Begin at the Beginning or The Omnivore's Dilemma Created One for Me

So innocently, I purchased and brought home my book club selection. Such a small act. Such an unassuming book. I began to read it with the mild interest that I take in all books at the beginning. I have an open mind and I want to fall in love. I found it hard-I found it challenging. Was I really so asleep to what I was shoving in my mouth each day? I try to be an educated consumer. I try to feed my family nutritious meals. I buy organic (sometimes), I read labels (sometimes), but I had gotten tired of putting meals on the table day in and day out that always seemed to have something, someone disliked. I had gotten lazy and complacent and this book would not let me hide from that. Crap!

Now what? Now that I knew. How had this happened? I used to be such a health nut! I used to be aware of everything I put in my mouth. I used to think of food so differently. I actually had a spreadsheet on my fridge when I was pregnant to make sure that I ate the proper nutrients each day, No lie-ask Joe.

Well-no matter how it happened, this was something I could correct. We have a fantastic farmers market in Pleasanton year round. I live less than 15 minutes from Whole Foods and Raley's has a great organic food section. Joe and I began walking to the Farmer's Market each Saturday morning. We talked to the vendors. We found a meat vendor and did the research. Holding Ranch- at our own market each Saturday -sells grass fed meat raised humanely in a sustainable manner! Eureka! We had hit the mother lode. We stocked up each week and also had Holding bring us a quarter of a cow.

Well-this food is good! The meat is fantastic, the veggies and the fruit taste like veggies and fruit! The eggs are fresh, the cheese....I could go on all day. I felt fantastic. Less than 3 months from finishing this book, I was feeding my family healthy food!

Then a month or so later, I ran into my good friend, John Perez at Safeway. He was a personal trainer for our family for many years. He and his lovely partner, Kristi are extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of health: Mind, body and soul. Their business, Body Balance, cares for the whole of their client, and so we are friends many years after we have ceased to be clients. I was so proud to tell John that our family was back on track nutritionally. "That is fantastic!", John exclaimed. "I am so glad for all of you and proud of the changes you have made!" We continued to talk in the aisles and I invited John to dinner. Well, he had to confess. He had just read a book (sound familiar?) and it had changed his mind about the way he was eating. "Get The China Study.", he tells me.

So innocently, I purchased and brought home my book......

Dedication

Typing these first few words feel like stepping off a cliff. Is there a ledge? Am I tied in? Is anyone out there? I am praying that I will have the dedication to follow through and blog about my quest to a new way of healthy living.

However, as I begin to write this, I realize that the dedication I want will come from those I would dedicate this study to:

1)Lori-Everyone has a friend like Lori. Smart, pretty, driven. The kind of friend who asks a question and then really listens to your answer. The kind of friend who asks questions to make you think. The kind of friend who believes in you and makes you believe in yourself. Lori invited me to join a book club. She assembled a diverse and fascinating group of people and we read a wide range of books. One selection, "The Omnivore's Dilemma" set the stage for my quest.

2)Susan-We were "The Susans"-but no more. Cancer took this beautiful, kind, caring woman from her family and friends at the age of 49. Susan did everything right-exercise, nutrition, a loving family, a large community of friends who loved her, exemplary medical care. She had the odds in her favor, and yet she is gone. What did we miss that would have made a difference?

3)Amy-Our boys played soccer together in the early 1990's and we have been friends ever since. Amy and her family have a faith in God that is awesome. Her son was diagnosed with cancer in late 2008. The medical community was unclear with a treatment plan and the prognosis was not good. Through research and prayer, Amy found a diet that has lead to a 75% reduction in her son's tumor. Her journey has greatly contributed to my faith in God and all that He provides for us.

4)Ryan, Andrew and Kevin-My boys. I would love to find a way of living and eating that gives them control over their medical destiny so they can live long, healthy, disease free lives.

5)Joe-My ever so patient husband who stands by me through my ups and downs while I try to find the balance here. Joe bought 1/4 of a cow because I am convicted it is so important to eat grass fed meat raised on a ranch dedicated to sustainable farming. He did not even raise an eyebrow when, two weeks later when I told him that we needed to drop protein intake to less than 10% of our diet. He is a great cook, loves food adventures and has been not only a great sport, but interested in learning about all this along with me.

And so the dedication will come, not from me, but from God, as I try to honor those who have served as the inspiration for this journey.