Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.

I Love Michael Pollan. I have read all of his books and eagerly await his next one, Cooked, due out the end of April. Food Rules: An Eater's Manual is the best one to start with. He stands by the fact that eating does not have to be complicated. He actually has a list of 64 "food rules" that can help you decide what you should eat and what you should avoid. The three that really sum it up are the title of this post.

Eat Food.

When Michael Pollan tells you to eat food, he is telling you to eat 'real' food! One of my favorite lines of his is "Don't eat anything that your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food." He goes on to use GoGurt as an example! Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry. I love that he uses the term 'food products'. He wants you to stick to food that nature intended you to consume. You don't need high-fructose corn syrup. You should stay away from food products that have some form of sugar in the top three ingredients. Avoid processed food with more than 5 ingredients. Avoid the ingredients that you can't pronounce. 

Not Too Much.

Stop eating before you're full. Eat when you're hungry, not when you're bored. Eat Slowly. Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it. The slower you eat, the less you will eat. Eat a proper portion, not a super sized one. By not eating too much food, you can afford to pay more for the food that you do buy. Pay the money for grass fed beef, free of antibiotics and hormones. Michael Pollan says "Eat animals that have themselves eaten well." Buy the organic apples instead of the ones that have been heavily sprayed with pesticides.

Mostly Plants.

Eat all of the fruits and vegetables that you want. Leaves are full of nutrients! Think spinach and kale! Eat your colors! The more colorful your dinner plate, the better. Eat well-grown food from healthy soil. Organic is not a gimmick! Treat meat as a flavoring or special occasion food. We eat entirely too much in America. Another Pollan quote "Eating what stands on one leg (mushrooms and plant foods) is better than eating what stands on two legs (fowl), which is better than eating what stands on four legs (cows, pigs and other mammals)."

This is only a preview of his feelings toward food. I agree with everything that he has to say! He does a great job explaining what he means by what he says. You don't need fad diets and confusing health advice. Just stop and think about the food first. 

Eat mindfully.

Michael Pollan Books 

7 Tips For Eating Healthy (And Organic) On A Budget

When I mention eating healthy and buying organics, most people tell me that it's expensive. It doesn't have to be! Remember that buying larger clothes, medication and paying doctor bills IS expensive. You decide what is important to you...you spend money on your phone, clothes, shoes, hair, nails, etc etc

Your health should be your top priority! Here is a short list of tips that may help.

1. Eat smaller portions.
It may seem funny at first, but it is actually quite practical. If you eat less, you’ll spend less. Besides the financial benefits of eating smaller portions, it can also help you improve digestion, reduce bloating and trim your waistline. You don’t have to starve yourself, but just reducing your portion size by as little a third will go a long way towards reducing your grocery bill, too. Try using smaller plates; it will fool your eye into believing you have more food. Also, waiting five to ten minutes before getting a second helping will help trigger neurotransmitters that tell your brain you’ve had enough to eat.

2. Eliminate processed foods.
Packaged and processed foods may seem inexpensive at first, but the lack of nutrients in these foods will cause your body to continue to crave the nourishment it needs. It is a never-ending loop that will lead to a higher expense in the end (not to mention a slew of health issues in the future). Cut out processed foods and spend the extra money buying highly nutritious, fresh foods.

3. Cook at home.
Today, people in the Western world eat more than 50% of their meals outside the home. It’s convenient, yes, but it contributes to the obesity epidemic (the average portion size is much bigger in restaurants), and it can be really problematic when trying to stick to a limited budget. When you take the time to cook your meals at home, you tend to make and eat less food. By using organic ingredients and healthy recipes, you can create meals that are both tasty and healthy. It will also give you a chance to learn about the foods, spices and condiments you cook with.

4. Eat more raw foods.

Although fresh, organic vegetables can come with a steep price tag, eating more of them can actually save you money down the road. Because you get more of the vitamins, minerals, probiotics, phytonutrients, etc. from raw veggies than from canned, frozen, or cooked ones, you can actually eliminate the need for supplements. You can also give your immune system a boost that will keep you out of the doctor’s office.

5. Shop at the farmers' market.
If you have the option to buy your fruits and vegetables at a farmers' market, do it. Because they're the source of the food and are local, they don’t have to add transportation expenses or store mark-ups. Most of what you find at the farmers' market will be in season and organic, so you'll be spending less, helping the local economy and protecting the environment.

6. Buy whole grains in bulk.
Whole grains and legumes are cheap and are packed with protein, fiber and other nutrients, all of which can help you feel fuller longer. Try buying your grains, beans, seeds, and nuts in bulk. Wholesale markets and grocery stores will often have a bulk section in the back where you can scoop as much as you want and pay per pound. You'll find that by skipping the packaging, the grains will be a lot cheaper. These kinds of foods will also stay edible for a long time, so if you hit a great sale, don’t be afraid to stock your pantry.

7. Skip unnecessary treats.
Although it never hurts to indulge now and then, you might want to find some healthier and less expensive substitutes for your usual snacks. Most of the treats we crave are high in refined sugar, fat, or salt and come with a lot of preservatives and packaging. Instead of buying cookies and other packaged goodies, try learning to bake your own healthy versions using whole ingredients. There are also plenty of treats that use sugar substitutes, are gluten free, and come from organic bakeries. A sweet piece of fruit can often satisfy a sudden sweet tooth, and some toasted nuts can satiate your appetite for salt.

(info taken from article)