Dinner Diva: We can only do what we can do!

Over the past couple of months, I’ve warned you of arsenic in your rice, pesticides on your apples, BPA in your plastic, and human hair as a bread preservative (among other shocking topics). It’s recently been brought to my attention that some folks are starting to feel discouraged after reading my blog posts containing this information and I want to know that this has never been my intention.
Trust me, I am not spitting this stuff out there to scare you. I wish that none of these scary stories were true – I love food and every time I have to scratch another favorite off my grocery list forever, I cry a little bit, at least on the inside.
The thing is, we can’t hide from this information, certainly not in today’s world where headlines travel around the globe instantaneously.
As much as we may want to keep our heads in the sand or to throw up our hands and say, “forget it!” we just can’t. We need to understand the world we live in today and we need to do what we can to keep ourselves healthy in spite of mega food processors trying to sneak chemicals into us and governing agencies who aren’t doing a great job of protecting us from a corrupt food system. But I digress!
Please try not to get too discouraged. It’s impossible for the average Joe or Jane to keep on top of all this new information. I have a team of people helping me stay up to date with new research and this is my career! I need to make it my business to know all of this stuff so I can help you make the best, most informed food decisions that you can for yourself and your family.
Every single positive change you make is a step in the right direction and each one of them is a cause to celebrate. You’re doing the best you can and nobody can be expected to undergo a complete lifestyle change overnight. If you throw that box of sugary breakfast cereal in the trash today, give yourself a pat on the back. Don’t disparage yourself for not having the means or the will to throw out every single package in your kitchen at once.
Remember, a series of small changes will lead to a big change! My mission is, and always has been, to bring families back to the dinner table. I want to help you do that in a manner that’s healthy and nutritious.
If I were to offer you some blanket advice in terms of which steps are the most important to take, I would advise you to start by studying the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists and deciding which of the most heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables you’re prepared to start buying organic. If your budget doesn’t have room for organic produce, then consider not purchasing those items at all and, instead, choosing from the clean list.
Buying one bag of organic apples is an excellent step in the right direction.
So, folks, I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel like you can’t do anything right when it comes to food! I’m sincerely just trying to do my part to educate America about what we’re eating and how we can make changes in our own homes, and around our own dinner tables.

PS–You can receive delicious menus (complete with shopping lists!) delivered right to your email inbox by subscribing to Dinner Answers today!

0 Responses

  1. I appreciate this post. For over a year I have tried to figure out how I’m going to be vegan with no soy or gluten, avoid gmo and eat right. So instead I gave up trying and just ate what I wanted to eat….and gained about 15 pounds from doing that. Its the little efforts you mention. Adding some good veggies and fruits, being conscious about where it comes from but not with a “all or nothing” mentality. Understanding why I feel crappy when I eat certain foods, but maybe not always being able to avoid them. Making good choices and doing the best I can do while still having a life to enjoy. Small steps in the right direction and not throwing in the towel. Thanks for your words and reassurance and your organized recipes too.

  2. It is hard to know what to do with all the negatives out there. But you can’t do it all at once…..wish I could, but I can’t. I no longer buy cans. There are some produce items that I will only buy organic. Organic, grass-fed and free-range is hard to find, so I eat very little meat. Gave up dairy (that was easy, btw). I am still a long way from fully organic, and gluten-free is slow-going, but baby steps will get me there 🙂

  3. I used to feel paralyzed about all of these things! Fortunately, I have found a company that produces nutrition and skincare products that are pure, safe and beneficial. I have lost 17 pounds SLOWLY, and am feeling better than I have since my 20’s. I also have the peace of mind that I am giving my children the safest products out there, and helping them create healthy habits that will stay with them throughout their lives!

  4. can you provide links to the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen or where do we find this information???? Thank you!

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