KitchenCosmologyNourishing Engagement with the Living Universe

"Thoughts can rigidify into hard and fast rules, creating a regimen that doesn’t leave much room for enjoyment and satisfaction. I would rather be flexible and keep finding out for myself what truly nourishes me and what doesn’t. Returning to my own experience and learning from it how various foods affect me is an engaging and absorbing activity, whereas trying to impose someone else’s thinking or scientific findings on myself ends up being stultifying and at times demeaning."

~ Ed Brown, Tomato Blessings and Radish Teachings

When Did We Stop Knowing How to Eat?

It’s that time of year again when the cultural conversation turns towards those infamous New Year’s resolutions. For many of us, that means some kind of pronouncement regarding the shape of our bodies or our health in general. And everyone seems to be looking for an answer. One of the current favorites is You: On a Diet by Drs. Michael R. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz, the hottest selling title at amazon.com. I have nothing against this book and, in fact, think it might be one of the better ones on the market. But I want to challenge the notion that a book, any book, is going to provide a magical solution to the poor nutrition, obesity and ill health plaguing our society.

These days we know a tremendous amount about the science of nutrition and the functioning of our bodies. Scientists can tell us the exact nutritional make-up of a blueberry, a walnut or an avocado. We’re aware that food contains a lot more than just protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. And there are numerous studies about the impact of eating this food or that food on cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Unfortunately, all of that knowledge has not led to better diets or better health. Why not? Experts like Professor Marion Nestle conjecture that as our understanding of the intricacies of food and nutrition has increased we have lost sight of the big picture. Our eating habits swing from fad to fad propelled by advertising and news stories that take nutrition “breakthroughs” out of context and present them as miracle cures. We put all of our eggs in the basket of polyphenols (red wine, grape juice, blueberries), omega-3 fatty acids, fiber or calcium while continuing to eat a high sugar, high calorie, processed food diet overall.

There are two main problems in our approach. The first is that we are looking for someone out there to give us a solution to a problem that is essentially personal and unique for each of us. The second is that we have lost sight of the forest in search of a particular tree. Here, then, are six simple guidelines that, if followed – not even religiously – would lead to far better health for ourselves, our families and the planet in general.

1. Learn to listen to your own body and its wisdom.

Each of us is unique depending on our genetics, our activity level, our age, the amount of stress we are facing, the time of month and on and on. The most important thing we can do is learn to listen to and support our own bodies. Don’t assume that just because you have eaten a certain way in the past, that it is what will serve your body now. Learn to stop and listen, to pay attention to what works and doesn’t work, and your eating habits will change from the inside out, without any rules.

2.  Eat foods in as natural and unprocessed a state as possible – locally grown and in season whenever you can.

In the past fifty years, our diets have undergone a radical shift from being based on fresh, unprocessed foods to consisting primarily of foods stripped of nutrients and “enhanced” with extra fats and sugars. We eat white bread instead of whole wheat, sugar-laden breakfast cereals instead of oatmeal, packaged salad mixes instead of vegetables from our own gardens. Shifting our diets back to whole, unprocessed foods can add a tremendous amount of nutrition while eliminating the fats and sugars that are so dangerous to our health.

3. Focus on vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains with a smaller amount of protein and healthy fats.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s current “food pyramid” recommends 2 ½  – 3 ½ cups of vegetables a day and 2 – 2 ½ cups of fruit, depending on your overall caloric intake, six to eight servings of whole grains (a serving is one slice of bread or ½ cup of cooked rice or other grain), only about six ounces of lean meat, poultry or fish, and just 1 – 2 Tablespoons of butter, mayonnaise or salad dressing. How does your current diet compare?

4. Eat a wide variety of foods.

No one food is the answer to a healthy diet. Most of us, me included, get into ruts. We buy the same vegetables every time we go to the store; our dinner repertoires settle into six or eight standards. One of the most valuable things you can do for your health is broaden the range of foods you are eating. This is one of the many reasons I joined Laguna Farm’s CSA (community supported agriculture)  – I knew it would encourage me to cook and eat vegetables that I didn’t often include in my family’s diet.

5. Make sure that the number of calories you eat stays in balance with your activity level.

Dieting is simple: if you are gaining weight, eat less and exercise more. Sure, there are fine points to that statement, but the bottom line is balance between what you eat and what your body needs. Cutting out high calorie, nutrient light foods and beverages is a great place to start. Any form of exercise that you enjoy and will keep doing is the right one for you.

6. Finally, remember moderation in all things.

Stay away from hard and fast rules. They set you up for failure. If I can’t have an occasional margarita at a party, or enjoy a piece of pumpkin cheesecake with crystallized ginger over the holidays, the quality of my life suffers. Those are my choices. Yours will surely be different. But keep in mind that health is an emotional, spiritual and psychological state not just a physical one. Enjoying your life, laughing with good friends, and celebrating over food and drink all contribute to a long life.

The link between diet and health has become obvious. It’s just that you don’t need to be a nutritionist, read the scientific studies, or attend an expensive seminar to learn how to eat well. I encourage you to play with the guidelines I’ve outlined above. Try them out for a week or two. See where they lead you in your own cooking and eating – and how you feel as a result.

Bon Appetit and Happy New Year!