Last time, we looked at poor food choices that we, unfortunately, make on a regular basis. Now let’s examine some alternatives to the Standard American Diet (SAD).
Instead of… Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats
Try this… Butter or coconut oil
Why? Butter | Coconut Oil
Level: Easy – This just requires putting something different in your shopping cart.
Instead of… Rancid vegetable oils
Try this… Extra virgin olive oil, best quality (never heat vegetable oils)
Why? Olive Oil Compared to Other Oils
Level: Easy – This just requires putting something different in your shopping cart.
Instead of… Refined sweeteners (sugar, corn syrup, fructose, etc.)
Try this… Honey, Maple Syrup, Sucanat, or Rapadura
Why? On Making the Transition to Natural Sweeteners
Level: Medium – It’s easy to use something new, but you might need to find local or online sources.
Instead of… Pasteurized, homogenized milk products
Try this… Raw milk and cream (NOT pasteurized or homogenized), available fresh from a local farm if possible
Why? Health Benefits
Level: Medium – It’s easy to use something new, but you might need to find local or online sources.
Instead of… Factory-produced meat and eggs
Try this… Old-fashioned, free-roaming, pasture-fed animals that provide us with meat, eggs, and milk (purchased locally if possible)
Why? Benefits of Grass-Fed Meat | A Story About a Great Egg Farm
Level: Medium – It’s easy to use something new, but you might need to find local or online sources.
Instead of… Non-organic fruits and vegetables
Try this… Fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden (top choice) or by your friends and neighbors, using organic methods and traditional methods
Why? Ideas on why and how
Level: Medium – It’s easy to use something new, but you might need to find local or online sources.
Instead of… Commercially processed foods
Try this… Homemade dishes, prepared with nutrient-dense foods and loads of love
Why? Ideas on why and how
Level: Difficult – This step requires finding sources for new foods, purchasing equipment, and learning to prepare food at home.
Instead of… White flour, white rice, Improperly prepared seeds and grains
Try this… Whole grains and seeds, properly prepared by sprouting, soaking, or fermenting (such as sourdough)
Why? Ideas on why and how
Level: Difficult – This step requires finding sources for new foods, purchasing equipment, and learning to prepare food at home.
It’s one thing to have high ideals; it’s quite another to know how to make this practical! However, we’ll walk you through each new food, step by step. Next time, we’ll begin by looking at your kitchen and the equipment you’ll need.
