Dear Coffee,

I fear that we must part ways at last. It's really not you... it's me. You are rich, exhilarating, and wonderful in every way. It's just that I realize the only thing I truly like about you is the sweet stuff I add to you every morning. Then, once I have a sugary taste, I crave more sugar as the day goes on and that's just not what I'm looking for right now. So I say farewell for now and thank you for all you've given me. Perhaps we'll meet again after we have another child. Adieu.

xoxo,

K

A new way

Food has a highly emotional component to it. What tastes better than mom's home cooked _________ (mac and cheese, lasagna, raspberry pie... you fill in the blank). As I've written before, food has the ability to comfort us when, perhaps, nothing or no one else will. It may be time to change that.

Over the past few weeks, we've been watching Losing it with Jillian on NBC and one theme has stood out each week. The people Jillian has worked with have some sort of emotional issue or past trauma that they have covered up with, among other things, greasy, sugary food. They have sought comfort in such food because it makes them feel good. I can relate, not only on a superficial level (like when I have a stressful day, I crave the sweet goodness of a DQ Blizzard), but on a more serious level. After the birth of my son, I suffered from postpartum depression and, as part of this, craved sugar constantly. There are medical reasons for this (i.e.--lowered serotonin levels), but the bottom line is, there was a stretch where I went to Starbucks daily to get a sugary coffee and then supplemented that with fatty, cheesy foods that temporarily made me feel better. Ultimately it did not help me recover, as it does not for the people on Jillian's show.

If we look at food in a new way, our overall health will start to improve. We have to look at the nutrients in the food, how they nourish our bodies, and bring us to optimal health. It is natural to cook what tastes good, and when you are used to sugary, fatty, salty foods, this is what you will lean toward. When you cut out such foods (because they have zero nutritional value and only serve to fill you up), you begin to open up your taste buds to things you may have thought you disliked before. The healthier and more nutritionally dense the foods are that you eat, the better you will feel and the more of them you will want to eat. When you pick up a food, ask yourself What will this food do for me? Really think about your answer and then make your choice.

Not enough time

I frequently hear people talk about how rushed they are and how they barely have time to breathe, let alone prepare healthy, home cooked meals for their families. A friend of mine even shared a story about another mother she was talking with. She said the mother told her that she can't be bothered with slicing up vegetables; that she just doesn't have the time. As I listened to this I wondered, really? Really?

You may be thinking, well it's easy for you, Karin, to have the time to prepare home cooked meals for your family. You are a full time mother with a child who takes a three hour nap in the afternoon. You can slice your vegetables then. This may be true, but I wasn't always a stay at home mom. I worked full time in my "former" life but still went out of my way to prepare healthy meals because I knew how important it was for myself and my husband. And really, when it comes down to it, how much time does it actually take to slice up a head of broccoli-- three minutes? Even the busiest of people can find three minutes in their day to be proactive about their health.

When I hear people complain about their lack of time I have to wonder: where does the lack of time actually exist? And are we keeping our priorities in line? I have actually read people's posts on Facebook that say they are so so busy. (Um, suggestion... take a break from Facebook. You'd be amazed at the time you gain in a day!). Do you really need to watch three hours of TV a night? Do you really need to text for an hour with a friend you could just call instead and talk for ten minutes? Do you really need to update your blog again... oh wait. Maybe you do. :) But my point is, when you think you don't have enough time to prepare healthy food for yourself and your family, step back and make sure your priorities are straight. Your email can wait; your health cannot.

Half empty, half full

There are often two ways of looking at things...

I see an ever-increasing obesity epidemic.
I see people starting to change the way they eat for the better.

I see endless aisles of junk food at the grocery store.
I see a jam-packed farmers market with full tables of beautiful produce.

I hear mothers talking about their kids being addicted to video games.
I see families out exercising and riding bikes together on the trail.

I see people glued to their iPhones and Blackberries.
I see families playing together at the park on a beautiful, sunny day.

Which way are you going to look at the world today?

We don't need no education... or maybe we do

I was watching Losing It With Jillian the other night and Jillian Michaels (one of the trainers from The Biggest Loser) moved in with an Arizona family to help them change their unhealthy lifestyle. She talked with a young woman of 21, who happened to have a 4 year-old son, and could not understand how, as a parent, this young woman could continue eating foods that were essentially killing her. When Jillian asked her why she would do this, the girl finally broke down and said she just didn't know how to be healthy. She had never been taught the skills to cook and eat wholesome foods and was simply continuing the unhealthy cycle with her son because she didn't know any other way...

The next night, I happened to see a commercial for Lucky Charms and Trix cereals. In the commercial, they tout these cereals (which are incredibly junkie) as having "8 serving of whole grains in every box" and claim that they are a "good source of calcium." Are you kidding me?!?!? I thought to myself (and out loud--my poor husband!). Who believes that these cereals are good for their kids? And then I thought back to the previous night when the young mother on Jillian's show said she did not know how to eat healthfully. These commercials prey on (that's right I said it!) people who just want to do what is best for their children but don't know much about good nutrition. I'm sure the young mother would be one of the people who looks at that commercial and thinks, "Oh, that sounds good. And look, my kids are getting some calcium for their bones." Too bad the broccoli industry doesn't market like General Mills.

So what can we do to get a good education in nutrition? Like all educational processes, learning about good foods to eat is continuous. I feel like I am learning more every day about foods that are healthy. Here are some steps you can take:
1. Turn off your TV more! And for heaven's sake, that Food Network will ruin any thoughts you have of eating healthy in a day. :)
2. Read the books on my "Must Read" list. In particular, The Food Revolution and The China Study.
3. Become a critical consumer of advertising. Remember, food companies simply want to sell their products. They want your money. Period. Don't just accept what they say as the ultimate truth in nutrition.
4. Eat foods that nature made. Fruits and vegetables were designed with all natural ingredients. You can't go wrong with that!

Habits

Before the holiday weekend, I posted a small section from John Robbins' book The Food Revolution. What I posted struck me personally, the more I read it. We grow up eating a certain way, thinking a certain way, and living a certain way. Day after day, year after year we develop habits that stick with us and become part of our identity. Some of these habits are positive and health-promoting. Some... not so much. Habits are very difficult to break, especially the yummy, sugary ones. It can take a profound shift in thinking to change a habitual pattern, certainly when it comes to food.

On our recent trip back to the east coast, I was struck (as I always am) with the difficulty of changing my eating habits. Let's face it, New York and New Jersey have some of the greatest tasting food options in the country, many of which I grew up eating and enjoying. There is nothing on the planet like a slice of pizza from Sal's or a salt bagel with cream cheese from Ronnie's. (Moose Tracks ice cream from the Tuck Shop also comes to mind). My grandmother's various and assorted pies are so delish and make me long for my childhood when we go home to visit family. And that's just it... Thinking about all these delicious foods makes me think of more than just what they taste like. They give me a sense of identity. Believe me, living in Kansas, I just love boasting of the east coast's fantastic regional treats--bagel shops, diners, pizzerias. When I think this way, I realize that more than anything, these foods help me connect to where I grew up and am proud to have come from. There is such an emotional connection to food, and this is where a lot of people have problems. These foods comfort us, as John Robbins says, when the world may not be there for us. Several months ago, during a particularly stressful time for our family, I gave up the vegetarian lifestyle for a month because I felt like I needed the comfort of, for example, a cheesesteak. Food can provide much needed emotional comfort... or it can also just, well, taste awesome.

When you get away from the habits of eating sugary, fatty foods, however, you can become more clear. Your thinking becomes more clear and the overall feeling of well-being helps you sever your emotional connection to food. I'm not saying you have to be perfect (God knows, I certainly am not when it comes to eating!). You just have to try the best that you can to value yourself through what you put into your body. Realize that (if you are eating to "comfort" yourself) those foods are not going to do it in the long run. Just some food for thought...

The Food Revolution

After an inspiring conversation about nutrition last night (thank you, Bree!), I decided to regain my focus on food and start reading The Food Revolution by John Robbins (thank you, Liz!). In 1987, Robbins wrote the book Diet for a New America and brought out a philosophy that was just taking root in which people were beginning to make choices about food that affect not only your body, but your environment, the people around you, and your soul. I highly recommend the books listed on the upper right-hand side of this blog, and I'm sure this book will be added to that list when I am finished. In the short amount I read last night, I would like to share with you a segment that I found very telling. Read it and think about it as you enjoy your 4th of July weekend...

"What keeps us stuck? What keeps us from recognizing the power that we have to make choices that honor our spirits and enrich our lives? What keeps us passive and distant from our greatness? What keeps us closed down when we could be vibrant and creative? The same thing that keeps the animal in his cage, even when the door is opened and he has the chance to walk free. Habit.

"When it comes to food choices, habit is stupendously powerful. Our familiar foods give us comfort, reassurance, and a sense of identity. They are there for us when the world may not be. They can be our best friends, loyal and true. It does not take effort or creativity to do the same thing over and over again. There is ease and relaxation in doing what we have always done. And if our habits are continually reinforced by the society around us, they can become even more powerful and alluring." (from chapter 2, page 13)

I will share my own thoughts on this soon. Check back after the holiday!