Conlin - ABCs of Food

Copyright 2015, Patricia Conlin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.

The material in this publication is provided for information purposes only. Procedures, laws and regulations are constantly changing and the examples given are intended to be general guidelines only. This book is sold with the understanding that no one involved in this publication is attempting herein to render professional advice. If nutritional or health-care advice is needed, seek out a professional.

Book: ISBN 978-0-9940136-1-3

E-Book: ISBN 978-0-9940136-0-6

Smashwords Edition

Edited by: Catherine Leek of Green Onion Publishing

Cover Design: Cindy Cake of WeMakeBooks.ca

Interior designed and formatted by: Heidy Lawrance of WeMakeBooks.ca

E-book conversion by PrestonSquirePublishing.com

This book is dedicated to my parents, family, and children. Also to all children as they are the seeds for the future health of the planet.

Eat well, move well, think well be well.

The doctor of the future will give no medicines but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the causes of disease.

Thomas Edison

(1847-1931, American inventor and businessman)

I met Tish (Patricia) Conlin through a professional nutritionists conference and could see immediately that she was an energetic and incredibly knowledgeable individual with a big heart and intentions to make a difference in the world. She may be petite but she is a passionate dynamo.

Today we are facing not only a global obesity crisis but a human energy crisis of epidemic proportions. Its all being driven by the fact that we are eating what I call a Lethal Recipe of processed foods that is toxic, addictive and leaving most people (even the affluent) malnourished. The antidote is to return to eating real food as close to nature as we can source it and in a genuine context how it is found in nature.

Given the effects of the Western diet and the ensuing escalating health care costs, Tishs book, ABCs of Food, delivers practical tips for cooking, eating, and health, while sharing inspiration to make positive changes in your life.

When you return to eating real food it will nourish, energize and protect your body so that it can perform at a higher level, achieve more, live longer and you will have greater quality of life along the way.

ABCs of Food is ideal for busy working professionals and anyone who wants an easy-to-read book that offers more than simple nutrition but includes ways to cope with your busy life and the plethora of information that comes at us about nutrition and health.

Enjoy the stories, gain insight from the articles, inspect the real foods, peruse the nutritional information and try out the recipes and make them your own. Dip into the book as you need inspiration or become inspired to try out a new food that may just contain the nutrients your body is craving.

I know that if you take the information in this book and use it to replace even one processed meal a day, you will notice a difference in your energy levels and your waistline; two meals a day and you will start to think more clearly and perform at a higher level. If you replace all three meals a day with real food, it will dramatically change your life for the better. ABCs of Food is a great tool to start you on that process.

May you enjoy every bite of your return to eating real food!

Sherry Strong

Author of Return to Food - the life-changing anti-diet

http://www.returntofood.com

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

J.R.R.Tolkien

(1892-1973, English writer, poet, philologist)

Yes, it is true! You are what you eat!

I am sure you have heard that before but really think about it for a minute. ABCs of Food will set out to answer some basic questions about common foods and show you the benefits of eating a diet rich in real food. In addition, I will introduce you to some new foods that might be healthy, fun, and delicious to try out with your family and give you some delicious recipes at the end. Eating well is one the best things you can do not only for yourself but for the health of your community, country and planet. There is a link between you and the food you eat that is powerful and we will explore some ideas to help keep healthy living a key goal for you and your family.

Before I go too far, I want to make a big confession. I have always loved food and eating. In my life it has been an on-going joy and fascination. But, a number of years ago, I started taking shortcuts, even though I thought I was eating healthy food. As a mother and small business owner, I was more concerned about how fast I could get something ready for dinner than cooking myself, using fresh ingredients. I assumed processed food would be just as nourishing and children who are picky eaters made cooking dinner more frustrating. Sure I have always loved vegetables and did cook occasionally but cooking wasnt part of my daily routine. I simply felt I didnt have time and I am sure you might feel the same way.

For me, being a sports lover, working out used to be a priority and I started putting exercise ahead of cooking for health benefits. This was a big mistake. I realize now that you need to both spend time cooking and eating homemade meals and exercising but it doesnt have to be a gourmet dinner or a marathon. Simply learning a few good solid recipes each year for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with simple exercise like walking, gardening, yoga, swimming, cross-country skiing or whatever you enjoy a few times a week should be plenty. Focus on what you can do that makes you feel good and eat better!

The last few years, I have returned to my love affair with food and my interest in learning more about the food industry. I went back to school and became a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and have spent years voraciously reading about and studying food, health, diets, agriculture, and many aspects of the current food model, as well as investigating leading experts advice of the best ways to eat and live today for longevity and happiness. I hope to pass along some of my insights to you so you can consider implementing small regular changes to your familys diet and making cooking with fresh whole ingredients a cornerstone of every day or at least every week! For me I noticed a huge difference in my health and stress levels almost immediately when I upgraded my diet and I hope you will too!!

Even if you cant change your eating habits and health habits all at once, you can make a commitment to change in small realistic ways and challenge yourself to do more each year. Every effort is a success and nothing should feel impossible or overwhelming. Making changes to your diet doesnt have to be expensive either. Buying better quality food or growing and storing your own can actually reduce your grocery bill!

We all need food to survive and food is also a great source of community and joyful celebration in cultures around the world. Daily preparations and conversations when eating food are truly one of our greatest pleasures in life! Lets all strive to eat better, cook more, and eat healthy food on a more regular basis. When we go out, lets frequent local restaurants that serve nutritious, delicious, local ingredients and support small-scale food production everywhere!

Improving your health with better food choices