Let's get REAL with Food!

4 weeks ago, Michael Pollan appeared on Jon Stewart, promoting his latest book, "Food Rules." Michael Pollan was already on my "radar", as Lee and I had recently watched "The Botany of Desire" on PBS right before Christmas. I also knew who he was, from being aware of his other books. Then, we finally watched "Food, Inc" that same week, and and it became crystal clear to me what I needed to do. I went and bought “Food Rules”, and decided to start this blog.

It is time to jump on this food revolution “band wagon”, once and for all. I did a lot of thinking, and the fact that I have actually HAD a food conscience for years, made me think about "why haven't I done this sooner?" I have several friends and family members who make serious efforts to eat real foods as opposed to processed ones. Even so, I am one of the many, many people in this country who has had a habit of eating mindlessly and doesn't pay close enough attention to what is IN the food I eat, or how it is made or where it comes from, etc...

Why?

Well, this is the key to what I plan to do with this blog:

In a perfect world, Lee and I would just let go of any bad food habits we have, clean out our fridge and cabinets, and then ONLY shop at whole food markets and farmers markets, or raise all of our own food. We’d stop eating any packaged "edible foodlike substances", as MP calls them, and cook at home most of the time and make real food choices everyday. Well right there is part of my answer to “why.”

If I could AFFORD to shop at all these preferred places, and if I always had the TIME to prepare food, with NO daily living distractions from making healthy choices (like that silly work thing that many of us have to do), I would definitely already be eating better than I do. We already have an extensive garden, and I DO cook at home a lot, and a larger portion of our meals are already in the direction of MP’s books (and I know there are a lot of great foods that are affordable at TJ's). However, like many other people, I am sure, I have habits and attachments and addictions to foods that are very hard to let go, especially ones that involve eating in restaurants. I am very aware that most of it has to do with sugar and flour and salt, but knowing you have to cut certain products and foods out of your diet and actually DOING it are two different things.

There has got to be a way to do this, and not be so overwhelmed by it, as I am, and I am willing to bet, many others are too. Well, here I am. I am going to address my everyday diet , using MP’s “Food Rules” as my guideline, and one step at a time, start eliminating “edible foodlike substances” (processed foods with “mystery” ingredients) and approach his main concept of “eating real food, and not too much, and mostly plants” in a REALISTIC and PRACTICAL way. My idea is to do it in phases and layers, one step at a time, and hopefully achieve major changes in what I eat, and make these changes stick, forever!

So you may be asking, “Why Blog about it?” Well, as a former Weight Watcher, who lost 100 lbs, 6 years ago (yep, but I have gained 60 of it back...another reason that I am “here”), I can tell you that one of the best things that helped me, and is part of the philosophy of being successful, is to be accountable and open about what you are doing. It helped me, incredibly, to be open and accountable, and I have the experience with knowing that it truly works. I have changed a lot of eating habits already, but there is still a long way to go, in the direction of eating well.

Also, why not help myself, but maybe also try to help spread the awareness of this very necessary change to anyone and everyone who wants to participate, whether it be just to read and “listen”, or to be inspired to be an active part of the “conversation” and/or to “come along” with me? I am not an expert in any related field. I am just a regular gal, just doing this.

I am sure there are many people already eating within MP’s guidelines, and have no problem, financially or time-wise, in eating this way, and they have no problem avoiding manufactured and processed food. I am not one of them. If you are, then great! I look forward to your advice, support and input! If you are not, then feel free to join me in this scary and exciting journey towards better health and figuring out how to clean up my eating act (and who knows, maybe inspire others to clean up their eating act along the way)!