Not too long ago someone saw me carrying the book Real Food and asked me about it. (No, I do not carry it everywhere I go, but if I could afford it, I would buy a box of them and keep it in my car and pass them out to everyone I meet. It’s THAT good.)
Him: “So, what’s it about?”
Me: “Um. Eating well. Getting back to traditional foods…”
Him: “So, like, organic?”
This is where I start to fumble: “Um, not exactly. It can be… It doesn’t have to be… Um…”
And that was about the end of the conversation because I couldn’t get my thoughts together, which is nothing unusual, but it got me thinking about the subject and how I can concisely explain what I’m doing.
Traditional food MAY be organic, but it doesn’t have to be. Conversely, not all organic food is good for you. I mean, there are organic oreos. Hello? Organic is just a certification, and if you read up on it, the requirements are rather nebulous. Eating well is less about buying organic and more about rejecting the industrialized foods that have emerged only in the last 100 years in favor of traditional foods grown and prepared in traditional ways — local and seasonal produce (preferably grown without chemicals), whole grains, unrefined fats and oils, meat from animals that are fed traditional diets (without antibiotics and growth hormones), etc.
Think about it this way. For thousands of years (or perhaps millions, depending on your philosophy of evolution) people ate pretty much the same way. They ate the foods they were able to find or grow in their environments. To steal a pop phrase, they “ate fresh and ate local.” Only in the 20th century did food become industrialized and processed for the purpose of making it cheaper and extending shelf life. The Western diet is associated with a myriad of diseases that are not present in cultures that still eat traditional diets, and that alone is enough to make me seriously doubt its virtues.
With each food group, the information is complex, and seemingly contradictory. Yet I find it very interesting to read about the history of our food and how we came to regard certain things as healthy and not. There is so much misinformation out there that it’s positively sickening, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be complicated.
In end of the book In Defense of Food, the author lays out five basic guidelines that help define “real food.” I think they’re great because you don’t have to be up on the latest study or the newest terminology. It really comes down to common sense. (The guidelines are straight quotes from the book; the commentary is mine.)
1. Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.
Margarine? Splenda? Non-dairy creamer, anyone? *shudder* I’ve long been a fan of the “real thing” when it comes to sugar, coffee creamer, butter, sour cream, cheese, etc. I didn’t know it was healthier; I just thought it tasted better. So in a way, this transition hasn’t been such a stretch for me. But it’s been hard to let go of some things, like my Coca-Cola addiction. But I haven’t had a Coke in weeks, and when I tried to have one in the airport on the way home from my last Boston trip, I drank half and tossed the rest when I realized it wasn’t nearly as satisfying as I remembered. Now that’s some serious progress, y’all.
2. Avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable, c) more than five in number, or that include d) high-fructose corn syrup.
Pollan says that none of these characteristics are so bad in and of themselves, but together they signal foods that have crossed the line into “food product.” I can tell you that shopping this way will seriously reduce the amount of items in your grocery cart. It will also lessen your food bill. See, it’s a two-fer!
3. Avoid food products that make health claims.
You really have to read the book for his premise about how nutritionism has taken over the food industry. But suffice it to say that if a food has to announce its health benefits, it probably doesn’t have many. As Pollan points out, “When corn oil and chips and sugary breakfast cereals can all boast being good for your heart, health claims have become hopelessly corrupt.” Nuff said.
4. Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.
This is a loose rule. There is still plenty of junk to be found on the peripheries of the supermarket. Um, “Go-Gurt”? “Fat-Free Half-and-Half”? Pulleeze. But it’s a start, since mostly processed foods dominate the middle aisles of the store.
5. Get out of the supermarket whenever possible.
I love making my rounds — the farm market for produce, the farm for eggs and meat, the whole foods store for milk, another farm for yogurt. I know it sounds time consuming, but when I’m driving by, I just stop in. It’s much easier to run in and out of a small market with 3 kids than to do an hour of grocery shopping at the supermarket, anyway.
Yes, there IS more to it than that, and if you’re interested, I plan to post about specific foods and how to choose the best options for your family. I also have a post in the works about how to keep the cost of eating well reasonable. But I hope this gives you some “food for thought” (hahaha) in the meanwhile.
(This post is also part of the Fight Back Fridays carnival at Food Renegade.)
What did YOU learn this week??? Here are the carnival rules.
1. Any time this week, publish your What I Learned This Week post on your blog.
2. Within that post, please mention the What I Learned This Week carnival and link to this post.
3. Then link up with the MckLinky form down below.
4. Go forth and comment!
Alrightythen. Ready, Set, GO!
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Good job! You are on the right track. You know a good book is Nourishing Traditions. She goes into great length about healthy eating and has recipes and tons of information. You have to take it one small bite at a time though or it can overwhelm you. But I highly recommend it for what you are trying to do!
Also, the Sue Gregg Cookbooks are wonderful! I just got mine about 3 months ago and love them.
Keep up the good work my friend.
Hugs.
Kim
I like the 5 points you make about real food – they are easy to follow.
Thanks for sharing those great guidelines for defining real food! Wonderful summary and easy to remember rules of thumb!
I like the summaries for the guidelines for defining real food. Great way to eat healthy food.
I love point #3… if they have to point out its health benefits it’s probably bogus. I can’t understand how some of those sugar cereals can be considered heart healthy. What-ever.
Thanks for these tips. So far the only thing I’ve implemented is switching from skim to whole milk because of an article you linked to a couple weeks ago. I had no idea that skim milk actually had artificial vitamins put into it because they have to alter the milk so much to make it fat free. It’s practically like fake milk. No thank you.
Definitely looking forward to doing this on a reasonable budget. I just looked at the bread you said you buy, the Pepperidge Farm, and I was shocked. The loaf is too small and too expensive to be practical for my family. We eat ten slices in one round of sandwiches for lunch (just kids)! I hate that the bread we eat has HFCS, but right now it is the affordable option. Anyway, a friend has Real Food from the library right now, but she’s going to pass it on to me hopefully. I’m kind of excited about learning about this stuff. Your regular posts make it seem more manageable and less overwhelming, so keep it coming.
Love your posts on the changes you’re making for the health of your family. I’m trying to do the same around here. I’m heading to the library to look for the books you’re reading. Thanks for sharing!!
Ok, I agree with a lot of what you say and would love to make a change for my daughter’s breakfast. *I* eat whole wheat English Muffin’s with natural peanut butter and homemade jam (but we are running out of that so I need to make some more!). But my daughter…oh my word that is a battle in the morning I just do not want to fight. She usually eats turkey bacon and two whole wheat waffles (from the box). I really can’t fathom switching her to eggs and oatmeal. How did you do it without horrible whining?
Nice. I’m only part way into Real Food and am trying to digest it all (hardy har). I jumped to the cholesterol chapter after the milk one. So I’m going back and forth a bit. I find it so dense I guess I just need time to really sift through it. How did you go about finding all of the local farms for each of your items? That’s what I’m grappling with now. Either they aren’t really over here as much or I’m doing something wrong in my search…
I liked your post about the cod liver oil – hysterical:)
Wow, you are doing great on your new “journey”! Your tips are helpful and easy to understand.
Yesterday my husband told me I am becoming radical…ha! He isn’t on board with most of my changes, however he will eat anything I prepare so for that I am grateful. For me, I just can’t enjoy soft drinks, cold breakfast cereals or processed foods in general now that I know the truth about how unhealthy they all are.
Thanks for keeping up updated on all the new info.
Hey Nicole,
Have you tried making bread? I have a bread maker and now that I’m in the groove, its no biggie to throw a loaf in and its economical. I can make bread for sandwhiches, dinner, or breakfast breads. In the book, In Defense of Foods, he talks about store bought bread—and I started reading the labels and it is hysterical. When I make bread, I use flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt and some type of fat—olive oil or butter. All “real” ingredients. And it so much better tasting. I understand with a large family it can be labor intensive and costly, however, once you make your initial bread machine investment (or pick one up at a garage sale) a bag of bread flour makes at least 4 loaves.
I am LOVING LOVING LOVING these posts JL. I am on a similar journey, and am really enjoying reading about where your journey is taking you. Can you tell me the books you would recommend the most? Thanks!
Hi Jo-Lynne, thanks so much for this informative post! I learned a lot from you this week!
Bless you,
Susan
We definitely try to follow #4. We mostly shop for produce, meat, and dairy. It’s more expensive that way, but it’s also healthier.
Greetings from the NorthShore of Boston! I am following your journey into more whole foods. I have read many of these books in the past and wonder if you can take some time to share the meals you are making (not to put pressure on you) but I find it so helpful to see how people interpert whole foods into their actual cooking and meal planning, etc…
I absolutely love your blog and always learn something as a mom and a new blogger! Thank you for the inspiration and please come by and claim you Lovely Blog Award! You are sincerely deserving!
So I am not a blogger nor a usual commenter but I have to say this – your post is a great one and really hit home. I have been itching to cut down on my grocery bill and find ways to eat more healthfully for both me and my family but going “organic” was not for us nor in our budget (Whole Foods – our local organic supermarket is way to expensive!) I really liked the summary you provided and for the first time, it actually seems doable. Thanks for a great post.
i love Real Food! i agree about having a box full to pass out. i would totally be that girl, too. it’s crazy how excited i got reading that book. i would talk my husband’s ear off while he was in the shower.
i haven’t read In Defense yet, but it’s on my list.
: )
Beth, this is a great resource for Chester County. Perhaps there is one for your area?
dsf.chesco.org/agdev/lib/agdev/pdf/locfoodlist.pdf
Susan, fortunately my kids LOVE eggs and oatmeal.
If she likes waffles and pancakes, consider making homemade. Make a big batch on Saturday and freeze leftovers for the week. This recipe was a hit in my house. I used half whole wheat flour and half white.
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/01/recipe-for-healthy-and-tasty-waffles.html
This is all so TRUE! What a great post. When I think about eating with either of my grandmothers, their food was always delicious, but never out of a box!
Love it!
Saw your link at Food Renegade – great post! Sums up all the things I sometimes struggle to say when talking to friends about our way of eating.
Good luck kicking the soda habit. Kombucha helped me!
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
Just to let you know – kicking the Coke habit is possible. I got Coke in the baby bottle – it was the great Southern Cure for colic, and I was a colicky baby! It has been my drink of choice for DECADES. Several years ago if you’d asked me if I ended up stranded on a desert island and could choose just one thing to take with me – I’d have picked a never-ending supply of ice cold Coke!
Then I found out I had osteoporosis. I was only 37 when I was diagnosed – it did run in the family. Through a long string of events I eventually learned I could fight the osteoporosis – and chose to. Part of the fight was acknowledging the fact that carbonation and high fructose corn syrup inhibit the absorption of calcium. Here I was trying to put calcium back into my bones – and I was downing it with a swig of Coke! I knew I had to give the Coke up. So, on May 29, 2007 I did.
I have not had a single sip of soda – any kind – since.
It wasn’t easy – but honestly – I’m so proud of myself! Oh – and by the way – my bone density has been improving steadily. I no longer have osteoporosis – I have osteopenia, and it’s trending in the direction of normalcy.
I LOVE number one.
I have Real Food on my shelf but have not tackled it yet. I am about halfway through Twinkie Deconstructed. Yikes.
My fave is Nestle’s What to Eat – have you read that?
Some friends of mine are on The Makers Diet and Eat to Live kick – oh. I agree, but…just. can’t. do it.
It’s going to be fun watching your transition to “Real Food”! I’m in the midst of mine as well, and I have a post draft titled almost the same as this (better edit that one, eh?). It’s funny how many people think “eating healthy” equals “eating organic.” It’s just not all about going organic, is it? Looking forward to reading more stuff from you – I’m posting on my best new source for coconut oil tomorrow, if you’re interested!
Awesome post, Jo-Lynne. I read “Real Food” this summer, and it pulled together a lot of ideas I’ve had over the last few years. It’s really changed the way I think about food, the way I shop and how I’m looking toward the future.
Oh! And wasn’t the chapter on fats incredible? Very thought-provoking. I never thought I’d be buying lard, but thanks to “Real Food,” I did last week.
I’m working on a post about all this(it’s just SO MUCH to write, isn’t it?), and I’m sure I’ll link back here when I’m done with mine.
HA! Kelly, I just ordered lard. Yeah, it’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around it all, but it makes so much sense to me, there’s no going back now.
This was great! I’ve been preaching this message since the humble beginnings of Fitness Friday, which are still rather humble. I look forward to reading how you eat healthy on a budget. I’ve done two posts on that subject, but am always looking for more ideas to pass along.
Blessings,
Sandy
(met you at She Speaks!)
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! This is exactly the path we are heading down in our family. We have just started the journey, but thankfully my husband is completely on board now! Loved this post!
Hey! I just wanted to let you know I linked to you on my Fitness Friday post today. Now all 10 of my readers will pop over.
And I have a question…I’m considering switching over to Word Press from Blogger (we talked about this a bit at She Speaks, remember?) Can you tell me some of the benefits of Word Press or direct me to a resource that does?
Thanks so much.
Sandy
Hi there–
I just stumbled upon this site looking for a recipe. Wow! I just finished reading “Eating Animals” and am committed to changing my family’s eating habits. However, it’s really hard to know where to shop and what meats/dairy to “trust.” We also live in a ‘burb of Philly–Media. Any advice on local places to purchase food? I shop at Trader Joe’s a lot, but would love to find a better alternative!
Thanks!
~Amy
Hi! I just stumbled upon this post and, ironically, just got done reading “Food Rules” and watching Food, Inc. Obviously, I am now sharing the same food values and goals as you, and I also want to share the information with EVERYONE! It’s definitely easier to just shove our fingers in our ears and say LA LA LA LA LAAA! when it comes to the food industry, but now that we know what’s reallllly going on, it’s horrifying. I wish it wasn’t so expensive to eat healthy and fresh and REAL, but, sigh, it is. Pay now or pay later for medical bills, I say. Anyway, thanks for posting!
Hi Kaley. I’m so glad this information is making it mainstream. And yes, it IS expensive. But I have never felt better, and never had a healthier winter, so it’s worth it to me. I want to get Food Rules. You should read Omnivore’s Dilemma. Good stuff.