Friday, February 3, 2012

Introducing REAL Food





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!