Later this week I am attending the grand event put on by the students of The Natural Epicurean. I am hoping to make some job connections there and of course sample some tasty vegan treats and catch up with some students and staff.
This weekend I was in Chicago visiting family and friends and well I will go out on a limb and say I am glad I don't live there anymore. Why, because it seems that if food is not fried, meat laden or covered in cheese it's not good. I tried to not get gout running to Trader Joe's for coconut yogurt, raspberries and gluten free cereal. Am I a food snob? I don't think so, but to others it seems so. Liters of soda enough to fill a tub for a kids party, yikes! When I mentioned I needed to go back to my kale and quinoa regimen someone asked "what's kale?" I wanted to put my head in my hands and cry. Where are my fellow good food ambassadors?
People need to step up to the plate (pun intended) and know what the hell they are eating and feeding their kids. I'm sorry peppers on your Italian beef sandwich doesn't count as a vegetable serving for the day. I no longer buy the notion that choices are based on income or upbringing. People are just plain lazy and unfortunately are limited to what is available because they don't speak up. The produce section at a large grocery store chain I shopped with a friend was pathetic. And this was in a nice suburb not in the city. Made me sad.
Don't get me wrong I did enjoy my little Chicago style pizza squares, but by the third day I was waddling around in my jeans. I needed whole grains and vegetables. I went back to Trader Joe's since there was no Whole Foods in the area. I picked up a bag of greens and other salad goodies. I felt better. I am really lucky to live in a place where if you mention you are "going vegan" for a week people don't look at you weird. Where you live and what you eat make a huge impact on your livelihood.
It's never too late for change. Especially when your health depends on it. Change is good. So is kale. Eat more of it.
2 comments:
Hear, hear. Kids should eat real food. How hard is that?
My aunt is a paediatric dietitian and she is the one whom I ask for my diet program. I almost forgot about that vegetable until I saw your article. Now I remember that she told me to include that into my diet program because it is one of the amazing vegetables that should be eaten everday.
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