As I mentioned in the previous post I have recently been adhering to a kinda all organic, non processed food, almost Vegan Diet. While I was in LA it was so strange but almost every person that I had a conversation with, we got on the topic of food and eating and health. I'm a food book addict. I love to read anything and everything about food. Cook Books, Health books, books on vegan and vegetarianism, and I recently read Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan. So now I'm reading in the defense of food as well. I think his books are of the most important books of our time. The state of the world and our relationship with food is so completely out of control at this point, it's hard for me to even fathom what steps are needed to re-educate the world about food.
I was raised mostly Vegan and or Vegetarian as a child and I was lucky to have parents that believed in knowing what and where your food came from. For me a treat for being well behaved was a super sweet slice of apple. I thought Carob was chocolate, and Carrot cake was my fav. My Mom cooked breakfast and dinner every day and packed me my lunch. I noticed at school that my food was different. I had raw almonds and raisins rather than chips and cookies. My sandwich with thick, dark bread slathered with Avocado and sprouts was absolutely un-tradable. At times I was embarrassed by the food I was sent to school with because it made me feel different. But honestly I loved ever morsel of my moms cooking and secretly did not understand the concept of a twinkie. When I was old enough to pick my own foods and hung out with my friends after school, I totally got sucked in to the fast food joints. And I'm not gonna lie, that food tastes really amazing, but it made me soooo sick. And I heard this little voice in the back of my head while I snaked on chicken nuggets or a big mack, telling me that every bite was killing our rainforest. I'm not sure if it was the guilt or the bad food that made me so ill, but the junk food diet only lasted a few years.
Now I'm one of those people that struggles with my food consumption. I love food..all sorts of food. My main joy in life is to eat out. I love rich french food and cheese is my total downfall. And all these things are fine in moderation, but if I had it my way I would eat at Absinthe every night of the week if I could. So from time to time I just have cleanse myself and just eat simple fresh foods.
I think a lot about beauty; Hair Make-Up, mani-pedis, fashion, fake eyelashes, all these things give me so much joy and I could never live without them. But lately I have been thinking just as much about what goes inside me as I do what goes on me. And when I eat healthy and work out 4 to 5 times a week, I feel so beautiful and happy, in a way that not even a new pair of stilettos can make me feel. And that's saying a lot!!!
Anyway, last night I felt kinda itchy to get out, but I made myself a yummy dinner and felt kinda tired, when I realized Food Revolution with Jamie Oliver was on TV and any and all desire went away. Not only have I had a crush on Jamie since the naked chef days, but he is one of the most amazing real, honest personas on TV. So I was sucked in immediately. I'm not gonna go on and on about what happened on the show, but for me it was riveting to see how reluctant and emotional we have become about our food and health. But you all HAVE to watch this show. We live in such a bubble here in SF with so many easy ways to eat healthy and we are aware of our food, even if we do like some taco bell on a road trip. But it seems to me most of america has slipped so far away from the understanding of real food that its almost as if we are viewed as radical communists for desiring the world become food aware and healthy.
So last night after watching two back to back episodes I was up till like 3 am tossing and turning thinking about food. It's so crazy I know, but it's just so important, and I'm so happy that it seems the media is finally catching on and putting shows like this on prime time cable TV. Oh yeah and I officially love Jamie Oliver. If he wasn't already married I would go to London and ask him to cook me dinner. So all you glamour girls. Go fourth and put something lovely in your body, and then put on a cute dress and flirt with some boys!
Oh and Thanks Ashly for letting me cook you a yummy healthy breakfast this AM!!!
xo