Keepin' It Real

I've been having an internal argument.  I can argue with myself better than I can argue with anyone else, and trust me, this girl can argue with the best of them.  I have been dealing with this nagging feeling that I need to switch my family to what has become known as "real food".  (This is a very popular trend right now, so you probably know what I'm talking about, but if you don't you should check out 100 Days of Real Food.  It's the closest thing to a "one-stop" shop on the topic that I've found.)  Anyway, I've been on Weight Watchers since early January, and I've lost 12 pounds and then I plateaued.  I'm sure there are things I could do better (like...ahem...not devote all my weekly extra points to the consumption of Dr Peppers), but the more I read the more I become convinced that Weight Watchers is not the best plan for me.  Let me be clear, I am not condemning Weight Watchers.  I just think it's not addressing the issue behind my weight problem.

Weight Watchers is very focused on fat-free, sugar-free foods.  They also advertise and design their program so that you can make room for the "foods you enjoy" and still lose weight.  This works for some people.  It used to work for me.  It doesn't anymore, and there are two reasons why.

1. I manipulate the situation and justify eating junk by using my weekly extra points or cutting corners during the day.  This means that, although I am no longer using several fattening ingredients when I cook dinner, my consumption of sugar has not decreased enough to make a difference in my body chemistry.  And sugar is a bad, bad dude.  
2. I have become a label-reader.  I am seeing the additives and chemicals that the food industry is putting in fat-free and sugar-free foods, and I am convinced that those additives and chemicals are killing us. 

Before you roll your eyes and think "Oh great, ANOTHER person is buying into the hype" let me clarify something.  I am not one of those people who freaks out about trace amounts of rat poop in my canned goods.  I am not convinced that the food industry is slowly poisoning all of with anti-freeze.  I actually think the truth is much scarier.  Our culture has become so focused on "having our cake and eating it too" that we will take shortcuts without making sure those shortcuts are actually taking us to our desired destination. We will gravitate toward labels like "all natural", "multi-grain", and "low-fat" without taking the time to learn about what we are really putting into our bodies.  And the food industry knows it.  The food industry's goal is to make money.  Their goals have nothing to do with keeping you healthy.  And with the lack of consistent regulations on food labels it's very easy for companies to make claims that do not give consumers the whole story.

There is always a new diet plan or nutrition theory out there.  And with each new "discovery" there is a flood of new products on the shelves that have been engineered to fit that trend.  When did we forget that our food was engineered for us by the Master?  I don't care if you believe in God, Buddha, Allah, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster you have to have some theory about how we got here and how we've stayed alive for thousands of years without the American food industry providing us all with "miracle" foods.  I choose to believe that I was created by God Almighty, and I believe He created my body to work in conjunction with the foods He provided.  I heard someone say last week that if "walks, swims, flies, or grows it's food; if it doesn't, it's not".  Makes sense to me.  And this is an approach that has stood the test of time.  Imagine that.

Starting with this week's grocery store trip the Turners will be moving toward a Real Food diet.  We are on a tight budget, so there will be some things we can't do (like buying only locally raised meats or all organic produce).  There are certain ingredients that we'll continue to use until we have exhausted our current supply; when it's time to replace them we'll choose better alternatives.  The 100 Days of Real Food blog has a "budget plan" for $125 per week.  I don't have anywhere near that much.  I'm not sure how that's going to work.  My plan is to blog each week's meal plan and grocery store list/cost.  I will also most likely be making a long trip once a week to get to stores that we don't have in my little city.  The nearest Great Harvest Bread Company is 30 miles away, and until I can perfect the art of making my own bread I'll be making a trip up there once a week.

I am nervous about giving up sugar.  I know that for the first 24-48 hours my body is going to be yelling for a Dr Pepper, and I'm going to have to push through it.  I know that the craving for bad carbs is going to hit hard.  I am not looking forward to the headaches and the struggle for willpower.  I am not looking forward to the raised eyebrows when I try to explain this to people who won't understand.  I am not looking forward to finding hot dog wrappers and empty soda bottles in my husband's truck (we all know he's going to cheat!).

There are a few things I AM looking forward to, though.  Not having to count points and stress out when I can't figure out the best menu option.  Full-fat ooey gooey melty cheese.  Butter (in moderation, of course).  No more caffeine headaches.  Making the best choices I can make for my family.

What are your favorite resources for "Real Food"?  Do you participate in a co-op?  Do you have a favorite health food store?  Anybody have suggestions for simple grab-n-go breakfasts and lunches that will satisfy the hunger of a working man with a seemingly endless appetite?  What about ideas for baby finger foods for a kiddo who hasn't quite mastered the art of picking up squishy fruits and veggies?

Grocery shopping day is Wednesday.  Stay tuned to see how it goes!