I'm not full. There's still room for improvement.

This past weekend I attended an event over World Hunger and The Ethics of Eating. We covered how our food system has serious ecological, economical, and ethical implications and is in no way sustainable. We have a very complex food system, and to be quite honest, it can be quite daunting.

LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE

Our group met at the World Hunger Relief center just outside of Waco. The most meaningful activity for me was when we were divided into groups of 8 and were instructed to cook our own dinner. But we did much more than that. We were given certain stipulations that people in many developing countries abide by every day. We had to walk up the road to a well to get our water, we had to gather our firewood and build a fire to cook on, we had to harvest our produce from the garden, and if we wanted chicken in our meal… we were responsible for that too.

Our group subdivided to accomplish each task. I am a vegetarian(ish). I don’t eat beef, pork, or poultry. I’ll eat fish maybe once a week and I do eat dairy. I didn’t have to be apart of the group that would slaughter a chicken... but I felt that I had to be. I didn’t think I would want to, but if I ever was going to eat an animal again, I had to take responsibility for its death. I had to close the gap between the prepackaged, boneless cuts of chicken breast that I could so easily get at Kroger and the feathered, squacking, living bird.

To be honest, I did not kill the bird. Chris, another guy in my group, shared the exact feelings about the situation as me and he did the final act. But I was the one who held the bird’s body on the table with one hand and used my other hand to pin the chicken’s head down, leaving his neck elongated and exposed for the cut. I was the one who felt the bird tense, stir with fear, and toss in pain through out his death. I was the one that had to hold he decapitated bird’s body feet up over a trash can while blood spewed from his neck and nerves left the bird forcefully shaking about. I was one to move the decapitated head with its eyes still open and mouth gaping to the discarded pile. I was the one that broke the bones in the bird’s legs with my hand, took a knife and cut off the extremities. I was the one that then used the knife to separate the skin and feathers and peeled it off the carcass to reveal only muscle. I was the one that cut open the bird and pulled out the still warm intestines, stomach, lungs, liver, and other internal organs.

There is suffering in the way we fuel our bodies. I have experienced it first hand. But there is also beauty. Our group made roasted squash, steamed greens, beans, and chicken. It was the only meal that I have ever eaten where I was able to witness 100% the assemblage of ingredients. I saw everything go from it’s living environment where it got its fuel, to me and becoming my fuel. With that meal, I felt a stronger appreciation for incredible process of gathering energy. To be honest, I grew spiritually that day.

Like I mentioned before, our food system is complex. The effects of our industrialized food system on climate change is great, it is toxic to our environment and our bodies, it exploits workers in nothing short of inhumane ways, and has warped and devalued the importance of food.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

A couple weeks ago I completed my 31 days of basically only eating whole clean food. It was a very rewarding accomplishment that has left me feeling healthier than I ever have before. If you ate the way I did, then the benefits of physical health would be a given… but I am always looking for improvement and I want more.

For the next 90, yes 90 days, I will follow the same guidelines that I set out for myself in my “Back to the Basic of Health” challenge. The purpose? To change my relationship with food internally. Food is far too precious take advantage of it. When I go through the drive through it is not only that I support a system that contributes to over 1/5 of our fossil fuel expense, it is not only that I am filling my body not just with a disgusting amount of calories and fat, but with toxins and carcenogines as well, it is not only that I am supporting big businesses as they capitalize on their undefended workers, and is not just that by going through the drive through that I vote in approval of and for the continuation of the system.

For me, when I go through the drive through, I demean the relationship I have human beings, with the earth, and with myself by belittling my very source of life. I'm hungry for something sweeter than that.

I'm sqashed, but I'm in love

It's that time of year again. The time when you start seeing oranges, reds, and browns all around and every table will have a centerpiece filled with various squash(es? i? whatev).

I may be a rarity, but I am totally the girl that gets jazzed about produce. So this fall, in accordance with my 31 days absolute clean eating, I want to try every type of squash I lay my veggie obsessed eyes on. All of em. I ain't no prejudice.

I vvant le:

Butternut squash

Spaghetti squash

Zuchini

Pumpkin

Acorn squash

Sweet dumpling squash

Gold acorn squash

The little UFO looking sqash

The squash that looks a lil risque

...And last but certainly not least, THE HUBBARD SQUASH!!!

Available in green, gray, and blue. Yes blue. All Hubbards know how to rock it.

304895734987543. What's my age again?

IT’S MY PARTY, AND I’LL DRINK PUMPKIN BEER IF I WANT TO

One full week of clean eating completed. How did it go? Well, some might say it didn’t go perfectly. Some might even say I failed. But this week went just how I wanted it to go.

Everyday I ate whole grains. I ate a plant based diet and occasionally had some fish or organic dairy products. I never stopped by a fast food hut, I never had to remove my food from plastic encasing, and I never refueled for the day by downing a diet coke. But this past week was my birthday and I celebrated the same way people all over this planet celebrate: with food and drink.

Friday my mom made a crab salad which had mayonnaise in it. I have no problems with eating mayonnaise, but the type of mayo that was in the salad (the type that has artificial flavor, artificial color, and high fructose cornsyrup) violates one of my rules. Strike one. That evening some friends and I went out to celebrate my birthday (Eh-hem, birthday-celebration-day. Shout out Bailey, Levi, Daniel, and Natalie.) by going to a sushi bar. Sushi rolled in white rice. Strike two. Then we went back to Bailey and Levi’s for a little drinky-poo, a game of quarters, and pin the tail on the donkey. Bailey got me some store bought sangria and I had some of Daniel’s pumpkin beer (tis the season) both of which I’m sure have at least one unpronounceable, unknown ingredient in them. Strike three… I’m going to demand a mulligans. After pin the tail on the donkey, which was played post sangria, we ate some ice cream. Yet again, I didn’t bother to read the ingredients, but I’m sure they weren’t “Back to the Basics of Health” friendly.

HERE’S WHAT I THINK OF YOU PERFECTION

So did the week go perfectly? Absolutely not. The amount of toxins I consumed might seem miniscule, but I could have spent the day camped out at McDonald’s and I would be just as proud of myself as I am right now. Even though I would probably have a bit of McDiarrea.

This month is not about perfectly following the rules. I am a flawed human being, but I do not accept my flaws. I celebrate them. You know what I think about perfection? I think it is unachievable. I think it’s boring. I think it is unrelatable. And worst of all, I think there are no lessons to be learned in perfection. This month is about reflection, introspection, and individual growth. I am in a constant state of personal evolution, and I will be done working on me the day I die.

TO SO CALLED FAILURES EVERYWHERE

So since the week didn’t go exactly as planned, since I gave into the artificial flavors/colors, high fructose cornsyrup, white rice, and unknown ingredients, does that make me a failure? I guess that depends on how you define failing.

For me, failure is not not achieving my goals. Failure is giving up on them.

If I never quit, then I can never fail. When I fall, I get back up, and continue in my journey with the knowledge to avoid that specific pothole. However, if you know me, then you know how clumsy and careless I can be. I guess that just makes me a more attuned, more tenacious learner. Well, that’s the way I choose to see it. J

Satisfaction

SATISFACION

A couple days ago I went home to Wylie to do some family birthday celebratin’. We went out to eat at Genhis Grill then after that I caught up with some friends and chilled (I get real crunk right?). I got home at about 11:30 and decided to wind down the day with a couple guilty pleasures: reading nonfiction and playing mafia wars on facebook. I told you guys, this girl gets cr-izz-unk!

I was feeling in the mood for a late night snack so I grabbed a handful of almonds and proceeded to “ice Don Smith”. During my mindless clicking I became aware of something that had usually been an unconscious act. I stopped eating the almonds. I did not desire to eat the 10 nuts I had left. I was satisfied.

Sounds like a minute and trivial realization for a person undergoing such a stringent change in their diet? I don’t think so. I don’t think I’m the only person that has sat down with a bag of chips, shut off their brain while doing some thoughtless task, and then later had to ask themselves, “Who stole half the chips out of this bag because I know I didn’t eat all of them… Right?”

I have found that since eating whole, natural, clean foods I reach a point of satiety much quicker than I did before. I am able to rely on my body to tell me I no longer need to eat.

SOCIAL LEARNING AND EATING

One of my favorite books I read this summer was In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (L-O-V-E, love, love, LOVE him.). The book, along with a list of others, is part of why I began my whole food escapade as it instructs in the tag line to “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Pollan references a memorable study conducted a few years back that examined how Americans come to the conclusion that they are full. He placed participants in a room and fed them soup. Half of the subjects were unknowingly eating from a bowl that was rigged to slowly refill after every bite. Those who ate from the trick bowl ended up eating on average TWO LITERS OF THE SOUP! Following the study participants commented, “The soup was pretty good… And pretty filling.” I'd imagine so.

Similarly, researcher Paul Rosen created a survey to compare French and American eating habits. One of the questions asked, “When do you stop eating?” The French responded, “When I’m full” or "When I'm satisfied." Americans on the other hand responded, “When my plate is empty".

I think it’s undeniable to say that part of the reason the French are a thinner, healthier society is partly because they are able to rely on internal cues as oppose to external cues. Through Rosen’s study he also found that Americans spend much less time at meals while eating a considerable amount more than the French. Thereby allowing the French to get more food experience while eating less.

LET’S TALK SCIENCE

Processed foods are also designed to make us eat more of them. It tinkers with how we function physiologically; it messes with our neurochemistry. Foods rich in cheap, low quality fats and sugars (aka just about anything processed) release endogenous opioids, a naturally produced chemical in your brain that has the effects of an opiate. You are chemically rewarded by these foods, but you are also forming an addiction much like a druggie would.

This is just how sugars and fats can effect your brain and perhaps even aid the the development of an addiction to food. There are a whole host of other food additives that are designed to enhance flavors, but really do nothing but train us to eat more and more without realizing... MSG anyone? Oh, and here’s my favorite “natural flavor”. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Basically anything they want it do, but usually it’s just altered chemicals.

Not to mention that low quality processed foods are calorically dense, but when it comes to nutrition and macro nutrients, are lacking. Your body never receives the nutrition it needs, so you keep seeking more and more foods to fill that biological demand.

SO NOW WHAT?

So we are culturally trained to overeat and physiologically/biochemically/neurologically tricked to eat beyond our natural point of satiety. As Americans we consume more of the bad stuff that tricks our bodies and brains into eating more and we are unable to genuinely listen to our body's nutritional needs. Maybe that's partly why we tend to rely on those external cues. Maybe it’s because we live in a society that celebrates bigger-fatter-faster-cheaper as a good lifestyle, and we continually push the boundaries (and up the belt sizes) to an even more warped view of what a relationship with food should look like. Like everything there’s no definitive answer, only a variety and a combination of theories.

But that leaves us with a variety of ways to get back to the basics of health huh? You could bring more intention and awareness to the act of eating at every meal. Stop half way and listen to your body. Maybe start by just giving up that mid afternoon coke or, arguably worse, diet coke. Hey man, it's whatever works for you.

I have an idea: Cut the crap for 31 days! Hmmm… I think I might give that a try.

The Beginning

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A GLASS OF WATER

As many of you know, my friend Bailey and Daniel began a challenge a couple weeks back. It was a practice of self-discipline, a way to better one’s life through restraint. What was this strenuous task? For 31 days, the only liquid they could consume was water. No coffee, alcohol, coke (for those of you outside of Texas, “pop” or “soda), juice, milk, zip, zilch, nada. Just that stuff that makes up about 60% of our bodies and covers about 70% of our planet. I guess that water is a semi important element.

The two are now roughly halfway through their H₂O endeavors and to say that they are reaping the benefits, might be considered an understatement. In Bailey’s blog she claims that she has more energy, is more productive, sleeps better, craves sugar less, has noticed an elevation in her mood, is able to make better/clearer decisions, and is more focused and self aware. Not to mention that home girl has lost 4.4 pounds in 16 days!

Oh water, earth's magical concoction.

I have been tempted throughout Bailey and Daniel’s journey to jump on the bandwagon, but I’m going to be honest, it is my addiction to coffee that holds me back. I am self taught in the realm of nutrition, and I will make the argument that I know more than your average bear about what is healthy and why. I do my best to adhere to the guidelines of what modern science and thousands of years of human practice declares as healthy. But a study could come out claiming that coffee will make you grow a third nipple, and I simply will not give up on my morning cup of joe. Gross? Don’t care.

ENTER JENNY

Yesterday, Bailey declared that operation 31 Days Without has become too easy, so she has added to the challenge (this is where I come in). For the next 31 days, on top of her water fast, Bailey and I will be eating only real foods. If you are thinking, “Real food? What other kind of food is there?”, then I’m sorry to say that you might be a victim of our society’s obscured view on how to fuel our bodies with pseudo-foods. The list of Bailey’s stipulations are on her blog at http://thirtyonedayswithout.blogspot.com/. However, I will be making a few adjustments to my list:

· All vegetables and fruits are fair game (including root veggies).

· I will be eating breads, pastas, and all forms of complex carbs, but if the ingredients read “enriched” anything, then sorry Charlie, my stomach ain’t the home for you.

· Some prepackaged foods are ok (i.e. select cereals, yogurt, etc.), but again I turn to the ingredients. If I can’t pronounce a word or don’t know what it is, then it is off limits. Damn, I’m not sure how I will live without my daily dose of “azodicarbonamide”.

· I will allow myself sugar. I do not eat much of it, but I can’t deny that everyone needs an occasional sugar fix. Put me in a place of deprivation and just wait to see how quickly the pendulum swings the other way. As long as the sugar is unbleached, is in the form of honey or guava, is not an “artificial sweetener", and is used sparingly, I have zero qualms.

Other than that, Bailey and I are on the same page. We’re basically following the gist of the “eating clean” lifestyle.

WHY CALL IT “BACK TO THE BASICS OF HEALTH”?

As members of the animal kingdom, feeding ourselves is one of our basic instinctive drives. It is apart of the Four F’s joined by fighting, fleeing, and reproducing. I’ll let you take a second to think of how the fourth “F” comes into play…. Ok then. Eating is a basic daily activity that we must engage in to survive (uh, duh). Food is our energy input and the quality of that food has a direct correlation with our energy output. Optimal quality energy in, optimal quality energy out, optimal quality life. We are, in so many ways, what we eat.

Food is also the best basic form of preventative medicine we have. If you really want that processed, chemically altered, carcinogenic meal, then fine. Have a cup of cancer on the side. But I choose the path less health risk, and more, albeit at times, challenging but in everyway, rewarding. Nothing worth having, comes easy. Choice is another basic right we have as individuals and I choose the best life for me.

So here I am. Here’s to 31 days of breaking harmful, bad habits. Here’s to 31 days of quality.