On Food and Health

I have a lot of ideas about food.  More of an obsession, really.  We're constantly told by doctors, food producers, nutritionists, and our own government what we should and should not eat. What is and is not safe to eat.  The biggest problem is that they don't all agree.  How do we know, then, what is really good for us? 
Eat lots of fish, they say.  Except not too much, because mercury levels are high in ocean fish, and freshwater fish can contain chemicals like pesticides and arsenic, and farmed fish is now genetically engineered.

Eat plenty of whole grains, they say.  Except not grains that contain gluten.  Or maybe no grains at all.

Eat fats.   Don't eat fats.

Eat meat.  Don't eat meat.

Well, you get the point. I don't even want to get into organic vs. non-organic right now.

Here's what we do know:  Processed foods aren't as good for you as non-processed foods.  And our bodies, whether we're vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free or any other kind of -free, need fats, proteins, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.  The best way to acquire those things still eludes us.

I've chosen, for my own life and family diet, to stick with whole, REAL foods as much as possible. Things that my ancestors would still recognize as food.  We avoid processed foods (although I have a Cheetos addiction I'd rather not discuss at this point), we limit gluten (my husband is Gluten Free, the rest of us most of the time), and try to replace grains in general with vegetables.  You can't have too many vegetables, right?  My point is that I do what is best for my family, within the confines of our budget, and with the knowledge of food and nutrition that I have acquired through my years of obsessive reading and panicking research.

So, I'm in a quandary on this blog.  Because the point is Living With Less.  But living with less money, where food is concerned, often means living with a mediocre diet.  It is simply cheaper to feed your family on tons of noodles, not a lot of meat, and limited vegetables.  But living with less chemicals or other things-to-avoid often means spending ridiculous amounts of money on organic, grass-fed, gluten-free, non-processed foods, and spending more money on your grocery bill.  Living with less time means being unable to prepare food ahead or spend hours on dinner each night, and that usually results in convenience foods that are more expensive and/or just processed crap full of preservatives and chemicals that no human should eat.  But living with less space in your home means being unable to buy bulk food items for lack of storage, and that means spending more money.

And any recommendations I make here should not be taken as gospel.  Because maybe fats are good, and maybe they're not.  The same for grains or organics or GMO's.  Just know that whatever I recommend is based on my own research.  If you're confused or not comfortable, please feel free to research on your own.  If you find my information to be stupid, uninformed, or otherwise not fitting into your personal belief system or lifestyle, feel free to disregard it.

All I can tell you is what I do personally, or things that may benefit others.  My sole piece of advice here is: Do what you can, how you can, when you can.  This is how I approach all aspects of my life; I am always trying to better myself, my life, my family's health, our wellbeing - as best I can, when I can, how I can.  Oh, how I would love to support small chemical-free companies by buying all-natural cleansers and detergents, but I can't afford them.  So I make my own.  I'd love to bake homemade breads, but I just don't have the time or space for all the preparation, and frankly it costs more than the $1 loaf at the discount grocery, so I buy it.  I buy organic vegetables when we can afford them and when there is an organic alternative available, and buy frozen (the next best choice, chemically speaking) when I can't find or afford those organic options.

So, that's my disclaimer.  You won't see "low-fat" here, because I don't believe low-fat is healthy.  Nor will you see soy products, or a lot of recipes with grains - just based on my own research and those choices I have made for my own life.  Some things will cost more and not apply to the "less money" category, just as some things will save you tons of money, but not apply to the "less space" or "less chemicals" category.  I post what I know, and can't possibly post about what I don't.  I'm not a doctor, nutritionist, food producer, or employee of the government.

In other words, use all you find here at your own discretion.  Do what you can, how you can, when you can, and as it applies to your own family/life.

Cheers!