Eat Food Challenge 2nd Edition

Hello there!

The first Eat Food Challenge was quite some years ago. But I still go back and read the beautiful journal I was given back there. I was partnered with the host, Mediatinker. I asked her once (like, ages ago, at least two years) whether a second swap would come to life and though she denied wanting to do another, she told me that I could feel free to do another one.

So here I am.

I will copy the exactly same text that Mediatinker wrote, you can visit the original swap here, I hope you find this Challenge interesting and join!

As a side note, after you read the original requirements, I ca tell you that on the last pages of Michael Pollan's article are a couple of rules that can help you decide which food is real food and which is not.

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

This is sage advice about how to eat healthily. It makes sense, but have you tried it? How about giving "eat food" a try for ten days and see what happens? While you're at it, keep a journal about the experience to send to your partner.

About EAT FOOD

What does "eat food" mean? Author Michael Pollan says this is about eating foods your great-grandmother would recognise. Avoid processed foods, i.e. foods with more than five ingredients; anything bearing a health claim; ingredients you can't pronounce (or additives, even if you can pronounce them); anything made with high fructose corn syrup; foods that are not perishable (like Twinkies).

Michael Pollan wrote the Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, two books about sensible eating. He has a good (long) article in the NY Times called Unhappy Meals that lays out the fundamental principles of eating food, not too much, mostly plants. Skip to the second-to-last page for some advice about how.

About the CHALLENGE

For ten consecutive days of your choice before the end of the swap, strive to eat no processed foods. Cook from meals scratch. Love your food.

Keep a journal of your experience.

About the JOURNAL

Whatever notebook is handy will work, or you can use your computer to create your journal for print. I'd suggest at least one page per day.

You might want to explore some of these topics:

Why are you doing this challenge? What was it like to shop for food? Did it increase or decrease your food spending? How did "eating food" make you feel; did you notice any changes in your digestion, your skin, your mood? What do you normally eat? Did you have a triumph in the kitchen? Did you slip and eat some junk food? Did your family participate, too? What did they think of it?

Feel free to include grocery receipts, recipes, photos, or any ephemera that documents your 10 days.