Several times this week I saw references to an interesting story. Evidently, people (in this small study) think that organic also means low-calorie. Given the choice between organic and non-organic cookies with calories clearly labeled (and the same)and people chose the organic ones. They even said they'd eat more of them.
On first read, I thought this sounded totally ridiculous. It's like that old what weighs more: a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? I mean, really, who doesn't know that just because something is grown naturally that it doesn't have a different calorie count?
Upon thinking about it, though, I can see how people do that. I certainly have been lulled a bit by knowing that I'm eating better. It's easy to get caught up in the whole pull of organic food and healthier eating. It's easy to feel like just changing to organic food is doing enough, but it really isn't. I need to be mindful not only about what is organic and what isn't, but what I'm making with those ingredients. Sticking with whole foods goes a long way, but it takes more thought as well. There's the big component, the change I've already undergone: buying different foods, shopping different places, using new recipes, and cutting back on several things. I feel like I've done that well. Then there's the small component, the part that I wrestle with: making those small day to day decisions, meal to meal decisions.
Take today for example: I have a whole fridge full of organic, healthy, delicious food and I even have a couple large sets of leftovers. What do I have for lunch with Lauren? A hamburger and fries at a restaurant. Ugh. I wanted to try this new place and it seemed like something fun to do with my kiddo and I ended up not making very good decisions. I need to find a way to wrestle down that food=fun, food=relaxing bent that I seem to have and make better small decisions. I have a couple of challenges ahead with a group trip to the beach coming up and then a week away for work in which I won't be fixing anything I'll be eating, so we'll see how I do. It's all about doing a little better a little bit at a time. That, and being a good role model for Lauren. That's key.
In fact, I seem to be making some headway on that. Tonight, all she wanted for dinner was applesauce and peas with milk. She ate every bite of a decent portion of each and then declared, "Mommy! I'm a good eater!" I still can't get her to try new things, but at least there are many healthy things that she's already eating. I'm proud of my girl.
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