it's kind of a big deal.
our bodies were created to consume it and to need it, and we are called to be good stewards of our bodies. i was created with a desire to make it, and i have a responsibility to sustain grant with it. so.. what am i going to do about it?
over the past couple of years, i've thought a lot more about food. when cancer hit our family, that's when i really started to think. that's when i learned about processed food, preservatives, additives, and other things that empty our food of real nutrients and fill us with fake stuff that is hard on our bodies. have you read the labels of 90% of the stuff on the grocery store shelves? it's frustrating. we don't know what half the ingredients are! polyoxyethylene monostearate? what in the world?
basically we have invented ways to make food easier, faster, and cheaper- but is that best? is that wise? sadly, the junk stuff is always more affordable. but according to what we are seeing these days (climbing cancer rates, more diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases), we pay for it with poor health and nutrition. processed food is taking us down a dangerous road, and that doesn't sound good to me. i want my body to work properly! i want it to be able to run and have kids and keep up with my kids! and i know the things i eat effect how easily i can do those things. to quote one of my favorites, miss sheena, "Our bodies can do amazing things, but they weren't made to process modified foods, and foods that aren't actually.......food."
a lot of our food today has been modified with chemicals and sometimes hormones (scary!) to make it do things. (king corn and food inc. are awesome documentaries on this subject!) it has been colored, softened, lightened, texturized, preserved, sweetened, thickened, and when all is said and done: completely changed. i think the way God designed food is great. obviously, i think He did it best! and that food worked wonderfully for years and years. why does it need to be re-designed? why does it need artificial stuff in it? and why does that need to be in my body? it doesn't. that is exactly why i've decided i'd like to be eating the original stuff, as much as i can, as often as i can.
i'm getting back to basics. natural, wholesome, real food. "real food" meaning food with as little processing as possible. one-ingredient types of food. the way it was placed on this earth food.
this doesn't mean i'm eating this way all the time, or that i'm eating flawlessly. it doesn't mean i think i know everything when it comes to how to eat. it doesn't mean i'm giving up all my favorite foods. and it doesn't mean we can afford to buy all our food from health food stores. or all organic. but it does mean i am trying to glorify God by taking care of my body, my husband's body, and being wise about what we put into them. it means i am thinking ahead to someday when my body will determine my kids' bodies. it means i am reading labels, shopping carefully, and planning my menu a bit differently. (happily, i was already in love with idea of doing things homemade.) it means less boxes, mixes, and prepared food in my cupboards. it means gradually and with much fascination, i am learning.
i feel like there is so much more to say. i've been dying to write this for so long (my cheeks are getting hot as i type, as they always do when i'm writing a post i'm excited about) but i know i can't fit it all in one post. if you are still reading.. yay! you made it! i'm going to end it here before i lose you too. but if you'd like to read a little more, here are a couple posts that i love:
10 tips for real food newbies, by the nourished kitchen.
you are what you eat, by sheena.
20 comments:
Amen! i love what you said about glorifying God through taking care of your and your husband's bodies. you're also glorifying God by sharing all these delicious, homemade recipes with all of us!
This post is what I needed to read today. I really need to work on what I eat and what my family eats so that we can be better stewards of our bodies. Right now we do a lot of quick and easy and I need to take time out and really focus on us being healthy. Now I need to look on your blog for this granola you pictured.
Food Inc. really affected me and planted a seed of change deep down. This post was a wonderful reminder as I have strayed off track a bit these last few months! You are so right about not needing to change the food that God has placed for us on this earth. It really scared me all of the disease and problems we are causing by modifying our food.
I'm off to go read the linked articles!
Thanks again.
You know I LOVE this post! Do you have any space for a garden? You would be good at that!
i couldn't agree more! tom and i are trying to change the way we eat as well. it's kind of fun to learn about this and cook new recipes that are made from fresh and non modified ingredients! i'll be sure and pass on any recipes we really like! love ya!
Wonderful post - there's nothing better than real food! Of course that's not to say that I'm always good at not eating the junk, but I'm trying my best to step away from the bad and toward the good.
So true! And its amazing once you start to rid your body of those fake ingredients, sodium and corn syrup, your cravings for them stop. They start to taste not so good. I now only want homemade goodies, this weekend I made a whole pot of chicken soup. Everything was fresh, the noodles homemade, soup in can can't even compare.
I couldn't have said it better myself! Great post! Mind if I share this?
Have you read, Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver? Ohh if you have not read it you must.
"When we traded homemaking for careers, we were implicitly promised economic independence and worldly influence. But a devil of a bargain it has turned out to be in terms of daily life. We gave up the aroma of warm bread rising, the measured pace of nurturing routines, the creative task of molding our families' tastes and zest for life; we received in exchange the minivan and the Lunchable."
“If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. That’s not gallons, but barrels. Small changes in buying habits can make big differences. Becoming a less energy-dependent nation may just need to start with a good breakfast.”
Barbara Kingsolver
Or have any of Michal Pollan's amazing books; The Botany of Desire, The Omnivores Dilemma, and my favorite In Defense of Food: an eaters manifesto.
"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."
"The human animal is adapted to, and apparently can thrive on, an extraordinary range of different diets, but the Western diet, however you define it, does not seem to be one of them. "
"You are what what you eat eats."
Michael Pollan
Take my word for it, read these amazing books that will only make your cheeks more red! I've spent far too long composing this comment but I love this subject, it makes my cheeks red too!
Love this Summer. I've been thinking a lot more about food in the last couple of years as well. I love the idea of eating only food with real ingredients and knowing exactly what is in every meal I eat. Thanks for posting your thoughts on this subject and spreading the good word. You did a wonderful job.
LOVE THIS!!! So well said. I can tell you're passionate about it, too. I have been seeking to do the same and you have inspired me. Thank you!!
oh man, so well put.
i have been thinking about these very things more and more lately.
crazy how much of a challenge it can be to find and make real food these days...good thing we have summer harms around to share wholesome recipes with us! plus everything tastes 100x better from scratch.
I am so glad you posted this! I have been trying really hard to get away from processed foods. I'm very scared of what is in food these days. This is why I love your blog so much. Your recipes help me maintain my no processed food goal!
I made your broccoli cheddar soup this weekend and will be loving on it all week. So yummy and perfect for this fall weather!
Would you consider posting your menus? I'm always curious to see what other people put on theirs. Mine seem to get stuck in a rut sometimes.
I could not agree more! I ahve been working on a similar post for my blog. I think it is so important for our health that we get back to amore natural way of eating. Thanks for the great food for thought! I love how you are so passionate about living a faithful purposeful life!
amen amen amen! i agree 100%, and so would my mom! and i totally want watch those documentaries now..i'm keeping my eyes open to try and get my hands on them..
perfectly said!!
Now you need to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver....it is the BEST book--you will love it!!
This is a hot button topic for me, too. I am sometimes teased for the way I cook, but I know it's the right thing for me and my family.
once I focused on climbing the corporate ladder and I was eating everything out of a takeout container... after becoming a mom, deciding to stay home and keep our home happy and healthy, I have been focusing on making healthy, tasty food at home.
I started reading your blog when I was working, and it inspired me then, I am looking forward to watching and learning as you do.
once I focused on climbing the corporate ladder and I was eating everything out of a takeout container... after becoming a mom, deciding to stay home and keep our home happy and healthy, I have been focusing on making healthy, tasty food at home.
I started reading your blog when I was working, and it inspired me then, I am looking forward to watching and learning as you do.
this is such a good post. It's good to be aware of these things.