Food Rules 2012
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Tonight my 9-year-old Alyssa asked, “why do some people think the world is going to end in 2012?”
I asked her if she was worried about it.
Her chin dropped. Her eyes dropped. She nodded an ashamed “yes.” She was scared. Poor baby. I wondered how long she’d been carrying this concern around with her. Probably for a while. That dag-blammed movie 2012 came out forever ago, and I’m certain that’s where she first heard about the end of the Mayan calendar.
I thought for a moment how I should respond. My first instinct was to tell her the world wouldn’t end. Not at all. But who can possibly know such things? I went in for a baseline mammogram last week, and despite having not a single symptom of even a boob freckle, I worried all week that the final test would come back positive for cancer. It didn’t. It was normal and clean, and praise and glory.
But, that’s not the point.
The point is, I don’t know what 2012 will bring. There’s something to suspense and mystery and uncertainty. It makes us try harder. It pushes us to alter our existence with all the hope and hard work we can muster to make that unknown space sitting in our future molded with our efforts of today.
I told that little girl of mine as much. “I don’t know what it going to happen in 2012. I think the Mayan calendar is a bunch of bulhonkey, if that helps,” I said. “But can I tell you what I HOPE will happen?”
She nodded. I went on to explain.
A few months ago, I received one of my morning “Letters from the Universe” which arrive throughout the week in my inbox from the brilliant Mike Dooley, founder of Think Unique Thoughts. In it, it detailed Mike’s thoughts on what the end of the Mayan Calendar will mean for the world as we know it. I’ve savored these words ever since:
“National borders will dissolve. Religions will be replaced by celebration centers. Relationships will last longer but marriages will decline…”
I mentioned the essence of Dooley’s little line to my baby girl, then told her, “I hope very much that the world as we know it this year will end. That this will be the year cancer is cured. That nations previously reigned by cruel dictators and caste systems will find freedom. I hope–”
She cut me off. “Do you think we can get rid of global warming in 2012?” Oh dear thing. She’s worried about global warming, too.
This being the New Year, we often find ourselves reflecting on the past. We make resolutions and promises and attempt to tweak the future. Which is precisely what I’m doing right now with Cheeky Kitchen. There’s a major redesign happening behind the scenes, but even more so, I’m adding a new focus to the website.
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon Michael Pollan’s illustrated Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. I’ve always been a fan of Pollan’s work, but this latest attempt to help redefine what makes a remarkable diet feels even more right that any of his previous writings. It very much reflects the real-world diet that feels right to me. There’s the call to eat mostly plants, to not eat cereal that stains the milk, to stay away from anything in a plastic package.
All of Pollan’s food rules strike at the very heart of what my conscience tells me I should be eating.
However, food around my house is a battle. I’ve got a husband who eschews brown rice (he says it ‘sucks his breath) and a daughter who’s 2011 New Year’s goal was to eat salad for the first time ever (she succeeded, dousing romaine with obscene amounts of ranch dressing). Not to mention a teenager who is approaching overweight, and who would eat two spicy McChicken sandwiches everyday if I let him.
There are other issues, too. Like the fact that my schedule is just like your schedule. Crazy hectic. And my organizational skills are barely better than those of a Yeti. I tend to lean toward spontaneity over stringency, which means I don’t even think about boiling a pot of Quinoa until thirty minutes past the point of extreme afterschool hunger.
So the question becomes, how does a real person, with a real family, and a really busy schedule turn Michael Pollan’s Food Rules into a reality? That, dear reader, is the question of the year. I plan to explore each of these Food Rules one by one, finding recipes and real life tips that real husbands and children will really eat.
Along the way, I hope to offer you some serious help in meeting some of your own goals for the New Year. Do you want to lose 15 pounds? Oh.em.gee. Meee too! But I want to do it without losing my mind. Looking to spend less at the grocery store while still eating organic, healthy, inspiring meals? I got your back. Not only do I think we can do it, I believe we’re going to change our lives.
And meal by meal, I believe we’re going to change our world.
After all, many of Pollan’s suggestions support the reduction of greenhouse gases. They encourage cancer-fighting eating habits. They support the economy of your community. Little ripples that have a huge effect on the earth, for our bodies, amongst our families, with our friends.
I’m really excited to walk through 2012 with you here on CheekyKitchen. I’ve set a few other resolutions for myself which I’ll share sometime, and would love to hear what you’re doing to make your 2012 the year that changes your world.
No, we don’t know what will happen, but I like believing that we have the power to make seriously beautiful change happen. Every day. Every meal. Every minute we have.
Let’s eat.
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Beth G from South Jersey on January 2, 2012 at 8:12 am
Wow, thanks for this. You described what basically goes on in my home. We – my husband, & 3 kids, ages 9, 11, & 12 – decided that today we will sit down and discuss healthy food options for dinner and snacks. Our goal is for all of us to not only eat healthier meals, but healthier snacks. It is hard yes, I mean how easy is it to throw together homeade mac & cheese? But if I can serve it with roasted veggies instead of fried hotdogs in it(yes you read that correctly) right there is a start. I look forward to reading your blog and your experiences with this new year – my family and I look forward to joining you!
Bev Weidner on January 2, 2012 at 8:39 am
A.MEN.
Cookbook Queen on January 2, 2012 at 9:43 am
I cannot wait to see what you have planned for the site!!
And I just love all of your thoughts, as always. I firmly believe that you are one of the most talented writers in the food blog universe!! My Jon David has been worried about the whole 2012 thing too…oh to be young and have the weight of the world on your shoulders!! I’m with you…it’s a bunch of malarkey!!
Gwen on January 2, 2012 at 10:50 am
Thank you so much for this. I’m so excited for this year. I’m working on changing our diets to be more in tune with Food Rules too, I can’t wait to see your efforts. Little by little, right? I like the phrase from “Veganist”…lean in. You don’t have to do it all at once, you can just lean in.
Ammie on January 2, 2012 at 11:05 am
Mediums and psychics (I realize that those two words make me sound cray-cray but I promise I’m not) have been saying that 2012 will be the beginning of the end of our world as we know it. People’s consciousness will be expanded and they will be more open to help from other realms. I don’t know about you, but I need all of the help I can get! :) And just think what a world this would be if people were more aware of themselves and the situations they find themselves in on a daily basis and how their actions might affect those around them. Like you, I hope this to be true.
Happy New Year and thanks a bunch for sharing so much of your personal life, thoughts, hopes, and struggles here along with your wicked awesome creativity!
Jill Dickey on January 2, 2012 at 11:20 am
I LOVE this direction for Cheeky Kitchen. I’m a huge fan of Michael Pollen’s Food Rules and I’ve been waiting for someone (with a life similar to mine) to help me implement them better. I’m so excited for this! Go Brooke!
Your food is delicious too.
Leah Nagel on January 2, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Hello, Just found your site and love it. I was wondering where/what kind are your blue flower shaped bowls that are in all your lovely soup pictures?!? I absolutely love them!!! Thanks! Have a happy New Year.
Rachel on January 2, 2012 at 2:18 pm
I don’t think much of the end of the world predictions or believe them. I do believe the reality of our current situation and the Worlds – things will get worse. As for cooking and eating I would love to lose some weight and think we certainly eat to much meat and fat. Lets get back to veggies – full of good carbs and naturally low on fat. Yum yum.
STH on January 2, 2012 at 4:23 pm
I’m with you, Beth G. and Gwen–baby steps are the way to go! I try to sneak as much veg into things as I can; for example, you can replace half of the meat in meatballs with sauteed mushrooms and replace some of the cheese or cream in mac and cheese with pureed winter squash. You can also prep your veg in advance and keep it in the fridge or freezer for quicker dinners. Little changes make a difference.
Amy P. on January 2, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Awesome! I am so excited! I look forward to your posts this year and am eager to follow you and try new meals with my family, I cook new items and it ends up that only one or two of them will eat it and then I feel like I have wasted more food than we eat! I really need help getting my 6 & 4 year old to eat more veggies and beans! & my husband to eat less meat!!
Oh and this year I hope to expand our raised bed garden and to try new veggies & herbs! (I loved it this year, when our boys pulled carrots from the beds -we only had two carrots come up this year, so hopefully I will have more of a green thumb this year too :) anyway, they pulled up a carrot each and I had to hurry fast to get it washed before they could eat it!) Happy New Year!
Reenie on January 3, 2012 at 11:51 am
I love roasted veggies. Readers that have children, that haven’t tried them to see if your kids would like them…..you should try them. I just tried roasted radishes…..and LOVE them!!
Michele Brown on January 3, 2012 at 1:24 pm
I decided to go Vegan and in December started out by doing a vegan diet every other day just to adjust… now I’m full vegan and I am loving how I feel! This is something I never thought I would want to do but it has been a gradual process over the past year of me constantly improving my eating and choosing foods for their health benefit and not simply because I craved them or they were what I’d always eaten. The many benefits far out weigh any food addictions I’ve given up!
Erin on January 3, 2012 at 1:38 pm
I’m really excited about continuing to follow your blog in 2012! I’ve been reading lots of “real food” blogs lately, but I get so overwhelmed and discouraged, especially since I work all day and don’t get home until 5:30. It makes it hard to do a lot of the things these other people do and it is also challenging when my husband prefers cheap white bread. So I’m really excited to journey along with you and get some practical tips to implement as I tweak our eating habits one at a time.
Anna@Tallgrasskitchen on January 3, 2012 at 7:52 pm
What a wonderful way to kick off the new year! I read Michael Pollan’s ‘In Defense of Food’ a few years ago – life changing! It is truly shocking how far away we’ve moved from real food in the past two generations. Looking forward to seeing your ideas in 2012!
Andrea on January 4, 2012 at 10:22 am
I love this. The first image is my favorite.
Cathy on January 4, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I’m with you all the way!
Jul on January 5, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Tell her it can’t end as Marty McFly (Back To The Future series) traveled beyond 2012. :)
anna on January 5, 2012 at 4:01 pm
i love michael pollan, and i’ll have to look into this book. i feel bad for kids these days, and the state of the world they’re going to inherit. my littlest brother is about to graduate high school, and he’s nervous indeed, about everything. jobs, wars, environment, politics. poor kids.
Citly on January 5, 2012 at 4:59 pm
You’re making me really want to buy Pollan’s book – I’ve heard loads of positive reviews for it.
Cumorah on January 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Oh girl. So excited. My completely deep and moving and enlightening 2012 goal is to look awesome in a swimsuit come summer swimming/baby poolside lounging at Lifetime. Just went and spent way too much moolah on healthy food that I really plan on making and not just throwing away with a sigh after it, and my best intentions get moldy. Can NOT wait to see what you have up your sleeve!
Michele Powell on January 6, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Matthew 6:34
New International Version (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
KaraLyn Drake on January 6, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Brooke,
I haven’t visited for awhile. You’re everywhere. It took me hours to look at all your different sites, posts etc. Good for you. Your ideas are awesome as always. How do you keep coming up with such good stuff?
KaraLyn
STH on January 7, 2012 at 11:57 am
Brooke, I thought you might find this inspiring:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/video/video-cook-a-week-of-vegetables-in-one-afternoon-163999
Bev on January 9, 2012 at 11:18 pm
I can identify. My health and eating habits is by no means perfect, but I also gravitate toward Pollan’s views on healthy eating. But my husband is complete opposite of me, and I find it very stressful thinking about who will have the most influence on our 16-month-old daughter. I struggle with finding the time to do more than prepare convenience meals…I really do try, though, even if they are rejected by my toddler. And my husband…he won’t even drink organic milk because he thinks it will taste weird. I have a hard time getting him to eat anything that isn’t white, brown or yellow. I’ll be following your site looking for good ideas for my family.
Linda on January 11, 2012 at 12:54 pm
This is wonderful! Your husband and mine should meet! :) (However, my husband says that candles suck all the air out of a room AND his lungs, not brown rice.) Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us and for all that I will learn or confirm as being on the right path. LOVE your blog.
Angie@Echoes Of Laughter Blog on January 12, 2012 at 6:24 pm
I am look so looking forward to your posts on the subject. I try so hard to feed my kids ‘real food’. I have a 15 yr. old daughter who is a great eater and eats very healthy, I have an 11 yr.. old boy who used to be a very picky eater but has grown leaps & bounds in the last year and will now eat almost anything…but it has been a long road. We just kept offering him different foods over and over again and kept encouraging him to try just one bite. He now eats a bowl of spinach with viniagrette dressing and will have homemade fruit smoothies with oatmeal and spinach. He is very into sports and he goes to school at a hockey academy. They have sessions with a registered dietician and she talks about their performance and what foods they put into their bodies. That really helped with him trying new foods and seeing food ina different light. For his pre-game meal, he asks for whole wheat pasta with some meat sauce or an oatmeal smoothie.
I find the biggest help in keeping everyone eating healthy is planning, planning, planning. Both my kids get home from school at 3pm, so I try to have a healthy snack planned and set right on the table for them so all they have to do is wash their hands and sit down. Yesterday it was homemade bran muffins with real bran and molasses with a big bowl of fresh pineapple. Today it was homemade hummous with carrot sticks and some naan bread. On the days that they have activities, I feed them supper right after school at 3pm so they are not snacking, snacking, snacking all afternoon with hunger on endless rounds of toast or whatever. I try to plan afterschool snacks just like I plan meals. This helps keep me on track and them on track.
Sorry for ‘writing a book’ but it is just such an interesting topic!
Happy New Year Brooke!
Angie xo
candace grubbs on March 12, 2012 at 2:49 pm
i love the food rules book i changed my whole eating lifestyle bc of this book! all of his other books are amazing too i have learned so much about food!