Nobody in NYC cooks. Or so they say, anyhow. Which makes sense. With so many restaurants, so little time, and such tiny kitchens, it’s easier to go out or order in. Like, really really easy. People work hard all day in NYC so at the end of the day most people just want to blow off steam. And that’s okay… that is, until you get sick. I mean, really sick.
Almost five years ago, not long after I got married, my whole world changed. I’d been living in NYC for almost six years, going to events and having meals out 90% of the time. I had yet to discover the important connection between what we put in our mouths and how the human body operates. After over a year of seeing nearly every specialist in the city, I still didn’t know what was wrong with my body. Finally, my mom figured out that I had the C word. Long story short, I learned a lot about healthy living in the process.
I now have an intimate understanding of why an organic plant-based diet is so important. I learned why even small amounts of meat, dairy, sugar and gluten contributed in a big way to making me sick. I’ve since committed to a ritual of daily research about how the body heals and how to detoxify my life.
Through this ordeal, I learned that cooking the right foods, at home, is the most effective way to influence how healthy your body is.
The primary the reason I decided to spend time in France was so that I could be in a healthier environment. Every time I visited, I felt healthier. It may have been the fact that, in France, farm-to-table is the norm, not the exception. Or that toxic GMO farming is banned here. Or the dramatic decrease in pollution… But I think it’s mostly because of my new daily ritual…
Nearly every morning, I go to the farmers market. It’s just down the street, along the river. It’s packed with vendors selling all types of flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and anything else you could imagine a food market having. I’ve discovered new vegetables and fruits I didn’t know existed (ever heard of a trompette de la mort??) and embraced French cuisine (minus the meat/dairy).
It took me a while to get over the “but shouldn’t I be doing something more productive — like working?” mentality. Listening to audiobooks while I cook has really helped with that. It gives me a sense of accomplishment (because, hey, I’m learning and cooking!) but it’s also relaxing at the same time. I use my Amazon Echo to broadcast them in the kitchen.
Right now I’m listening to The Cheese Trap, and learning all about how cheese is addictive (in a nutshell: a cow’s breast milk is addictive in order to keep the calf from wandering too far. Concentrate it into cheese and it becomes like crack, creating a similarly addictive response in our brains) and how cheese affects our body (in a nutshell: it’s super inflammatory and depletes our bones, causing all kinds of problems).
I used to think of food as a means to an end. Something to grab on the go. Now, more than ever, I understand the power of a healthy lifestyle. For me there’s no going back. And I’ve never felt better.
You are what you eat. And whatever you eat or slather on your body will always affect your health. Restaurants aren’t meant to be eaten every day. You don’t even know what they put in your food despite how accessible it is for you or how good it tastes.
I’m a little confused on which is your ‘healthiest’ habit. Is it the audio book or the healthy eating?
Dining out really is unhealthy. Unless of course your dining in restaurants that claim to be 100% healthy and organic. You’ll never know about the ingredients they use that enhance flavor just to save up on using expensive ingredients.
Being healthy will always require an effort. Cooking and shopping for your food will really take a lot of your time especially when you really want to keep your choices healthy. It’s better to plan ahead of time to reduce the hassle of doing your grocery because that’s the most time-consuming. Planning ahead also lessens the probability of ordering take-outs or dining out. I also make sure that the only time I will eat at restaurants is when my friends and I hangout and none of us want to cook in big batches. (And honestly, that’s only about once or twice a month) If you’re serious about your health, you’ll go an extra mile with your efforts.
I plan ahead too. I find it easier to not forget condiments and it helps me keep track of my daily allowance of nutrients.
My problem with audiobooks is that I don’t want to spend an entire day with headphones stuck in my ear. Nor do I want to put everything in loudspeaker and disrupt what everybody else in the house is doing. I personally still prefer old school books. Not e-books or anything that’s viewed in LCDs and a screen. Paperbacks and hardbounds are still the best way to go, even if they’re a pain to go around with. It’s less stressful for my eyes and there’s nothing like a good ‘ol book that makes people think you have a DO NOT DISTURB sign in your forehead because they know you’re busy reading.
not a fan of audiobooks. it’s like lazy reading. the simplest form of communication (writing) now made simpler (calling) and here I am, an old soul trapped with technology surpassing my wildest imagination. still looking for the comeback of handwritten letters, hardbound books and a new vaccine break through.
An audiobook is godsend fora long trip!
I generally prefer to read but I also listen to audiobooks. I’m trying to get more into them because they’re more eco-friendly (and every time I move, I have to box and lug all these books — it’s a pain!)
I eat heathy, lots of water and NO MEAT. I also listen to music to reduce stress. BUT I don’t listen to audiobooks. I just find them switching off my imagination (not helpful for me).
Your article got me thinking… reconsidering my eating and other daily habits…