Nothing like a whirl wind, big city, fun packed weekend to remind us "we are what we eat." I live in a small town, by big city standards, so visiting Chicago for the weekend is terrific in so many ways. My husband is a marathon runner, and generally speaking, he can "get by" with foods that will send my blood sugar into a roller coaster ride. During the summer months, however, I fancy myself a rollerblade wonder woman, and therefore don't tend to worry if I test the waters of cullinary delights on "special occasions." Big mistake. Huge.
After only three days of "vacation food," we both returned to our Maximized way of life feeling bloated, tired, and cranky. I spent the entire day following our trip re-filling our fridge with fresh vegetables, and cooking Sunday dinner, which for us included organic free range chicken. By Monday morning, we felt somewhat better, and we made a pact. This "vacation food" was enough to ruin any vacation - we won't fall prey again.
There's a problem with this pact. Even the finest restaurants add "stuff" to their healthiest dishes so they will appeal to a mass audience. These additions are meant to make the food look and taste "better." We ate foods like broiled salmon with roasted zucchini, chopped seafood salad, and chicken picatta, and we specifically asked what oil was used for cooking before we ordered the food. We completely avoided the beautiful bread baskets served with every meal, and desserts were not only off-limits, but frankly something that neither of us wanted. So why did we feel so lousy by the time we got home?
I am no doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I only know what works for me. Eating fresh, simply prepared food without hormones or additives - which means nothing that comes in a box - and relying on proteins that are raised the way nature intended - this is what works for me. Unfortunately, the North American diet is a lot more complicated than that, and it is literally endangering the health and well being of everyone who eats it.
There are a number of really good movies you can watch to educate yourself about the commercial food industries. FOOD MATTERS is a very good place to start. You can watch it on the internet at http://www.foodmatters.tv/ and FOOD, INC. will be in theatres this fall. There are also lots of tell-tale videos on Youtube about commercial beef and chicken. One noteworthy one is called DIRTY Little SECRET about MEAT . It is American, but applies equally to all North American consumers. Great books include "MAXIMIZED LIVING NUTRITION PLANS," available from your chiropractor, and "GOOD FOOD," available for download at http://tinyurl.com/ozx9wh . Both of these books have LOTS of recipes that will keep you and your family healthy and enjoying real food for many years to come. GOOD FOOD got its name because food has to be "good" in at least three ways: It has to look good; it has to taste good; but most importantly, it has to be good for you. Don't be fooled by cheap immitations. You deserve better.
Bon Appetite.
After only three days of "vacation food," we both returned to our Maximized way of life feeling bloated, tired, and cranky. I spent the entire day following our trip re-filling our fridge with fresh vegetables, and cooking Sunday dinner, which for us included organic free range chicken. By Monday morning, we felt somewhat better, and we made a pact. This "vacation food" was enough to ruin any vacation - we won't fall prey again.
There's a problem with this pact. Even the finest restaurants add "stuff" to their healthiest dishes so they will appeal to a mass audience. These additions are meant to make the food look and taste "better." We ate foods like broiled salmon with roasted zucchini, chopped seafood salad, and chicken picatta, and we specifically asked what oil was used for cooking before we ordered the food. We completely avoided the beautiful bread baskets served with every meal, and desserts were not only off-limits, but frankly something that neither of us wanted. So why did we feel so lousy by the time we got home?
I am no doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I only know what works for me. Eating fresh, simply prepared food without hormones or additives - which means nothing that comes in a box - and relying on proteins that are raised the way nature intended - this is what works for me. Unfortunately, the North American diet is a lot more complicated than that, and it is literally endangering the health and well being of everyone who eats it.
There are a number of really good movies you can watch to educate yourself about the commercial food industries. FOOD MATTERS is a very good place to start. You can watch it on the internet at http://www.foodmatters.tv/ and FOOD, INC. will be in theatres this fall. There are also lots of tell-tale videos on Youtube about commercial beef and chicken. One noteworthy one is called DIRTY Little SECRET about MEAT . It is American, but applies equally to all North American consumers. Great books include "MAXIMIZED LIVING NUTRITION PLANS," available from your chiropractor, and "GOOD FOOD," available for download at http://tinyurl.com/ozx9wh . Both of these books have LOTS of recipes that will keep you and your family healthy and enjoying real food for many years to come. GOOD FOOD got its name because food has to be "good" in at least three ways: It has to look good; it has to taste good; but most importantly, it has to be good for you. Don't be fooled by cheap immitations. You deserve better.
Bon Appetite.
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