Eating for Body, Mind & Soul

So, two full weeks here at the lake and I haven't lost a single pound. I haven't gained, but I haven't lost. In truth, I am only averaging 4000 steps a day (according to my Fitbit) instead of the 10k I'm supposed to be walking, but I am far more active than I was prior to our arrival and I am still dealing with tiring more quickly since the accident. I am also eating too much. Fortunately, I am eating "well", as in food that is high quality, fresh, nutrient rich, and mostly local. I LOVE getting my foods from the local farmer's markets, etc. but I'm enjoying the local cheese options, local pie options, and local fruits far too freely.

Eating is something that should nourish as much of us as possible. Science will decree that for optimal health we should consume XYZ macronutrients in order to achieve optimal health -- preparation, local or non-local, natural or man-made ingredients are all immaterial factors to what is good for you. Science, however, simply doesn't know everything. I have found that foods created by a person, consciously and with intention, is nearly always more satisfying when eaten than equally well prepared industrial foods (Stouffer's, etc.). I have found packaged foods produced in smaller batches (like mircobrew beers), by people who are proud of their products, are more satisfying than their mega-alternatives (Coors, etc.).

Food, however, nourishes more than the body. I have found there are foods which make me clear of thought, happy, or calm. I have also had foods which seemed to stir and infuse my soul with energy and light. This is why we use food to change our moods, as part of spiritual practices, and as part of creative endeavors. It is also why we over eat, or eat what is not good for our bodies... we eat in an attempt to fill a mental, emotional or spiritual void in our lives.

One of my spiritual foods, odd as it seems, is peanut butter and chocolate. I LOVE peanut butter and chocolate, and believe that the dark chocolate peanut butter cup could be a food served in paradise. It has been one of my tacit commitments to find the best peanut butter cups in the world. I have tried so many... and there are some awesome dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Sadly, the makers of these delights are usually focused on either the chocolate or the peanut butter... seldom do they put equal attention to both sides of the equation. There are a few... Justin's is available at many health food stores and Starbucks, but even better are Nectar Nuggets.

The most Colorful Plate!

I have come to believe that the majority of one's food should not be comprised of foods that are white, tan, or brown. Grains and starches have been a staple food for ages because it was the easiest to refine into calorie dense materials that can be stored for long periods of time; ale and beer was once a nutrient rich staple food, not simply a libation as it is today. Before the days of canning and freezing, not to mention of preservation and transportation technologies, finding ways to make calorie dense foods which could be kept good for months was essential to survival. Not the healthiest ways to eat; but when faced with starvation, any food is "healthy".

That habit of turning to grain & root based meals is so ingrained (snerk) into us that breaking that habit is extremely hard. I often find myself reaching for a slice of bread, or a granola bar, when I should grab an apple or banana or something a bit fresher and less processed. Even worse, when I do decide to reach for a fruit or vegitable I find myself automatically hunting up something to put it on, in, or to put upon it (yogurt, cheese, a dressing, ice cream, whipping cream). Now, one reason for this is that the average grocery store fruit or vegitable is produced for appearance and spoilage-resistance, not for flavor. When an item has little flavor, one HAS to improve it or eating becomes a drudgery.

This week I bought honeydew melon and tomatos from the local Student Organic Farm. These items did not look "perfect" as one sees in the store, but were exploding with flavor. I picked up heirloom tomatos from our local farmer's stand today, which looked just ghastly, but the meat was nearly burgandy red and made you swoon with flavor. We also got some "donut peaches", which look very funny but are a delicious treat and actually easier and less messy to consume than a standard peach.  I also bought cucumbers and squash, three varieties of sweet peppers, blackberries, blue berries, and eggplant. I plan to spend the weekend enjoying a veritable rainbow of flavors!

I won't enter into the argument about whether the organic and heirloom varieties are "more nutritious" than the mass produced/farmed versions that we have in the super markets... that is an argument for the zealots, not for me. However, I will challenge anyone to provide me with a mass-market fruit or vegitable that TASTES as good as the organic/heirloom varieties!

When you decide to take control of your life -- trust no one!

There are times when I must be reminded that I can't trust that something that LOOKS healthy actually IS healthy. Today was one of those times. I love Panera Bread; it is a comfortable place to hang out with delicious food, coffee and free wifi. That said... I feel betrayed by their food... there is NO REASON for a turkey sandwich to be higher in calories and higher in fat than a BigMac!

After this sandwich, I had no calories left for the day... even though I had eaten very responsibly and consciously prior to dinner. As such I had to be careful what I could eat when I got home -- fruit and veggies to the rescue. I'm glad I decided to check the online nutritional info on Panera food or I would have shot way beyond my daily consumption thinking all was cool!