Food Revolution

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is the best show on television. It is really the only show I watch besides The Biggest Loser. Both shows are inspirational and leave me in tears. The mindset that most Americans have on food is so deviated from where it is should be. Even as a nutrition student, I see the people who think as long as you stay withing your caloric needs, you are healthy. Health is not about calories. Your body doesn't care how many calories you ate if you did not give it any vitamins to support it. For those of you who have not seen the show, Jamie is in Huntington, West Virginia, the most obese city in the country. His "arch enemy" Rob, does not like Jamie being in his town and doesn't want to "sit around eating lettuce all day." Sadly, Rob's view is what most people have in mind when they think "eating healthy." Jamie not only shows this side of the town, but shows the youth who are affected by the westernized diet. A high school girl who may only have 7 years to live beacuse of the damage that she has done to her liver because of food. When people finally start to see the changes it is amazing and brings me to tears. Lives are changed when food habits are changed. You will have energy to play with your kids and go outside rather than sitting, watching television and eating. Live life how you are meant to, not inside, but outside, seeing the beauty of the world around us.

Eating healthy is not just to stay slim and look good. It's about your health and your life. Just because you are thin does not mean that your body is thriving in the inside. I was less than 100 pounds in high school but I was in the worst shape of my life. Since then I have learned how to eat, gained some (healthy muscle) weight and have never had more energy and happiness in my life. Eating healthy is a complete lifestyle change. It has to be, your mindset changes, your energy levels and everything about you become different. You view life for what it is.

Watch this show on Hulu or abc.com. Start your own revolution. Cook dinner tonight. With real food. With vegetables and grains. Have some fruit for dessert. Hell, go start a garden and grow your own food. See how amazing it is so watch food grow as you water it, rather than buying something packaged already.

You are only given one life. Live it to the fullest. Be fueled by the food that was put on this earth and our ancestors have thrived on for thousands of years. I'm pretty sure deep friers and corn dogs did not exist 100 years ago.

Eat food and be happy.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everybody. I hope you find yourself surrounded by loved ones on this day of celebration. I can't help but think about how Easter, like most American holidays have been changed into an eating celebration. I mean there is nothing wrong with gathering around a table with those that you love sharing a meal together. But why do we have to stuff ourselves until we can't do anything but sit on the couch? I guess it's an American thing. I know nobody wants to hear this, but when you are sitting down to eat today, why don't you trying filling up your plate like this.

Vegetables should take up half your play, while the other half is shared with a meat (or protein) and a starch (preferably something whole grain). I know that this sounds somewhat ridiculous. How am I supposed to get full on vegetables?? Well they are packed with fiber and nutrients, which is what your body is actually looking for. When you eat what it wants, it gets full. I don't know about you, but when I eat something delicious but has been bleached and refined of all the fiber and vitamins, I end up even more hungry. Your body is not dumb. It knows when it has received what it needs to sustain itself. If you continue to fill it with things that do not suffice it's need for nutrients, it is going to continue to be hungry and then you overeat.

So let's break some whole grain bread with family and rejoice in good health!