Recommended Resources

Since beginning this journey of building healthful habits we've delved into a number of different resources in order to gain the knowledge needed to make wise health choices. Here is the "rundown" of my recommendations regarding resources to further your own education.

BOOKS


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{Margaret Floyd; 2011}

It was while wandering past the "new arrivals" shelf in our local library that this book caught my eye. Floyd had my attention the moment I flipped open to the inscription page- "For Gramma. You were right. Butter is better." As intimated by the {intentionally} somewhat provocative title, this book is an appeal to  eat whole foods in their naked form. Floyd seeks to help her readers move step-by-step into a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Her goal is to provide "what you need to know- enough to be informed, but not so much that you're overwhelmed" while helping you as the reader start applying that information whatever your current lifestyle. Since this book is not an in-depth look at a whole-foods diet, I found it a quick read with many practical tips for eating real food in a manageable and economical manner. 


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{Sally Fallon & Mary G. Enig, PhD; 2001}

Subtitled "The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats", this book is so much more than a collection of recipes using healthy foods. It's a textbook- an education.

A description of the correct manner with which to approach the food prefaces each section of the cookbook, and the introduction contains a wealth of information regarding the rationale behind traditional food preparation. My favorite feature of this book is the margins containing quotes from reputable sources related to the foods in those particular recipes- a feature which appears on almost every page. This book has joined the collection of well-trusted references in my kitchen. 

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{Nina Planck; 2006}

I found this engaging and informative exploration into the world of real food a delightful read. Coming from the position of one who tried the vegetarian/low-fat lifestyle, Planck makes a thorough and well-cited argument for the inclusion of animal fats and dairy in a healthy diet. Breaking down the science behind whole food into understandable language, Planck leaves her readers with little doubt of the necessity for reform in our food choices. Undoubtedly my favorite resource thus far, this "must read" is already on its way to becoming an earmarked reference in our home! 

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{Nina Planck; 2009}

Pregnant with her son, Planck set out to apply common food sense to conventional child-rearing wisdom. This book explains how to keep both yourself and "your baby healthy on good, simple food". The first section of the book provides an overview of real food along with information for building an optimal diet for fertility and pregnancy. The second half of the book addresses wise choices for both nursing mothers and the eventual introduction of whole foods to baby. Along the way, Planck provides plenty of personal testimony complete with admissions of times she didn't heed her own advice. This book gets my highest recommendation for those at any stage of their baby and toddler journey.

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VIDEO/FILM


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{Tim Noughton; 2008}


I found this documentary to be a informative and accurate summary of much of the information I have been reading regarding the failure of the lipid hypothesis to explain causation of heart disease. The first part of the documentary focuses on debunking the premise of "Super Size Me" and I found it to be less interesting than the second half. While I felt Noughton's treatment of the CSPI was at times a little flippant and over-simplified [though perhaps justified], overall this film contains a great deal of well-researched information and poses some fair questions regarding the "giant experiment in which we were all unwitting subjects". 


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{Robert Kenner; 2008}


This documentary was one of the first sources of information we encountered regarding industrialized foods. It provides a candid survey of common practices from {the few} of primary sources of America's meat. It's quite enough to make you pause the next time you reach to pick up that package of "all-natural" chicken.

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{Deborah Koons Garcia; 2004}

Addressing key questions regarding genetically modified foods, Garcia takes us on a journey to explore the historical path these foods have taken and the future impact they are likely to have. Some of the claims the film makes seem as though they should be shrugged off as a conspiracy theory, making the fact that many of them check out to be true all the more disturbing. While definitely a one-sided view of the issues surrounding genetically modified foods, I believe the claim these foods are leading to reduced agricultural and intellectual diversity is an accurate one. Prepare to be disturbed by the majority of the film as you learn information such as Round-Up Ready corn seed being classified as an insecticide or breast cancer research being halted by the patenting of a cancer-causing gene for a company's monetary profit. Hope is handed out in the end with the challenge, "The choices we make in the supermarket impact the future of food... it's up to you."


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{Aaron Woolf; 2007}

Two college friends, Ian Cheney and Curtis Ellis relocate from Boston to Iowa in order to grow an acre of corn. Throughout the adventure they explore the industrialization of farming, increased American corn production, government subsidies of corn, and the larger industrialization of the food system. While the view of the authors on each of these issues is clear throughout the film, the information is presented with little commentary regarding their findings. This film increased my sympathy for the plight of the American farmer and my aversion toward the food product our corn has become. 

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ONLINE

  • Cheeseslave-  the author of this traditional foods blog sums her position up well: "For the love of cheese. And bacon. And butter. And raw milk. And all those other things we're not supposed to eat."
  • Food Renegade- this blog is both engaging and informative as the author challenges politically correct nutrition
  • Keeper of the Home- a nutrition and natural living focused blog for homemakers in all stages of life
  • Kitchen Stewardship- the author of this blog seeks to find a balance between nourishing traditions and the standard American lifestyle while maintaining a prayerful attitude in the kitchen
  • Nourished Kitchen- this site focuses on whole, unrefined foods prepared in everyday kitchens
  • Nourishing Days- a blog sharing one family's adventures in real food and sustainability
  • Sustainable Table- this site "celebrates the sustainable food movement, educates consumers on food-related issues, and works to build community through food"
  • The True Food Network- site of a grassroots action network committed to education regarding harmful food technologies and promotion of sustainable agriculture; source of the fantastic True Food Shopper's Guide which gives direction for avoiding foods containing genetically modified organisms {GMOs}
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{I do not receive any payment for my review of any of the following resources and each of these reviews reflects my own personal opinion of the resource.}
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