Unprocessed Lent

Not a Catholic. Certainly not Orthodox.

Yet there is something interesting in taking weeks to prepare for the meaning and importance of Easter. I thought it might be beneficial to participate with so much of the world, for the experience.

Time set aside for daily scripture readings along with other inspirational literature.

Good to really ponder these things.

I wouldn't want to 'observe' fasts and liturgies year-round. That religious, repetitive manner of pursuing truth and righteousness can become so commonplace that meaning fades, monotonous drudgery sets in. At least for me.

However, this year, this Easter, while I have so much for which to be thankful, I'm taking the extra mindsight to look inward, to ponder and seek the Most Real Being, to think about.....God. And naturally, Jesus' life and death.

I especially like reading about Jesus' life. Can't wait to meet Him face to face in the Age to Come, the Kingdom of God. He impels me to want to know more, to sit at His feet, ask, and listen.

For now, though, I shall try to honor the God of the Passover and the Resurrected Savior with my meditations and my meals.

The family and I are 'unprocessed' this season of Lent. By thoughtful choice.

We got a little off track after November. Not much. But somewhat.

Lent seems like a good time to give up the old comfort foods and concentrate on what is real.

In food and in Life.

"Sinful men and women can be changed into new creatures by the marvelous work of God in Christ Jesus, which is prior to all experience." ~~ Oswald Chambers

Harvest of Benefits

Yogurt, sprinkled with almonds and cocoa nibs, a mug of Jasmine tea. Breakfast on this pretty Sunday after Thanksgiving. Satisfying.

Weeks after completing October Unprocessed 2011, my family and I have remained 'unprocessed' by choice. Eating real food that tastes better, looks better, and smells better has great benefits, one of which is the shedding of excess fat. Weight loss is not the reason we eat this way, it's simply a pleasant side effect.

This morning I stepped on the scale out of curiosity. Tom told me yesterday that I look a bit smaller. Just a bit. So I weighed. I lost weight this week -  no restriction, no suffering, just mindful eating.

I've lost four pounds this month after losing five in October. I'm not even trying!

The difference is that the food is so good - and so whole - that a little goes a long way. At Thanksgiving's Feast I took small amounts of everything. It was more than enough. A piece of pie later in the day and I was done. Normally, I would have eaten a turkey sandwich a few hours after the feast, and contemplated a second piece of pie. Didn't even want them on Thursday.

Not only do I consume less food, but because of its quality I have more energy. I feel strong. Energetic. Creative. Happy. I find myself wanting to take walks, wanting to rake leaves, craving activity because it feels good. Naturally.

The Happy was definitely in Thanksgiving this year. Family, friends, food, yes. Happiness there. Lots of love. In addition, my own personal wellness added a dimension to the entire holiday that has for years been missing. A childlike joy.

I hope my internal joy and increasing health spreads to those around me and carries us contentedly through Christmas and into a Bright New Year.

Such a Gift!

Day Thirty-One: Success!

Ah, the Finish Line.

Or is it the Starting Line?

Concluding that life is better when real food - and only real food - is consumed, the decision has been made. A new lifestyle was begun on October 1; it shall continue.

Mostly. I'll get to the 'mostly' later.

Here is what my family and I have noticed:

- A general sense of improvement in well-being, energy level, digestion, moods, mental clarity, and skin health.

- A diminishing of cravings, irritability, minor aches and pains.

- The grocery money goes farther.  Yesterday, we bought a shopping cart full of produce at the farm market for $18. Also, as real food satisfies completely, we don't snack and nibble like we used to.

- We've all lost weight - I've lost five pounds, myself - without even trying. We feel hungry when it's time to refuel, then we eat. I only felt deprivation during the first few days when I was detoxing. Once that was over, it was smooth sailing. Milk-chocolate doesn't call to me as it did, either. That's a biggie!

- Our familial relationship, while already good, has improved as we've worked together planning, prepping, and enjoying meals together. Plus, with higher energy levels and better frames of mind we feel like doing things together both here at home and in the community.

- Lastly, we are convinced that eating mindfully makes a larger difference than we imagined and we intend to keep going with this unprocessed lifestyle.

Now, for the 'mostly'. Strict adherence to just about anything opens the door to temptation, to an urge to rebel for rebellion sake. We didn't rebel this month, but sometimes we wanted to, for split seconds here and there. Temptation was resisted because the Challenge presented a good reason to stay on the straight and narrow. Plus, it had a definite end to it.

To eat this way - religiously - for the rest of my life means feelings of deprivation and defiance will rise up, not to mention awkward social moments. So I free myself to eat whatever I want to eat, anytime I want to eat it. And I know that in my freedom I will choose the unprocessed, real food path...most of the time. Maybe all of the time, most of the time. This way, if I choose to consume something that is not ideal, there will be no guilt. No guilt means no beating myself up. No beating myself up means no emotional reaction that ends up lasting for days or weeks because of irrational thinking ("Well, I've slipped up! May as well fall the whole way! Bring on the crap!")

That being said, I have no intention - no desire - to go back to eating the way I used to, which was pretty good, compared to most of this country's eating habits. It's better now. My mind rests in the fact that I am stacking the deck in my favor health-wise. Only God knows how my life and health will play out, but at least I know I'm doing the best I can today. That means a lot to me, it matters, it improves the quality of my life.

So, besides staying the course, where do I go from here?

Back to balance. Body, Mind, Spirit. Now that I've got a good grasp of diet, I can incorporate my discoveries into the care of my body without the intensive focusing. The work's been done for now. Time and life are freed up to pursue all the dimensions of me.

I do like a specific experiment, though, a project. Having to blog each day this month meant too much time in front of this screen. I enjoy writing, but I don't like to have to write. I am currently reading three books about the human brain. Simultaneously. It's the way I roll. These books reveal to me that screen time - whether computer, television, or cell phone usage - are literally changing our brains, the way they operate, the actual, physical way in which they function. And not for the better. It's much more complicated than I can explain here. But this is my next undertaking. Learning about the effects of 'screen time' and experimenting within the parameters of my own life.

It's going to exciting, I can tell. It already is.

But I'm not going to blog about it. If you want to know what I discover, talk to me. Email. Call. Drop a snail mail. Text. I'm still going to be on-screen. Just not as much. (Or so I say. I really like the social media aspect of the internet. It's the milk-chocolate of screen-time. Ah! A challenge!)

Lesson for Today: Give unprocessed a try! You'll feel better.

And now, as I cross the finish line, energized, happy, content, satisfied with a job well-done, only one word comes to mind....

...FREEDOM!

Day Thirty - Rest

I've made it thirty days. None the worse for the wear. Tomorrow, the final day, I shall put up a short review of our month of unprocessed foods.

Today, however, is Sunday and, as it's been a month of busy Sundays, this one is for me.

A simple Michael Pollan quote will suffice as a post for today. After all a commitment is a commitment.

"At home I serve the kind of food I know the story behind." MP

(Sums up the month perfectly.)

YOU have a terrific day!

Day Twenty-Nine: "Two Pork Medallions and a Box of Crackers"

Cassie craved Schnitzel.

Cassie made Schnitzel.

Caroline, Tom, and I prepared the side dishes which included the last of our summer lettuce in a green salad, potatoes, and a wedged Meyers Lemon for squeezing over the salad and/or schnitzel.

The meal took less that thirty minutes...and hit the spot!

Cassie flattened two medallions, cooked them, and each of us had one half a schnitzel. A filling and tasty lunch, to be sure! 

The amazing thing is that it's just pork medallions - smashed thin - coated in cracker crumbs, and fried, three minutes per side. Yet, there is a sense that it is more than merely 'the food of the people.'

Another indication that 'country food' is not only healthy, but cheap, and often quick. A little goes a long way.

A little history can be found on Wikipedia:

"There is a debate as to where schnitzel originated. Some claim Milan, northern Italy, as cotoletta alla milanese, though others say it appeared in Vienna during the 15th or 16th century. One hypothesis is that it could have been brought to Austria during the Battle of Vienna in 1683 by Polish and German troops. According to another hypothesis, it was introduced in 1857 by Field Marshal Radetzky, who spent much of his life in Milan. The term Wiener Schnitzel itself dates to at least 1845.^[2] Variants of this dish are common around the world."


Whatever its origin, Schnitzel is 'fast food' at its healthiest, tastiest best.

(Today marks the end of the 'Twenties' in our Challenge participation. Two more days - 'Thirties' - and we will have crossed the finish line. Amazing. Time flies when you're having fun!)

Day Twenty-Eight: Anticipation

Anticipation. Waiting. Excitement. Curiosity. Joy. Fun.

Turning the mere fueling of bodies into spiritual moments of connection.

Beauty. Sharing. Knowing.

Goblets full of beautiful liquid clinking together after spoken heartfelt expressions.

Delightful foods sparking enthusiasm. Enthusiasm replacing hesitancy, making room for Freedom.

Relaxation.

Thoughtful meals carve space for human beings to remember connection, humanity, in a world where time is money, haste makes waste, and the tortoise and the hare.

Enrichment of the soul-variety rarely happens over sloppy, salty, greasy fast-food eaten in front of the television, or in a car on the way to yet another organized children's activity.

Lesson for Today: Slow down. Learn who and what you are. Reclaim beauty and connection. Let eating be communication with loved ones, learning, loving, lasting.

Day Twenty-Seven: Stew and Biscuits

Chilly temperatures.

Blue sky.

Verdant lawns and colorful leaves.

Wood stove merrily sharing warmth.

Perfect occasion for Stew...

Where I normally season the meat with Worcestershire Sauce, today I used  a dark balsamic vinegar. Mmm.

...and Biscuits.

Enjoying the difference unenriched, light whole wheat flour makes. Hearty!

Unprocessed, baby, still unprocessed.