Thursday, May 13, 2010

Ahh! Haa! The Traditional Diet

More than likely the term "traditional" and "diet" used together are a rarity to you.  They were to me.  Now "lowfat" and "diet" were words I knew well.  How about words like kombucha, kefir, lacto-fermentation, dehydrating, sprouting, lactic acid bacteria, kimchi....uhhh, can someone please speak English? :) These were some of my early thoughts when I started to read about the Traditional Diet.  This was a whole new and exciting world for me.

So here it goes.....Ladies and Gentlemen....The Traditional Diet Guidelines

1.Eat whole, natural foods.

2.Eat only foods that will spoil, but eat them before they do.

3.Eat naturally-raised meat including fish, seafood, poultry, beef, lamb, game, organ meats and eggs.

4.Eat whole, naturally-produced milk products from pasture-fed cows, preferably raw and/or fermented, such as whole yogurt, cultured butter, whole cheeses and fresh and sour cream.

5.Use only traditional fats and oils including butter and other animal fats, extra virgin olive oil, expeller expressed sesame and flax oil and the tropical oils—coconut and palm.

6.Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, in salads and soups, or lightly steamed.

7.Use whole grains and nuts that have been prepared by soaking, sprouting or sour leavening to neutralize phytic acid and other anti-nutrients.

8.Include enzyme-enhanced lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages and condiments in your diet on a regular basis.

9.Prepare homemade meat stocks from the bones of chicken, beef, lamb or fish and use liberally in soups and sauces.

10.Use herb teas and coffee substitutes in moderation.

11.Use filtered water for cooking and drinking.

12.Use unrefined Celtic seasalt and a variety of herbs and spices for food interest and appetite stimulation.

13.Make your own salad dressing using raw vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and expeller expressed flax oil.

14.Use natural sweeteners in moderation, such as raw honey, maple syrup, dehydrated cane sugar juice and stevia powder.

15.Use only unpasteurized wine or beer in strict moderation with meals.

16.Cook only in stainless steel, cast iron, glass or good quality enamel.

17.Use only natural supplements.

18.Get plenty of sleep, exercise and natural light.

19.Think positive thoughts and minimize stress.

20.Practice forgiveness.


(I will actually refer to the diet as NT from now on meaning "Nourishing Tradtions"....its the cookbook from an early post)  This is the Traditional Diet (NT) food pyramid. It looks alot different than what I was used to seeing.

I am going to help guide you through how we switched over and what it has done in our lives. This is month 3 of the adventure and I have proof that this change in food choices and preparation is the real deal....Stay Tuned....