[image: extension.umd.edu]I thought it was a good time to check in regarding the nutrition plan I brought up last month.
The truth is that I've been too busy and too nomadic to really sit down and put together a more oranized long-term nutrition plan. On the other hand, I have spent more than just a few hours perusing some of the titles referenced in the comments section of my previous post. In fact, during my visit to NYC a couple of weeks ago, I spent an entire day perusing several copies of Pollan and Weil texts (recommended by Marissa, LAS, Meg, and others) at the Barnes & Noble right on Union Square. This is in addition to the many hours spent surfing the web doing independent research.
I still want to sit down and come up with a more concrete plan. If you've read this blog you know that I have a penchant for list-making and goal-setting that is, for better or worse, all-encompassing. But what is becoming increasingly clear is that I am swayed by the views of people like Amy, Debbi and others who advocate a much more body-centric view of nutrition. Maybe the focus should be on how my body feels after eating certain types of foods and gradually recalibrating how I eat going forward.
Regardless of how this plays out, I'm already taking baby steps in what I think is the right direction. I have already started to limit the amount of red meat I eat (right up to July, I ate red meat with almost every meal, save for breakfast) and have greatly increased my intake of fruits and vegetables. And though I haven't completely moved to organic stuff I have a feeling I will be a convert before long.
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9 comments:
Jack, I'm so glad you're eastin healthier! But, I would caution you that removing red meat from your diet isn't necessarily healthier. LEAN Red Meat IS healthy for you. I would encourage you to look into Grass-fed beef.
I gave up all land based meat (beef, chicken, pork, etc.) almost a year ago and I've never looked back. I feel like I eat better, although I still have some work to do. I eat more produce and get my protein from dairy, fish and tofu. Give it a shot. I didn't find it hard at all.
Happy to hear that you're eating more fruits and vegetables! And while I don't see a need to become totally vegetarian (I consider myself a flexitarian), eating less meat certainly opens up more room in your diet for other things!
I don't eat meat or fish but I am not a radical vegetarian. You have to do right by a) your body and b) the earth.
I am on a healthy eating plan (starting today) so hopefully I won't be thoroughly sick of so much fruit and veg at the end of it.
@GreenRanchingMom,
Yeah, saw that in the Food, Inc. film. The problem is that I eat wayyyy too much of it. Just want to cut down appropriately.
@Kandice,
Can't say that I am there yet. Doing this gradually. Did you go that route because of the health benefits or just ethical concerns?
@Meg,
Exactly how I feel. On the other hand, my view is evolving slowly. Not completely closed to embracing the veggie life.
Don't know if you're already doing this, but I think the key to healthy eating is cooking and preparing your own meals from fresh food. (Read: food that doesn't come out of a can, bag, or box.) The rest of the details are up to you - but you can't go wrong building your meals around whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies.
Don't forget chocolate and wine, containing flavonids and anti-oxidants and whatnot - and they can easily be fitted into any kind of orgy :). Perfect food!
I also got another book for you. Just borrowed "One Straw Revolution" by Masanobu Fukuoka. It's really about agriculture, but is about simplicity as well. Quite philosophical. Haven't read that many pages, but it seems great!
Oh, and olive oil, of course! I mean, the Greeks used it for food and beauty, and see what happened :). Marathon & Parthenon! So, to be on the safe sida, I practically drink it directly from the bottle :).
I have one other (only slightly) tongue-in-cheek suggestion for improving your diet. Move to Italy. My husband and I just got back from spending two weeks there. The food is off-the-hook. Fresh ingredients, combined well. Delicious and healthful. Plus Italy, from what I've heard, is where the "slow food" movement started.
Ironically, on the health front, everyone in the country smokes. :) Really.
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