Yesterday I was with two 8-year olds and one is on a gluten-free diet. Since I rarely eat grains, I know that watching the way the rest of the world eats when one is on a restricted diet can sometimes lead to a "poor me" Eeyore mentality.
We stopped in at a local bakery that carries some great gluten free items to grab a quick snack on our way to a hiking adventure. My thinking was, "Let's go to Tahoe House because they have gluten-free choices." What I naively hadn't taken into account was how bad Brody would feel having to settle for a gluten-free option, while Luna had the choice of an entire store full of delicious home-made bakery goods.
It's true that healing with foods can sometimes involve feeling deprived. However, I believe that with a little planning ahead, a little extra effort in the kitchen (but not too much), some honed shopping skills and a little know-how, it is possible to live a "healing with foods" lifestyle and eat like a king.
Yes, young Brody was unable to have free reign in the bakery. However, he did end up with a delicious gluten-free treat that anyone would have enjoyed eating. Sometimes it's a matter of keeping your mental focus on what you CAN have, instead of what you can't. We bend our attitude to fit the world around us.
However, one of the challenges I've created for myself in the last few years is to see how much I can bend the world to fit around me. At least the food world. As a former gourmet cook and foodie, I want it all. I want to thrive and feel healthy and yet I want to eat delicious fabulous foods.
If I can't have the pancakes, what can I have that looks, smells and tastes most like a pancake? Is there a pancake out there that is healing for me but is still satisfying and delicious? I can enthusiastically say the answer is absolutely yes.
In fact, it's become a goal of mine to see how many tasty but healing foods I can buy in stores, eat in restaurants or recreate at home. And when I simply can't adapt a recipe to be more healing, the next question I have is, "What else can I eat that is simply scrumptious and exciting, but that contributes to my overall health?"
That's what this blog is all about...balancing the goal of eating amazing great tasting foods with an effort to become as healthy as possible. Can it be done? You bet your cupcakes, honey!
I am you. There are millions of us Americans eating to heal. Here's to celebrating food in all it's amazing glory, it's beauty, it's deliciousness and it's healing properties.
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