The last few days have been busy ones. I’ve missed a couple of snacks because I was
away from home. It’s easy to pack nuts
for protein. An apple or pear is a
little more cumbersome to carry but vegetables—they’re a much bigger challenge.
I’m not really big on raw carrots. Actually, my favorite snack (right up there
with kale chips) is a finely chopped mix of different varieties of kale with a
tahini dressing on it. It’s also my
favorite lunch right now. In fact, I
could eat this stuff everyday it’s so good.
Luckily, I can buy the kale already mixed and finely shredded at my
local PCC Store. And I’ve finally caught
on that the dressing will keep in the frig for a number of days. Next time, I’ll make a double batch of
dressing and can use it throughout the week.
So, back to my original issue, why are there no places to go to pick up
a dish of something like this kale salad?
Even the pre-made salads at my
beloved PCC seem to have things like canola oil or sweeteners. At least they can tell you exactly what’s in
them. But I’m curious why nobody has
thought to add “clean” food and snacks that you can walk in (or drive thru) and
pick up as easily as a hamburger. Not a
bland salad with poor quality vinegar and questionable oil but something truly
tasty and satisfying like the kale salad.
Is there really no market out there?
Maybe it seems so because the anti-inflammatory food that’s out there in many restaurants is
so generic and bland—unless you get into a more upscale restaurant.
Or maybe it’s because fresh organic produce, at least around
my neck of the woods, is expensive. I
haven’t added it up, but the little cash register in my head is telling me I’m
spending significantly more on food since I’ve been on this diet. It’s worth it to me but I can’t help but
wonder about people on a tight budget.
Which brings me to one of my pet peeves.
U.S. Government farm subsidies go almost exclusively to the large,
corporate food producers. This was not
their original intent—they were intended to help independent farmers. And yet, I’ve not heard of one small organic
vegetable grower who gets a penny. What’s
wrong with this picture? With so much of
our tax dollars supporting corporate growing of patented and often genetically
modified corn, wheat and soybeans, no wonder all the stuff on the “no eat” list
is so inexpensive. Hasn’t it occurred to
anyone that by making this kind of food so cheap, we’ve made our health care
extremely expensive?
So, what am I finding so far?
I’ve been off my anti-inflammatory meds now for a week. My foot still hurts some of the time but it’s
mild. Jury still out on whether food can
control the inflammation enough to avoid surgery. I do find though that I’m less achy after
working out or working in the garden.
Several nagging menopausal related symptoms have
disappeared.
My nagging little stomach aches and bloated feeling are gone
and I’ve been able to stop the expensive pro-biotic pills I was taking.
I’ve held at about 4 lbs. lost. In fact, earlier in the week, it actually
seemed like I gained a couple of those pounds back. But my stomach looks flatter to me and I feel
lighter.
The dark circles under my eyes have lightened up. This may be my imagination but two months ago
they were starting to concern me. Now, I
barely notice them.
I have a much deeper appreciation and empathy for those
people who have real food allergies and how because of our food habits, customs
and attitudes in this country, it can isolate these folks from being able to
enjoy good food outside of their homes.
I am even more sensitive to how our food system and habits
make it very time consuming, costly and difficult to eat this way. If I ever fall off this way of eating, it won’t
be because I’m bored or don’t like it, or it doesn't help me feel great, it will be because it is just too
difficult to be part of modern society and hold to this way of eating. And the sad part is, is that it doesn’t have
to be.
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