Hello Loyal Soup People!
Last week, two more studies were released extolling the virtues of eating a natural, plant-based diet in order to achieve optimal health. One study reported, quite frankly, eating processed food makes you gain weight. The second one reported that a low-fat, plant-focused, whole grain diet can help prevent breast cancer.
Why, then, do we consider it indulgent to eat pizza, ice cream, and donuts? Why are we trained to “treat” ourselves to sugar, fat, and salt? My friends, we’ve been brainwashed. Big food companies spend a LOT of money finding that sweet spot that combines the perfect ratio of fat, sugar, and salt that makes processed food, well, addictive. There’s a reason we have trouble having just one chip. A lot of scientists have worked to make sure we have several – too many! And then what happens? Our weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, risk of disease, etc. goes up. Our happiness goes down. Our energy is low. Remind me again why pizza is a treat?
How about we flip this narrative. Instead of craving a dessert of donuts and ice cream, why not dream about a seasonal roasted vegetable salad on a bed of freekah with a drizzle of tahini dressing? This might not sound indulgent now. But, if you retrain your brain, slowly, to crave these types of food, treating yourself will feel a lot better. The day after eating all natural, minimally processed, plant-centered food you might weigh a bit less. You’ll have more energy. Stubborn acne? Yes, that probably will start clearing up after a few weeks. Seriously. The power of food is astonishing. And when your blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and disease risk start falling, life is more fun.
You can count on this column to continue to provide motivation. I believe in you. You can do this!!
Love,
Soupermom
*NOTE – Soupermom is not a licensed dietitian, doctor, personal trainer, or anything like that. She’s just extremely knowledgeable about healthy living!! But if you slip and fall while taking her advice, it is not her fault!
Marilyn Polon (Soupermom), Co-Founder and CAO (chief anxiety officer) has been worried about Soupergirl since the company launched in 2008. Actually, even before that. Her career has also been random and fascinating. After twenty years as a speech therapist, Soupermom changed careers and became a volunteer coordinator. She then had a wonderful stint as a docent at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. She was then dragged out of retirement by her daughter who insisted that they start a soup company. Could that be any more random?
All of the company’s recipes come from Soupermom’s kitchen. Honestly, she’s a testament to the power of healthy eating. Her hobbies include really long hikes, walking, doting on her granddaughters, and coming up with new recipes for Soupergirl. She is also a guru of all things health related but gets the words to every single song she sings incorrect. All of them. Loudly. Lastly, her laugh is contagious.