by: Gabrielle Welch
I was recently watching an interview with Michael Pollan, food guru and author of In Defense of Food and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, both fabulous books, and was struck deeply by several comments he made.
He began talking about how our nation’s food is “under attack” from nutritional science (the complete invasion of genetically modified foods into our food supply) and by the food industry, and that we are no longer eating food, but “edible food-like substances”.
Does this hit home with anyone? When you open a protein bar or drink a diet soft drink or anything else in lieu of a true meal, are you really eating FOOD the way it was intended to be eaten? Grown out of the ground, without pesticides, hormones, and sewage sludge and going directly into our kids’ bodies with the least amount of processing and preservatives possible? To nourish (or harm, as it is now) every intricate part of every intricate system of their precious bodies?
As Michael Pollan says, convenience has turned our food into “edible food-like substances”. Combined with all of the environmental toxins we are now exposed to on a daily basis in the air and in our own homes, how much more of this toxic load can our developing kids’ bodies take (not to mention ours)?
Why are we no longer eating for pleasure over a long meal together, for family connection and for community? Why have some of us just broken it down scientifically into getting the “nutrients” we need for the day, even if they are being eaten while driving around in the car?
Why have we stopped eating seasonally when those seasonal fruits and vegetables are specifically designed by our creator to help our bodies meet the challenges of that particular season? Did you know that simply by adding some local and seasonal foods to your diet, your family will be better able to tolerate the changes and illnesses of each season?
In the winter, the body craves warm, rich and moist foods which help counteract the cold dryness. Go for the soups and stews, sweet potatoes and other root vegetables; not a Big Mac!
Spices like cinnamon, cayenne and fresh chopped garlic taste wonderful and are great in helping the body to sweat and detox and for their natural antiviral and antibacterial properties.
So keep it simple: the more complicated the food, the more chemicals you need to make it last and the worse the impact on your body!
As parents, the most important thing to remember is that with our kids, there IS a direct relationship between processed junk food or sugary snacks and academic performance as well as junk food and behavior. You are what you eat. If you eat junk food or you feed your kids junk, you are hurting their chances to be happy, healthy and successful in life.
Don’t we ALL want those three things for our kids more than anything else?
For 2011, work on giving your kids REAL food, as it grows out of the ground, and watch them thrive!
Are you uncertain if you know what junk food REALLY is and how it REALLY affects your kids??
Come hear me speak about…
How to Get Your Kids Off Junk Food…and Make other Simple Changes that will Dramatically Change the Way your Family Eats and Lives.
Thursday, January 27th at 1:30pm
The Motherhood Center
3701 W. Alabama, Suite 230
Houston, Texas 77027
Register for the Seminar
