Mind, Body, Food...I Broke Two Rules

I am a rules a person.

Yes, I have a lot of rules.

I usually don't break rules....but I did!

I broke two of my own rules.

{GASP!}

Now, I should warn you, this post is turning out to be long. I also need you to understand I was not that girl in middle school or high school who watched the movie about how hot dogs were made and vowed never to eat them again. I am just now truly interested in what has happened to our food supply and what the heck is going on so I can make me family healthier and teach my kids the right thing. I also know some of this works because at 22/23 I did eat vegan {for health and weight issues} and never felt better or looked better in my entire life. I did this for about 4 years, and then fell off the wagon when I got married...My guide, my favorite book in regards to this is

Dr. McDougall also has a website with free information,

recipes, and a free eating program.

Oh, you want to know what rules I broke...

Rule One...Long ago, when I had quit my job after getting married and was figuring out what I was going to do with my life, I watched a lot of Oprah. Hubby would come home, and our conversation would begin like, "On Oprah today..."  So that became hubby's rule...no sentence can begin with "On Oprah today..." Over time, I got "over" Oprah, and my rule was simply no more Oprah {I know, I know...don't leave me for that!}.

Rule Two...I N-E-V-E-R buy celebrity endorsed products, especially diet or cookbooks. Call me a jaded Angeleno, but I am quite over celebrities being experts on "everything."

So, within 24 hours, both of those rules where out the window...at least for awhile. On Monday night, I was checking out the TV schedule for  the evening and saw that Oprah was having a special called Food 101 with Michael Pollan. For those of you who have read my Mindy...Body...Food posts {see the bottom of this post for the links}, you know I am all about changing the way I and my entire family eats - "out" with funky ingredients and preservatives and "in" with whole, nutritious, real food.

Any way this was a great special with so much info, really good info! I was also very interested because a few ladies have mentioned the book The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan. I have not read it yet, but I am buying the book today. From what I understand Michael Pollan does eat meat...he is not a vegan...he just eats the "right" kind of meat {just so no one thinks this is a "vegan-only" post}.

He also has one for kids...

Oprah mainly focused on his Book, Food Rules: An Eaters Manual

Some of the rules they covered on the special were:

1. Eat food .
2: Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.
7: Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.
13: Eat only foods that will eventually rot.
39: Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.

She also referenced a documentary called Food Inc. I am actually kind of afraid to watch it!

The Oprah special is recapped HERE.

And you have to take the food quiz...it is appalling!

Now for the second broken rule...Alicia Silverstone was on Oprah's special. I knew she was a vegan...I have heard this before, but I actually listened to her this time. Yes, I listened to a celebrity babble on about something...BUT she wasn't babbling..she made so much sense. She has a book out too, called The Kind Diet and I went out the next day and bought it.

In it, she details many different aspects of eating, health, and her perspective on being vegan and why. She also talks about Dr.McDougall {so she had me there!}. She offers recipes at different levels of change from "Flirting" to "Superhero," depending on what you are ready for. I liked this because while I can do "Superhero," hubby will "Flirt." I found I can use many of her recipes as side dishes for him...He must have meat {his idea, not mine}!!!!

Of course I could not talk about this book without having tried some of the recipes. I made the  Quinoa with Basil and Pine Nuts. A pretty basic recipe overall - prepare 1 cup of quinoa according to directions, toast pine nuts, chop basil, mix altogether and drizzle with olive oil. Easy and good (do I dare tell you I have never made quinoa before...I have always had it in the pantry, but never made it...I was afraid...so this was a good recipe to try.}.

Did I mention there are desserts? Last night I made the Coffee Fudge Brownies...six thumbs up from me and the kiddos (hubby is out of town). Really, really good! So, I am actually kind of in love with this "Kind Diet," and very excited to try more.

I am at the point where I will be seriously looking into organic chickens and grass fed beef for the family. As for me, I am pretty sure I am going to go Vegetarian again. I have a hard time calling myself a vegan, because I cannot say I won't slip up and eat cheese or anything like that. I also prefer this method of eating because I just do not want to count calories or fat or carbs or points.

Either way, they also say it is good for the environment to go meatless at least once a week. I am not preaching vegetarianism, veganism, or anything else..just exploring. What do you think? Do you buy celebrity endorsed products? Did you watch the Oprah special? 

Happy Eating!

Holly

If you are new or need a refresher on

the Mind, Body, Food Posts…

The Beginning: How it came to be.

Chapter 1: The Road to Complete Nutrition (body Image and food)

Chapter 2:Healthy Menu and Chicken Chili Recipe
Chapter 3: Pantry Perfection and a Homemade Ketchup recipe