Real Food Rehab: Because Beautiful Food Is Your Birthright

Forget everything you've been told about food. There's a virtual minefield of information out there about how and what to eat and I find most of it confusing, conflicting and oppressive. White flour is bad for you, eat small meals throughout the day, corn syrup causes diabetes, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables, how many calories are ideal for my body weight- It's exhausting, right? So, by any means necessary, let it all go. As of right now, you're starting over with a clean slate.

Like most people, I want to look great, feel great, and have abundant energy to accomplish my life's work. And as someone who's experienced a lot of angst around eating, I completely understand how tempting it is to search outside oneself for answers in the latest health study, diet fad or celebrity success story. What has helped me is to quiet down all the external chatter - all the "shoulds" we live with everyday - and listen to what it is I really desire. I've discovered that what I yearn for is satisfaction - in every sense of the word. I know I'm not alone in this.

What truly satisfies me and what makes the most sense to me is eating real food - foods that are unprocessed and as close to their natural state as possible. In the last 20 years, technology, marketing and politics have taken over food production and completely gotten in the way of us eating in our own best interests. Eating real food is no longer the norm. We've lost our taste for it; our senses have been dulled to accept processed, cloying and chemical flavors.

But before I lose you to what might sound like ideological grandstanding, let me assure you that the road back to real food isn't as difficult or as joyless as it sounds. In fact, it's brought me daily doses of joy and beauty, a healthy, energetic body, new friends and acquaintances, a creative outlet, a connection to nature and so much more.

I believe in every fiber of my being that real food is the answer to what many of us are looking for without even realizing it. It's our direct connection to health, to community, to culture, to nature, to creativity, to pleasure, and to nurturing ourselves. Not to mention that to eat real food is to work with your body's innate wisdom, not against it, which naturally brings with it the benefits of health and vibrancy.

Eating well is a life skill. It's about learning to trust ourselves, getting back in touch with our instincts and returning to those things that nourish us and give us pleasure. Remember pleasure? I do. And we all need a whole lot more of it, especially right now.

So, through an ongoing education of trial and error, I've developed Real Food Rehab, a practical philosophy of eating well that I would be honored and delighted to share with you. I'm a native Chicagoan with a macro-force of resources to help make this process as simple, pleasurable and delicious as possible. I realize many of you are starting at different levels of knowledge, skill and experience. I also understand that not everyone wants to cook - some people simply want to be able to throw together a healthy meal for themselves.

To those of you who say you have no time to shop, to cook, to satisfy yourselves and your family with real food, I say, that is a choice you make. It can be a brutal and busy world out there, I get it, but time isn't something we're given, it's something we take. This is not an all or nothing proposition either. This is a process you take step by step at your own discretion and the good news is Chicago is chock full of delicious resources for every taste and budget. And wait until you taste some of the beautiful food produced and grown right here and in the surrounding area. I promise it will make the quality of your lives that much better.

Here's yet another important point I want to raise: I don't believe that any real foods are inherently bad for you. Not one. Trust that only you know what makes you feel good or bad. So, cut out the fear and eat and embrace what you love. Learn to cook what you're passionate about; follow what fascinates and moves you. Use the best, quality ingredients you can afford. For example, say you love a grilled cheese sandwich every now and then. Elevate it by buying yourself a gorgeous loaf of sourdough at a local bakery, use real butter and maybe try some Comte, Gruyere or Fontina Val d'osta cheese. Invite a friend over, crack a bottle of wine, and make a simple green salad. Bring out the cloth napkins. Why not make it special? We are only here for a short time and beautiful food is your birthright.

Next Week: Resources to Create a Real Food Fridge & Larder

Comments

[northshorebarb]

Wow, Dana, your words are disarmingly clear and your personal evidence/life experience is compelling. I will be following closely from now on. Well done!

[rubyred79]

Hear, hear!

Dana, your words are inspiring and comforting at a time when we need it most. I hope people spread the word through their respective communities that someone is finally standing up for our farmers, our health, and our quality of life. Best of luck with Real Food Rehab.

P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts on eating around a food allergy (dairy is my nemesis).

[fiph]

I follow a vegan diet, but I view foods with this same perspective. Buy good ingredients, and as few pre-made things as possible. I never knew how to cook, really, before going vegan. Once I did I was forced to look at food in a new way, and it only made sense to just buy high quality ingredients- aka tons of produce, nuts, whole grain breads and pasta, etc- and just try to make as many different delicious dishes as I could. Nutritionists agree and say eating the most varied selection of whole foods, especially plant foods, is the best thing you can do for your health.

Now the only time I ever use the microwave is to reheat things I've cooked and brought to work for lunch. I've never felt better. You should never skimp on quality food.

[Michelle Price]

Dana, Thanks for this essential wisdom to eating healty. Bringing oneself back to their body's inate wisdom about what is "good" for them, a very powerful and much needed message. Your advice removes the shame around eating. With a fresh perspective, eating & cooking can be fun, simple and pleasurable again. I am looking forward to reading more!

[mpm68]

I feel like I've been drowning in a sea of too much information and someone has thrown me a life vest. Thanks for your clarity and ease. Very much looking forward to the next post!!!

[Dana Joy Altman - Huffpost Blogger]

Tim, thanks for making us all aware of this. I will definitely reach out to my congressman and also email Obama's website.

[margaretsbedroom]

I could not agree more. Time is not an issue, it's a choice. You didn't think you'd have time for that yoga class, a second child, whatever. You can make time to take the pleasure of food back into your life. Preparing a meal with love and thought decreases stress by giving you time to unwind as well as ensure that you prepare a healthy meal with fresh ingredients. I did a test once comparing the time from Lean Cuisine vs. fresh chicken/ve­ggie/salad from prep to plate. The chicken breast took only :06 minutes longer. And tasted a hell of lot better. I've never used a microwave since. You've really nailed it here Dana Joy. Thank you!

[Gmorf11]

Wow!! Thank you, Dana!! What an amazing approach to eating and living well!! Looking forward to the next post!!

[LMPE]

I'm staying vegetarian for my whole life. That's the one thing that a person can do practically more than any other to counter global warming.

[SFTor]

Aw, come on.

Don't you ever hunger for a nice lamb sausage, or maybe some liver and bacon? Or chicken in black bean sauce?

mmmmmm....­.......

[Tim303]

House Bill HR875 S425 is an outrageous travesty of justice. It will outlaw organic farming as we know it, including growing food for your own use in your own backyard. It's backed by some serious money from Monsanto, who want everyone to use their seedless, genetically engineered products. Please please call your congress people now--this thing is being rammed through.

[SFTor]

You are crying wolf about a bill that is attempting to put some teeth into food inspection in this country.

Your allegations that this will make food you "grow in your own back yard" illegal speaks so eloquently about your harebrained credulity that further comment is unnecessary.

[wildkat]

Thank you for this brilliant article. Can't wait for the next.

[KarenSantaFe]

Right on Dana, and congrats on this great new blog! I too have been experimenting with eating more whole and organic foods, and find it is a short route to DELICIOUS!

There is also this cool movement happening around here in New Mexico, bet something like it is there too. Los Poblanos www.lospoblanos.comm) is an organic grower, and they make alliances with other even smaller organic growers, and you can subscribe to get their box (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) of super-fresh, in-season, organic produce. I've tried all kinds of new things because of that box, and it's cheaper thank going to Whole Foods too. That box is how I found out there is such a thing as a fresh onion, a fresh potato. Who knew? Not me!

Lastly, I'll just mention for your readers that the TV show Cooking With Jamie has taught me a lot about honoring clean, fresh flavors and having fun preparing easy quick dishes. Congrats again on this great blog, I look forward to reading it every week and I'm sending the link to all my friends in the Chicago city area! xoxo Karen

[DaneAZ]

Wow.
It's about time more people start talking about this.
It's so logical!
I have found my way to eating this way for about 3 years now and I feel great and look 10 years younger than I am - well, so people tell me.
Thanks DANA for putting this concept is such clear, easy to understand terms.
~Dane