Who should we believe? Taking steps toward healthful eating.

Friends, we live in a confusing time.

Low-fat, low-carb, vegetarian, raw food, hormone-free, grain-free, gluten-free, organic, grass-fed, non-GMO, dairy-free, Paleo, Food Pyramid, donut, everything in-between. Everywhere we go, someone is trying to tell us how to eat for the betterment of our health and society. It can be overwhelming to google topics on eating healthfully only to be barraged by contradicting statements by a plethora of people, none of whom seem to be in full agreement.

I guess it is here that I should say that I am highly suspicious of anything our government says or does. I am not anti-government or anti-America or even a mind-always-racing conspiracy theorist; I don't believe everything our government touches will turn to crap. But I am suspicious, and I think that is a healthy place to be. I will not be a sheeple. (Despite what anyone out there may believe about this kinda-liberal-but-also-kinda-conservative-stay-at-home-mommy.)

That goes for large corporations as well.

But I'm also suspicious of the great chorus of bloggers who cry "no grains" and "eat no meat" and "gluten will kill you dead!" Or whatever they personally believe.

I'm suspicious of everyone. Because as a liberal arts educated mom with no degree (I just couldn't decide on one thing!)...I have very little education in anything health related. I have only my common sense and the word of people I have never met. Which is kind of a scary place to be when you live in a tornado of information.

So I am adopting five rules for my family. Or trying. Getting there, anyway.

1. Eat More Fruit and Vegetables. Everyone agrees that fruits and vegetables are a staple in a healthy diet. Especially those that promote healthy blood sugar levels.
2. Avoid Trans Fats. No one believes that any good comes from them, despite the lingering debate on fats as a whole. 
3. Limit Grain Intake to Whole Grains. Grains are a touchy subject. Some people believe you will see  remarkable changes in health after eliminating grains. Others think those people are morons (unless they have an obvious intolerance, allergy, or disease like Celiac). I don't know what to believe, so I'm going to stick with the one thing both parties agree on and that is that WHOLE grains are better than those that are not. 
4. Avoid Processed Foods. Everyone agrees that the more processed a food is, the worse it is for you. Hard to do in this convenience food culture.
5. Eat Organically and Non-GMO Whenever Possible. This is hard. But easier when you eliminate many processed foods. This is a personal belief, and while I will not always follow my own rule...I'm going to try to do my best with what I have been given.

This is just a start. I highly doubt there is going to be a large group of people belying goodness of naturally grown vegetables anytime soon, so it feels like a safe one that isn't too extreme in any direction. 

And believe me, I'm not doing this out of any sense of a higher-calling-than-thou. Really, I'm sitting here eating super processed, non-whole grain pretzels with GMO canola oil in them. I'm not some crazy example of healthful eating by any stretch of the imagination... I'm just a mom who is taking baby steps toward healthful eating...wherever those steps may take me.

Side note: Artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame) are not on the list because I don't even consider them an option. As for refined sugar...well...this is a journey, right? (And it sort of falls under processed foods...)