To continue the story . . . I DID gain some weight, start ovulating, and get knocked up. After swearing off red meat for years, I CRAVED meat and cheese while I was pregnant. (My husband nearly cried with joy when I demanded to be taken out to dinner for ribs in my first trimester.)
I was blessed with a very healthy, happy pregnancy. I was able to exercise, I ate well, and I enjoyed watching my tummy get bigger every day. (And don’t get me started on my pregnancy boobs – I still miss ‘em.) Not long after the boy was born, I was back to running and working out – but fortunately, with a “normal” relationship with food.
I still strove to eat “healthfully.” I bought organic food and low-calorie yogurts and other “light” foods (and way too much Splenda - in drinks, desserts, hot cereals, etc.). I also bought a lot of convenience foods like Trader Joe’s frozen foods, Lean Cuisines, and canned soups. Though I liked to cook, I would grab something out of the freezer when I didn’t feel like it or didn’t have time.
Then I heard an interview with Michael Pollan on NPR. I was intrigued and read his book “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto.” Here’s a great summary of that book, from his website:
. . . most of what we’re consuming today is not food, and how we’re consuming it — in the car, in front of the TV, and increasingly alone — is not really eating. Instead of food, we’re consuming “edible foodlike substances” — no longer the products of nature but of food science. The result is what Michael Pollan calls the American paradox: The more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we seem to become.
I love that last sentence – it really strikes a chord. And I love his biggest piece of advice: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” Shortly after “Eater’s Manifesto,” I read “Food Rules” and saw the movie “Food, Inc.” I became convinced about the importance of eating “real” food – that is, food that doesn’t come in packaging with health claims. Food with ingredients I can recognize and pronounce. When feasible, food that is local and in season, or at least, not flown in from halfway around the world.
To sum up – I now try to:
• Cook! Just cook. Doesn’t have to be fancy
• Cook with butter and olive oil, real eggs (no “Egg Beaters”) and bacon (LOVE bacon!!)
• Keep “real” food – rice, couscous, pasta, veggies (fresh, frozen and some canned), cheese – on hand for quick, easy meals
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables (organic and/or local whenever possible)
• Eat beef that it is locally raised or at least, grass-fed (and I often opt for local bison, instead)
• Eat what I am really craving instead of a substitute (no “diet” desserts or cookies)
• Make Subway my fast food fallback but yes – I’ll occasionally take the boy to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal (full disclosure – I love their fries).
• Buy fat-free or lowfat organic milk and yogurt – and make a point to avoid yogurts (or anything else) with artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup
• When I do buy packaged foods, focus on the ingredients and the quality instead of the calorie or fat count
• Avoid most “convenience” foods – again, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit my husband and I LOVE Amy’s Organic frozen pizza and the boy LOVES Annie’s Organic mac & cheese (my rationale: it’s organic, right?).
• Find the time to bake instead of buying packaged cookies or desserts
If you’re interested in learning more, check out Michael Pollan’s books, anything by Mark Bittman, and “The Cleaner Plate Club: Raising Healthy Eaters One Meal at a Time” by Beth Bader and Ali Benjamin.
