Food Philosophy | The Rising Spoon

Food Philosophy

If there's one thing I've learned about food philosophies, it's that they change. Or, more accurately, people change and what we choose to eat reflects that growth.

When I created this blog in August 2012, I followed an everything in moderation philosophy with an emphasis on eating less processed foods. I believed that balance was key and restriction was unhealthy. At that time, I was focused on teaching myself homemade recipe staples, so I could save money and rely less on pre-packaged, store-bought foods. I'm still doing that now. There's always something new to learn.

Today, my food philosophy is more closely aligned with the 80/20 rule and a strong emphasis on real food, i.e. less processed foods. 

For example, I now seek out:
  • 100% grass-fed beef
  • pastured eggs & chicken
  • humanely raised pork
  • full-fat dairy (or non-dairy) products
  • healthy cooking fats (like butter from grass-fed cows, coconut oil & real olive oil)
  • local and/or organic produce
  • natural sweeteners (like real maple syrup & raw honey)
  • fresh baked breads
  • foods without added sugar (or less sugar)
  • foods that are GMO-free 
  • foods without a laundry list of weird ingredients (no preservatives, additives, fake sweeteners, etc.)

Check out my recipe index for more of what I like to eat!

The idea behind the 80/20 rule is this:
  • 80% of the time you eat "healthy" (that term is subjective, although most of us will agree that fresh fruits and veggies apply)
  • 20% of the time you eat whatever you want (junk/comfort food, etc.) 

The ratio isn't solid (it can be 70/30 or 90/10), but the important part is it gives you the freedom to splurge.

Flexibility (wiggle room) in your diet is vital because restrictive eating or an obsession with healthy eating (orthorexia) can cause lots of stress, which will deter the benefits of the foods you're consuming. 

Food is for nourishment, enjoyment, and community. Not just for achieving your 100% daily intake of "x" vitamins or macros. It's not about perfection.

The reason I abandoned the everything in moderation philosophy is because there are things I just don't eat anymore. And not because I'm a snobby foodie or adhering to food trends. 

Certain processed foods make me feel sick, so I don't eat them. It's as simple as that.

The momentary satisfaction I felt after eating 1/4 a pint of commercial ice cream or a fast-food (even high-end chain restaurant) burger was not worth feeling gross for hours afterward.

You might be feeling the same way and not even realize it. 

When you eat processed foods for so long (or grow up on them), you become accustomed to digestive issues, or general side effects. Feeling bloated or gassy throughout the day is normal when you're used to drinking several cans of soda a day or eating fast food 2-3 times a week. 

How about upset stomachs, headaches, lack of energy? Sound familiar? Unfortunately, this conjures up memories of my adolescence. I ate way too much processed crap.

The good news is that over the course of the last year and a half, I've made changes in my diet and learned to listen to my body more. I'm removing foods that upset my stomach and my digestion is improving, as are my energy levels. All this while still eating comfort foods, mind you!

Books That Have Positively Influenced My Food Philosophy:
The Nourished Metabolism
Have Your Cake and Lose Weight, Too!
From Scratch
Real Food Survival Guide For Busy Moms 

Here's the thing I want to emphasize to YOU, dear reader: 

Discovering which food lifestyle fits you best is not a destination, but a journey. 

It's not about perfection. What works for one person, may not for another.

Don't stress out over it. 

And don't feel that you have to follow food rules or fit into a "category". By all means, eat whatever you want!

A Balanced & Healthy Food Philosophy | therisingspoon.com

I encourage you to try new foods, push your taste bud boundaries, and listen to your body. Most importantly, mindfully enjoy the food you eat.

Best Wishes,
Elaina


P.S. Want to join me in my real food and healthy living journey? 

Sign up using the form below to get my blog posts delivered straight to your inbox (I usually post 2-3 times a week). 



Or you can sign up for my weekly newsletter and snag two free printable PDFs of the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen List!



Have a question or want to strike up some conversation with me? 

I spend way too much time on Facebook, Pinterest, InstagramGoogle Plus and Twitter, so those are good places to find me. :)


Like my style? Some of My Top Posts, For Your Reading Pleasure: 



32 comments

  1. You go girl! Love your blog, and your recipes. In addition to steering folks away from processed foods, I hope you also get into local, pasture-raised, organic meats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, thank you so much for the kind words, Kathryn! I do primarily eat local, pasture-raised and sometimes organic meats, but I haven't written any articles on my blog about it yet. All in good time!

      Delete
  2. I live by the "everything in moderation" mantra as well! (and the "real food"...), but I love that your food philosophy looks pretty identical to mine! I really, really hope to meet you and all my other new like-minded online pals at the YL convention one of these days (i.e. next year?!!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like it's going to happen! Thanks for taking for taking the time to stop by and comment. :)

      Delete
  3. I love your food philosophy Elaina :) great minds think alike. I also love your blog and now am following it. Natural living is something i'm striving for more and more each day. And I have come a long way with that these past years, on and upward.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jacqueline! I appreciate you stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Making changes for the better is always a work in progress, but it's worth it. :)

      Delete
  4. This is funtastic! I like this website adn aslo would love to reccomend you a pretty serivce for essya adn homewrjk! Dont be shy adn check this professional rewriting services adn be th best my frined! Enjoy! And excellent luck!

    ReplyDelete
  5. substance consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and other nutrients used in the body of an organism to sustain growth and vital processes and to halloween costumes sale furnish energy. The absorption and utilization of food by the body is fundamental to nutrition and is facilitated by digestion.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We staff of the specialized ghostwriter to provide you with high-quality custom-written content. Ghostwriters https://rankmywriter.com/essaypro-com-review of our team are experienced in all scientific fields and adhere to all recommendations and requirements.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cooking food is like you're is like you are performing an experiment in a chemical lab. If you put something less or more than you need then the experiment will be a failure. Now get the service of mobile screen repair Baltimore for more information.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I make a greater effort every day to live a more natural lifestyle. And during the previous few years, with it, I have Masters Green Jacket advanced significantly. The experiment will fail if you include less or more than is necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It covers every aspect of our relationship with food, including how we prepare and consume it as well as how we get rid of the leftovers. Choosing foods that Providing accounting staff are produced in an environmentally conscious manner, eliminating food waste, and promoting local and organic farming are just a few examples of how to do this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful Article and Much worthy to read as well. Thanks for sharing this knowledgeable one Traffic Lawyer Frederick VA
    Virginia Beach Traffic Lawyer

    ReplyDelete
  11. I found lot of interesting information from your post.
    My Health Online

    ReplyDelete
  12. When you cook, it's similar to conducting an experiment in a lab of chemicals. It addresses every facet of digimarketinginc.com our connection with food, including the preparation, consumption, and disposal of leftovers.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A person's approach to food, eating, and nutrition is determined by their food philosophy, which is a body of ideas and tenets. Food philosophy is really about making informed decisions about what we eat and how we prepare it. Dubai Expo 2021 Dates

    ReplyDelete
  14. maintain the nice work!

    A Abogado Conducción Imprudente Nottoway VA is a legal professional who specializes in defending individuals charged with reckless driving. Reckless driving is a serious traffic offense in Virginia, and individuals charged with this offense can face severe penalties, including fines, license suspension, and even jail time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The good news is that Small Business Accountants I've altered my diet and improved my ability to pay attention to my body over the past years. I'm cutting out stomach-upsetting foods, and my digestion and energy levels are also becoming better.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for sharing this beautiful content its very useful for us and i wish you to share more interesting blog like this thanks. reckless driving in virginia

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for a great blog.. I love to read a process.. Great post..

    encontrar un abogado de bancarrotas cerca de mí

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, looking so delicious, want to try this at home and really want to taste it at once in my life. Traffic Lawyer Lunenburg Virginia

    ReplyDelete
  19. I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for sharing a nice post. Thanks for sharing a wonderful article. Traffic Lawyer Southampton VA

    ReplyDelete
  20. This blog post is a breath of fresh air! Your positive energy and uplifting message shine through every word. Thank you for brightening my day with your inspiring content! Protección Orden Nueva Jersey

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, your blog post is a masterpiece! The depth of knowledge displayed is awe-inspiring, and the way you effortlessly break down complex ideas is commendable. I particularly appreciate the practical insights you provide, making it easy for readers to implement the concepts discussed. This is undoubtedly an outstanding contribution to the field.
    New Jersey Domestic Violence Law

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow, this blog post is simply incredible! I love how it dives deep into the topic while keeping it engaging and easy to understand. Abogado de Invadiendo del Condado de Monmouth The author's passion and expertise shine through every word, making it a joy to read. Kudos to the writer for sharing such valuable insights!

    ReplyDelete

Blogger Template Created by pipdig
Customized and Tweaked with Love by The Lady Gadget
Back to Top