National Nutrition Month with Biblical Insights

March is National Nutrition Month. The celiac life style is a fairly healthy way to live, if you know how to do it right. It is easy for new celiacs to get caught up in the prepackaged gluten free hype. While these products are convenient they are still not perfectly healthy. Having gluten free cookies and snack cracker on hand is fine, as long as they are eaten in moderation. Moderation is the key no matter how anyone eats. These prepackaged gluten free foods can be costly so I try to make more than what I buy pre-made. Sticking to a grocery list that is primarily fruits and vegetables with good sources of protein is the secret to any healthy life style and a economical gluten free one.

By filling our plates with good foods that come from the Earth and not by man, we closer to they way God intend man to eat. Some would argue that a vegan or vegetarian diet is what God intended since Adam and Eve didn't kill animals as part of their food supply, but we enjoy our meat and God did ok the eating of animals later. Now I don't care if you eat meat or not, that is up to you and I enjoy have vegetarian meals a couple times a week. I mostly care about where our meat comes from, and what the chicken or cows were eating before they became our meatballs and chicken nuggets.

In the book of Daniel we see the benefit of eating health that is now know as the Daniel Diet. The original reason for the Daniel Diet was for the soul reason that Daniel and his friends wouldn't be eating food that was offered to idols, a big no-no according to God's law (Daniel 1:8-17). Now this diet is a good diet to follow as a healthy guideline in our modern times. Many books have been written calming this diet to be a detox or as a fasting regiment (Daniel 10:2-3). I first looked up this diet when my Bible study group was doing Beth Moore's study on Daniel and doing the Daniel Diet; as I read through the list I came to realize that this is basically how I eat now, except the meat and the occasional treat. Here is what the Daniel Diet or the Daniel fast details according to Daniel Fast. 

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava,

honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon

All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.

All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.

Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

This list is pretty close to how I do things on a daily bases, except I still eat meat. Also, the grain section has to be changed for us celiacs, but there are plenty of good whole grains for us to eat like qunioa, sorghum, brown rice, millet, and buckwheat. Sweets are a fine treat in moderation as well, but fruits do satisfy the sweet-tooth. I try to avoid fried foods as much as I can, but everything else seems fine and pretty reasonable and easy to do.

Our church recently went through a 21 day fast and many chose to do the Daniel Diet or give up sweets or coffee, and some gave up solid foods. I was talking to an older lady at our church about health and how food affects our body. She shared with me that she did the Daniel Diet during the all church fast and was telling me all about how her body was feeling better and how much she just liked how she felt after eating all those fruits and vegetables. She has more energy and was feeling great in her mind, body and soul; well enough to maybe continue to eat that way after the fast. It was so refreshing to hear a person rave about this diet and thinking that my eating life style was honorable. I even over heard her tell another person that eating the Daniel Diet way could help them solve some of their many health complaints that we mostly assume comes with age. 

God commands us to take care of our bodies, "After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church." Eph 5:29. Christ loves us so much he gave his life for us and he calls the church his bride. The way God loves the church is called agape love. This love type is how we should love other. This type of love puts the needs of others be for our own needs; we have their best interested in mind, even if they want something else. By feeding and caring for our bodies the way Christ cares for the church we are putting what is healthy and good for our bodies over what is harmful. We should take care of the body that God gave us with love and respect. We should feed ourselves good things and do what we should to keep healthy. Eating junk food and man made foods are junking up our bodies and can cause all sorts of health problems. I won't go into detail about that, so many talk shows talk about how junk food is bad for us already.

I can't stand fast food chains, all of the things that they put into the food; as Mark Bittman said "11 weird ingredients you would never keep in your kitchen." in his responds to McDonald's oatmeal disaster. If I don't know what is in the food I am going to eat, then I won't eat it. If I can't remaster the same thing at home, why would I buy it else where? The whole fast food thing makes me sick just thinking about what all they put into food then sell it like it's all ok and safe. After reading what was in Taco Bell's so called "beef", it became more aware to me just how much we put our taste buds over health. The whole stigma that "If it taste bad it's good for you. Only unhealthy stuff tastes good," no wonder our country has such problems with losing weight and getting healthy. We put our taste buds, who are only in contact with food for a few seconds, over our bodies who have to break it down, digest, and pass it around the body for the next day or more. If we teach our kids that only healthy stuff taste bad, then they will grow up thinking the same thing and teaching it to their kids.

Eating healthy starts as a family. I am healthier now that I have gone gluten free. I have learned so much and I wouldn't want to change that. I eat better, I feel better, and I am finally getting to the weight I want to be. And no I'm not depriving myself either, I just eat smart. I'm not a big fruit eater, but my daughter is, because of her we keep a lot of fruit in the house. By enjoying a snack with my child have I learned that fruit really does satisfy that sweet-tooth craving and I don't have to feel guilty if I eat "too" many. A healthy life starts with what we eat, whether it's for health reasons or food allergies, food is the foundation for life, and how we feel. Enjoy your food, always, but be smart about it and teach your kids that healthy foods do taste good.