How has real food changed us?
There are some huge benefits since we began this journey over 5 years ago now. Some may be more unique than others…
- None of us get sick as much as those around us. And if we do get sick, it's short in duration.
- We have greater hope of avoiding chronic diseases, so we'll be able to live well into our old age–who cares about living longer if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it? (You'll may live longer, too.)
- We have peace of mind knowing we're doing the best we can (most days) with the bodies God has given us, and raising our kids as healthy as possible.
- We really notice a difference in our youngest, who benefited from nourishing foods even before he was conceived. Thankfully, we've had pretty healthy, content kids overall, but our youngest has been the most content and easy going little boy you can imagine. Everything seems to come easy to him, whether it's potty training, learning, or whatever it may be. We hope this continues, but the only difference is our better eating habits.
Some other changes took place here as well:
Support from your spouse
In a way, all this has even brought Kent and I closer, because thank God we share this passion. Kent has been so supportive of all the changes, and with his interest in cooking now, we share a lot. (Soon we'll be working on our garden together, too.) The only thing that drives me crazy about him is his complete lack of any food cravings, sweets or otherwise. Read more about support from your spouse.
The very tippy top of the list
But even beyond all that, I'd have to say that the biggest change in my life related to Real Food is THIS BLOG! The past year and a half has been the busiest, most stressful, yet most exciting and rewarding time in my life, from a work or “career” standpoint anyway. (Being a wife and Mom still beats it all.) I have a new appreciation for real writers (no offense to other bloggers, I just don't think of myself as a “real writer”), and the deadlines and various pressures they deal with. I've certainly learned to get by on much less sleep! I've said it before, but I'm constantly amazed at what an odd passion God has given me for health and nutrition topics. I don't know why He would put that inside me, and this desire to share it with all of you, but I'm thankful that as much work as it is to keep this blog up, I continue to LOVE it. I especially love when I'm writing posts or interacting with all of you through the comments. I detest dealing with computer or website issues, and get sick of being reminded of what an idiot I am in these areas! (Yet I've come a looooong way!)
Another really cool thing is how many new friendships have come from this blog. You know who you are! Some are across the country, others in another country, and even those I've gotten closer to right here in my neighborhood as we all grow together in this area. Not to mention some really neat people that I've just corresponded with now and then via email. God is so funny, all the crazy things He does. I'm very thankful to Him and get sappy just thinking of you all.
More you might like:
Kelly says
OK, DUH, Ann Marie hosted that week. I’m going to bed.
Kelly says
I was just going to hop on and tell you, Annie, that you can just add the corrected post and I can delete the old one, and now I can’t find Mr. Linky’s links at all!!!
Have to go email their customer service again………….
Annie - Hip Organic Mama says
I did a testimonial for this carnival too but had posted it to my front page, sorry about that, the real post is at: https://hiporganicmama.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-has-real-food-changed-our-lives.html – hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. thanks!
Annie – Hip Organic Mama
Kelly says
Thanks, Diane, I just took a look around your site and enjoyed all your great info! 🙂
Diane says
Kelly,
I totally understand the pressure to keep a blog fueled. I don’t consider myself much of a writer but I really do enjoy doing it. It still takes time, however, to think of topics (and I have two areas to write about, herbs and health!), do the research, write it, and then rewrite it. Sigh.
But this is a whole new learning curve, I love meeting new people through doing this. I’m in the beginning stages of all the changes to our diet but am loving it!
Appreciate what you are doing, Kelly!
Diane
Kelly says
Thanks, Stefany! I guess I say it’s “odd” because of how I’m so over the top passionate about the topic…however, you wouldn’t always know that by our diets, but we’re getting better all the time. 🙂
Like you said, I also sometimes might “forget” how “bad” something might be and at the store will think, “Oh, just once it won’t hurt…” – later I’ll re-read one of my posts and think, “Oh yeah, that IS crap.” (I did that recently when buying conventional strawberries because no organic ones were available, later I re-read that they are one you really shouldn’t buy conventional!)
Troye, I love it when a new commenter jumps in to share, thank you!
Katrina, I think most of us wish we were a size (or more) smaller, but you’re right, we need to either chill out about it (if that’s the size that is right for us), or watch the carbs more – for me, I need to eat less sugar – I’m better about that some times than others!
Stefany says
Hi Kelly,
Just wanted to say – keep up the good work – keep the faith! I for one am glad that God gave you this ‘odd’ (as you say! – but I don’t find it odd at all) passion for health & nutrition. Your blog keeps me thinking about the things that are important to me. (What’s ‘odd’ is how easy it is to forget what’s important when I’m busy-busy just trying to survive raising a family & running a household!) I still have a ways to go but I can definitely look back over the last few years and see the overall improvements in my eating/cooking/nurturing my family with healthy, whole foods. Thanks for encouraging me and so many other people with your blog! Real food rocks!
Troye says
My hair and skin are so much healthier and shinier. Just a fringe benefit…
Katrinad says
Well, while weight continues to be an issue for me….I have MUCH better health as does the rest of my family. I have more energy and I just generally feel better. I feel more energetic and I can tell RIGHT away when I eat something (like, say, perhaps, cookies from subway) on a whim because “I’ve been doing SO good for so long! It makes it less appealing. I felt TERRIBLE and had a headache just for a short amount of time after. I have no more insomnia. I’m saving money on skin care just because I’m not buying it! I clean with oats and olive oil and I moisturize with coconut oil.
I DO wish that weight wasn’t an issue…..but that is just me being discontented with this body that God gave me….it’s a strong body–just not a size 4. I need to get over it. 🙂
Not to mentian, the food tastes AMAZING. I love eating REAL food and knowing exactly what is going into the food I eat. That has been a real blessing!
Kelly says
Kathy, I got a reply from Dave at Green Pastures about the Skate oil, but it’s not very informative: “Skate is a cartilage fish, it will have some related but different nutrients, for some this is a very special oil.”
Kay, I’ll try to help:
1. I’d get the organic so you know you’re not getting a lot of chemicals. The raw wouldn’t be soaked nuts anyway. (Look to the right in the category list and click on “Crispy nuts” if you don’t know what I’m talking about.)
2. YES! As long as you take a good brand of CLO – I only recommend the fermented CLO now – the caps are a lot more expensive than the oil, though, so all of us except our teen will be on the oil soon.
3. Good question, all I can say is that this is one more reason to buy as much local, organic foods as possible!
Kay says
So glad I found your site and all the great info you have!
I have a few questions for you, Kelly.
1. Re peanut butter, here are my choices…organic that’s roasted (Smuckers) or raw that’s not organic (Laura Scudders). Which is the better one?
2. CLO…I’ve read your entries but am a little confused. Is it okay to take the capsules? Some in my family just aren’t going to like the taste of the liquid.
3. Because of what I have read regarding conflicting food standards, I try to buy foods from the USA and avoid imported items…especially China and Thailand where I understand tilapia and other fish live in sewage infested waters. That makes me wonder about any of their food (ginger?)! Any input on imported food?
Kelly says
Hi Jill, I’m glad you found your way here! I hope my brother in law who just had a heart attack (and knows he needs to eat better) sees this – he said he’d get on my site more. I was just explaining to him this morning that eating real food doesn’t always mean “giving stuff up”, even more, you’re GETTING better health (I love your list of ways eating better has helped you!), more years to enjoy your kids, and the REAL food tastes sooooooo good – all that is much sweeter than his daily 2 Liter of Mtn. Dew.
Jill says
Hey Kelly. I’ll second your raves about eating this way. We have better immune systems, more energy, better digestion (a big one for me), kids focus better in school (homeschoolers here!), less aches in the morning for me (6 babies!), better sleep (no insomnia, no night waking), better skin, plus we just enjoy food so much more!
Thanks for your efforts and hard work. I am a WellTeller and found you there!
Jill
Kelly says
Hi Kathy,
I just checked and Ann Marie fell asleep at her computer last night (I can relate!) so she’ll have her RFW post up soon – when she does, she’ll share a cool story about how traditional food helped her teeth. We’ve been blessed with pretty healthy teeth already. What I’ll be very curious to see is if it helps our kids’ teeth so that they don’t need $4000 in braces like our oldest did.
On the skate oil – from what I understand, there are some beneficial nutrients in skate oil that aren’t in the FCLO (I haven’t looked into this much as you can tell), but it’s one of those things where I say to myself, “Ya can’t do everything, or we’d be broke!” You got me wondering though, so I emailed Green Pastures for more info. I’ll let you know when I hear back.
Kelly
Kathy says
Hi Kelly! I am really loving your site.
I have a couple of questions. One, have you discovered an improvement in your dental health? It would be great to hear that!
Two, I’ve been following your reports on fermented CLO. What I am wondering is, a couple of sites that sell that product also market fermented skate liver oil, and advise it to be taken in addition to the CLO. Can you make any comments about its benefits? Should I take skate oil too?
Thanks for anything you can provide!
Kathy