As
more and more people lead busier lives, the demand for packaged,
prepared foods is ever increasing. Marketers are more than happy to
accommodate the growing demands of the consumer. We are living in a
time where a large part of the population has forgotten how to
eat right. Isn't that incredible? Kids are taught about nutrition
early on in school, but what are they being served for lunch? Don't
even get me started on the breakfasts! You know exactly what
I'm talking about! Although, to be fair, I appreciate that there
have been changes on the menu that are a few steps in the right direction.
Generally
speaking, however, people are not eating enough whole foods – or
drinking enough water. We have literally lost sight of what
healthy food really is. The supermarket shelves are crammed with
things that tell us that they are nutritious, and 100% natural, but take some time to
really check it out. Read labels. Prepackaged foods and beverages
are crammed with sugar, sodium, and additives. Chips, crackers,
soda, fruit snacks, sugary yogurt, and a variety of other treats have
become regular items in many pantries.
As
a result, our bodies are paying for it. People struggle with weight
gain, bowel problems, food allergies, fatigue, emotional issues, and
the list could go on – and it does. What affects the body, will invariably affect the mind, and the spirit. No mater which way you look, it is
all inseparable, creating the perfect balance. I am a firm believer in maintaining balance. The benefits of
eating beautiful whole foods
every day can go a long way and is one aspect of creating that balance and unity. I thought I was eating well, but I have been spending the last few weeks getting
reacquainted with real food. I was a little surprised to find
that I wasn't eating nearly enough of the good stuff.
Rewind a few months: I had reached a point where my energy levels took a
big nose dive. I was feeling like I was literally dragging myself
around. It was taking every ounce of energy and all the will power I
could muster just to get the basics done. Not only that, I felt like
I was swimming through constant brain-fog. Thinking back on it, it
really shouldn't surprise me, since I was just coming out of the
steady stream of indulgences through the holidays. Admittedly these
indulgences were not just restricted to the holidays! (laugh)
I decided it was time to clean house!
How
DO you get back on track and kick all the cravings, anyway?
Fortunately, Whole Living,
February 2012 came out with a timely
article titled New Year, New You
– A Whole Living Action Plan. It
teaches you how to curb the cravings and get a new start on healthy
eating. I am nearly
finished with week three of the 21 Day Challenge – A Clean Eating Action Plan. Here is an overview of the past few weeks:
Week
1: The challenge-
eating only fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds. Even more challenge:
sticking to it.
I
have been trying new fruits, veggies, recipes and loving most of
them. Who knew that Kale Crisps could be so good?
I
had some detox headaches and got a touch of a cold. I added some
herbs to combat the cold as I realized that the end result would be
worth it. A few times I was sorely tempted to cheat “just this
once”. My husband was my support and encouraged me to stick with
it. (Good for him!)
I am happy to say that I have been faithfully dedicated and the cold
did not stick around.
Week
2: Adding legumes, soy, and fish – (I personally don't eat soy –
I have allergies to it and I question the benefits of using it. - Read up on it if you like.)
Whole
Foods are tasting delicious and they feel satisfying. My tummy is
happy! I am starting to appreciate the colors, textures and tastes
of beautiful foods. There is just something about sitting down to a
lovely meal that you have prepared with your own hands – knowing it
is exactly what your body needs. I have been filled with gratitude
for what has been graciously given. You've got to try the Red Lentil Soup- it is so good!
The
tired that I feel is different now. It's not the dragging my body
around kind of tired. The headaches and cravings are gone. I find
that I am not getting hungry as often either. I am not missing
sugar so much. Wow.
Week
3: Adding gluten free whole grains – oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice,
and eggs.
I
have felt more energy this week and I am ready to bring on the bonus
challenge – which would be week 4. People have asked in disbelief:
“What would you eat?”
The great thing is that it really doesn't need to be complicated.
Lunch can be as simple as a bowl of black eyed peas drizzled with
olive oil, seasoned with sea salt, pepper, and garlic. Add a
beautiful salad topped with some sun seeds and you have a quick,
satisfying meal packed with energizing nutrition. Some of you are
probably thinking, that is a weird
lunch. That's OK. Once you've had a chance to reset your taste
buds, things start to taste differently. We get accustomed to all
the sugar and salt that is added to packaged foods. Plus, there
are a lot of wholesome foods to choose from, so if you don't like
black-eyed peas, try something that suits you better. I was a little surprised
to find that oats on their own taste sweet to me now. Speaking of oats, try this fabulous Granola recipe, which comes from My New Roots, a wonderful blog posted by Sara Britton who is spreading her love and passion for wholesome food by sharing her beautiful recipes.
Here
is an article worth reading: “Feed Your Body Well”, written by
Lavinia Spalding. Yoga Journal, February 2012
It is a beautiful article. She shares 5 different pointers to come
back to a wholesome way of eating. The 5 different points that she
touches on are:
- Slow down and savor.
- Know your hunger – for real.
- Treat your cravings with compassion.
- Not filling yourself too full.
- Finding gratitude and appreciation for your food.
Are
you ready to challenge yourself to eating better? Make a new start
today. Even if that means slowly integrating new things as you are letting go of foods that are not benefiting your body, or taking on
the 21 Day Challenge, or some other great changes.
Whole Living did an
excellent job putting this program together, but if you don't like
some of the foods – just remember they are a basic guide. However,
they selected many of these foods based on their healing, cleansing
and nutrient rich properties, so try to include as many of them as
possible. You can come up with your own recipes as long as they fit
the criteria for each week. Take the time to learn how to cook in a
new way. If you know you have an especially busy week ahead, take a
day to cook up some brown rice, squash, beans, Red Lentil Stew, chop
up some veggies – this will make putting together a quick healthy
meal a snap. The secret is having everything on hand. Don't be
afraid to try new things. They may become some of your new
favorites! Like this Roasted Cauliflower – even my family loves
it! I hope that I have inspired you to commit to reacquaint yourself
to real food.
Share
your experiences and recipes with us! I would love to offer my
support, hear your thoughts, and answer any of your questions. It's
easier if you have support when you are in the process of making
healthy lifestyle changes. Happy eating!
