Damn Swede

I’ve never been one for new year’s resolutions. It seemed pointless, really, especially since mine tended to be the same every year with no notable progress. But everything changed last year, when I proved to myself I can accomplish more than I ever dreamed I could by approching things differently. As a result, 2011 will go down in my personal history as “The Year I Changed My Life,” putting 2012 in an unfortunate position to potentially be unable to compare. Rest assured, 2012, you have a chance.

You see, 2012 will be the year I eliminate processed foods from my diet. Yup, I know it’s hard. Yup, I am the girl that loves processed foods more than anything. Always have, since I was a girl.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always want to eat healthier. I have. But I also have every excuse in the book. I’m busy … with work, with family or *new* with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s too expensive. It’s hard. And then I read a book that erased my excuses. That book is “Kitchen Counter Cooking School,” which is a half-biography, half-textbook story told by a chef who wanted to teach people how to cook for themselves again. Systematically she shot down all the excuses I had and gave me reason to cook for myself again.

Perhaps the biggest excuse was I don’t know how. Kathleen Flinn (the author of the book) simplified that for me as well. Eat real food. It’s just as simple as that.

And that started me down this path of trying to eliminate processed foods. Since all this was new to me, I realized I needed to educate myself. I starting taking a natural food cooking class, which was the best $100 I’ve ever spent. In it, I learned how to make things I’ve never heard of before and about what the body really needs. Real foods that are good for me and taste delicious.

I also started reading several books on the topic. I read, “Food Rules,” by Michael Pollen over the weekend and loved it. He took what Kathleen Flinn talked about in her book and simplified some more. With all the confusing fad diets and approaches to eating, I really need someone to break it down for me and keep it simple. For example, one of his rules is, “Don’t eat anything that is marketed.” Reason being, it’s a sure sign it’s overprocessed. All those healthy greens don’t have a marketing budget. Huh, interesting. 

So here I go. I bought a smoothie blender. I want to get a juicer. I am going to have to plan my grocery trips in advance and finally figure out the Chicago farmer’s markets. I am only going to eat free range meats and probably less of it.

Truthfully, I am scared. Ignorance is bliss, so once I finish this education process there is no turning back and this is not the easy path. It’s going to be hard.

At the same time, I am excited. I feel this is a necessary change, one that will have a positive impact on my health and one that will make me a more responsible steward of things God’s given us.