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One small step…

Published March 30, 2012 | By worryfreemom

Slowly, but surely, over the past several years, our family has been moving towards a healthier lifestyle.  We’ve tried out raw milk, moved to eating only organic foods on the Dirty Dozen list, and bought grass fed, local beef and chicken at the local farmer’s market.  I even tried out soaking grains and cooking with sourdough.  We still prefer rice soaked for a few hours, but I gave up on the sourdough because I felt like I was taking care of a newborn!  Lately, I’ve been trying to cook more vegetarian meals and use a little less meat.


Last night, on the recommendation of a friend, I watched Forks Over Knives (watch free on Netflix), which advocates an essentially vegan lifestyle–no animal products.  There is no question that the people highlighted in the film are healthier after beginning this new diet.  And I think that making small changes moving towards a more plant-based diet is a smart move.  I don’t know that I would discount meat and dairy altogether, despite the benefits showcased on this film.  I would like to see the studies discussed in the film replicated with meat and dairy produced outside of factory farms.  Do people who eat grass fed beef and drink raw milk have the same issues?  Many well-respected researchers, including Jordan Rubin of The Maker’s Diet and Sally Fallon of Nourishing Traditions, advocate eating organic meats and fermented dairy.  It would be worth looking into.

In the meantime, we are going to continue taking baby steps towards a healthier diet.  I encourage you to do the same.  Here are some easy steps you could take today (just choose one!):

1.  Only purchase organic versions of the Dirty Dozen fruits and veggies.

2.  Eat just one vegetarian meal every week.  Or have fruit for breakfast instead of cereal just one morning.

3.  Buy organic grass-fed beef instead of your regular hamburger.

4.  Buy free-range organic eggs.

5.  Cut down on the amount of meat/milk your family consumes.  Try stretching a package of hamburger for two meals.  Our family of five only consumes about a gallon of milk in a week–can you cut down on your dairy consumption?

6.  Cut out one processed food–soda? chips? Or replace with an organic alternative.  One of our favorites is “fizzy juice”–just mix half 100% juice and 1/2 carbonated water.

Remember, just one step at a time.  It’s like building endurance in exercise.  You start out with 2 lb weights, then move up to 5, etc.  As you get stronger, you can handle the weights that you couldn’t dream of lifting at the beginning.  It’s the same here–just take one small step.  When that is easy, try something else.

You know, I was talking to my kids this morning–I want to be the 80 year old woman jogging through the park in the film.  I want to be healthy and active–and I want the same thing for my kids.  If making these changes will help me do that–for me and for them–then it’s worth the sacrifice.  Now to watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead…maybe.  🙂

 

Posted in Cooking/Recipes, Fitness

One Response to One small step…

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