Posts from — August 2009

I am often in search for hearing conversation that debates the issue of the benefits of eating raw vs. eating cooked.  Richard Wrangham, a primatologist from Harvard has found several links to how Humans evolved from early primitive species.  Listen to this interview and hear him compare raw food and cooked food.  He looks at digestibility, absorption, energy and convenience of each way of eating.  Learn more about his argument by reading his book:  Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human.

He concludes from his findings that diet (raw vs. cooked) “is very personal”… I LOVE THAT… reinforces my belief in bio-individulaity:  one person’s food is anothers perosn’s poison.

Here is a story that will put foot in mouth next time you hear a man say, “men need to eat meat!”  I am a true believer in bio-individuality, not one way of eating is right for everyone, but here is a story that may inspire some of the biggest meat eaters to learn more about other foods.  This approach to eating helped these firefighters lower their cholesterol, gain energy, improve their heart health and lose weight!

Excerpt from the article:

‘He became what he calls a flexitarian, someone who occasionally eats meat or fish. When that did not lower his cholesterol enough, he switched to the vegan diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Now, he said, his cholesterol is under 200, and he calls the way he eats “a way of life.” ‘

One of my favorite cafes back home in Minneapolis, Birchwood Cafe, located in the Seward neighborhood, has been in tune with sustainable, fresh eating for quite some time now.   This summer they have been taking part in educating the public by showing screenings of some of the hottest documentaries in Food!  Check out this interview by Minnesota Public Radio and pick one of the following movies to get inspired and learn more about real, good eating!

1. Nourish

2. What’s on Your Plate

3. Fresh

4. Food Matters

5. Food Inc

The great thing about transformational change is that no matter what the life hurdle maybe be:  drug recovery, shopaholic, over-eating, orthorexia, etc getting back to the earth can be one of the most effective strategies.  Read this article about a non-profit in NY giving recovered addicts an opportunity to develop a working skill through farming.

An NPR interview following up Michael Pollen’s article: Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch, where he identifies our lack of cooking with the increase of cooking shows on TV.  Listen in.  He will further the conversation with discussing such topics as:

1. How America was turned on to fast food like cake mix
2. How the evolution of cooking formed our human identity
3. How obesity rates relate to the amount of time people take to cook
4. How cooking shows are structured like a professional football game
5. How cooking may look like CRAZY behavior to our next generation

Every thought about how much time America spends watching the Food Network vs. cooking in their own kitchen?  Michael Pollan author of two best sellers: In Defense of Food and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, has a ‘big piture’ ability to highlight how we have allowed media to alter the way we eat.  Which in turn changes the way we take care of our health.  In this article he digests America’s fascination with watching cooking shows (i.e. Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse) and how T.V. has changed the way we approach preparing food in our home.  (Or even approach it at all.) He wraps up the article saying:  “Here’s my diet plan: ‘Cook it Yourself!’ That’s it.  Eat anything you want – just as long as you are willing to cook it yourself.”

How much time do you spend preparing your own food?