I'm a Snob!

A food snob that it is :O) I was recently perusing through an outdated issue of Glamour while I munched heartily on some doctored up grits with okra, cheddar cheese and fish (don't judge me- I pictured the meal and finally got around to satisfying me urge and it was delicious!) when I came across an article entitled, Why You Should Try the Snob Diet.

At first I skimmed and was about to turn the page (if you have only known me for a day you will quickly surmise that I am not about the diet life... at all) but then the heading, 'Snobs don't deprive themselves' made me stop and start from the beginning and I was very impressed at what I found.

I suppose I will share my own views on eating first: I do not believe in depriving myself of anything I want to eat (and I don't), I believe that meals should be savored - I am often made fun of because I am a slow eater, in fact, I used to get in trouble on school mornings when I was growing up and was forced to miss an hours worth of sleep because I ate so slow due to my mother's fear I would be late, I also believe that if you stop eating when you are full and do not eat when you are not hungry then you should be fine, and precluding some sort of medical condition I do not believe in diets...at all.

 I couldn't imagine missing out on the savory goodness of oxtail (if its about eating- I will be mentioning my favorite food over and over again- sorry), the tangy wonderulness of my mom's garlic aoli (or my mom's anything- when it comes to cooking she has earned her stripes seven fold), the rich decadence of dark chocolate everything or the smooth indulgence of gelato in multiple flavors (yes please!)

I also believe however, that when it comes to food that quality should come before quantity and that as the consumer you have the last say about what you put into your body. Of course, some may argue that living this type of gastrointestinal indulgent lifestyle could reek havoc on your wallet- not so my friends. If you are more selective about where and what you buy you do not have to sacrifice quality- or perhaps you sacrifice those amazing $200 pair of shoes this month and invest in your internal well being- some adjustments may have to be made, all I'm saying is it is possible.

I was so excited when I read the theory and research behind this habit of eating because it finally confirmed what I have been thinking and doing all these years. So without further ado:

The Tenants of Being A Snobby Eater:

*Choose the highest quality foods whenever possible

*Don't deny your cravings (my personal fave)

* If it is not truly delicious, don't eat it

* Savor vs Wolfing down your fare

* You be in control of what you eat and when

* Do not eat while distracted (turn off the tv, don't answer the phone, save the txt til after you eat, stop checking your emails or going over the final draft of that report- it will all be there when you are done and with a well fed belly you may be in a better mood and better able to deal with all of the demands placed on you)

So the research says that (I am paraphrasing) 1. When you eat something you want and are looking forward to eating- you get fuller faster and do not eat as much 2. When you satisfy your taste buds (cravings) you are less likely to binge later or snack to fill the empty void created because what you ate didn't satisfy you 3. People who have restrictive diets generally do not weigh any more than people who eat what they want (I found this to be particularly interesting) 4. This amazing research has been buried under the diet industry's sneaky capitalization on people's (mostly women) emotional ties to their appearance and the media's messages regarding what we should look like, in fact 10,000 new diet products hit the market every year...and you can just imagine how much society spends on them.

So I say- do what is right for you but free yourself from the guilt that accompanies being good to yourself- food is where we get our energy, it can help us build immunity to live healthy active lives, our bodies need it to survive (unless you are a monk and are trained to fast for long periods of time) so shouldn't we enjoy this thing that we have to do anyway? I invite you to make as many of your meals as special as you can (people can taste the love in brownies :) )

And one last thing: Do share your meals with quality company as well...and if it's just you- know that you are a gem and your own company is sometimes your best.

Be Your Best You

CL

 What say You?

On Eating

At a recent raw food experience I was exposed to a film about...eating, entitled, Eating. Making the case for a plant based and in some cases a plant only diet. What follows is what I learned (this not my first 'food industry' film, however there were things that I took away) and my impressions.

The film interviewed a number of doctors and a few athletes who have adopted a plant based diet when facing debilitating health concerns themselves. The film took a hard look at the medical and food industry backed by political dollars and how both work hand in hand to kill Americans- be an informed consumer- knowledge is your best weapon.

The Learning:

Note: the burgers I am referring to are those mass produced and found for ridiculously cheap prices in most fast food joints

* cholesterol leading to heart disease is our nations number one killer

* heart disease has killed more people than all of our wars combined

* the food pyramid was designed by drug companies and politicians

* the diet that is advertised as "good" is fed to us as children and leads to all sorts of ailments as we age

* methane is the leading cause for our global warming issue

* the largest source of methane is the cattle that makes our burgers

* Half of our fresh water is used for the cattle that makes our burgers

* The other half of our fresh water is polluted by the feces of the cattle that make our burgers

* The animals that are used for the mass production of meat products are abused and horribly treated

* If one person did not consume meat for just one day that would equate to taking 8 Million cars off of the road

photo credit: foodcultures.web.unc.edu

* Our forests and environment are being destroyed to provide grazing land for the cattle that make our burgers not for the wood or even to house our growing population

* Drug companies use the medical industry to push chemical compounds that do nothing to cure the problem, in fact the pills keep people dependent on the drug and create a whole host of new problems via side effects

* Almost 70% of our grain, corn, wheat etc goes to feed the cattle that makes our burgers not to the people who are actually starving in the world

* The burgers found in most fast food joints are hard baked fecal cakes injected with chemical compounds to cover up the flavor of shit

* A piece of chicken has as much cholesterol as a T bone steak and seafood has more cholesterol than both

* Cattle are not designed to eat grains- they were meant to eat grass/ REad: e.coli

* A lb of ground beef is cheaper than a lb or rasberries


My Impression:

A plant based diet just makes sense...the Creator, nature, Mother Earth (whatever/whomever you believe in) provided all we need to not only live but to thrive. It has been a long standing theory of mine that the majority of mental health and behavioral health that I've seen over the years had a strong connection to diet- especially in children.
Fresh fruits and veggies retain all the nutrients our bodies need- so much so that many people have cited some as 'super foods' which have been credited with reversing some very serious medical conditions when doctors had given the patient a death sentence. What you put into your body affects how you relate to yourself and others- it affects your mood and energy levels.

For me, have a limiting or restrictive diet of any kind is not my idea of fun- and as mentioned in another post one of my favorite foods is oxtail- so am I destined for the emergency room? I don't think so- I am armed with a few guiding principles that help me make different and better food choices for me:

* Reading food labels tells you a whole lot of information including- ingredients (if you can't pronounce it you may not want to eat it), where the product was made etc

* Because I am a meat eater I look for and purchase meat that are grass fed and raised in happy healthy environments (yes you can find that information on the label too) not from mass produced slaughter factories

* I shop at places known for the food conscience (Trader Joes, Farmers Markets)

* When given the choice- I buy local

* I have switched my milk, sugar, and refined starch consumption (I try to stay away from refined products, I only buy sugar in the raw, and I have not personally bought cow milk in over 10 years)

Photo Credit: styleblazer.com

* I do have a weakness for ice cream but gravitate towards brands with natural ingredients

* I believe in balance- incorporating fresh fruits and veggies at every meal (in the winter frozen veggies and fruits are a great way to add some green to your plate)

* I eat when I'm hungry and I stop eating when I'm full

I must admit that being exposed to the truth behind the food industry was a bit scary but knowing that as the consumer I can choose where I spend my monies was comforting and empowering- we do not have to fall victim to the glossy ads and exciting commercials that ultimately empty our wallets and lead us to gastrointestinal slavery. You have a brain- use it! Be informed- its free :)

What Say You?


Be Your Best You

CL