Sure Dr. Seuss may make a parody of wars being waged over butter preference but the truth is freedom of nutrition is very much a real and often taboo subject. Since Biblical times food has been both emotionally and spiritually charged. Food has always brought people together through cultural, familial and religious traditions. Food is indeed the very essence of life and therefore it is not hard to ascertain why it has so much power. After all if human survival was dependent on a kiss from a frog, the story would then become, what kind of frog, dawn or moonlight kiss, mouth, lips, both cheeks? Rituals would develop, frog hoarding and exploitation would soon follow. And of course the inevitable frog charmer promising the eternal kissing frog for a small ransom would arrive on your doorstep, at your children’s schools, in your places of worship, and of course on social media #kissthisfrog.
Today’s dinner parties are most likely to be interfood parties. You may have a vegetarian, a gluten freebee, a practicing paleotarian, a raw foodie, a fruitatarian, a point collector, a pescaratarian, a vegan, and an omnivore. Menu planning can prove to be challenging, seating perhaps impossible for as with religion personal nutrition is practiced with as much or more conviction. And what works for them will surely work for you. #eatlikeme. And of course you will see!
We have done an amazing job in this country to establish a national unhealthy relationship with food. Many thanks to the food marketing dollars and special acknowledgements to the predatory and lucrative supplement and weight loss industry. At some point we lost our way, forgot our daily bread and transformed food from sustenance to substance. Giving food superlatives and other wordly powers. It is no small wonder everyone is confused with aggressive advertising pulling at your heart strings, with appealing adjectives: skinny, smart, fit, and even loftier promises of healthy babies, everlasting energy, and lower cholesterol. We have personified food and its impostor, cleverly arranged tasty chemicals masquerading as food. (News flash: the impostors have more real estate in our food landscape!) #krabisnotendangered
This blog is not intended to shame anyone. We support FREEDOM OF NUTRITION and truly believe nutrition is an individual journey. In an endless age of information it is tough to know fact from fiction. It is our intention to bring you objective, evidenced based information. At Pantry Medicine we ask that you move away from guilt and shame with food. Focus your thoughts on positive change with new foods one obtainable step at a time. You are not “cheating” if you have key lime pie for breakfast, unless of course you have a covenant with your super green smoothie. #foodadultery There is indeed no magic pill for nutrition, even if seen on TV. So take heed our pantry medicine friends, take all nutrition advice with great consideration. And remember we are all unique so what works for one doesn’t always work for another. And with any taboo subject, there is no right answer. In parting, we want to share:
Pantry Medicine’s Food Philosophy TM
If you cant read it don’t eat it
All food requires the sun and provides nourishment
My mouth my body, your mouth your body, their mouth their body TM
We hope you will follow us and we can all work together to redefine a national healthy relationship with food!
From Our Pantry to Yours,
Lea & Emily