At the beginning of this new year (and new decade!), I've decided to start using my blog to share advice, opinions, resources and recipes that might be really helpful. It's always been my goal to provide simple, clear advice that cuts through the endless and often contradictory nutritional recommendations "out there" and to try to help clear some confusion. To that end, please feel free to send me any and all questions. I'd love to know what you're thinking and worrying about and to help if I can. To start, I thought it'd be a good idea to spell out my own personal "Food Philosophy" . This is what I come back to when making choices and I think it's straight-forward, sensible and important.
Wishing you a very, very happy and healthy 2020.
MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY
“Mindfully choose and eat foods that are the healthiest for you and the healthiest for the planet.”
Happily, the healthiest food choices for US are generally also the best choices for PLANET. This philosophy encourages choosing:
whole foods - as close to their natural state as possible: always the healthiest choice, regardless of individual dietary needs and preferences, and better for the planet as these foods use far fewer resources than processed, industrialized foods;
local foods - fresher and often more nutrient-rich; supportive of local farmers, growers, makers and shops;
organic - fewer toxic chemicals into our bodies; supportive of healthy soil and healthy farm workers; non-reliance on fossil fuel-based fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides;
more plants - fewer animal products; a plant-based diet, with some animal products for some people, is healthier for us and has less impact on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, soil and water health and more efficient land use;
meat and dairy from ethically raised animals - healthier products due to more nutritious diet, fewer drugs, less chance of contamination than those raised in crowded confinement; supports animals’ rights to humane treatment;
reduced packaging - eating less food packed in plastic reduces our plastics exposure; reduces pollution resulting from the production and disposal of packaging;
reduced food waste - better for our financial health; more efficient use of the Earth’s resources; helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by food in landfills.
Mindfulness is important at every stage of our relationship with our food, including:
mindfully choosing the type and quality of foods we buy and consume;
being conscious of when, why and how much we’re eating;
paying attention while we eat, so we chew well, digest efficiently and listen to our bodies to know when we’ve had enough;
choosing foods and an overall diet that is healthy, but also one which we actually enjoy, so that healthy eating is a pleasure and something we can maintain for the long run.
I hope some (or all) of this resonates with you. Here's to a healthier future for each of us and for our planet in 2020 and the decade to come.
