…by growing a garden. Okay, let me back up a bit. 2 days ago I began to read Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food” . I just finished it. Pollan has quite the flavor and brilliance for connecting the dots between the Western diet and its consequences. The latter part of the book unpacks his seven words and three rules: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. But this is not a book review so let me continue.
Worth pointing out is the American relationship with food, or lack thereof. Typically, we endorse fast, cheap and easy. We to take bits and pieces from other cultures and apply it to our lifestyle. These include: from the French, drink red wine; borrowed from the Greeks, use olive oil; and even from the Japanese, eat more fish. Yet sadly, one fifth of all eating takes place in the car. We don’t have meals anymore, let alone sit down at a table and eat. We grab and go. And most ly we’re not even eating ordinary food. What’s that?
So, what’s got me thinking of growing a garden in December as I sit here watching the first major snow storm hit us this season? As I read “In Defense of Food” two things became clear to me. First Pollan’s eye opening innovative research washed the blurs of the food industry away. Secondly, I am guilty of a few of those American misdemeanor food charges. The primary guilt here involves my relationship with food. As a typical American, one of my offenses is eating food for calories. Do you do that? I find myself spending very little time preparing my meals and very little time eating them. Food for calories. In other words, gotta eat or I’ll get depleted. Then I’ll get a headache and that stinks. In other words food is my fuel. Don’t get me wrong I love a good meal. You can charge me as guilty 50% of the time though for being lazy in preparing my meals. The widespread confusion on what to eat seems to increase not every year, rather monthly. So what to do? Pollan offers quite a few rules of thumb to consider. For this article I’d to share 6 ideas of his that are simple, sensible and practical. You can implement them today. You’ll feel much better about yourself and about your new relationship with food.
- Cook and if you can, grow a garden. Decide to nix fast, cheap and easy. Rooted in soil and nourished by sunlight takes on a whole new meaning in what goes in your belly.
- Eat slowly. Make the time and slow yourself and your life down to eat.
- Consult your gut. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to get word that your belly is full. Attend more closely to the information of our other senses, not just the eyes seeing the plate is empty.
- Don’t get your fuel from the same place your car does. No explanation needed.
- Eat meals. Sipping and snacking have taken over not only the bulk of our time, but the bulk of our calories as well.
- Pay more, eat less. Eat good stuff and you’ll be more apt to eat less of it. Whether you are looking to lose weight or not, there is a compelling,...
