We are what we eat

As we start the new year, a lot of resolutions will again be made and without fail, we will not follow all of them anyway. But we try and every year, we would like to start on a clean slate. Let us try once more to change our diets because we are what we eat.

I have a story of two dogs who were born in the farm. One of them stayed at the farm and feeds on some dog food, fresh buko (young coconut) and is free to forage around the farm. His sibling was brought to an exclusive village, fed only dog food and could only walk around the small property where the house stands.

A year after, we can compare them. The one who walks the farm, feeds on coconut and forages is a healthy, happy dog. The one who grew up confined is grumpy, barks at everyone but has a slender body and a nice coat, owing to frequent baths with madre de cacao shampoo. Even for dogs, their appearance is largely due to diet and their lifestyle. I believe it is the same for humans.

When you see a family with many obese members, they probably feed on a lot of meat, fast food, high fat and low fiber. It is not just heredity that causes us to be obese but the lifestyle our family espouses. So, look back at what is served at home.

Of late, many teenagers are on the heavy side because of our changing dietary habits. It seems normal to be obese, as people with large middles can wear tight fitting t-shirts with much confidence.

When and if they choose to change eating habits due to sickness, it may be too late to ward off diabetes and kidney disease, or even strokes. That is the scary part. They can have healthy genes but poor eating habits.

So, can we resolve to have healthier eating habits this year?

Know your farmer. I know it is easier said than done. But if you have the chance to know the farmer where your vegetables come from, you will be assured of a source of healthier greens. In our little plot we can harvest papaya and vegetables like pechay and kangkong. If you have no access to a farm yourself, look for a farmer whose practices you believe in – biodynamic, permaculture or organic

Avoid chicken and fish, too. Many of us avoid red meat like beef, but choose chicken no matter what kind. Chicken is quite allergenic. Some people I know can only tolerate organically-grown chicken, which is extremely hard to get. So, if you can avoid chicken, do so.

Another subject we like to discuss is sustainable seafood. I prefer deep sea fish than farmed fish. Not to be overly picky, I really do not favor farmed tilapia (St. Peter’s fish) and bangus. Read about Omega 3 and Omega 6 and understand fish better. If you have to have fish, check out Sinaya seafood’s choices of dried fish, fish snacks and sustainably-farmed squid.

What about meat? This Christmas I am certain you consumed a lot of pork (lechon, ham  and other specialties) and beef (lechon baka, steaks and chops). This new year, try to go off meat for a month or even a few days. You will feel lighter and maybe healthier, too. As for me, if I cannot resist a good steak, I try to space it out. After eating beef or pork, I rest from meats for three days or 72 hours at the very least. That way, I feel my system resets and starts anew.

Sugar and its family. We had a field day with sugary drinks, desserts and sugar’s friendly siblings – rice and bread. Now is the time to substitute healthier choices. Instead of soft drinks, take soda water. It has the fizz without the calories. Instead of white rice or fried rice, switch to sourdough bread. It has a lot of benefits for your gut. Instead of rice or potatoes, get sweet potatoes. Substitute boiled saging saba (plantain or cooking banana) for your snack instead of meat pies or empanada.

A lot of people will find me corny and boring when I suggest changing diets at the start of the year, which actually is a good time to start anything new. But the real secret is NOT to tell anyone you are on a diet. You can simply state your choices of healthier substitutes without looking or sounding like a real bore.

In the end, it is always your lookout and only yours. It is a healthier choice to know what you should eat and not what people tell you to eat. It is very personal and unless asked, I really do not tell people I am switching or substituting healthier options. Once at a lauriat lunch, I got away with eating a vegetarian diet without sounding like a health guru. And people followed suit. The vegetarian choices were so good, you forget it is a healthier choice.

I was a vegetarian for a year, a pescatarian another year and a flexitarian most of the time. What works for me and I guess for you is to eat everything in moderation. You can taste it but not binge. I can control portions, thank God, and I know how to just “taste” and enjoy the gustatory experience while watching not calories but the quality of what we eat.

Quality of food is number one. Taste is another criterion. Do not endure food that you have to force yourself to swallow. Like bad wine and bad coffee, avoid bad food. It is more courteous to skip food than not swallow it. You can always feign an allergy to something in the food and get away with avoiding it.

We are what we eat. Let us try to be the healthier person we all want to be.

Eat well and live well. Happy New Year!