What does it mean to live a SAD life?
SAD stands for the Standard American Diet. This is such an interesting definition for how we eat in America. I have always been intrigued by the American Diet, seeing as how we don’t actually have a cuisine of our own, plus it seems the things that are “American” seem to be the worst quality ingredients that don’t always come from real food!
The problem is, we don’t really know all the options available to us in the world of meals. We have an opportunity everyday to eat the most amazing foods but our excuses and time restraints get in the way of properly nourishing ourselves. This is a real travesty. I meet so many people who tell me they could never eat the way I do because they consider themselves “foodie’s” but I ask you, what does that mean when the primary source of nutrients is coming from food like substances and not actually REAL FOOD. It may come as a surprise to most people, but I actually consider myself a foodie too! I am crazy excited every time a new recipe pops into my head or when I put seemingly different flavors together and it turns into magic. I am also a foodie but I came from the SAD too!
Here’s how it went for me:
When I was younger my mom was that total weirdo health nut. I was eating kale when it was still the garnish they used on your plate under the fruit salad and in between the buffet trays. I had essential oils and homeopathy pellets in my medicine cabinet since I was a little kid. I actually do not ever remember eating out as a kid, my mom was single with 4 little mouths to feed. She did so by providing us a nutrient rich diet at home. Then, when I was about 11 years old my mom got very ill and remained that way until a few years ago. During that time I had to learn to cook but when I burned dinner for the 14th time we would cave and get chinese or pizza. This was the first time in my life that I was introduced to convenience foods and boy was it fun!! I started developing issues as quickly as this change took place, I never had energy, I was inflamed (free ebook here) I was constantly in the nurses office and taking time off school for insomnia and various digestional issues. When my body finally took it’s last major dive after my second baby was born, I could no longer continue that life. I went back to my roots and started eating real food again. It can be much easier to make excuses for convenient eating but at what cost in your future or your kids future? For me, being a foodie is about experiences new flavors and cooking new foods I’ve never seen. The standard american diet (SAD) teaches us that we do not have time for meals, and table talk instead we need to eat as a means to meet some strange need to sit in our cars and eat paper wrapped foods.
Challenge:
I want to challenge you right now to look at your diet and see if there are things in there you are simply doing because it is easier even if you know it makes you feel crummy. Change one thing in your life for the better and tell me all about it! Here is a good place to start if you are looking.
If you are feeling overwhelmed check out this video on the topic where we go into a little more detail on how you can make these changes! Lastly, click here to schedule an appointment to start getting your life on track!