FOOD STUFF

Oh where to start! Perhaps summarizing my thoughts on food and how I got to where we are today is so hard because as I learn more I think different things, try different things, and do different things. Sometimes when people ask me what I do I stumble all over the place with my words trying to summarize it. (I'm much better at writing than speaking, and if you don't think my writing is very good I guess that let's you know how bad it is when I try to explain to people my thoughts on food!) So let's try to keep it simple at first.

My philosophy in 3 words:

Eat Real Food

Sounds pretty simple, right? Well here it gets kind of complicated, but not ---all at the same time! Complicated, because in the average home these ARE NOT the foods people are eating day-to-day. So keep reading to see what I consider "real food."

My philosophy in a few more than 3 words:

If you don't know yet, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aka Mormon. I could write a whole post about the things I have learned about food as I have studied the scriptures and other teachings from our leaders (we'll save that for another day though!). The below quote is from one of presidents of our church President Ezra Taft Benson. I first heard it when it was shared at a seminar (aka BYU Education Week) and I feel like it hits the nail on the head! 

“The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That’s why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124), that we should not run faster than we have strength (see D&C 10:4), and that we should use moderation in all good things. In general, the more food we eat in its natural state and the less it is refined without additives, the healthier it will be for us. Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body can promote mental depression. A good physical examination periodically is a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit. Wholesome recreation is part of our religion, and a change of pace is necessary, and even its anticipation can lift the spirit.” (General Conference Address, Do Not Despair, Oct 1974, emphasis added)

First, can we get an "Amen" for that!? And even if you're not concerned about how your physical health affects your spirit, let's look at it another way.

Our bodies are a machine. A highly complicated, miraculous machine, of course, yet a machine none the less. Like any other machine it needs the proper fuel to keep it working properly. You wouldn't try to fuel a diesel vehicle with anything other than diesel gasoline, right? Common sense. So why would you try to fuel your body with things other than the food it was created to consume? (Maybe because the food industry is putting pretty words and labels on boxes claiming them to be "healthy?" Maybe. But don't be fooled! What you're buying in pretty packaging will NOT sustain and nourish your body to it's fullest capacity.)

Food heals. There are a lot of chronically sick people in the world and as I hear and read about more stories there seems to be endless results of how dietary changes have healed everything ranging from the more obvious things like diabetes, obesity, and irritable bowel syndrome to unexplained infertility, eczema and even mood, behavioral, and psychological disorders. Food heals. On the flip-side the unnatural food is likely what was making people sick in the first place. So even if you're not currently ailed with some chronic sickness, why would you eat food that does that to other people? Can I say RED FLAG!?

So What's Real Food?

Like President Benson said, these are the things we're focusing on "natural state,"  "less refined,"  "without additives." So what does that leave us with?

• Real fats: butter, lard, tallow, coconut oil, olive oil; all used in the right way
• Meats and pastured-eggs: this means it comes from animals raised in their natural ways; not in cages, with no sunlight and fed food that they wouldn't normally eat
• Whole Grains: preferably properly prepared by being soaked, sprouted, or soured <--- I'm still learning these skills
• Full-fat Milk and Dairy Products: from grass-feed pastured cows
• Fruits and Veggies: fresh and preferably in season and not doused in chemicals or grown in mineral depleted soil; good reason to grow your own garden!
• Nuts, Beans and Other Legumes: soaked and sprouted applies here too <---I'm still learning about this stuff
• Natural Sweeteners: honey, maple syrup, sucanat, coconut palm sugar; all used sparingly of course

See like I said earlier, pretty simple. And even quite appetizing when you consider that in action this looks like eggs, bacon, buttermilk pancakes smeared in butter, with a side of fresh-picked strawberries. Or looks like steak, fries (fried in beef-fat of course!), and steamed broccoli with butter. Mmmm...am I making anyone else hungry?!

What if you subscribe to another list of foods you do and don't eat? Read my pendulum theory and my history about "being vegan."

And if you want to know more about how I came to eat the way I do check out these 11 Articles that will also enhance dinner and shrink your waistline (if needs be).

Or read about What Foods I Avoid

and soon read about Being Real about this all this Real Food business