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.
Audible is a nice website. I love that they have free trials because I’m such a cheapskate. Haha ?
I’ve been living in NYC since birth and it really isn’t the healthiest place in the planet. You’re surrounded by tempting restaurants that have massive portions that you can’t even finish on your own. They make it seem like it’s a game to be eating twice as normal people would. It seems fun to think about but in the long run it causes a lot of health problems for people. Watching us New Yorkers in lifestyle networks make me cringe. We brag about extremely huge burgers that are as big as our tables yet we’re overweight and we die so early. What a sad reality.
Urbanette also posts recommended books and they’re also nice. Check them out!
There are supermarkets that lie to our faces when it comes to organic and inorganic food. You could barely tell the difference and you just really rely on the label. Which is sad.
I like the Amazon Echo. It’s really nice and there isn’t a day that passes that I don’t use it. It’s something that I always want to bring with me even when I do hotel staycations.
The place/country you live in is actually a big factor on the things that can keep you healthy. Not all countries have access to cheap organic options. On some states they aren’t even available or amidst such a big town there’s only one grocery store that has all the healthy options. Health is a worldwide issue and it can’t be easily addressed as it seems. Even with the issue of veganism, you can’t exactly tell third world countries not to eat meat or dairy. What if that’s the only option a group of people have? Would they even choose veganism over hunger?
I agree with you. Options like this will really depend on where you live.
New Yorkers are always on the go. It’s the main reason why a lot of people who live there don’t thrive healthily. It’s such a fast-paced environment where you can’t even shop for vegies in such a relaxing setting.
I always rely on Urbanette for good audiobooks to read. I hope you’ll post more about them soon.
I know a friend who isn’t vegan/vegetarian who eats inexplicable amounts of takeout food. She’s not overweight or anything but that doesn’t mean that she’s not going to get sick in the future because of how she abuses her body. She loves McDonald’s and would eat chicken nuggets twice or thrice a week for a snack. We all love her but she has nasty habits of eating. She thinks it’s all good since at the moment she hasn’t been feeling anything that is threatening to her health.☹️
Wow, fastfood is so unhealthy. Most of them aren’t even real food.
I find audiobooks helpful when you’re traveling or on a roadtrip. You don’t get dizzy and you get to enjoy the sights on the road while listening to your favorite book.?
I know a friend who isn’t vegan/vegetarian who eats inexplicable amounts of takeout food. She’s not overweight or anything but that doesn’t mean that she’s not going to get sick in the future because of how she abuses her body. She loves McDonald’s and would eat chicken nuggets twice or thrice a week for a snack. We all love her but she has nasty habits of eating. She thinks it’s all good since at the moment she hasn’t been feeling anything that is threatening to her health.