Somehow, surviving cancer and pulmonary blood clots and celiac disease and a host of other complications has a way of changing you. While I still love reading and want to write books again someday, right now I don’t have the mental space to be that creative.
What I am enjoying, however, is taking care of my health and that of my family. When the mom is sick, too many meals end up being highly processed, easy food that is actually not nutritious at all. But now that I’m better, I have the energy to learn about healthy choices and to cook delicious meals that fuel our bodies well.
After several years of being ill, God used four doctors within one month to tell me that if I wanted to feel healthy again and finish recovering from the surgeries and chronic health issues, I needed to eat as much organic, unprocessed, whole foods as possible – and especially to stay away from highly processed carbs like breads and crackers, etc., because they contain so much poisonous junk. My allergy doctor actually told me that he was at a conference presentation recently that discussed a study that compared milk straight from a cow with milk that is purchased in a store… and how they are so dissimilar as to be almost entirely different substances.
I decided to try it… and to my great joy, eating organic, whole food has changed my life! It’s so much more flavorful, and my whole family feels better eating like this. We get as much organic produce as we can afford, buy low temperature non-homogenized milk in glass bottles (not plastic), and avoid highly processed foods, especially those that contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, or inflammatory oils like canola or vegetable oil.
Oh yes, I do spend MUCH more of my day in the kitchen, both cooking and cleaning up. But I’ve developed an interest in using more fresh herbs and different fruits and vegetables I never used to eat. Did you know that kale, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts are actually delicious? And that fresh herbs add so much additional flavor? All the colors of the fruits and vegetables, all the aromas of the simmering food, and all the bursts of flavors on my tongue more than make up for the extra time in the kitchen. Plus my children are learning the value of home-cooked meals and of checking labels and choosing the more natural option over the processed, junk-filled option.
Eating well
is a feast
for the senses.
God created the heavens and the earth… and He provided us with an abundance of healthy, delicious options straight from field and garden and farm. Will eating organic, unprocessed food make us perfectly healthy and able to live forever?
No. Of course not.
But God knew what He was doing when He gave us fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, and meat. These are the fuel our bodies were made to thrive on, not Cheetos or Honey Nut Cheerios (By the way, don’t even get me started on bioengineered food products! Did you know most cereals now contain those??)
God knew what He was doing when He gave us fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, and meats.
I want to live my remaining days in as strong a body as I can, so I can be fit to serve my God however He chooses.
Someday, Lord willing, I’ll have grandchildren, and I want to play on the floor with them. Swing them high in the air. Play catch.
I want to care for my parents as they age. Be able to help them stand and lie down. Take them to appointments. Sit with them through the night when needed.
I want to serve my church and community. Cuddle infants during the morning service. Rake leaves at an elderly widow’s house. Cook meals for grieving families. Help my neighbors clean up after a storm.
God is in control of my health. Not me. I know this, but that doesn’t mean I have no responsibility for my own choices. What I eat matters, both for now and for the future.
Thankfully, eating healthy food is a delight for the senses, not a chore at all! My family and I eat amazing, tasty food that we enjoy, that just so happens to also give us energy, boost our immune systems, strengthen our muscles and joints, help level out blood sugar and hormones, and make us feel satiated.
In the future, I’ll also be sharing some recipes I’ve developed that combine a variety of foods for an easy, tasty meal that leaves you feeling good for the rest of the day.
If you’re interested in reading more about eating for health, I strongly recommend this book! You can get it at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/healing-foods-dk/1134876517
