My dad loved ice cream trips. He
would also give my sisters and me a candy bar at the end of errands if we were
good. So did my grandpa when we helped get feed from the mill. We sneaked our
parents’ soda from the fridge, whined for McDonalds, always wanted French
fries: normal (for the 90s).
One part that I am grateful for
that was healthy and educated growing up was meat. I’m a fourth generation
butcher (not classically trained like my dad, grandfather, or great grandfather
who butchered in Germany) but I know my way around well enough. Such as how to
cut the meat, when it’s about to go bad, preserve it, sanitize before and
after, the works. I can also cook a mean steak, even on a frying pan.
Although, after an –mandatory-
Environmental Science class at school, I realized just how big food is a part
of us. And how much crap and chemicals we eat in this country. It was very
unnerving. I used to consider myself a vulcher, I could stomach anything. Yet,
the amount of artificial crap and nauseating amounts of sugar started pushing
me away.
So, I decided to eat healthy, in a
natural way. With hardly any education except the internet, I ventured to my
local Trader Joe’s (as I’m poor), and these are the few things I have learned
in the process, about 4-5 months into it.
- Sometimes it can actually be
cheaper. You just have to know how to cook, and how to buy. I know living
within your means (especially as a college student who has been out of the
house for four years). But my runs to Trader Joe’s I can actually get way more
food than if I went to Harris Teeter/Food Loin/ Kroger/Piggly Wiggly or even
Target. Sometimes I go to Target for soup and juice though (love me some Juicy
Juice). Yes, the idea of fresh vegetables is tempting, but I tend to get the
frozen ones as you get more bang for your buck and you can take your time
eating it. The best way I cook now is I get a bunch of chicken breast, put each
one in a marinade zip-lock bag and then put that in the freezer. When I leave
for work, I pull whatever flavor I want out and when I get home its thawed,
seasoned, and just needs to be put in the oven with whatever frozen vegetable
I’m in the mood for. Average cost per meal is around $2.75-$3.00. Not bad for
healthy and all natural eating.
- Food goes bad – QUICKLY. Watch
expiration dates, I’m serious. I used to be a pack rat, getting everything I
need for the month as full time student, full time retail worker (plus military
once a months) killed any time and going to the grocery store was out of the
question. Moving back on campus after a bad apartment roommate issue, I
downsized almost everything, especially my freezer turning from a cupboard to
the size of a shoe box. (being good at Tetris is a necessary life skill). So, I
have to finagle around my work schedule to get food about every week or two
weeks (depending on what I need).
- Only get what you know you’ll
eat. I’m trying to up my diversity, but sometimes that is throwing a lot more
food than I would like to admit. Growing up on a farm, we don’t waste. Food
scraps went to the animals (even corn husks were fed to the horses). Any
organic material they couldn’t eat we put in a manure pile or compost heap, and
used them in the garden or crops. Can’t do that in the city, at least not
college dorms (not nicely, anyway). I almost have to cover my eyes when I put
moldy bread (which my finky self only ate half of before the death date) into
the trash room. Say la ve.
Since going
on this change of diet, I have noticed a significant change in how I feel
overall. My body feels a lot better, and my skin looks clearer. I don’t feel
groggy anymore from eating, and I look a lot better. My belief of health being
the best beauty amplifier is proven as my face glows.
Now that I
am eating better, it’s actually hard for me to stomach processed food. There
goes my iron stomach trait. I actually think candy bars are way too sweet (poor
Halloween!) but dark chocolate (which I used to hate) is hidden around my room
for snacking and bad days. Sugar fixes are done with juice (I love the Cherry
Cider) and its easy to stay on track. And I have no intention to go back to
those groggy, acne ridden days.
So yes,
there is some down sides to eating healthy, and even more (generally) unspoken
new rules. But it is one of the decisions I know I will never regret making,
and I would suggest it for anyone who wants to make a conscious decision in
their life to feel better and become healthier.
(Quick note
– I am already in fantastic shape, so I can not speak about whether natural
eating does or does not increase or decrease one’s weight significantly. I know
that my natural lean build is easier to maintain now than it used to be, but I
eat basically the same things, just it’s none processed siblings. It’s just my
diet was already vegetables and a ton of white meat to begin with).
