for the farmers and the earth because of the absence of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. When S and J noticed that we pay more for organic food, we told them that we need to consider the total cost of the food, not just the monetary cost which we pay out of our own pocket. Even though non-organic food and conventional fruits and vegetables may be cheaper, we are paying much more in the end because the farmers risk their health and the earth get stripped of its rich biosphere and ecosystem, for both of which the price is dire — much more than what we’d save if we were to opt for non-organic choices and pay less out of our pocket.

Knowledge is power. And with power comes the responsibility to shift our consciousness and practice what we know. When Charles and I were ignorant about GMOs, we didn’t know enough to use the power of our purse strings to vote for organic food. Now we do and we exercise that power to be responsible consumers. And our daughters keep us honest because they are watching us to see if we walk our talk. While raising my children, I have found that walking the talk has proven to be one of the most effective teaching methods, if not the most effective. I’d say the same is true for anyone in a leadership position: without walking the talk, our vision, ideas, and inspiration fall flat on the ground as cheap talk.

My question today is what causes some of S and J’s classmates to think that it is cool to stigmatize the reading of food labels? Why do they think it’s better to be blind to the facts? Why are they not inquisitive and curious to learn what is in the food they consume?

If knowledge is power, these kids are not seeking the power to make a difference in their lives and for the world. Without taking that power, they abdicate their responsibility. It is sad and scary at the same time.

I soberly ask: Where are their parents? Do they know that their kids choose to remain ignorant about what they put in their bodies?