The Real Risks of Real Food

Food has always been a central theme of family gatherings, but I don’t think you could call us a typical American family. Growing up, we ate out a lot or ordered takeout simply because busy work and school schedules got in the way of preparing dinner.

For the most part though, both my parents had a strong presence in the kitchen. Whenever I visit home I can’t wait to eat their home cooked meals.

The Joys of Real Food:

Some of my mom’s best dishes are grilled chicken marinated in fresh lime juice and black pepper, filet mignon sandwiches with horseradish sauce and arugula, and homemade barbecue chicken pizza. She can also whip up an amazing balsamic vinaigrette dressing that I still can’t master.

My dad’s calls the grill his territory and will make up any excuse to invite neighbors over for burgers, steaks and grilled vegetables. For him, food tastes better when it’s shared with friends.

My mom has never used a crock-pot or Hamburger Helper. She never served Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and is proud that my brother and I were exposed to different foods growing up.

Although she doesn’t shop exclusively at specialty markets or buy organic, my mom makes smart cooking choices. Evening meals always include a salad, but instead of iceberg lettuce we eat mixed greens and romaine. Whole wheat and whole grain breads replace white bread.

A few years ago she introduced me to egg whites, a healthier alternative to scrambled eggs. As bland as they sound, with the right seasoning, egg whites are one of my absolute favorite things to eat.

The most exciting part about getting my first apartment was the kitchen and not having to rely on a dining hall anymore. I proudly adopted some of my mom’s cooking habits while discovering a few tricks of my own. Even so, my skills need improvement, so it’s nice to know I can call home when a question comes up.

The Dangers of Real Food:

A little over a year ago my mom started to feel sick. Blood tests recognized parasites inside her body that cause fatigue and muscle pain. These parasites most likely entered her body after eating lettuce or other produce that was not properly cleaned.

In addition to natural medicine her doctor has recommended that she change her diet. The parasites love cheese, salt, flour, and sweets so she has to eliminate as much of those as possible from her diet to keep them from causing more harm. So far my mom has followed the rules precisely, except for a little indulging on Thanksgiving.

Food awareness is a popular trend right now. With the movie release of Food Inc. and Jonathan Safran Foer’s new book, Eating Animals, it’s evident that more people today care about where their favorites foods come from.

Learning about my mom’s condition and the lifestyle change she’s going through makes me think how food is such a key part of family and life. We eat based on upbringing and appeal, and very rarely think about how our consumption can lead to illness.

In order to lead a more proactive lifestyle I’ve decided to pay more attention to what I eat. Whether at home prepping dinner or at a restaurant I believe it’s smart to carefully consider food options before taking that big bite.

Cutting sweets and cheese altogether doesn’t seem likely for me. Eating healthy, noting expiration dates and thoroughly cleaning lettuce are a good start though.

Photo Credit: timengleman, thebittenword