It Takes a Village….to Eat Healthy

By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon, FullWell

One of the most common refrains that I hear when people talk about their struggle to stay on the healthy wagon is “I don’t have time.” And I have to say that its not completely without basis with the demands of work, home, family, friends and other obligations. Unfortunately, two things happen: (1) we tend to defer to the “same old routine” of food or much worse (2) we grab the first thing we can, healthy or not.

While a routine of food is not necessarily bad, falling into a rut can often push us to fall off the good food wagon out of sheer….boredom. And grabbing the first thing – that often means fast or processed food – not good.

Sometimes, the former gets the best of me (I would rather starve than eat fast food – and you will too if you watch Supersize Me). Every week I try to make myself plan better but you know what they say about plans. So I was very happy when a friend invited me to join their food co-op. I saw the light at the end of the food monotony tunnel.

A co-op. How brilliant. Basically, the idea is to have a food exchange every week. There is a menu of categories that range from condiments to stews and every week people sign up for what they will bring. Whatever you sign up for you are responsible for making enough for yourself and to share with each of the members.

This was easy for me because when I cook, I cook in bulk anyway. This means I’ll just cook even more and have enough for me, for the co-op and to freeze. How efficient!

BUT the best part was, I will have, in exchange, a whole variety of food! New food. Food that I would not have cooked myself. Jackpot.

So why don’t you give it a try?

Get a bunch of friends on it. Agree on parameters – no processed food, no artificial ingredients, etc. – and GO. Our group meets on the weekend at a rotating location and the drop off is done within half an hour. We get to talk about the food we brought a little bit, which is just as exciting because aside from enjoying the fruits of each others’ labor, we learn a little bit about it too. File under food IQ.

Leah Lizarondo Shannon is an Integrative Nutrition Counselor and Food Educator. She founded FullWell and works with the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine as a Food for Life instructor. More information at www.befullwell.com