I have a feeling that in a few months’ time, I’ll know so much more about healthy living.
I used to shop at a “normal” neighborhood grocery store… no problems. Â I tossed strawberries, deli meat, cereals, frozen diet meals, and random snacks into my cart without hesitation, even actually feeling good about my family being semi-healthy. Â NOW, however, when I go to the same grocery store with my new knowledge, it’s a different story.
I was looking for strawberries (or any fruit or vegetable) that’s organic because I don’t want us eating those sprayed-on pesticides anymore. Â Couldn’t find one. Â Huh.
I found an entire aisle of cheeses, but only 1 was organic and I had to search hard for that one. Â It wasn’t even a type we eat. Â That’s crazy!
And finally, the deli counter had not one turkey or chicken that was antibiotic/hormone-free. Â I did find some pre-packaged Applegate Farms turkey, but those packages are loaded with preservatives.
I left the store empty-handed. Â And amazed that I am almost 41 years old and I never knew about this huge issue.
(I have to mention how impressed I am with Target, though. Â They carry many organic products now, including their own Simply Balanced brand.)
Every time I learn about a new product or food that has antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, GMOs, or unhealthy oils and fats, I change to a healthier version.  Today I changed my deoderant! In general, I am angry and shocked at how many toxic processed chemicals companies are putting in their products.
I also don’t understand why it took so much effort for me to come across this knowledge. Â I guess I just never thought about conventional food and what’s in it. Â I trusted that it was safe. Â (Many of these chemicals are banned in Europe and Canada, but not in the US.)
Let’s take milk, yogurt, and cheese.  (For some reason, I knew to give Sweet Girl organic, hormone-free milk (maybe from parenting magazines?) but I completely forgot that cheese has the same ingredient!) These products are make with milk from cows that are confined (unable to pasture graze) and fed GMO grains (not grass). Chemical defoamers (like what’s in Silly Putty), artificial sweeteners, sugar, or high fructose corn syrup are sometimes added, along with colors, preservatives, and carrageenan. I thought my greek yogurt was healthy! At least it isn’t one that has fruit, which would also include pesticides.  So now I’m going through yogurts listed on the Cornucopia Institute’s guide and tasting them to find my new fave.
Every day I hear about a new book I want to read or a new product to look for at Whole Foods. Â With my newly discovered clean eating and walking every morning, I am so much more energetic and happy. Â I am dropping pounds quickly while being fully satisfied and not hungry at all. Â Imagine 3 months from now what I will be like! I can’t wait to be her!
I know that many of you are far ahead of me… please share your suggested web sites and books about healthy eating.
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