Well, I had my sweet little Mother’s Day post written for today…all ready to fit right into our Celebrating Women series.
Then I noticed that there was a designated a theme for today’s Works for me Wednesday…”What DOESN’T work for me…Wednesday”. (I guess that would be WDWFMW?)
Oooohh…well, we might all be sorry she asked. But this has been on my mind A LOT…and I’ve been needing a reason to bring it up.
So I will now be doing something I rarely do here. Hopping on my soap-box.
My BIG FAT SOAPBOX.
Yes…I’m blogging about FAT today.
Because here’s what DOESN’T work for me:
All the big talk and push to eat a low-fat diet.
It used to work for me. Because I believed what I was told about fat and that eating it was bad.
But I’ve learned a lot about fat…and I’ve learned that it’s not a four letter word after all. (Depending on the kind of fat, of course…but more on that another time soon.)
Here’s my soap box-iest part of my BIG FAT Soapbox:
God MADE fat. He made food with fat in it ON PURPOSE.
He made cows to give whole milk. The cream from their milk makes butter. He made chickens to lay eggs…and he knew what he was putting into them.
I feel very frustrated that we’re being taught that we used to eat butter when we didn’t know better…so now that we know better…we eat chemicals in a bucket (a.k.a. low fat margarine).
I’m QUITE SURE God knew what he was doing. I don’t think that He is “up there” shaking his head at himself in disgust and saying, “What was I thinking when I put cholesterol in those eggs? And all the animal’s fat is saturated? I SO should have thought ahead on that one.”
Why would eating these real foods with fat work for a few thousand years…and then suddenly stop working for people in about 1920?
And WHEN do you suppose our nation began to have extreme obesity and heart problems and an increase in cancer? Right about the time we started being told that butter and cream and eggs (and other real foods) were bad for us. (And when lifestyles became more sedentary.)
Yes…at the very same time that we started to change out real food…for processed, fake, freaked out foods…our nation began to get fat and sick.
And yet…we blame all of our health issues today on butter.
Oh, I have so much to say about all of this. (Perhaps you could tell?)
So here’s what I’ve decided.
I’ve been sharing many of my recipes here on my blog and on my website. And if you’ve hung out here much, you’ve noticed that we work hard at our house to eat a healthy diet of real food.
I think maybe I’ll start talking a bit more about WHY we choose to eat this way…and WHY we feel like it is important to eat real food. And what food I consider to be real…and what food I consider to be fake, freaked out food. And which fats are good for you and which aren’t. And how we afford to eat real food on a limited budget. And where I buy my real food. And why….
Yes, I believe this post is…to be continued…
Suezque says:
I can’t wait for the next installment. I am sooo learning that natural, the way God made it is soooo much better! My great-grandparents were farmers and were married 71 years, they ate bacon & eggs & fried potatoes (in bacon fat) and homemade biscuts (made with bacon fat) every morning for breakfast- it didn’t do them harm, in my opinion that’s probably part of what kept them so healthy…
May 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
The Happy Housewife says:
Amen Laura!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. We used to drink raw milk, when we lived in a state where it was legal, and we loved that stuff. We were never sick and it was so tasty!
Toni
May 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Amy says:
I’m looking forward to reading how you afford the GOOD stuff. It’s no wonder so many poor people are overweight and unhealthy (I’m sorry… but that was as politically correct as I could muster at this time of night)– it’s cheaper to purchase processed junk than it is to purchase God food!
May 6th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
owlhaven says:
I use butter for a fair number of things too… you just can’t beat the flavor.
Mary, mom to many
May 6th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Org Junkie says:
Yep I get pretty riled up about it myself!
I’m loving your blog!
May 6th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Kate says:
Oh Laura, I’m so excited! I can’t wait to read all of the continuations to this post.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Tina in Thailand says:
I am with you on this one.
Interesting tidbit about margarine, one that finally got me to stop buying it and to think ahead if I wanted soft butter for spreading on toast.
Margarine was originally invented as a food supplement for turkeys, to make them fatter faster. Bad enough? That’s not all. Turns out, it killed the turkeys.
Now what to do with this product? Feed it to people of course!
When I read that, it was the end of my margarine days.
I have lots to say about the fake sugars by the way, so I will be checking back to see what other real vs. fake food topics are addressed on your soap box.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Donna says:
Preach on Sister!
I’ve been hoping that you would give us some shopping tips! I do pretty good but sometimes my budget and ‘healthy shopping’ don’t line up and budget rules out some of the good stuff. I’m sure you understand that too, with 4 boys! You’ve got me on my toes! Can’t wait for future posts on this. Also, I would love more ‘high fiber’ recipes, if you have them!
Blessings!
-Donna-
May 7th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Stretch Mark Mama says:
Hear ye! From another veggie-loving butter-loving kind of Ma. Stop by for a visit!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Stretch Mark Mama says:
Oh, and eggs! Two eggs every morning! Fried in butter!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:49 am
chinamama4 says:
Yup - I am SO with you on this one! One of the key words you used was “sedentary”! I think lifestyle makes a huge difference!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Devildogwife says:
We no longer have “fake butter” at our house — just coconut oil, olive oil, and butter. Now, we do have crisco for making homemade buttercream frosting as I haven’t figured out a way to make that without it yet. lol! Anyway, good post…
May 7th, 2008 at 6:03 am
mom2fur says:
Let me put down my buttered bagel so I can stand up and say HOORAY FOR YOU!
I recently heard a doctor say butter is better than margarine because your body recognizes butter! Sure, vegetable oil is great (we used canola and olive oil) but what the heck is that oleo stuff, anyway?
BTW, mind if I comment to Amy? Amy, yes, butter is pricey. But it goes on sale many times in the year and can be frozen. I stock up on it. So, that answers your question a little, I hope!
Another btw…I’m 52. I had my cholesterol checked last year, and while I don’t remember the exact number, it was just a few points below optimal. Yes, my cholesterol is almost perfect…and so is my blood pressure.
And I probably eat butter in some form every day of the week.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:23 am
ames says:
So right! Fat *is* good for you, especially the stuff in nuts, olives, and avocados. You need it to absorb certain vitamins and to keep you from dying of cold in the winter. The only trouble is, we’re made to *crave* it because it used to be so scarce in our environment. But now it’s not, it’s everywhere you turn, hence the obesity. And who knows what studies down the line will reveal about all that fake food? Like these Trans fats that are now the enemy? 10 years ago they told us they were great! Eat the real stuff, just eat the right amounts of it, and you’ll feel 10 times better in your own skin.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Cyndy says:
I agree with you on the whole real food and I love my butter.
We do however use (very selectively) some solidified oil products that are low in cholesterol because my husband has a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. (His mother could eat carrots and celery and still have high cholesterol). But REAL food is where it’s at.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Runningamuck says:
I totally agree with you! Preach girl! lol. Great post.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Jenna says:
I think the key line in your post is “And when lifestyles became more sedentary.” I have done some pretty extensive research on the lives of people in the 1800s and the truth is they worked long, hard physical hours… if you do that (as in the first or second commenters quote about her grandparent farmers) you can indeed eat just about anything you want, because you are burning more calories than you are consuming. The problem is, in my opinion, people want to sit in front of their computer at work and then their tv all evening and wonder why they are gaining weight. It’s very simple. If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. Less calories, and you lose weight. And it doesn’t matter whether those are processed or unprocessed calories… so I try to choose the unprocessed and just eat less!
May 7th, 2008 at 9:14 am
candace says:
Great post Laura.
I absolutely agree with you.
It is so easy to get confused about what is healthy and what is not these days.
The worst way to learn is to watch mainstream media (that goes for any topic).
I just say if it’s a chemical, I don’t want it in me or my kids.
I also live in a state where buying raw milk is illegal and have considered getting goats or a cow.
I think this is a great topic to continue with.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:04 am
franticallysimple says:
Amen to that!
David Letterman calls margarine “little pats of poison”.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:41 am
jayme says:
wow. I am so impressed with how many people are saying YES, instead of WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!
I thought we were in the like almost non-existant minority. Maybe not.
Well…you go Laura and rock on! I’m so excited!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Joelle says:
I agree with you that the healthier foods are all natural, unprocessed foods. That’s why I prefer to cook from scratch. However, I disagree about eating dairy products. I’m reading “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell (available from Amazon.com). I’m discovering what science tells about fats and proteins from animal sources. And I’m convinced that fats and proteins from plant sources are the healthiest fats and proteins.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
shoeaddict says:
Hello, my name is Kristen and I’m fat. I really love this post and can get behind it. Please tell me where to go (books, websites, etc) to find info on where to start.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
monica says:
Wow! You have a lot of folks interested in hearing more including myself! I am very interested to hear more about how to make it happen, I’m already all for REAL food, it is getting harder and harder to find real food and not to mention fitting it into a budget. I have to feed a lot of people a lot of food and really want it it be real food. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to reading more!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Marla says:
Woohoo!! Good for you Laura! I can’t wait to hear all the great advice I know you will give. We try to eat everything REAL. I just love my farm fresh milk! What upsets me the most is all of the new “organic” or “healthy” foods that have hit the market lately. Just because it says it’s organic/healthy doesn’t mean it is. A friend of mine started buying the whole wheat white bread for her kids, thinking it was so much healthier than the white bread. When I made her read the ingredients it was made with the same “enriched flour” that the white bread was! Not a bit healthier! Store bought bread it horrible for you - It is loaded with preservatives to keep it fresh until you get it.
Well, I guess that’s my soap-box!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Eight says:
Good on you. I cannot say enough how much I support you in butterfressing.
Ever heard of Yogurt butter? Absolute nectar of the gods, best eaten on fresh German bread.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:27 pm