I had some interesting discussions over the weekend with folks at the festival about FOOD.
And diets and allergies and healing your body with food and food fads.
I love these conversations and I loathe them at the same time. Food is fascinating to me, as is people’s relationship to it, but it can easily begin to look black and white; like there’s a right way to eat and a wrong. The truth, I believe, encompasses every color of the rainbow and more.
My personal ideas about food and “diet” change according to research I read, new foods I hear about, and my evolving environmentalism.
Here’s my current food manifesto.
I believe that the needs of our body change over time, with age, change of seasons, hormonal fluctuations, and in response to health issues.
I believe in moderation, with one exception.
I believe that dark, leafy greens are the only foods where there is no moderation necessary. Pile ’em on!
I believe that eating fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut have kept me healthier over the last year then I’ve been in a while.
I believe that GMO “food” is crap and am in full support of mandatory labeling for any Genetically Modified Organism.
I believe that variety is key to a well rounded diet. I eat different grains and different sources of protein and fat with each meal.
I believe food is a great way to bond and celebrate.
I believe food is beautiful, fascinating, and healing.
I believe that food tastes better when it is good for me.
I believe that cheese is one of the tastiest things out there.
I believe I should eat when I’m hungry and stop before I’m “full”.
I believe in taking a daily multivitamin but also looking to food to fill gaps/needs. I wanted to get more Selenium in my diet so now I eat a Brazil Nut or two a day. One of these big nuts has nearly 100% of the RDA!
I believe that there are few places that I enjoy puttering around more than the kitchen.
I believe that beans cooked from scratch are worth the extra dishes and time.
I believe that buying local is environmentally, socially, and health-wise a smart choice.
I believe that gardening is an awesome return on investment.
Which parts of my manifesto do you agree with? Which parts do you disagree with? What would be included in your own manifesto?
Seriously, the only thing I disagree with is taking a daily multivitamin. I think the vitamin industry is much more interested in making money than in making me healthy.
I have no opinion on the fermented foods, but I’ve no doubt they’re good for you. I just haven’t climbed on that bandwagon. Yet. =)
As for the remaining items, I could have written that myself. And I wish I had!
I believe there are MANY crap multi’s out there and am completely outraged that there is artificial color in nearly all of them. I am currently taking a multi from Rainbow Light that is GMO free, organic, and made from food sources and I feel good about that.
Love this!
I wish I had a friend that could talk about food like this! Really neat conversation. Food does taste better when it’s good for you.
I too believe that taking a multivitamin is not necessary if you are eating properly. Not all multivitamins are good. Gardening is a huge and I totally agree. I also believe you do not have to eat five meals a day. Have you read the Wheat Belly? There is some interesting dialog concerning this. I can’t wait to read it.
Never heard of Wheat Belly but I am going to look it up. Thanks for the recommendation.
I also believe in moderation with two exceptions…
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I love this! I believe in so many of your beliefs that mentioning them would take too long so I’ll mention the ones that aren’t necessarily part of my manifesto. I have no particular beliefs associated with fermented foods, but would of course be open to trying some. I don’t take a multivitamin, not because I don’t believe in them, but because I just haven’t gotten into the habit :-/ And I’m not much of a kitchen putterer – since I still live at home I’m a bit spoiled. I eat the fruits of my mom’s kitchen-puttering-labor!
Love the last sentence! 🙂
Amen to all of the above.
Love this list. Especially numbers 1 & 9. I would add food tastes best when I’m hungry!!
I love this post. I can completely relate with the third paragraph that starts with “I love these coversations…”. There are so many different opinions out there about the best foods to eat, and you are right, it can become very black and white.
I would really like to include more fermented foods in my diet. I cook my beans from scratch as well and I agree that it’s worth the extra time and dishes. I try to buy local food as much as possible. It’s so important! I have had a garden for the last few years, and there is nothing better than eating food from your backyard! One day I hope to be able to can and freeze a bunch of veggies to use all year.
And I completely relate to your last sentence! We really hoped to put up a lot of tomatoes this year but they didn’t come in in enough quantity. I did freeze a few jars of sauce and lots of chutney but not the pints of salsa I’d dreamed of. I am drying herbs in the oven right now to utilize through the winter!
I would love to do salsa sometime. We didn’t get as many tomatoes as I had hoped for either (there are still a bunch of green ones on the plants) but I did manage to can some. I just did plain diced tomatoes to try it out this year. Your herb salt looks really good. I might have to try that!
I love this! I’ve been BUSY putting things in my freezer from the Farmer’s Market and friend’s gardens. Hoping to continue my local eating into the winter!
My freezer is becoming a bit of a hazard to open. 🙂
I agree with all of these, but especially whole-heartedly with the GMO item. I debated on this topic once and it is scary how they are taking over our food supply.
I’ve never tried making beans from scratch, but I am definitely curious to see what the buzz is all about…what is your favorite kind of bean to make from scratch?
I really love them all but Tate’s favorite and the one I find most versatile is black beans. Our staples are black, garbanzo, and butter beans. Give it a try! Remember it’s best to make big batches, you can always freeze the extra!
I just found this post and absolutely love/agree with everything!