Today's Challenge: Eat Real Food

From Michael Pollan's Food Rules

I am working on a post right now that is going to completely change the way you view your food. The information I am going to share has the potential to change some of your lives for the better - for good! I have no doubt that once I show you exactly what could be keeping you from losing weight and reaching optimum health, you are going to feel strongly compelled to make some major changes to your lifestyle.

So, in anticipation of the big news, this weekend's challenge is simple: 

Eat Real Food.

When I first started out on my organic journey I read a lot of really in-depth, data-packed, study-heavy books - luckily, the knowledge and wisdom I drew from them kept me interested, usually shocked, and ultimately has benefited me beyond my wildest expectations. What I realized though is that the majority of us are eating everything but real food. Even our carrots are given a chlorine bath. When you go to any typical American grocery store you are inundated with choices all claiming to be the newest breakthrough in health and/or weight loss - and they are usually some of the worst things you could feed yourself. But, who is right and who is wrong and how do you know what to eat? You want to make a change today - you want to take my challenge and eat real food all weekend! But, it's Friday and you're burnt out and you don't have time to go buy, read and digest all of the wonderful resources I reference above. 

Well, you're in luck, because a little later on in my journey, I came across an incredible resource that takes everything I've read and brings it down to earth -  Michael Pollan's Food Rules. This pocket-size reference guide is the perfect tool to help you kick off your lifestyle change and set you up with some easily manageable guidelines. (I wish I had found this earlier!) It is simply 64 basic rules of thumb for what to eat and how to eat it! Pulling from old wives' tales, scientific findings, fad diets, family traditions, human ancestry, biology - Pollan takes all of the conflicting and confusing messages and lays out the fundamental principles for you, like number 19, pictured above: 

"If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don't."

That is a lot easier measuring tool than say, "don't eat anything with more than 15g digestible carbs and less than 4g protein before 2 o'clock or after 7 o'clock unless....". I mean - Sheesh! Keep it simple, people! Also, for anyone who is scarred from blindly following fad diet do's and don't, each point is accompanied by a clear and concise explanation! This is really a gem, guys! I still find myself going back and referencing points that really hit home for me; and I'm constantly lending it to friends and family to help them kickstart their journeys as well.

So, if you're up to the challenge to Eat Real Food this weekend - use Michael's advice in the process - If what you're buying came from a plant (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds...) go ahead and enjoy it! Enjoy your farm-raised organic meats and dairy of course, as well! But if it was made in a plant, you probably want to leave it at the store for other shoppers who aren't as committed as your are to getting healthy, losing weight, and living an organic lifestyle! You eat Real Food now - not processed empty junk - because you've listened to your cellular team and want to give them everything they need to defend against disease and blast fat off your body!


Here is an example of how to put this into practice:
Ignore this granola bar commercial claiming to be a great and delicious way to get your daily fiber. These bars were ground up in giant machines in a factory making a thousand other products, packaged in plastic wrap and then sat on trucks or planes and then on shelves waiting for the next person to fall for their tricks. Reach instead for freshly picked fruits and vegetables that are PACKED with fiber like avocados, sweet potatoes, artichokes, spinach, apples, bananas. 

I know you can do it! If you have any questions along the way this weekend, I am always here to answer them! You can leave them in the comments section below or hit up the Facebook page. 

Don't forget:  

Your Local Farmers Markets are the best places to find local organic foods (including breads, produce, meats, dairy), so get out there and support your farmers this weekend! If you're heading to the store, take your MSG Reference Guide with you as you navigate the aisles so those dangerous excitotoxins don't sneak into your food & my Swap it Out list is full of suggestions on how to improve the foods you eat on a day to day basis! 

Enjoy your naturally colorful and flavorful foods this weekend! You'll be glad you got a head start once you get a look at my new post coming Monday!

Until then, Keep it Real. Keep it Colorful. And Support Your Farmers!

LVO

P.S. Don't forget to pick up Food Rules this weekend - you can find it new & used on Amazon here. Consider this a complimentary challenge! You will not regret it!