The 100-Mile Challenge (Planet Green)

The 100-Mile Challenge demonstrates the physical and social benefits of eating locally produced foods, as well as the positive economic and environmental impact of supporting local food producers. But it also shows how hard it can be to break the daily habits and rituals that have become synonymous with modern-day living -- like buying cups of designer coffee and eating Chinese take-out -- and returning to more time-honored and organic ways to put food on the table. It also shows how ill-prepared many communities would be  to sustain themselves if imported items were ever unavailable.

The show sends some important positive messages, but they're presented within the context of a commercially successful diet plan. This often makes the show seem more like a promotional vehicle for the MacKinnon and Smith's book than a source of information for consumers.  Some of the participants exhibit some questionable behavior, too, like finding sneaky ways to eat banned products and being selfish when they do find a coveted food item. Bottom line? There's some good stuff here, but you need to sift through a few less-desirable ingredients to find it.