We hear it all the time.  I’m try to be more healthy.  It’s not healthy to skip meals.  Drinking red wine is healthy.  Wait, no.  Low carb is healthy.  Wait, no.  Low fat is healthy.  Wait, no.  Everything in moderation.  Wait, no.  Gluten free?  Is it any wonder that many people get confused?  Every day someone is touting a new eating pattern as the one that will solve all our dietary dilemmas.  A new hidden health benefit to a favorite food or drink.  

We know the basics of healthful eating, but the basics take work and results can be slow if you’re trying to come back from a lifetime of dietary neglect.  We search for quick fixes and permissions to indulge.  

Retraining our pallet to enjoy fruits and vegetables and whole grains without excessive manipulation takes time and practice.  But the rewards are so worth it! Enjoying a fresh, ripe strawberry bursting with flavor because it tastes good and not because of its antioxidant value should be the goal!  Weaning ourselves off of excess sugars and syrups. Saving the treats (a good piece of rich, dark, decadent chocolate) instead of indulging on a daily basis.

It’s hard to relearn how to eat and cook. To reduce our dependence on prepackaged meals and drive through dinners.  But the rewards are tremendous!  As we change our eating and cooking habits, we give ourselves a new chance for a healthy life.  How do you start?  As Michael Pollen says…eat food (real food), not to much, mostly plants.  See how much better it makes you feel!