Friday 9 March 2012

What's been weighing on my chest

(The following blurb contains incomplete and run-on sentences, readers should be aware.  I'm kinda ranting but not at anyone, just jotting it all down.)

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, omnivore locavore, paleo, gluten-free, avoid dairy, nuts, eggs, or soy.  You might follow a Mediterranean diet, a Western diet, Ayurveda, eat clean, eat "green", eat the rainbow.  You eat for your blood type, eat to lose weight, eat to gain weight, eat to combat heart disease, stress, depression, hair loss or for your sex drive.  You eat whole food, raw food, processed food, free-range, fast food, slow food, organic, support sustainable farming, urban farms, wild food, local, fair trade, eat only fruit, avoid all fruit.  You avoid chemicals, things you can't pronounce, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and "BHT added to packaging to maintain product freshness".  You avoid extra packaging (my theory has always been that if it comes in a crinkly, noisy packaging, it's not good for you - then they started wrapping broccoli in plastic, go figure!).  You eat fish on Friday and you carry David Suzuki's fish guide in your wallet, you avoid the "dirty dozen".

It's inevitable that most days, you will eat.  Unless you're a breatharian.

We have to make every bite matter for our bodies and our environment. 

I have ensured the meals I serve matter.  I have made a small effort to ensure the snacks mattered.  Now I have to look at the big picture.  If I don't stock it in my kitchen, we won't eat it.  But if I do, we will.  I have the responsibility of feeding several growing bodies and brains.  I want us to be the best we can be and if we are what we eat, then I want to eat the best.

What that is is hard to figure out.  We have no known allergies or medical conditions to work with, we are lucky that way.  The variety of information that is available to us is mind-boggling to say the least.  How on Earth do you decide what path to follow and to what degree?

I think I've got it.  For now.  For us.  I had a bit of a revelation around this topic.  Cheesy, I know, but that's the best word I can think of to capture the feeling.

We will embrace more and more vegetarian, vegan meals.  Snacks are better for us than ever.  Treats will be sweetened with date purée or brown rice syrup.  Honestly.  This feels right.  I'm hesitant to choose a title and a path, I'd rather flit from one to another as our needs grow and change.

We will eat meat, sometimes.  We will choose it wisely.  Most meals will be bean, grain and vegetable based, most already are.  We will reduce the white sugar, white flour and cow's milk in our diets.  I will help them, we will do it together.  There will be resistance, but resistance is futile (I read that somewhere and I liked the line).  But, change will happen gradually or it will not work.  It has to become part of me and I'm ready.

I will still want chocolate cake.  I will still make chocolate cake.  I will still eat chocolate cake.  I can use avocado, coconut oil, and / or honey.  Even the fats will be good, useful fats.

We'll eat out and choose what we want.  We eat the vast majority of our meals at home so the vast majority of the time, we're covered.

I've wanted to start a food blog for quite a while now.  I didn't really know what was driving the desire but I thought about it often.  I still don't quite know.  I do know I'm really enjoying it.  I do know I love youre feedback.  Even once I got started, I felt there was more for me to do here and that has not quite revealed itself to me yet.  I do feel it's close, near to the surface.  If  you're still reading and you're not weirded out by what I just expressed, then let's keep going and we'll just have to discover it together!
Here's what I'm asking you to do: send me your ideas, links, cookbook titles, recipes and / or menus.  What kind of "eating plan" do you subscribe to?  Is there anything you'd like to change or add to your diet?

7 comments:

  1. When we view food as a fuel for our bodies it makes sense to eat healthy food. Food in our society is used much more than fuel and that's a good thing. What would a family get together be without good food. I think what you expressed above is very valid. If I had to do it all over again I would never diet. I would learn to trust my body to guide me to eat healthy. I wouldn't label food as good or bad, woudln't ban foods but eat them in limited quantities. Most of the food we consume should be as natural as possible, and made in our kitchens. There is room for treats, for splurges, and for cravings.

    Just as importantly as what is we eat is how much we eat. I know I am guilty of eating too much at most meals, and when I look at our society I'm in good company. I am training myself to eat until I am satisfied, not full or stuffed.

    Another important habit to develop early is mindful eating. Paying attention to our food and really savoring it, rather than eating it quickly so we can move on to other things or eating when doing other activities, like watching tv, driving etc.

    We are so lucky to live in a society where food is plentiful and varying. That is both good and bad.

    My last rant....in North America we have sacrified quantity for quality in restaurants. We aren't satisfied unless we are served heaping portions for not much money. In order for the restaurants to make a profit they choose to serve mediocre food. A good example is a buffet....all you can eat for $... there is seldom any food I can't make better at home.

    You wanted opinions...lol

    Now I can retire my soapbox.

    Maureen

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    1. I liked to hear your rant Aunt Maureen and I can only say I concur. Thank you for putting it out there.

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  2. It's so fun to start making the foods you love in a healthier manner... I was great at it, then let it slip for a bit, but am feeling more into it again. I've been using dates as a sweetener too.

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  3. I'm excited to see the meal ideas you come up with. I have lots of suggestions for how to go dairy, egg, soy free as we did it for piggys allergies. But I'm too tired to share tonight. Xoxo.

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    1. When you feel inspired, I'd like you to share. But you have a lot going on so don't feel any pressure. Take care of you and yours.

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  4. Love reading your posts & trying the recipes. PB cups are on my list for the weekend. Thank you for introducing me to coconut oil & using dates more. :-) keep up the great work!!

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    1. PB cups are on my list again too! Hey, you're welcome for coconut oil, I'm loving finding new uses for it. I'm going to keep working on the sweeteners so just keep reading.

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