So this may sound strange but not all "health" food is healthy. Now for the most part the people I know that shop at health food store and people that follow a vegetarian/vegan diet are thin, fit people. However have you ever met that one person that seems they should be healthy but they are not? I know I have and I have often wondered why that is. Part of this could be chalked up to genetics but I don't think much of it is as I feel health is more about nutrition and less about family history. It could be food allergies or intolerance that goes unfound. There is also one more possibility. Unhealthy health food. Now before you go freaking out about if you have been eating unhealthy health food if you have been following my guidelines you probably are not. The freezer section and the prepared section are the two biggest places that really get overlooked. If it's a veggie burger it must be good for you right? Wrong that veggie burger could have way more sodium than you need in a burger and if not organic could have GMO soy(but we will leave that for another day.) Look at those labels just because it's "health" food or vegetarian doesn't mean you need to eat it and you are not exempt from reading the label on it. The prepared section is great for every once in a while but this is not stuff that needs to be eaten every day. Now fortunately at Whole Foods where I do a lot of shopping they have a hot deli bar section and have all the ingredients listed so I know exactly what I'm getting so sometimes we will go and shop and then have a quick lunch before heading home.
Also I know I have mentioned it before but just because something is organic does not give you free range to eat as much as you want. A cookie is a cookie whether organic or not!
I really want to stress fresh foods as much as possible you should be spending the bulk of your time and money in the produce department!!! Much of this should be eaten raw ie salads etc.
Be aware of everything you put in your body it's well worth it in the end.
Yes I know this is not about the price of eating healthy perhaps next week=)
Rememeber you can do this! You and your family are worth it!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Confused on what to eat?
There is so much information out there about what is good for you and what is not. So many people have so much to gain or loose based on what you put in your body. Who do you trust? Who can you listen to for good solid information? Well I will tell you who not to listen to and that is the food industry. I think it's pretty obvious they want to make as much money off you as possible and that means producing cheap food and keeping you eating as much of it as possible.
Now my philosophy on food for the past few years has been to eat your food as close to the way God intended it as possible!
Recently I have been really thinking about what that means to me and to the food we all eat on a regular basis.
Now some things are obvious to stay away from but others that I previously thought were ok I'm starting to rethink. I know to stay away from ingredients I can't pronounce(even though even I do get the occasional convenience food.) I know that processed meats(bacon, lunch meat etc) are not good for you.
However what if you start to look more closely at the food industry. If eating as close to the way God intended includes how it is grown prepared and made, then most of the food we eat should not be eaten. Do you think God intended chemical fertilizers and pesticides to be sprayed on our foods? If so why would He have had natural solutions to these problems from the beginning? Do you think He meant for livestock to be crowded, mistreated and fed an unnatural diet?
When you go against the laws of nature and against what God intended there are serious consequences the biggest one being either loss of nutrients or down right harmful results.
So what does this mean? What can we eat? Well ideally you would grow your own food but most of us have many factors in the way of that although I feel everyone can at least plant a couple of veggies and some herbs. If you can not grow your own the next step is to buy the bulk of your foods from local farmers that do not use chemicals in the growing of their food. Meat should be free from antibiotics, hormones and should be fed a natural diet(cows were not meant to eat corn they were meant to eat grass) chickens should also have access to grass and just because it says free range does not mean that they do. Free range only means they have limited access to outside which could be as little as a dirt yard! Once again if you are buying local you can ask them or even go and see for yourself. If not buy pastured eggs and chicken yes they are more expensive and yes it is worth it.
Unfortunately not all areas have good availability. In that case you must be very careful in choosing your grocery store and just because it is a health food store does not mean everything they have is good for you. If you have the money to buy organic buy it as often as possible! If you have a limited organic budget stick to buying the dirty dozen organic. If you simply can not afford organic or the availability in your area is bad wash very well and peel the items on the dirty dozen list when possible. As far as meat good quality meat that is healthy is expensive. Buy quality meat if you eat meat and just eat less of it. This is your health and the health of your family the fact that you like burgers should not play into this. Yes you can still have burgers but beware of the meat you are buying. Again ideally you would buy local but if you can not make sure it is hormone, and antibiotic free and all red meat should be grass fed! I eat very little to no meat during most weeks now and am thinking about cutting down even more.
Now I do not think it is wrong to eat meat 1 Timothy 4:4 tells me that everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
so meat in and of itself is not wrong to consume however I just don't trust the people producing the meat so I'm choosing not to eat it unless I know where it is coming from and what is in it.
All this can get very confusing some times and it's hard if everyone in the family is not on board. Keep trying it is a process and a journey for you and your family.
I have been so proud of my husband. He used to have to have meat with almost every meal and dinner was not dinner without it! He over the past month has eaten meat maybe three times and feels great!! He is mostly eating vegetables and has some whole grains to go with it.
Next week I will talk about the cost of eating healthy vs the cost of not eating healthy if you have any input or stories you would like added to it please let me know. ie if you have diabetes let me know how much you spend per month on meds doctors etc
Now my philosophy on food for the past few years has been to eat your food as close to the way God intended it as possible!
Recently I have been really thinking about what that means to me and to the food we all eat on a regular basis.
Now some things are obvious to stay away from but others that I previously thought were ok I'm starting to rethink. I know to stay away from ingredients I can't pronounce(even though even I do get the occasional convenience food.) I know that processed meats(bacon, lunch meat etc) are not good for you.
However what if you start to look more closely at the food industry. If eating as close to the way God intended includes how it is grown prepared and made, then most of the food we eat should not be eaten. Do you think God intended chemical fertilizers and pesticides to be sprayed on our foods? If so why would He have had natural solutions to these problems from the beginning? Do you think He meant for livestock to be crowded, mistreated and fed an unnatural diet?
When you go against the laws of nature and against what God intended there are serious consequences the biggest one being either loss of nutrients or down right harmful results.
So what does this mean? What can we eat? Well ideally you would grow your own food but most of us have many factors in the way of that although I feel everyone can at least plant a couple of veggies and some herbs. If you can not grow your own the next step is to buy the bulk of your foods from local farmers that do not use chemicals in the growing of their food. Meat should be free from antibiotics, hormones and should be fed a natural diet(cows were not meant to eat corn they were meant to eat grass) chickens should also have access to grass and just because it says free range does not mean that they do. Free range only means they have limited access to outside which could be as little as a dirt yard! Once again if you are buying local you can ask them or even go and see for yourself. If not buy pastured eggs and chicken yes they are more expensive and yes it is worth it.
Unfortunately not all areas have good availability. In that case you must be very careful in choosing your grocery store and just because it is a health food store does not mean everything they have is good for you. If you have the money to buy organic buy it as often as possible! If you have a limited organic budget stick to buying the dirty dozen organic. If you simply can not afford organic or the availability in your area is bad wash very well and peel the items on the dirty dozen list when possible. As far as meat good quality meat that is healthy is expensive. Buy quality meat if you eat meat and just eat less of it. This is your health and the health of your family the fact that you like burgers should not play into this. Yes you can still have burgers but beware of the meat you are buying. Again ideally you would buy local but if you can not make sure it is hormone, and antibiotic free and all red meat should be grass fed! I eat very little to no meat during most weeks now and am thinking about cutting down even more.
Now I do not think it is wrong to eat meat 1 Timothy 4:4 tells me that everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
so meat in and of itself is not wrong to consume however I just don't trust the people producing the meat so I'm choosing not to eat it unless I know where it is coming from and what is in it.
All this can get very confusing some times and it's hard if everyone in the family is not on board. Keep trying it is a process and a journey for you and your family.
I have been so proud of my husband. He used to have to have meat with almost every meal and dinner was not dinner without it! He over the past month has eaten meat maybe three times and feels great!! He is mostly eating vegetables and has some whole grains to go with it.
Next week I will talk about the cost of eating healthy vs the cost of not eating healthy if you have any input or stories you would like added to it please let me know. ie if you have diabetes let me know how much you spend per month on meds doctors etc
Weekend Challenge
OK this weeks challenge will likely be difficult for some of you but I really want you to get into it!
Here is the challenge go to your produce department and pick something you have never eaten before. I'm sure there is something there you have always seen but never thought about getting because you have never had it. If you need to pick something out and then buy it the next time you go so you can find out how to prepare it first. Or if you already have something in mind that you have been wanting to try, find a recipe for it and get it when you grocery shop.
I think I'm going to get rhubarb at the farmer's market this week. I've never had it and the kids want to try it so if anyone has suggestions on what to do with it let me know!
Let me know what you get!
Happy shopping=)
Here is the challenge go to your produce department and pick something you have never eaten before. I'm sure there is something there you have always seen but never thought about getting because you have never had it. If you need to pick something out and then buy it the next time you go so you can find out how to prepare it first. Or if you already have something in mind that you have been wanting to try, find a recipe for it and get it when you grocery shop.
I think I'm going to get rhubarb at the farmer's market this week. I've never had it and the kids want to try it so if anyone has suggestions on what to do with it let me know!
Let me know what you get!
Happy shopping=)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Weekend Challange
So this weekend challenge is all about farmer's markets. If you have not made it to your local farmer's market this is the week to do it. If you have just go again anyway=) When you go take the time to talk to the people you meet. Ask them about how they grow things and what their practices are. Many local farmers use organic methods but just haven't gone through the process of being labeled organic(it can be pricey.)
Farmer's markets are a great source of real food. It is beneficial in many ways to shop at a farmer's market. It will cost a little more sometimes but it is well worth it when you realize the benefits and other times it's cheaper depending on what you get.
1. Nutrition- The fresher the food the more nutrients and vitamins that are still intact. So if the food is from down the street as apposed to say Mexico you are getting much more out of the food you are eating. Who doesn't want that?
2. Social economics- You are helping local farmer's to continue their business. This is good for everyone involved. I don't know about you but I rather be helping keep farmer Joe who practices good sustainable farming than giant corporation A who does nothing but ruin the food and the environment!
3.Environment- It takes a lot to prepare, pack, and transport that food hundreds of miles. If it's coming from the farmer down the street this is greatly reduced.
4. Taste- It taste a whole lot better when it's this fresh and grown well!
5. Sense of connection- The whole family can get a sense of conection with where their food is coming from when you can look the farmer in the eye and shake his hand. This is a great way to teach your children about where food comes from and the importance of filling our bodies with good nutritional food. You may learn something as well!
If you do not know where a farmer's market is in your area check out local harvest it is a great resource for finding local farms and farmer's markets. They also have listings for CSA's (community supported agriculture) which is where you buy a share and you get a box of various produce and other things every week.
There are many benifits to shopping at the farmer's market so what are you waiting for?
Farmer's markets are a great source of real food. It is beneficial in many ways to shop at a farmer's market. It will cost a little more sometimes but it is well worth it when you realize the benefits and other times it's cheaper depending on what you get.
1. Nutrition- The fresher the food the more nutrients and vitamins that are still intact. So if the food is from down the street as apposed to say Mexico you are getting much more out of the food you are eating. Who doesn't want that?
2. Social economics- You are helping local farmer's to continue their business. This is good for everyone involved. I don't know about you but I rather be helping keep farmer Joe who practices good sustainable farming than giant corporation A who does nothing but ruin the food and the environment!
3.Environment- It takes a lot to prepare, pack, and transport that food hundreds of miles. If it's coming from the farmer down the street this is greatly reduced.
4. Taste- It taste a whole lot better when it's this fresh and grown well!
5. Sense of connection- The whole family can get a sense of conection with where their food is coming from when you can look the farmer in the eye and shake his hand. This is a great way to teach your children about where food comes from and the importance of filling our bodies with good nutritional food. You may learn something as well!
If you do not know where a farmer's market is in your area check out local harvest it is a great resource for finding local farms and farmer's markets. They also have listings for CSA's (community supported agriculture) which is where you buy a share and you get a box of various produce and other things every week.
There are many benifits to shopping at the farmer's market so what are you waiting for?
Monday, May 3, 2010
My kids won't eat ______!!!
So if you have ever said My kids won't eat...followed by vegetables, fruit, wheat bread or food that's good for them this article is for you.
No this is not an article full of wonderful tips on how to magically get your kids to start wanting broccoli over a cheeseburger. This is a call to look at yourself and your food decisions.
Where are your food priorities? Do you value pleasure over health? Do you value price over quality? Do you stop off in the drive through regularly because you are too busy to cook? Do you eat the things that you want your kids to eat? Do you eat them with the same pleasure and gusto as you would say a nice juicy burger?
Why would you expect your children to eat any different than you?
Now hear this it is never too late to change your children's eating habits!!! Now if they are teenagers or even if they are seven or eight and they have lived off nothing but junk it will be difficult!! Do not give up!!!
First you must decide what your food priorities are. You do not have to give up anything as long as it is real food. Treats should still be real food and should be treats. Also look at portions how much on your plate is meat? How much is veggies and whole grains? Once you have your food priorities set you then make a plan and sit down with your children. Explain to them the importance of taking care of our bodies and apologize for not teaching them this before if necessary. This is a journey you can take on together!
Now if you have very young children you need to take some things into account. It is normally to have likes dislikes. This can be based on texture taste look etc. Pay attention to what your child does not like but continue to offer small amounts of it and encourage them to try a small amount of it. They may come around do not give up! Offer things they "don't like" in a different way. My youngest would not eat a strawberry would not even try it until I cut it up into tiny tiny pieces now it's one of her favorite and she eats it in much larger sizes.
If your child is refusing to eat any vegetables or any fruit or even will eat nothing unless it's chicken or it's covered in ketchup. This is not healthy it is not normal (although it is main stream.) Offer them food that you are eating do not fix them something different and If they are hungry they will eat it!!! It is not child abuse they will not have an eating disorder. Feed them food you know is good for them and that you eat yourself. Now if you refuse to eat something you can't very well make them eat it!! If they gag or throw up while eating something don't shove it down their throat. If you are fixing a nice balanced meal with some choices on their plate there will be something they can eat. If you know they like sweet potatoes and they have yet to eat corn. Give them more sweet potatoes than corn but still put the corn on the plate and encourage them to try at least one bite.
Now some of you might think this harsh and cruel. It is not. What is harsh and cruel is allowing your children to eat poorly and condemning them to a lifetime of diet related disease and an inability to make healthy decisions.
Now if you are just now trying to get healthy do not beat yourself up over past decisions. We all make mistakes. We all have to start this journey somewhere. You can control where you go from here though!! You do not have to continue in the old path of eating! You know what to do. You know what is best for your children.
Remember you can do this!!! You and your family are worth it!!!
Good luck and healthy eating!
No this is not an article full of wonderful tips on how to magically get your kids to start wanting broccoli over a cheeseburger. This is a call to look at yourself and your food decisions.
Where are your food priorities? Do you value pleasure over health? Do you value price over quality? Do you stop off in the drive through regularly because you are too busy to cook? Do you eat the things that you want your kids to eat? Do you eat them with the same pleasure and gusto as you would say a nice juicy burger?
Why would you expect your children to eat any different than you?
Now hear this it is never too late to change your children's eating habits!!! Now if they are teenagers or even if they are seven or eight and they have lived off nothing but junk it will be difficult!! Do not give up!!!
First you must decide what your food priorities are. You do not have to give up anything as long as it is real food. Treats should still be real food and should be treats. Also look at portions how much on your plate is meat? How much is veggies and whole grains? Once you have your food priorities set you then make a plan and sit down with your children. Explain to them the importance of taking care of our bodies and apologize for not teaching them this before if necessary. This is a journey you can take on together!
Now if you have very young children you need to take some things into account. It is normally to have likes dislikes. This can be based on texture taste look etc. Pay attention to what your child does not like but continue to offer small amounts of it and encourage them to try a small amount of it. They may come around do not give up! Offer things they "don't like" in a different way. My youngest would not eat a strawberry would not even try it until I cut it up into tiny tiny pieces now it's one of her favorite and she eats it in much larger sizes.
If your child is refusing to eat any vegetables or any fruit or even will eat nothing unless it's chicken or it's covered in ketchup. This is not healthy it is not normal (although it is main stream.) Offer them food that you are eating do not fix them something different and If they are hungry they will eat it!!! It is not child abuse they will not have an eating disorder. Feed them food you know is good for them and that you eat yourself. Now if you refuse to eat something you can't very well make them eat it!! If they gag or throw up while eating something don't shove it down their throat. If you are fixing a nice balanced meal with some choices on their plate there will be something they can eat. If you know they like sweet potatoes and they have yet to eat corn. Give them more sweet potatoes than corn but still put the corn on the plate and encourage them to try at least one bite.
Now some of you might think this harsh and cruel. It is not. What is harsh and cruel is allowing your children to eat poorly and condemning them to a lifetime of diet related disease and an inability to make healthy decisions.
Now if you are just now trying to get healthy do not beat yourself up over past decisions. We all make mistakes. We all have to start this journey somewhere. You can control where you go from here though!! You do not have to continue in the old path of eating! You know what to do. You know what is best for your children.
Remember you can do this!!! You and your family are worth it!!!
Good luck and healthy eating!
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