Our overarching goal, with regard to food, is to glorify God by embracing what He made for food. We do that by starting with whole ingredients, preferably naturally and organically grown, and also local and in season. Then we prepare those ingredients in a nourishing manner, creating Food. Real Food.
This year, I have been preparing foods in a traditional manner, to increase digestibility and nutrition. This means soaking/sprouting of grains, seeds and nuts, and including raw dairy and cultured raw dairy foods, among other things. (More information: Characteristics of Traditional Diets and Basic Dietary Guidelines, both from the Weston A. Price Foundation.)
Many times people think that going healthy means being deprived or eating tasteless food. This isn’t the case with real food. Real food is satisfying and delicious – and we are addicted, in a good way. We hate to eat elsewhere and people who visit say over and over how delicious the meals are – and that that they know they’re eating well. Kids who visit us ask for second and third helpings. Toddlers walk in the door, go straight to the table, and say, “Eat, Mrs. Harmon!” It is the cutest thing ever!
And it has nothing to do with me – it has to do with getting back to simple, nourishing, healthy, wholesome food. God made it that way – He is good!
What about you? What is Real Food to you? Why do you embrace it? Do you like it? What does your family feel about it?
I’ve submitted this post to Real Food Wednesday, this week hosted by Cheeseslave.
...without giving up the foods you love or spending all day in the kitchen!
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Excellent reminder, thanks, Wardee! I’ve had quite a few “compliments” on our meals since I began cooking a traditional diet – most of them start with “Mmm… just like my grandmother’s _______ !” 😉
.-= Meg´s last blog post… Gratituesday! =-.
Dear Wardee,
You speak my heart so clearly. Thank you for writing about the simple and profound act of using the beautiful and nourishing foods that God has given us. There is no substitute for a meal that is prepared with unprocessed foods combined with a happy and grateful heart.
thank you!
Sarah
.-= Sarah Schatz – menu planners for limited diets´s last blog post… Raw desserts and nourishing foods =-.
Amen!
We have only only switched to traditional foods since the beginning of this year. And at a slow pace (due to living quarters) until mid-June. Since then the differences in the way we feel (and dare I say, act) have been profound. And as a bonus Hubby has lost about 25 pounds and I have lost 10+. Never thought we would really lose weight eating butter, coconut oil, raw milk, beef, lamb, etc, etc.
Going out to dinner is now impossible because Hubby will be very disappointed in the meal and tell me how much he would rather eat my ‘healthy’ food than whatever he just had. I actually love hearing that. My girls (ages 14 and 12) have been adapting very well to this style of eating. They each have their favorites and one thing that neither likes (liver) and they willingly try new things (unless they suspect liver is in it).
i agree whole heartedly that real food is not depriving ourselves at all.unadulterated, real food is delicious and healthful and unadulterated; ie. think whole, cream-top milk- so yummy, then think fat-free milk, bleh!
.-= emily´s last blog post… The Real Food of Summer: veggies and butter! =-.
When I was at a Bible study the other night(a Bible-based health program), someone mentioned that she stopped cooking differently for company when she realized that if she cooked the way she always does, which is healthy cooking, then she was offering her guests God’s best for them. I had never thought about that perspective. It kind of goes along with what you’re saying in this blog post. Why bring things into our kitchens that we wouldn’t otherwise have on hand?
.-= Kendra´s last blog post… The Perfect Start =-.
Meg, Sarah, Millie, Emily and Kendra – I’m encouraged by what you’ve added to this discussion and by how you echo our goal. Thanks. 🙂
I have really been learning a lot through reading this blog and its companions, Kitchen Stewardship and Just Take a Bite. Thank you. We do what we can with what we can. Our children regularly (unless I botch a batch) ask for homemade yogurt over store bought. And they constantly claim “this is delicious” when it’s just simple rice, beans, and vegetables (still working on them liking the more sulfurous ones, but that’s okay). I notice when they don’t have wholesome food, they get really wound for sound and more easily tired. I start craving unhealthy foods when I don’t get enough nutrition, too. Also, I was ecstatic to receive your gracious postcard saying that you appreciated me buying your electronic books.