N is for Nutrition

Nutrition is one of those topics that to me seems like everyone and no one is an expert. I am certainly not an expert. But it is my hobby. I read about it, blog about it and attempt to feed my family nutritiously.

The problem lies in the fact that no one seems to agree on what is healthy and nutritious. Is fat good or evil? Should we be eating nutrasweet? (NO!)  Agave? White sugar? Butter or margarine? Vegan? Vegetarian? Omnivore? What is the deal with saturated fats? Food pyramid? Low Carb? No Carb? Should we supplement with vitamins? Organic, what's the deal about organic? What is Real Food anyhow? Have you ever heard of a locavore? Should I be one?


And so you see my dilemma, as I peruse the internet, read books and talk to friends I get many many different takes.

I have done a lot of thinking and praying on what is right and good to feed myself and my family. I decided to go with the Real Food path. I just have to believe, and there is plenty of scientific proof to back this up, that as long as most of the food I put in my mouth is as close to nature as possible that it is the way I should eat.

I have come up with a couple rules, or rather guidelines that I am attempting  to follow most of the time. I copied them from Stanley A. Fishman, author of Tender Grassfed Meat.

Rule Number 1: Eat only the natural, whole, and unmodified foods humankind has been eating for thousands of years.
Rule Number 2: Eat only those natural, whole, and unmodified foods which have been raised, processed, and prepared by the methods humankind has used for thousands of years.

Practically what does that mean?  Michael Pollan, author of several books including In Defense of Food, an Eater's Manifesto puts it this way:  Eat real food, not too much of it, and more plants than meat. Or, put another way, get off the modern western diet, with its abundance of processed food, refined grains and sugars, and its sore lack of vegetables, whole grains and fruit. 

How this plays out in our family is that I get up almost every morning and feed my kids eggs and bacon or homemade pancakes or waffles or french toast or an egg bake. I use coconut oil and bacon grease to fry those yummy treats.  I buy organic milk (would love to get raw but not possible, it's illegal in my state) and get our eggs from a man I know who raises chickens. (My coop is almost finished and our chicks come Saturday!!) I buy my beef from a friend who raises the cows in his back yard. I have learned to make dinner rolls and tortillas and homemade taco seasoning.  I make rice pudding and top my cakes with a homemade ganache and real whipping cream. The chicken I cook came from my friend, and my pork from a local farmer. I buy way more fresh fruits and vegetables and have cut way back on my canned food. My childrens' after school treats are usually an apple or orange or celery with pb or something healthy.

Some things I no longer buy include Diet Coke (my addiction for so many years), store cookies, margarine, vegetable oil, soy anything. But I do still buy frozen pizza and chicken nuggets and mac n' cheese among other convenient and familiar foods. My kids were older when I started down this path and so we are slowly trading the familiar with homemade. It is a battle. A path. We are baby stepping.

I truly believe that I never had a weight problem - I weighed 102lbs when I got married - until I started eating diet food. Diet drinks, low fat, Lean Cuisines, fake butter, chemical laden candy, it all helped to dig me into the hole I am in today. I don't know that I will ever be thin again but I truly believe that this is the way I am supposed to eat. Not afraid of REAL FOOD, food that humans have been eating for thousands of years. It is what works for our family. I am the only one with a weight problem. My children and husband are all very thin and very healthy.

If you are interested in learning more there are some great blogs and sites out there in cyberspace. I am linking you to Real Food Wednesday hosted by Kelly the Kitchen Kop, this is a great place to start.

I have loved this adventure, learning to cook from scratch and how to eek every bit of nutrition out of the foods I prepare. I know that it takes more time. I am blessed to be a stay at home mom - and cooking for my family is one of my responsibilities. Luckily I can call it my hobby also and this adds an element of joy to my cooking.

Please know that this is what we do as a family and I know that it is NOT the path for everyone. Just wanted to give you all perhaps some New information on Nutrition.

Dear Mrs. Matlock I hope you like my paper. All the other kids papers can be found here at Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday.

I am also linking to Ann Kroekers Food on Fridays  and Food Renegade's Fight Back Friday.You can check out these memes for even more info.