"Eat Food" 10-Day Challenge

Someone asked me about where to draw the line between processed and unprocessed food. Milk, flour & sugar are rarely sold unprocessed, for example.

I think Pollan's suggestions are good ones: nothing with more than 5 ingredients, stuff that is sweetened with HFCS, no foods with health claims, etc.

So a plain chocolate bar (cocoa butter, cocoa mass, sugar) would be ok, but a "vegan chocolate coconut delight snack bar (1/3 fewer calories, no saturated fat)" would not be.

But everyone should find their own balance and that's good.

I recently had to make some pretty significant dietary changed for health reasons (I get migraines), and someone turned me towards Michael Pollan. I like his suggestion to eat around the perimeters of the grocery store--you get the basics that way and avoid most of the processed things that live in the middle. I think it's a neat way to think of it :)

Hi, Can I begin this challenge starting May 31st- June 9th? I am on vacation starting June 11th and I know I won't be able to do this challenge then!

Thanks

I love this challenge as I am obsessed with Michael Pollan! I like the line "Eat what your grandmother or great grandmother" would eat. I think it helps with how to draw the line. If you aren't sure if it counts as "real food" then it probably isn't! :) Count me in! Tia

Jen, please go ahead and jump in a little early. Who knows, maybe you will like it so much you'll find a way to keep it going during your vacation. :-)

howunremarkable, I can empathise on the migraines. Yuck. I hope your change in diet improves things. I seem to have fewer when I stop eating meat and dairy. Anyway, welcome aboard the "Eat Food" challenge!

Tia, I agree that Michael Pollan is a writer I want to read more of. The Omnivore's Dilemma really sharpened my focus on food.

If anyone is interested in hearing Michael Pollan speak about "In Defense of Food", he gave a lecture at Google in March. It's on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-t-7lTw6mA

It's an hour long and worth the time.

I have been trying to eat more fruits and veggies and avoid preservatives and am very interested in this challenge but I had a question: Is the "less than 5 ingredients" rule a hard and fast rule?

Because I've trying to make a lot of my meals from scratch, but most of them include more than 5 ingredients and I can't imagine eating only plain fruits and veggies for 10 days. Example: I often make a stir fry with garlic, ginger, a little Thai soy sauce, mushrooms, onions, carrots, broccoli, peppers and brown rice (at least 9 ingredients). Is that something I could eat on this challenge?

Sorry if I'm being slow. I really am interested in this challenge but I want to make sure that it is something I can actually do before signing up.

The "five ingredient" rule is, I feel, just kind of an example, and would generally apply less to foods you're making yourself. If you're making a salad, you might add lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, garbanzo beans, dressing, cheese, etc., and that would definitely be more than five. Or, like you said, you might create a stir fry that has a number of different ingredients in it. And that's good too.

What you should watch out for are foods you're buying that (on the label) list ten or twenty ingredients (most of which you can't pronounce or advertise themselves as artificial colors/flavors). Instead, look for more "whole foods"--grains, fruits, vegetables, etc.--which are closer to the true form of the food.

So, definitely not a hard and fast rule to me...More of just a guideline.

Krazyquilts, I think Pollan is talking about avoiding manufactured foods with five or more ingredients, many of which will be chemical/processed versions of ingredients (HFCS instead of sugar, citric acid instead of lemon juice, etc).

Go ahead and use as many real food ingredients in your cooking as you like. Just stay away from "edible foodlike substances."

I am sure you can do this, and hope that you will!

These ten days - should they be in June or could I start, say, coming Saturday? It seems that a ten-day span with only two working-days is coming for me (and working-days are my worst foes, as I do mostly cook from scratch at home anyway but eat out with my colleagues).

Bonus would be that if I don't succeed well enough, I can try again later then!)

What I don't get are things that are sweetened with both sugar and artificial sweeteners. I get it that there are people who want to have their food with sugar, and there are people who must have sweetener, but who is the target customer for things with both sugar and sweetener?

Thanks for the clarification, everyone! That clears up my confusion. I'm signing up right now! I think this is going to be a fascinating challenge.

Pahasiga, do your ten days whenever is best for you (up until June 20th, which would be the last possible moment to start). I put our sign-up at June 1 to give people time to prepare (researching the concept, finding markets, saving money for increase food costs, etc), but if you are ready now, yay!

Good question on the sweetener/sugar. I think company profits are the reason for this - sweetener is cheaper than sugar. Or perhaps "lo-calorie" health claims influence manufacturers to mix sweet blends. Icky, either way.

Krazyquilts, welcome aboard. I hope you enjoy this challenge.

I love reading everyone's thoughts and info about this "hot" topic! I will check out his YOU TUBE interview. Thanks for the 411 on it. I am very interested in the whole "high fructose corn syrup" being in everything and how America's weight gain can be traced to it. I am one of those that think Splenda and all those sugar derivatives are the devil's work! haha I say...if you want sugar...have sugar...don't eat fake stuff. I like that line of Michael Pollan's about "items masquerading as food". I tried the Locavore Challenge a few months back. That was TOUGH and I live in Northern alifornia near about a dozen or more farmer's Markets. I wish I could jsut buckle down and eat seasonally and locally and organically but I am addicted to Coffeemate Non-Fat Vanilla Creamer and Graham Crackers! ;) I don't think my grandma had either...well...maybe graham crackers? I'm not sure.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?ex=1366516800&en=4c931d0a068a2a1a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

I love this WHY BOTHER Michael Pollan article, too.

Tia, that is a good article. It inspired me to buy some vegetable seeds for my very small balcony gardon. Should be time to plant them soon!

Graham crackers were invented in the 19th century to cool the carnal passions. I think your great-grandmother would have known about them. The Non-Fat Vanilla Creamer, though? No.

Maybe you can figure out what is in it that you like so much and find a more natural version. Have you ever tried vanilla sugar? Put a vanilla bean in a jar of sugar and let it sit a couple of weeks for the flavor to leach into the sugar. It's very good.

Looking forward to this challenge. What a great idea. I will have to check out the interview and the article posted.

The hardest thing for me will be finding something other than half and half for my coffee. I switched back to real sugar (but LOTS less than two years ago when I switched to Splenda) but can't go without half and half. I read the ingredients in half and half this morning... yikes. Lots of added stuff. And you know what is stupid... I always assumed it was "natural." I am going to see if real cream is unadulterated. And if it can be bought without additives, I'll just have to "suffer" 10 days using that instead of half and half. Not sure I'll be able to find something not ultra-pasteurized (which is what I think what requires the additives in my half and half), so if I can't, I'll switch to tea for the 10 days.

I'm not sure what is half and half, but if real cream seems to have too many calories, use milk (we always do, because we don't drink coffee enough, cream would get always sour).

Isn't it funny how "attached" we can be to certain foods and how 10 days w/o them seems like something we have to prepare for? it is fascinating! I had so much fun today going to Earthbound Organic Farms in Carmel. The issue I had is how expensive the organics were. Yes, I know that we must pay more for organics. I am fine with that but to go to the source and pay mpre than I would for the same thing at Costco or Whole Foods seems ridiculous! I am very curious as wo how we can help farmers at Farms Stands and Farmer's Markets to have fair prices. Hmmmm....I never knew half and half was bad. What is in it...a bunhc of stabilizers?

Is "pancakes (made by me; ingredients: egg, sugar, wheat flour, milk; fried in rapeseed oil) with jam (made by my MIL; ingredients: apples, cranberries, sugar") food enough for this challenge? ;)

Mmmm, pancakes with jam! Those sound great - and very real food.

Is it possible that we have our partners assigned according to diet preference? I don't eat meat and would enjoy being matched with someone who is also vegetarian/vegan.
If we swap recipes/tips this only makes sense, right?

Thanks!

also, if anyone is interested - the herbal cleanse - Wild Rose has a really good cook book you can buy - most recipes are between 5-10 ingredients, cheap to make and all natural ingreds. recommended too. I will probably eat from these recipes for this challenge!

Sorry, Jen, but the partner assignment is random. Basically the host can weed out any people who aren't welcome in the swap, but from there all she can do is click a button to automatically assign the partners.

I'm vegetarian, too. If I get meat recipes from my partner, I just won't make them. Personally, I am more interested in my partner's experience of the challenge than her cooking.

Welcome to the challenge!

Ten days almost without any chocolate and I'm still alive!

I am SO looking forward to this challenge! ;o) I've really enjoyed reading the discussion here and have requested The Omnivore's Dilemma from the library so I can read it before I get started hopefully. I've been thinking about the processed foods that I'll really miss but I'm looking forward to finding possible alternatives! I've been trying to eat less rubbish recently anyway but there are still things I think I can't live without! LOL Off to read the NY Times article and watch the YouTube vid now. ;o) So glad to be on board for this one!

I just found out what Twinkies are ... wow. I've never seen them in Australia.

I just got a copy of "In Defence of Food" ("The Omnivore's Dilemma" was sold out in both bookshops I tried) and am looking forward to reading it, and to this challenge.

I'm very lucky - a new fresh produce/fish shop opened up across the road from me a few weeks ago so I have no excuse not to eat more healthily!

I have finished my ten days. Maybe I should try again, maybe I'd do better second time? I did eat some chocolate-covered plums one day, and some chewing gum on the very first one (then I went to write down ingredients, oh wow).

Way to go, pahasiga! Congratulations on being first to start and finish. I hope it was good for you. I'm sure your partner is going to enjoy reading your journal.

No reason not to do it again if you want to. Practice makes perfect, right? I'm hoping that my ten days will kickstart me back into better eating habits that I can continue. I've gotten lazy lately.

Sorry I have had to drop out of this swap due to a couple of unexpected events: business travel and a friend coming to stay. I've read the book and am still very interested in following it. Everyone have fun!

I think that with the global food crisis, as well as rising gas prices (which will affect food imports and exports), this challenge is timely!

I like the idea, I am trying to eat healthier, since I am pregnant. However, I am in the middle of moving... I hope you do it again!

Vanessavh, sorry you won't join us. Moving shouldn't ruin your diet plans - in fact it might be a good time to make a break from bad habits and start eating real food.

I had a long and interesting discussion with my husband last night about what constitutes "real food." He is keen to be strict on this challenge! Store-bought bread will probably not be in our 10-day future. I love to bake brad but sort of wish I'd selected a cooler season for this swap. :-)

I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to shop-bought bread now...

Bread Matters by Andrew Whitley is a brilliant book and definitely worth a read.

I have "Dough" by Richard Bertinet that I am just starting to work my way through. His breads are lovely. I'll see if I can find Bread Matters.

Here we go! Partners are assigned and it's time to eat food and journal it.

Wow I'm really excited as well, even more now that the parters have been chosen.

I've checked most of the links everyone's been giving and searching for articles and even when I don't think I'll be able to buy many books or so; I certainly shall start with buying myself a couple of pots to plant some herbs in them and assure a nice and natural taste.

I've been wanting to do so for a while now. So this is a great chance! :3

I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED THIS SWAP! yes, I am yelling...

Don't yell, join in. You can have me as a virtual partner, since I am blogging my experience (as well as creating a paper journal). Follow along at http://www.mediatinker.com

How is it going? I am finding it quite interesting. I thought it would be relatively easy, since I usually cook at home, but this week has been very social with dinner out almost every night.

I think I'm getting on quite well so far - its day four for me (and my husband), and I think we've managed to eat real Food all day every day! Hooray!

Last week, before I started, I was really busy and I was snacking a lot on rubbish to keep me going through some long days - now I'm having cravings for something full of sugar and additives...

We'll have to wait and see if I can resist!

Good for you, spoonergregory!

I had the same trouble with snacking before I began. I am happy to report that I have made it through day 9 without any bad snacks. Some dried fruit or nuts but nothing with additives. Yesterday no snacks at all. :-)

I made it through ten days without much snacking, too, but now I'm back at my bad habits. :(

Me, too. I guess ten days isn't quite long enough... But at least I am very aware of my snacking now.

Will we have another such challenge? I feel I need badly a 100-day one. ;)

I'd like to do this again, too. Maybe have one for each season? I feel like we hit a lucky time when most Farmer's Markets were open, and some nice stuff, like strawberries and raspberries, were in season... just past the end of asaparagus season too... It would be interesting to see how our eating habits shift in the fall (Sept./Oct.) and again in winter.