Menu for Week 25

A Quiet Revolution

The English poet William Wordsworth wrote a sonnet in the early days of the Industrial Revolution that captured the discord of the time:

“The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;

Little we see in Nature that is ours . . . “

Wordsworth was on to something that troubles mankind to this day.  Industrialization freed man from backbreaking labor but alienated the human family from Nature.  The new question wasn’t whether to go forward, rather it was how to gain the “new” while keeping the best of the “old.” 

This clash of old vs. new took a more ominous form when industrialization changed, (better said, adulterated) our food supply.  Factory food made a good business but processing changed the nature of food and led to the chronic diseases that afflict us today. 

The modest goal of Word of Wisdom Living is to save the world by rediscovering how to eat.  The 52 Healthy Changes, delivered one per week, if faithfully followed, promise to restore mankind’s harmony with Nature.  It’s a revolution for sure, but a quiet revolution fought not on any battlefield but in the kitchen. 

Change Is Hard

To live better we must change how we eat and live, but change is hard.  So there will always be money made with any product that promises the benefits of change without the actual work. 

Due to an upset stomach we spent Sunday morning at home, a rarity for us.  So I watched the major networks and got a surprise.  The cable channels, Fox and CNN, were covering the issues of the day, mainly the 2012 presidential election.  The old networks, ABC, CBS and NBC, during the time I was watching, had turned their station over to infomercials filled with easy promises of doubtful benefit.  A few examples:

• The Nutribullet food extractor promised “amazing results” by simply drinking the juice from fruits and vegetables.
• The 6-Week Body Makeover promises weight loss without starving with a customized meal and exercise plan.
• The Insanity 60 Day Total Body Conditioning Program offers the body you want in just two months.
• The Tummy Tuck belt promised to melt away stomach fat if you apply a cream and wear an elastic midriff belt for 10-minute sessions.
• Cindy Crawford’s name is used from an age-denying magic potion from a rare melon found in southern France.
• Sprinkle the Sensa product over your food to lose weight eating whatever you want.

What happened to the major networks?  They seem more a carnival sideshow.  So, one more time, here’s our promise:  If you want to transform your health, you must also transform your lifestyle, beginning with your diet.  It’s hard (though doable with 52 steps) but it’s worth it.  If you do it you’re likely to look better, live longer, and have fewer regrets when your time does come.  That’s our promise, plain and simple.

Menu from Week 25

We’re away from home in beautiful Midway enjoying the longest daylight of the year.  The warm sunny days and cool, pleasant nights delight, and influence our menu—we ate our monthly bacon ration in one week.

Monday

• Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich on whole wheat bread.
• Watermelon and leftover fruit
• Dessert: Root-beer float

Tuesday

• Tamales (Costco tamales from the freezer.)
• Chili (TJ’s, from the can.)
• Green salad

Wednesday

• BLT sandwich, again. 
• Corn on the cob, first of the year.
• Watermelon

Thursday (We had guests so a special dinner.)

• Skip’s Sweet Potato, Carrot Curry Soup
• Broccoli salad
• Whole wheat bread
• Dessert: strawberries with ice cream

Friday

• BLT sandwich (Yes, 3^rd time this week, but we were short on bacon and shared a sandwich.)
• Broccoli salad (Used the leftover ingredients)
• Corn on the cob.
• Dessert:  cantaloupe (First good melon of the season.)

Next week:  The next Healthy Change comes in the time of shortest nights—sleep.

Comments

[Karen]

Thank you for all of the time and effort you are putting into writing this very informative blog. I'm a mother of 4 (all adults now) and a student studying Exercise and Wellness. I chose that route over Exercise Science because I wanted the nutrition aspect along with the exercise. Creating better health for myself and my family is of great interest to me so I also do a lot of individual reading along with what I learn in my classes and I'm trying to make sense of it all. I wanted to write a blog on health that made sense of all the conflicting information for my family friends, but then a friend of mine emailed me the link to your blog. You had already created the type of blog I was dreaming about, and I didn't have to do the work! Count me in as a member of the Food Reformation in the U.S. Keep up the great work, you are affecting change in lives.

[Lindsey]

We just went on a drive yesterday through the Heber valley; it is so beautiful up there! This post reminded me of Elder Scott's talk from conference where he said that we can't change our appointed time but we can improve our time here. I really appreciated hearing that from a general authority.

[skip hellewell]

Hi Karen

Welcome to the food reformation, and thanks for the kind words.

[LeeAnn]

I just thought you would appreciate this post. It is called Real Food Should Die and follows supports much of what this blog promotes.

http://www.macheesmo.com/2012/06/real-food-should-die/