Thursday, March 28, 2013

Whole Wheat and the Gluten Free Experiment



I have heard so much about gluten-free eating from people whom I know do not have celiac's.  I decided to see what the hype was about and embark on a gluten free diet myself.  I decided to not use too many of the gluten-free substitute products, like the gluten free pastas and breads (although I did try some pretzels made with brown rice).

I will begin by saying that I did notice some improvements in my GI area, I felt more regular, experienced less cramps and less bloating.  Overall it seemed like my digestive system was at ease.  I was considering how much better I felt, while giving a presentation to a roomful of teens about making half their grains whole, and started feeling confused.  Could it be possible that what I learned in my years studying nutrition was wrong? Is gluten really bad? If so why am I teaching these kids that whole grain pasta, breads and cereals are good choices?

I went home and thought about the grains I normally eat, such as whole what english muffins, wheat bread, pitas, whole wheat tortillas, and wheat pasta. 

Then I considered what I had elected to replace them with including quinoa, beans, lentils, brown rice, wild rice. 

I quickly realized that most of the items I had chosen while gluten free were also minimally processed foods.  I wondered, is it actually the gluten that hurts people, or the heavily processed wheat products containing gluten?  Would the heavily process gluten products do the same?

Needless to say my experiment was inconclusive, although I have always believed in choosing minimally processed foods. However, it would not be accurate to draw a conclusion on one person's brief experience.  But that doesn't mean I won't share it. :)

Sam

Thursday, March 21, 2013

"Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day"

So in honor of National Nutrition Month, I have decided to blog about what "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day" means to me.



Eat Right
"Eat Right" to me is to choose food in it's simplest forms.  The less processed, the better.  Making most of your plate plant based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and unrefined grains, because the grains are fine just the way they are.

Your Way
We are experts in our own lives, no national organization can set guidelines appropriate for us as well as we are capable of doing. 'Your Way' means keeping the national standards in mind, however adjust them as you see fit to work in your life. Be realistic about what you are capable of implementing, and set limits on harmful dietary choices.

Every Day
It is very easy to do something perfectly for one day. However, as enthusiasm fades so does our ability to stick to what we were originally so determined to do.  It is especially hard to stick to doing something perfectly when you do it multiple times a day; on the go, in the office, with friends, with family. 'Every Day' means staying determined, knowing that your body is worth caring for because it's the only one you have.

"Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day" is a lifestyle change.  It is a decision to change the way we live, the way we eat, the way we look at food. We tend to categorize things in our head, in particular food, as bad food or good food. It is better to categorize food as either 'always food' and 'sometimes food', because not only is it more realistic, but it prevents you from feeling like you have already slipped back into old habits, or your old lifestyle.  Change doesn't occur overnight, and if we don't change the way we view food, we are robbing ourselves of the catalyst that can put this change in motion. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Nutrition Month

Happy National Nutrition month!!!

I thought I'd start by sharing some amazing websites for people looking to volunteer some of their time helping spread Nutrition knowledge.



No Kid Hungry - Share Our Strength is an amazing group,  I currentl;y volunteer through a program they offer, Cooking Matters and Cooking Matters at the Store.  They truly care about helping kids learn to prepare their own snack foods and meals and educating them on healthier choices!

SNAP - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is formerly known as the foodstamp program, however they changed their name to emphasize that it is meant as a supplemental supply to your preexisting food budget, as well as to emphasize the Nutrition portion, to encourage healthier choices.  There are so many people who qualify and are lacking in funds to buy the appropriate amount of food, especially the elderly.  A key point to emphasize with the elderly is that they can designate a care taker or family member to use their SNAP card to get them the appropriate food.  The SNAP program is looking for volunteers to help with prescreening candidates to see if they are eligible.

The Hunger Study - Will be looking for people to help with anonymous surveys on tablets/computers at foodbanks from April to August 2013.  This will help foodbanks and soup kitchens get to know how to reach their targetted demographic more effectively, and reach out and provide nutritious food to the people who need it.

You can also volunteer at your local food bank or soup kitchen!

Again, Happy Nutrition Month and let's share our knowledge with others.

Sam