Our Food

 

We all need to eat. Some live to eat. Others eat to live. Some barely eat at all. The terms for describing how we eat are endless. Ghandi said “Live simply so others may simply live”.

Chances are if you are reading this, you’ve got it pretty good. Do you know where your next meal is coming from? Likely you do. There are many of us who aren’t as fortunate. We in rich countries live in a time where there is limitless access to every kind of food on this planet. Statistics show that we waste 14% of everything we bring home to our kitchens. Many experts say we could feed the world simply by reducing our meat consumption by just 10%.

There are many ways you can ‘live on less’ (and we are not suggesting you become a monk), and fasting is just one of them. By going without and seeing how that translates into something for another in need, you could just start a forward motion that could not only change your life, but potentially someone else’s too. By going without you can not only do yourself a favor, but by giving what you gave up to someone less fortunate, you win twice. I think that’s pretty great, and that is why I started this project.

After years of describing how I ate by using labels, and restricting myself to certain foods and constantly feeling like I wasn’t living up to what I said I was, I gave up on labels when it comes to how I eat, and to how me and my family eat together at home. The truth is that it is proven that certain foods are proven healthy and others are not. We like what we like, and it also turns out that eating well feels good.

Since I was a very young girl, I have never eaten meat. It’s just my preference. In my quest for health and happiness I have tried many diets, and after years of veganism & a few stints of raw foodism, I settled on simply eating well, when I am actually hungry. Sounds simple, but often the simplest things are the hardest to master. The quest (for me) is to learn, and practice, moderation in all things.

Through fasting, my wish is to model and embrace both self acceptance and discipline, as simply becoming more aware of our actions is a very powerful thing.

My husband (who bless his heart still eats some meat) taught this hard-core veggie girl a pretty good lesson about how one diet isn’t right for all, and there is only one true road to happiness, health, and strong communities (IMHO):

More compassion. More acceptance. More middle ground. These are my guiding principles.

It’s been a life long focus for me, and is a huge driving force behind the vision for Not So Fast. At Not So Fast, we want to talk about how we eat, and we want to share the wealth. And we want to give back, because really, we all can. Food is just so important. And so are people, all people.

The following folks work and influence played a big part in shaping my attitude towards food by providing information and tools that I have used throughout my long & varied food journey.

Check these guys out if you like, some are older, some are newer, all are valuable.

• Mirreille Guiliano – French Women Don’t Get Fat. This book is simply put one of the most valuable books I have ever read. The French know how to live, and now we can too.
• Ann Wigmore – Pioneer of the Living Foods lifestyle and inventor of wheat grass.
• John Robbins - Author of Diet for a New America. This book changed my life forever. It’s an eye opener for anyone and still relevant to this day.
• Victor Kulvinskas – Author of the Survival into the 21st Century – the most comprehensive and ‘out there’ health book you will ever read. Worth checking out. This was a bible in our household growing up and this guy pretty much covers it all.
• Paul Bragg – Mr. Apple Cider Vinegar himself, this guy was the first advocate of fasting I crossed paths with as a teen.
• Natalia Rose – Detox the World. Natalia is a believer in simple, uncomplicated raw food living.
• Mollie Katzen - Author of the Moosewood Cookbook. Enough said.
• Michael Pollan – Author of the Ommivore’s Dilemma and In Defense Of Food.
• Frances Moore Lappe – Author of Diet for a Small Planet.
• Tsiporah and Paul Grignon - Pioneers of Simple Living. My Parents.