NOUR-ISH

Because of my food-related job people always want to know what I eat. They want to know the ins and outs of my every dietary move. Well here goes…

I’m not a vegetarian.

I’m not a vegan.

I’m not a raw foodie.

I’m not a paleo-er.

I guess if I had to label my diet I’d be something of an ethical omnivore.

WTF is that? I’m glad you asked!

It’s a term coined by my dear Mum to help define my food choices. I tried the vegetarian thing for a number of years but found that I simply could not live without animal products in my life. I believe that because humans were created as omnivores we should be, well, omnivorous. But two things were standing in my way when it came to eating meat. My conscience and my nutritional compass. Eating meat (that includes eggs, dairy, chicken, fish, etc) that was factory farmed/not raised well did not sit well with me because of the whole abusive thang that goes along with it. As well, it’s just not good for you. Our bodies are beautiful temples and they should be treated as such. 

Happy meat is where it’s at! Enjoy free-range eggs, organic chicken, grass-fed beef, raw dairy and wild fish with the satisfaction that you’re nourishing your body with healthier foods and let your ethical compass point straight to “GOOD CHOICE”. 

I don’t believe in just one style of cooking. I believe in raw foods, in steamed foods, in fermented and sprouted foods, braised foods and dehydrated foods, in hot foods and cold foods.

I believe in eating real food.  Food that’s unadulterated. Food that tastes good. Food that doesn’t require reading an extensive list of ingredients. Food that comes from healthy soil, supports local businesses and is sustainable.

I don’t believe in counting calories or avoiding certain colours of food (white). I don’t believe in low-fat or high-protein. I don’t believe in eating just the egg whites or soy milk or 100 calorie snacks or margarine.

I don’t like packaging – it’s just one more layer keeping me from my food. I believe nature got things right and we should probably just leave it at that.

I don’t believe in diets. They’re boring and unsustainable. I believe in eating. I believe in finding what works for your unique makeup. What works for me might not work for you. If something doesn’t feel right then don’t do it. If something doesn’t sit right then don’t eat it.

I believe there are everyday foods (the 80%), there are occasional foods (the 20%) and there are non-foods (spam and imitation meat come to mind).

To help illustrate what I do believe in is the NOUR-ISH FOOD PYRAMID. Download it, put it on your fridge, or in your wallet. Heck, why don’t you blow it up and frame it?! Use it as a road map as you travel along the nutritional highway to NOUR-ISHVILLE.

Download the NOUR-ISH FOOD PYRAMID