My new food staples checklist: 20 items I can’t go without. 4

My food philosophy, revised.

Michael_Pollan

So I wanted to talk a bit about how my food philosophy has changed most recently, and discuss how that has changed my grocery shopping habits.

Here are 7 things I try to do in making choices about food.

1. I prefer local food over high carbon footprint, anonymously sourced food. I like to know who handles my food, thank them directly, and make sure that they are doing well for helping me be well. If everyone did this, we’d all be better off. If the food is not local, such as coffee or bananas, or tea, I try to make choices that benefit the grower directly, such as fair trade offerings. If food is available locally, I will choose it over a remotely sourced food. 
2. I prefer organic food to commercial farming methods. No one needs to eat pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The need for pesticide aggression in commercial farming is one of convenience and mass growing efforts, usually of monocrops where the pests evolve to resist less aggressive pesticides. Smaller farms can pay more attention to the crops, the soil, and the methods for their plants, and I want to support that effort.
3. I prefer natural genetic evolution to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). I’m saddened by the Obama Administration’s recent support of the efforts of GMO organizations.
4. I prefer to cook and bake and brew my food rather than to pay for having it done for me. It usually tastes as good or better than the food I buy in a restaurant, I never get my order wrong, and I’m able to very tightly control my caloric intake. It is always, always, always cheaper.
5. I prefer whole foods over processed foods. I like foods that Michael Pollan would approve of.
6. I prefer to grow my food when possible. I live in a studio apartment, with very little spare space, but so far I have an herbal tea garden with German chamomile, basil, sage, and oregano, all delicious teas.
7. I’m mostly vegetarian. I eat meat occasionally, usually as a condiment, usually in situations where the food is already prepared, like chicken broth based soup at a restaurant, or at a friend’s house.

What do I keep on hand?

Brussels sprouts on stalks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So with all of this in mind, I have started to cut down the cans, boxes, and packages of processed foods in my cupboard, most of which I’ve not touched since my nutritional lifestyle change almost a year ago. I’ve had more than my share of Progresso soups lately, and I’m glad to see them go. I am replacing these past staples with new staples in my cupboard, fridge and freezer, and using most of them at least once each week.

1. A variety of apples and Navel Oranges. I eat at least 3 of these a day.
2. Seedless Grapes, cherries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and raisins and other dried fruits. I snack on these.
3. Mixed nuts in shell: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, and Macadamia nuts. I shell and blend these to make a mixed nut butter.
4. Leafy greens, including spinach and kale. I use these in dinners and stir fry.
5. Whole grain flour, barley, and corn meal or grits. I bake a loaf of bread each week, eating a quarter of it each day. I use the corn meal for polenta, corn bread, and as a texture in other dishes.
6. Yeast, baking powder and baking soda. Who doesn’t like pancakes?
7. Peas, String beans, lentils, chickpeas and legumes. Great protein.
8. Cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Great texture and flavor.
9. Asparagus. A treat.
10. Bananas. One of my regrets. I really wish they could grow bananas in New Jersey.
11. Tomatoes in many shapes sizes and colors.
12. Potatoes, onions, garlic and carrots.
13. Raw sugar and honey. I like it sweet.
14. Olive and peanut oil. I like it umami.
15. Corn and popcorn. Corn as a whole food is very good food.
16. Granola mix. This varies, but I like a little toasty, crunchy, sweet mouthful.
17. Peppers. I like it spicy.
18. Rosemary, cilantro, parsley, basil, peppercorns, sea salt. I think that these items are what bring food from delicious to sublime.
19. Eggs. I buy them locally, where I can see the chickens.
20. Water. I drink 8 cups a day, usually in tea.

This is where I am at right now. I may change again, but it’s a process. I know this: I’m fit, content, satiated, and happy with my nutrition. I feel great. I challenge you to try this for a week or a month, and see what happens. You might love it like I do.

Related articles

• Reasons to Buy and Eat Organic Food? (ourlittlefamilyadventure.wordpress.com)
• Top 10 excuses for Obama signing the Monsanto Protection Act (thedailysheeple.com)
• 8 reasons GMOs are bad for you (sott.net)
• Common Food Items Could Contain 180 Times More Fluoride Than Tap Water (secretsofthefed.com)

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