Relationships: Food and You

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how my relationship with food has changed since adopting a healthier lifestyle. One thing is for sure, I have always LOVED food. Nutrition was never an issue in my home growing up. My family lived on fried foods, red meat, high fat dairy, sugar, occasional fruit and a few canned veggies. When veggies were prepared, they were cooked so long and so many things were added (such as brown sugar and bacon grease- yuck) that the nutritional content was dramatically decreased. As a young adult, I ventured into the veggie and lean meat world and ate a bit healthier. However, I still had a long way to go and I often turned to fast food because it was cheap and easy. When I became a mother at the age of 20, I automatically wanted to do what was best for my child and feed her the healthiest possible foods. I breast-fed and made my own baby food. I, myself, ate healthy- sure, sometimes. Truthfully, I was not a great example. The problem is that nutrition to me always made a lot of sense; it was somewhat natural to me, but I just would not commit. I knew in my heart what I should be doing, but wouldn’t do it. I dabbled in health foods but always turned back to the foods I was rooted in which was a lot of red meat and way too much sugar. I had an unhealthy love affair with unhealthy foods; so much that I would hide, eat in my car, or lie about who ate the most of that cake or cookies, etc. I talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. Last week on the Biggest Loser, they laid out a buffet of food that two of the contestants would typically eat in one day before Jillian Michaels. It was all fried, large portions….lots of fat, and loads of calories. A year ago, I would have been in heaven.

Today, if I tried to eat that food, I would literally be sick. I know that my body would reject it. So much has changed in my life today. I have applied everything I know about healthy eating to my life and to my family’s lives and I continue to research and read about healthy living. I lead a vegetarian lifestyle. I eat, at the minimum, 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. At least half of each meal is completely raw and uncooked fruits and veggies. I don’t drink soda. The truth is I still LOVE food. But now I love to pick it out; choosing only the freshest organic produce available. I love to prepare the food, putting my mind (knowledge of healthy eating and balance), my heart (especially when preparing for my family) and soul into the meals I prepare. When I sit down to eat, I look at the beauty of the food before me. My taste buds are much more sensitive now. My food does not have to be drenched in salt, sugar, or grease to taste good. I can taste the flavor of each ingredient and savor it. Never do I hide and eat food, overindulge or feel guilty about what I eat. I still love indulgences. But my indulgences have changed. I eat dark chocolate with almonds or a piece of organic zucchini bread. I am more satisfied with food than I have ever been. Food makes me feel alive and energized. I know that my body is sacred and worthy of the best and freshest food available and that makes me feel content.

You Are What You Eat

Here is food for thought: “You are what you eat.” We’ve all heard this comment, but have you really considered what it means? During the summertime, I read “Skinny Bitch” and it wasn’t until I read this book that I had ever really thought deeply about this comment. If you eat foods high in fat, the ugly and painful truth is that you will be fat. What do you want to put in your body? As the Skinny Bitch ladies boldly put it, “Every time you put crap in your body, you are crap.” Okay, I am not a freak that goes around shoving vegetarianism down peoples’ throats, but I am proud to say I am a vegetarian. This well known phrase was the convincing phrase for me: “You are what you eat.” Do you eat meat? Here is what you are eating: hormones which are given to plump up those animals in a hurry so the corporate factory farms can make more money, the pesticides that they essentially are eating because their food is treated with them, steroids: more plumping action, antibiotics to safeguard the animals from getting sick because they live in unsanitary conditions. You are eating the fear, grief and rage that they experience when being processed as your food source. In many cases, you are eating the illnesses that many of these animals endured during their lifespan. Fruits, veggies and grains are raised in fertile soil with sunshine and water. I buy 90% local organic produce. This is a better picture in my mind.

Are there options? YES. Can you get enough of the proper nutrition you need from a plant based diet? Of course you can. I have been a vegetarian for only a few short months- only four months to be exact. I have found the benefits to be well worth the change. I have experienced changes in my skin, digestion and energy level. My immunity to illness is higher than it’s ever been. For me, this is a decision I have made for my health. My husband and children are not vegetarians but as a result of my choice to become one, my husband, who ate red meat very regularly, only eats red meat maybe once a week. The meat I prepare for my family is natural. The animals are raised without the use of any of the above said antibiotics or hormones, etc. The beef my husband and older daughter (my two youngest daughters do not eat beef) eats are from cows that are grass fed and the chickens are free range chickens. I pay a little extra but I think the real cost of buying cheap food will catch up with one later in life so I feel this is an investment in their health.