You are what you eat, and I don't exactly want to be monosodium glutamate. This is a journal of my organic experiment, and how I changed who I was through what I ate.
Going Organic
For a long time I wanted to be a vegetarian. Then last summer I went to my first Rainbow Gathering. Not only was I amazed at the array of friendly and happy people, but the food (all vegetarian) blew me away. Kitchens took turns cooking and distributing food ranging from fry bread to sprouts to curried vegetables to soup. Everyone got their share, and in the end we were all stuffed. It was like the biblical story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with a few fish and a loaf of bread. The Gathering proved how good vegetarian food could be, even when eaten out of a dusty bowl while sitting in a meadow of sagebrush.
After getting home, I decided it was time to do it. I stopped eating meat and didn't look back. I knew it had health benefits, but I was also concerned about lessening my environmental impact and living more sustainably. Our society's current eating habits are way too meat-centered, when plant-based diets are more healthy and sustainable for people and the planet. So I kicked my meat habit cold-turkey.
After six months of being vegetarian, my boyfriend Seneca and I made it our New Years' resolution to take it one step further and eat all organic. The first trip to the Co-Op with a cart full of groceries was pretty tough on the wallet. But I discovered many benefits that quickly outweighed the cost.
I decided to keep a journal of my organic experiment, to see the connections between what I eat and how I feel. It has been quite a journey, but now I'll never go back to artificial flavors, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, or hydrogenated oils. I'm sure my body thanks me for it.
The Gathering proved how good vegetarian food could be, even when eaten out of a dusty bowl while sitting in a meadow of sagebrush.
January 3: Decision Day
Seneca read a book over break about how much more nutritious organic foods are and how the toxins in our food, drugs, and environment are making us sick. I believe it. Cancer is more widespread than ever, and most carcinogens involve pollution, artificial additives and products, and other side effects of our consumer culture. So we made a New Years' resolution: we're going organic. We'll start shopping at the Co-Op, wean ourselves off of going out to eat and start living healthier and more sustainable lives. I think after going vegetarian six months ago and giving up fast food long before that, this seems like the next logical step.
January 4: Economic Realities
We made our first Co-Op shopping trip, and became card-carrying members. The atmosphere and people there are great; I always know someone. The prices, however, will take some getting used to. Thank goodness we're splitting the grocery bill.
It doesn't make sense to me that organic food is more expensive. All food used to be organic, back when farms were owned by families and not corporations, and when quality was more important than high yields. Then came chemical companies, fertilizers and pesticides, and the mass production of food. Thankfully, organic food is catching on, and prices are coming down. I'm excited for spring, when I can start my organic garden and grow some of my own food (and save on the grocery bill too).
January 12: Feeling It
Today the Co-Op shopping was much more reasonable. We're learning to shop the sales and buy bulk food to stretch our funds. In addition to eating organic, we're starting to replace household cleaners and bath products with organic and natural remedies as well. Seneca has been shopping for new health gadgets online. We have a shower filter (my hair is noticeably softer already) to get rid of chlorine and other nasties in the water supply. We've also been filtering and drinking a lot more water, drinking tea and using herbs as natural remedies, and cooking delicious organic meals.
I actually got sick after starting the organic diet. My nose has been really plugged up. I don't have any other symptoms, so if this is a cold it's the easiest one I've ever had to deal with. I wonder if my body has started a cleansing process and I'm still getting used to it. Drinking tea and breaths of eucalyptus oil dripped onto steaming water have done the trick, and I can finally breathe through my nose today, with no cold pills needed. So far, this health kick kicks ass.
January 17: I Want Organic Restaurants
Last night we "cheated" the all-organic diet by going out to eat. It would be nice if there were more restaurants based on organic ingredients. Most places would rather have a higher profit margin than healthy customers. Portion sizes at restaurants are pretty outrageous too. So there's a business idea: start an all-organic gourmet restaurant.
I'm feeling great and got over my minor cold easily. I am drinking water instead of coffee or chai, and hot tea instead of soda. It hasn't been too much of a change, since I've never been a very unhealthy eater. But so far I feel more satisfied after meals and healthier as a whole. Now it's time to start doing yoga. We signed up for a Pilates class that starts in March. With biking to class, I'll keep myself in shape!
January 23: Feeling Healthier Already
I'm surprised to say that I have noticed feeling healthier in the last couple weeks. The other day I cut the tip of my finger off cutting peppers, and with nothing but a band-aid and a cleaning, my finger healed in two days. That's unusual for me, especially because I was even able to play guitar with my hurt finger so soon after cutting it. I also notice that I have a lot more energy and that I am eating more nutritious foods. I don't have cravings for sweets and candy, and will eat fruit or whole grain crackers for snacks instead. Being a candy-o-holic, that's pretty amazing for me!
I've been reading up on organic foods and vegetarian diets, and found out that several studies have recently found that organic foods are higher in vitamins and anti-oxidants. There is still some skepticism being portrayed, but I think people will come around and realize that organic is the way to go.
February 1: The Stress Effect
School is picking up and I'm feeling stressed. Not as stressed as I should be, perhaps. I seem to have the energy to handle everything on my plate. Maybe it's the food, maybe it's the fact that I've been sleeping better, or maybe it's the natural energy I find in tea, fruit, and the occasional yoga instead of caffeine and sugar. OK, so I cheat occasionally and eat sweets, but now I'm more likely to eat organic fig newtons or yogurt covered pretzels than processed foods and candies. I haven't been to WinCo forever; I definitely don't miss it. After about a month of the organic diet, I must say the effects are subtle but noticeable. My hair is softer, my skin clearer, my energy levels higher, and my overall well-being better. And I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, because organic food is so tasty. It's a win-win situation!
February 8: Now it's Getting Juicy
Seneca ordered a juicer, which is one of many health gadgets that we have invested in. So soon we will start sprouting wheat grass and other nutritious sprouts in our sprouter and juicing them. Apparently sprouts are often more nutritious than the mature plants. We made pear, apple and ginger juice last night and it was delicious. Growing our own sprouts and making our own juice is just one more step towards self-sufficiency. It's also quite fun.
It's been difficult to eat all organic, especially when there are no organic restaurants and no organic food on campus. I've been trying to pack my lunch every day, but occasionally I have to cheat and eat bland cafeteria food on campus. This organic diet is harder than I thought, but well worth it.
February 12: Organic Living
It's been barely over a month since I went organic, and I know I'm definitely not going back. Why would I want to be connected to factory farms, artificial additives and corrupt companies? What you eat says a lot about you. Your every day shopping choices can be an activist statement. If the world went back to organic, not only would we be healthier, but the earth would be as well. It seems that the market for organic food just keeps growing. This gives me hope that the small organic farming families are gaining some ground over the mass-producing, profit-driven, polluting factory farms. I'll never regret the day I decided to go organic. But don't take my word for it, try organic yourself!
