What Michael Pollan Hasn't Told You About Food

What Michael Pollan Hasn't Told You About Food

This represents all that is wrong with our food culture today. This is a four page article and I encourage you to take the time to read it. It outlines why our culture is so unhealthy. It isn't due to a conscientious choice, we have been had by a corrupt food system!

Its the exact reason that all the food that is good for you costs more than the bad food for you. Only the better off can eat food that is good for you all the time. It is frustrating to read how much of a disadvantage we are at in this battle for our health.

Beef Enchilada's

Well, not really beef. I used the Morning Star 'ground beef' to make them. They tasted almost like the real thing. I made them too spicy for the rest of the family, like usual. But I loved them. I still use regular cheese because I can't seem to give that up. An odd thing has been happening for a while now. I am starting to really hate non-fresh veggies and fruits. Canned fruit, bagged veggies, I really don't like them any more. I really prefer fresh for all meals.

I wanted to start a garden but I just haven't had time. I am hoping to start one in the next week or too. As well, I want to plant some flowers in the front yard. I am just going to get one of those roll out mats with flower seeds in it. That should cut my time down dramatically while improving the look of the front yard. Starting that garden will be much harder. But I really need some fresh veggies on hand at all times, and I will save money growing them my self. I just don't know if I have time for the up keep.

When will the cravings stop?

I had thought I was done with the craving of meat. It has been five months since I changed my life style. I haven't been sick enough to take any over the counter meds, and I weigh below three hundred pounds for the first time in many years, and my body aches from being over weight are starting to subside. In addition, I am starting to build muscle mass and strengthen my bad back and shoulders, making me feel better over all. There hasn't been a single drawback to being a vegetarian.

But yet, I am still craving meat for some reason off and on. The other day I was really craving something hearty and meaty. Lucky for me I found a couple frozen meals of veggie meat loaf and veggie Salisbury steak. Those helped to satisfy me, but in no way is a substitute for a big greasy cheese burger. I am not going to eat meat ever again, but I really just want the cravings to go away. After thirty years of eating meat, I guess I expect to much for it to go away in less than six months to a year.

But I will keep on. As of right now, I haven't been able to push to be a vegan. But I have switched to eggs that are from free range, uncaged chickens and are organic. They are allot more expensive, but I feel better about it. I also try to by organic milk. Maybe some day I can finish the switch. But right now, its baby steps. Still craving meat, I just can't handle the cravings I get for real cheese and real tasting milk at the same time.

Arthichoke Sandwhich

Wow, I had an epiphany the other day. I decided to make my own artichoke sandwich. It was sooo good! I will tell you how I made it.

Ingredients:
bread
mayo
onions
garlic
jalepenos
banana peppers
artichoke hearts
tomatos
lettuce
pickles
olive oil

Process:
Place olive oil, artichoke hearts, onions (cut anyway that makes you happy), jalepeno's, and banana peppers into a pan on medium to medium high heat. Grill them up until they start to have some nice browning and the onions are soft. You don't want them sauteed, more of a grilling. When you think its done, add in a teaspoon of fresh garlic and cook a few more minutes. You don't want to add it to early because garlic likes to burn.

Next, toast two pieces of bread. Then put some mayo on your bread to your liking.

Take a spoon and put as much of the artichoke mix on the bread that you like. Place pickles, tomato's, and lettuce on top then place the last piece of bread on it.

Make sure you wear a shirt that can be dirtied, its a messy meal! But oh so good!

Best served hot, the artichoke starts to get hard when it cools down.

My First Garden

I don't have a big back yard. In fact, its quit small as I live in a manufactured home. But I need a garden. I eat to many fresh veggies to pay for them all. So I am taking the step to start one this spring.

I will start small. I will be growing broccoli, peppers, and maybe tomatoes. I am nervous as I don't have tons of time, but I really want and need this garden. I eat tons of broccoli and peppers that those two were a natural pick.

I figured I can start a two row garden. One row for broccoli, 2/3 row for peppers, and 1/3 row for a couple tomato plants. I don't know if I can even have a bigger garden next year, but this is a start. I love fresh veggies, so it makes sense to start growing my own.

Tofu Teriyaki

I have started creating my own meals. There is a "side dish" pre-made packet of teriyaki noodles and veggies. So I pressed some tofu, soaked it in soy sauce, and the slow cooked it with the teriyaki mix. It was so good! I ate all in one evening! But that wasn't my best creation.

As everyone knows I haven't fulling moved away from dairy, so I'm not a vegan yet. I have switched from drinking milk, to drinking soy milk. I prefer 8th continent light. Its the best for me. I also use Smart Balance margarine because it has no dairy products in it. The cheese is the hardest for me to get over. I still use cheese in so much, but I haven't tried eating soy cheese yet. I just love spicy pepper jack cheese.

That being said, I have a vegetarian meal I created that is soooooo good! I cooked up some spinach, sauteed some green onions, mushrooms, and fresh garlic, and mixed it all with some feta cheese. I then mixed in a little roasted garlic Alfredo sauce. Then I stuffed that into some jumbo shells I had cooked up, covered them in roasted garlic Alfredo sauche, then topped that with Mozeralla cheese! Yes, it was as good as it sounds. I am going to take the next step this coming pay check. I am going to try and do without dairy cheese. I will buy some soy cheese instead. Its a big step for me. And I'm a little scared about it. I really love cheese. But the health benefits of being a vegetarian are noticeable.

When I became a vegetarian, I weighed 340 pounds. I am only 5 foot 9 inches. I have high blood pressure and bad allergies. I am almost off my allergy medication, and I don't take pain medication for body aches any more either. I have lost 43 pounds, I am at 297 pounds now in just four months! I am seriously excited. And I figured that if I continue to move towards being a vegan, I will get even healthier. I have more energy and feel better than I remember feeling in years. I am thirty years old and have the energy to keep up with the young kids I have, and even wear them out! I can never go back to eating meat.

Slowly But Surely

Well, I have managed to get completely off of milk. I am drinking only soymilk now, and no cows milk. I have only eggs and cheese left to go, the two hardest. I am hoping to be completely vegan by the end of the year. As well, I have some other goals.

Now that I am losing weight as a result of my new healthier diet, I find that I want to be off all my prescriptions as well. I am on two meds for blood pressure, one for heartburn, three for allergies. Thats allot for someone that is healthy. I plan on being off of prescription meds completely in three years. But not just that, I don't want to take claratin or benedryl either. I want to be med free exception in cases of rare need. I don't want to take anything to sleep but melatonin.

I know this is a hard goal to reach. But I really believe that if I eat right and get my self healthy, then there is no reason my body should need these prescriptions, right? Well, thats what I hope and strive for. I have no intention of doing this without my doctor who is 100% behind me. If I can't get my blood pressure under control naturally, then I will have to stay on those. But I will make a goal and see where it leads me.

As well, I have finally learned how to use tofu and make it good. My favorite is just to cook it up and toss it with some buffalo wing sauce. I love the spicy thats for sure! I also made some tofu stir fry the other night which was awesome!

All in all, I'm happy with my progress. Its harder than I originally thought, but easier than it seemed a month ago.