Cereal = kibble?

A professor of mine at Bastyr University once said that breakfast cereal is like kibble.  Meaning: dry, highly-processed dog food made of vegetable-based ingredients that is not really meant to be eaten by dogs (who have flesh-ripping, canine teeth for a reason).

She made the comment so emphatically that I think about it almost every time I eat cereal.  Sometimes I even feel guilty.  As if I've let her down by choosing a quick, conveinent meal instead of taking the time to cook a bowl of hearty, steel-cut oats or poaching an egg over kasha (kasha: buckwheat groats).

But some days I have no choice.  Sometimes all I have time for is quick bowl of cereal.  Or when I haven't gone grocery shopping in a while, sometimes all I have in the house is cereal.  And on days I wake up feeling nauseous, sometimes cereal is the only food that sounds appealing.

Looking at the big picture, I would rather have something in my stomach (even if it is dry cereal + milk) before starting a full day of work, instead of feeling weak and hypoglycemicy until lunch time.

It all comes down to choice and prioritization.  What is most important to you?

I wish that I could eat freshly cooked whole grains at all my meals, but that is just not realistic for me.  At least, not at this time in my life.  So I compromise.  And do my best.  Because, really, that is all I can do.

Eating with Integrity

It has been over a year since I started this blog and time to revisit the theme.  But in order to talk about eating with integrity, I have to start with a conversation about WHOLE FOODS.

No, I’m not talking about the grocery store.

I’m talking about REAL food. Food you can picture growing. Food that has not been modified from its original form. Like an apple, a bag of brown rice, or a glass of whole fat milk. All these foods have one thing in common: nothing has been removed and nothing has been added. They are in their pure, unadulterated form. Just as God created them (see Genesis 1:29).

These foods have INTEGRITY.

When I write “eating with integrity” in this blog, I mean (1) choosing foods that are in the most natural form possible, preferably from local and/or organic sources, (2) preparing them with loving intention, and (3) eating them mindfully, appreciating each unique flavor and texture.

Anytime a food is processed, nutrients are lost. This can be as simple as removing the skin from your potatoes (the majority of nutrients are found just underneath the skin!), or as complicated as the chemical process of transforming whole corn into high fructose corn syrup.

In contrast, whole foods maintain high nutrient density. The more whole foods you can consume each day, the more vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients you provide your body, and the better defense you have against illness. But eating with integrity is not just about preventing disease (dis-ease), it is about reaching and maintaining optimum health. It is about feeling good so you can share those good feelings to the people around you and make the world a better place.

CSA: local and equitable agricultural

Today I signed up with Norman's Farm Market for my very first CSA!  CSA stands for community supported agriculture.  This is how it works:

In order to gain greater stability and better income, a farmer sells "shares" of the anticipated crops to individuals, who pay one up-front fee in exhange for weekly deliveries of delicious produce over the course of a growing season.  Joining a CSA does come with some risk, as incliment weather can result in poor harvest, which means less goods for you, the consumer.

However, the benefits far outweight the risks.  Here is a short list:

1. A box of fresh, local food on your doorstep every week

2. Fresh food just tastes better

3. Motivation to try new recipes (you're bound to get produce that you've never seen before)

4. Less grocery shopping!

5. Feel good about supporting your community

6. A reminder of where food comes from (the ground, not from a box!)

I can't wait!