Sunday, October 17, 2010

Getting Back on Track - Going Clean

How many times have I said I need to get back on track?
I recently picked up a book that I haven't looked at in about two months (various reasons.. mostly busy) by Michael Pollan: In defense of food.  I read a good section of it on the plane back from Vegas, after killing my body with too much food and alcohol, and it really helped me get motivated to get back on track.  I knew I was going to have to detox a bit, but this really helped me.
So according to the book, here are my new rules for a bit:

  1.  check the ingredients and understand every one of them 
    • So if I have to look it up on my phone - that isn't good
    • it has to be pronounceable
  2. No foods with more than 5 ingredients
    • The example Pollan gave was bread that had more than 5 ingredients - in fact around 40 total..that makes sense - but am I supposed to give up chocolate?  even my organic chocolate has a few more than 5 ingredients: Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Whole Milk Powder 
    • Also I don't really know what Soy Lechithin is... Pollan talks about Soy and Corn being two ingredients we have way too much of in many forms.., but whatever, baby steps...I can't just cut everything out quite yet.
  3. Don't buy anything incapable of rotting
    • McDonald's fries do not rot - not that I eat at McD's, but they don't..eww!
    • Also, if you have to wonder if it rots - don't buy it.
    • I am extending this to expiration dates - if it doesn't have one or the date is super far in the future (canned goods? frozen foods?) don't do it.
  4. Avoid foods that claim they are healthy
    • no more lean cuisines, although I haven't had one of those in a while
    • if you stick to healthy ingredients, your finished product will be healthy
    • I like the line in the book - if food products claim to be healthy on the package they must first have a package
  5. Get out of the supermarket
    • I have always loved farmer's markets - the vibe and the food, so why haven't I been to one in months?  And the one or two I did go to within that time were amazing!
  6. Join a CSA
    • already looked into it.  Going to take the leap.  So excited, because sometimes you just can't get to the farmer's market but still need good organic food in the house, before going crazy.
So this is the plan, let's see how far I get...

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