With all of these bad chemicals secretly added to everything I don't know what I should and shouldn't buy anymore. I know the basics like processed food is horrible but I need help on other foods. I've been trying to find some kind of book that will tell me what I need to avoid and the good stuff I can still buy. Recipes would be great too. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Thank you guys so much for the great ideas! I actually ordered two books, a whole foods nutrition book and The Omnivore's Dilemma from amazon.com. I can't wait to read them. :]
It's not exactly a nutrition book but Michael Pollan's 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' is absolutely worth reading on this subject. His opinions on 'food' vs. much of what passes for food are eye opening.
D.
"Diesease Proof Your Child" (author??)
"Healthiest Kid on the Block" or "Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood" (Sears)
Also, some togf the baby food cook books have good basic info that is useful moving forward and good toddler recipes. But I am too tired to remember the names...
Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford
Absolutely the best nutrition and holistic diet book ever written. It is very comprehensive and includes tons of recipes and instructions on how to make everything from your own rice/soy milk to how to detox carcinogens from your body. I have owned this book for over 10 years now.
Just read labels. If there is anything listed in the ingredients that isn't natural, don't buy it.
We shop mainly in the produce department, then we grab a hummus and organic natural cheese and nuts, then canned tuna and salmon, I forget which brand, but one of the major brands has JUST the fish with no preservative, read labels, then we get some organic multigrain pasta, and Ezekial whole grain bread (no chemicals in the labels), organic milk and organic eggs and that's it. When in doubt, read the labels. The chemicals are listed. Be really careful with canned stuff, stuff in jars and boxes. Read the labels, lots have chemicals, but lots don't. The last time I bought black beans, 4 out of the 5 brands had a chemical in them, but one didn't. You don't always ned the pricy organic version, sometimes you can score a normal brand with no chemicals. It's all in the label.
Whenever my husband gets back from the store with mainstream tortillas etc, and I'm like, "Take 'em back, they have bad things in them, I don't want the kids eating them" He always says, "What do you mean?" So I have to show him the long label full of alien words and point out the hydrogenated oils, the preservatives and softeners and processed bleached white flour.....but he'll never get it. He WILL NOT READ A LABEL!!!!!
Anything by Tosca Reno and her Eat Clean series would be fine. It's healthy eating without all the alarmist, chicken little the sky is falling scare tactics.
I second "The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood" by Dr. William Sears. A great, easy to read, easy to understand book for the whole family really.
But MY food Bible, so to speak, is The Worlds Healthiest Foods by George Mateljan. I bet I go to that book at least once a week, usually more often.
I recommend you watch the documentary "Food Inc" and you'll have a pretty good understanding of what to avoid.
Then try to support local farmers markets, buy local grass fed meats, use local bakeries or whole grain breads, etc.
I would check out cook books from your local library and then when you find one that fits your style of cooking, order from Amazon. And there is always googling recipes.
Laurel's Kitchen Recipes, with a great Nutrition Index in the back. It's my go-to guide.
Dr. Sears Family Nutrition Book, by William and Martha Sears, is great.
Updated
Dr. Sears Family Nutrition Book, by William and Martha Sears, is great.
I think "Eat This, Not That" is actually a pretty good guide, despite its faddishness.
Good luck!
H. S.
