Book Report

Yesterday I just read the book “Food Rules” by Michael Pollan and I’m now a big fan. His theory is “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” Makes sense and as you read it through it gives some great tips on how to do that without going crazy. It includes 64 simple rules for eating healthily and happily. He wrote many of them but others were collectively gathered from folklorists and anthropologists, doctors, nurses, nutritionists, dieticians, mothers, grandmothers, readers, conference audiences and even responses to a blog from fans who suggested helpful rules of their own. Of course, he didn’t include probable rules from the blog such as, “Eat greasy food in the morning to cure a hangover” or “Calories don’t count if no one sees you eat them.” This book doesn’t focus on nutrients or antioxidants because there are more important truths about food in our lives. Overall it was a very healthy read for me. Interestingly enough, being a nutritionist makes it a bit more difficult to have a healthy relationship with food. I have felt myself fall into a cult-ish way of thinking about food and much of it has come from my job. This book brought me back to the roots of what first turned me on to nutrition and gave me a little wake up call. In looking back at my last post I noticed how I felt as if I had to explain the way I “normally” eat as if required blueprint structure and as if you cared. I went back and forth on including that little portion of the blog and it felt more comfortable for me to leave it in there and explain myself. BUT I suppose that little explanation was purely selfish. Anyway, I’m working on not having to do that anymore. This book will help me do that. Although all the rules are very helpful, I found myself drawn strongly to two of them. One is very pertinent to this blog and the other is a great rule for EVERYONE. So here they are:

Rule #41 – Eat more like the French or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks. Ummmm, Hello! I love that rule. It fits right into my passion for traditional and cultural food. He goes onto mention that people who eat according to the rules of traditional food culture are generally healthier than those who eat a modern Western diet of processed foods. Notice I said “traditional” and I’m going to go ahead and add the word “authentic” because I don’t want you all running to Panda Express or Little Caesars to get your Chinese and Italian food. I’m talking about whole, real, home cooked traditional cultural food; not the Americanized and/or fast food versions. These cultures are less exposed to the highly processed foods that have taken over the American diet. But it’s also not just the type of food that these cultures eat, it’s also “how” they eat. Many have small portions at leisurely communal meals, no second helpings or snacking, and suggest stopping eating before being 75 – 80% full. They express a whole other relationship with food than most Americans.

Rule #64 – Break the rules once and a while. Obsessing over food rules is bad for your happiness and probably for your health too. He goes on to say that cultivating a relaxed attitude to food is very important; dieting and worrying too much about nutrition has made us no healthier OR slimmer. I am a PRIME example. Although I have come a long way in my obsession with food, I still struggle a little bit with the worry. That comes along with the job though. Working in the food industry in the manner that I do, feeds the worry much of the time. My hope is to change that. This blog, the film project, travel and cultural exploration is going to help me do that. This rule allows for times when you will “want to” and actually “will” throw the rules out the window….and that’s ok…ALL IS NOT LOST. “What matters is not the special occasions, but the everyday practice – the default habits that govern your eating on a typical day.” Well said, Mr. Pollan.

So….no more explanations from me about the way I am eating in terms of defending myself and the supposed rules I am required to have as a nutritionist. All explanations from here on out will be about the delicious or not-so delicious cultural food I will be trying out and the experiences that I encounter on this journey called Thyme 2 Travel.

Spanish Tapas

I suppose if I am going to claim to be a cultural foodie, then I better get to blogging about cultural food. Last night I dropped into Tapas Valencia in Chicago South Loop for a little Vino and Spanish tapas. According to the menu it is the “Number 1 Spanish Tapas Restaurant in Chicagoland.” Guess I picked a good one. With the Spanish music in the background, at least one Spanish hottie waiter, and some Spanish language lingering in the air, it felt a little like I just might be in Spain. That is until I looked up to see the NBA playoff game playing on the TV above the bar and heard some obnoxious American women hooting and hollering with a table covered in empty glasses.
So, what are tapas? When I was looking at the Tapas Valencia website they had a cute little video about the tradition of tapas.
- Tapa means "lid" or "cover" in Spanish. There are several explanations for why it has come to denote a type of food but the most commonly cited explaination is that in the old days when there was no air conditioning a piece of bread would often be placed on top of a drink to protect it from fruit flies. The customers would then eat the bread along with the drink served, so taverns started competing; putting different toppings on the bread. Each tavern became known for their own special tapas.

The idea of tapas is very appealing and fun as well because you are able to try several small dishes instead of one entrée as opposed to the traditional way of dining. Many restaurants have expanded the idea beyond spanish food and serve various small plate items, calling it "tapas". Also, as with any cuisine exported from its original country, there are almost ALWAYS significant differences between the original Spanish dishes and the dishes as they are served in America claiming to be Spanish. Needless to say I’m not sure that what I really got would have been a traditional dish from Spain but since I won’t be hopping on a plane to Spain anytime soon, this was the best I could do for now.
After taking a few sips of my much desired glass of Vino Rojo, Altos de Luzon, I ordered a couple plates: Queso de Cabra – Baked goat cheese with garlic bread and the Calamares a la Plancha – grilled squid with garlic olive oil. When the waiter brought me what I ordered, I was somewhat bummed as the goat cheese was actually engulfed in a bowl of cream of tomato soup and the garlic bread surrounding the bowl was your typical toasted baguette smothered in garlic olive oil. Although it was quite tasty, what I really wanted was just the baked goat cheese to spread on a fresh plain baguette. (I suppose I should just went to the cheese shop then huh?) What can I say; Sometimes I just like real, simple, and delicious. The squid wasn’t the best grilled squid I have ever had either and the amount of garlic on it would have scared anyone away from me for about a week. Many people don’t like the chewy, rubbery texture but I love it and even crave it from time to time.

Queso de Cabra

Calamares a la Plancha

Overall it was fun to do some food documenting again and I look forward to many more like it. I can already tell this hobby is going to fight the nutritionist in me a little bit as well as put a dent in my check book (wait, do people even use checkbooks anymore?), BUT on the flip side it’s also going to increase my somewhat non-existent social life that I have been needing to work on since I moved to Chicago. Salud!

What's your favorite tapas?

Vision Boards

Sari and I spent our stormy Saturday night at home making vision boards. Not sure how to best describe what they are but I guess I would say a vision board is a sort of collage that represents your passions and hopes for your life: your “vision” of your future. There are no rules, no boundaries and no instructions. It’s an awesome way to express things that are important to you, what makes you happy, and what you hope for. This way you can always see it, en“vision” it, feel it, and remind yourself of your passions, hopes, and dreams every day. If you don’t set some goals you can never achieve them and if you don’t express what you want, you’ll never get it. You gotta put it out there; dip your toes in; and dabble in every opportunity that come your way. I’m not saying you’ll always get what you want because we all know the big man upstairs has his plans for you but you can at least strive for things, express your passions and move towards your calling. Sometimes you may find yourself fall off the path from time to time but you’ll always be guided back on, you just gotta pay attention.
While making the boards, we just looked through magazine after magazine and cut out the words, sayings and pictures that drew us in and represented ourselves. Then we pasted it all together with whatever rhyme or reason we felt at the time. I can’t stop smiling when I look at mine. Really! When I finished it, I lifted it up and just stared at it. I didn’t realize Sari was looking at me and before I knew it she said, “I wish I had a camera right now to capture that huge smile you have on your face.” There is an indescribable feeling that rushes through me whenever I look at it, still. So I mounted it on the wall above my bed and now I can see it every day and night and can be reminded of the vision I have for my life and get excited about what lies ahead. So cool! I definitely recommend this crafty cutting and pasting activity. Come on people! Bring out your inner child; pull out the finger paints, the glue sticks, and those little childproof scissors that barely cut a thin sheet of paper and you get your big fingers stuck in those tiny holes while your hand cramps up after two minutes of snipping. Or just grab the big kid ones :) Do it! It can’t hurt.

Have you ever made a vision board? What would you put on it?

Just the Beginning

Ready Set Go….This may start off a little slow but it’s only going to grow. Wow…that’s kinda cheesy that that all rhymes…oh well, it’s the truth. You’re about to join me on a journey through food, culture, travel and much much more. I miss writing about food, I miss taking pictures of food, I miss traveling, and I miss cultural experience. Chicago is really a super cool city but definitely not my home. I’m a traveling soul; always looking for my calling, always listening for my heart song, and always ready to take a risk. I suppose that’s why I’ve been hopping around for the last 4 years and currently only have with me: a $20 craigslist dresser, my unstylish clothes and a car that has taken me all the way across the country. With all that said, this blog is going to be a much needed creative outlet for me and a hopefully a fun read for you. This is only the beginning. The optimal goal is to be able to blog, document, travel, and volunteer all around the world. Doors are opening for that possibility and I’m ready to share it. My friend Sari and I recently started a new film production company called Thyme 2 Travel Productions. Check out our website: http://www.thyme2travel.com/. There isn’t much there yet but hopefully one day soon you will get to see some demo trailers, some videos, and some great links as we figure this all out ;) Gotta start somewhere right? (My awesome brother and graphic designer, Levi, designed our logo and its badass.)

We are currently working on a local pilot show for public television in hopes of eventually reaching a larger audience in the near future. It will start off as a Chicago-based show about food and culture: two things I absolutely love but the optimal goal would be for it to be international. Sari and I couldn’t be a better business partner match for each other. She’s a rock’in editor in the Television Industry and LOVES travel and I’m a rock’in nutritionist and foodie and LOVE travel, so how can you NOT combine that! I can’t wait for you all to see the finished product on the big screen one day. So follow along as I take you with me on this exciting, spontaneous, and unpredictable ride through food, culture, travel, and TV.