17 Must-See Food Documentaries

Think documentaries equal a snooze fest? No way! Skip the action or romcom flick to educate (and entertain) yourself with these 17 must-see food documentaries. We’ve done the ground work and promise you will leave each of these films knowing a little (or a lot!) more about the role of food in our lives. You will leave the lot deeply moved by the goings ons of foodstuff in America and beyond, perhaps so much so as to make a change or two. Organic dinner and a movie anyone?

Food Inc.: This film touches on the politics of food production, farming, obesity and disease in our 21st-century diet.

Food Fight: Foodie celebs like Wolfgang Puck, Michael Pollan and Dan Barber talk about how food has changed in American and the growing organic-food movement.

Dirt! The Movie: A look at the base of where all our food comes from… the ground. Watch it free online at Hulu.com.

Fresh: Urban farming activist Will Allen and Joel Salatin discuss how corporate America threatens our food economy.

Killer at Large: An in-depth look into America’s obesity problems centered around a 12-year-old liposuction patient.

King Corn: As America’s most subsidized crop, this documentary follows two friends who plant an acre of corn and track it from seed to shelf.

Super Size Me: A fit man embarks on a 30-day challenge to eat only McDonald’s fast food. Watch it free on Hulu.com.

The Garden: Latino South Central farmers fight for their right to grow food.

The Future of Food: A look into genetically-modified food (GMOs) and the destructive path of the Monsanto Corporation. Watch it free on Hulu.com.

The Real Dirt on Farmer John: Farmer John Peterson struggles to save his farm as America’s farming community declines.

Food Stamped: Ever wondered how hard it is to eat well on a tight budget?

Our Daily Bread: This unique no-narration film takes a look into industrialized food in Western Europe.

As We Sow: Follow American farmers are they tell their stories of survival and failure in America’s heartland.

Food Matters: This film shows that what we eat really does matter and how it affects our health, mood and happiness.

Forks Over Knives: Despite our advanced technology, this movie investigates the “disease of affluence” that can be controlled or reversed by avoiding meat and processed food.

What’s on Your Plate?: This film follows two 11-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain.

Fast Food Nation: Showing the dark side of the all-American meal, this film examines the local and global influences of fast food.

Which food documentaries are on your must-see list?

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Brianne Hogan is a Canadian writer, currently based in Prince Edward Island. A self-proclaimed "wellness freak," she has a... More about Brianne Hogan

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