A guest post by Michelle of Self Sufficient Health
Striving to live in traditional simplicity, I am seeking both traditions and foods that are centuries old. As I approach this lifestyle, I also am striving to keep it simple. I have become in-tuned with how my body works and I definitely do not deal well with stress. As a result, a simple life is necessity. When I try to change too much or do too much, I always inevitably mentally and/or physically shut down.
January 2009, I had a “shut down” month after discovering some ugly truths. I discovered, in my opinion, the not so coincidental similarities in the rising rates of the use of chemicals and in infertility. At this very point, my husband and I had been trying to conceive our second child for 8 months. We also have family who have struggled with infertility and getting pregnant as well. It just really hit home, and as I learned about chemicals in personal care products, cleaning products, etc., we began making changes slowly. Initially, we began switching to healthy alternatives to our personal care items, cosmetics, and cleaning products. Then we began to discover whole foods throughout that entire year.
This recent year is when we both really decided to make major dietary changes. It was after working in a local health food store, meeting others living healthier lives, reading “Nourishing Traditions”, and finally “The Maker’s Diet” that sealed the “contemplating” for me. We both made the New Year’s resolution to lose ten pounds by March 1st. Our goal was met by February 1st by just cutting out almost all processed foods.
Today, we still are a long way from eating a completely whole, real food diet, but I believe in making changes as you can comfortably and afford-ably do so. We strive to buy and eat more fruits, vegetables, and meats before worrying about sustainable and/or organic. The if/when our budget allows for this, we do buy sustainable and/or organic. I also believe that meal planning is the number one tip I would suggest for keeping things simple in a transition to eating more real foods. When I stray from meal planning, our diet and/or our budget suffers as a result.
Michelle Brumgard is the owner of Self Sufficient Health. She is a Christian mom seeking out the best for her family’s minds, bodies, and spirits. While staying home with her almost four year old, she enjoys learning more about eating traditional foods, living a more natural lifestyle, while keeping all of it simple.
