2008 April Letter
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"I wish I could just take a food pill instead of eating lunch," said a colleague of mine about 15 years ago. My coworker brought a turkey sandwich, carrots and celery sticks every day. He was so bored with eating that he didn’t even bother to pack something different in his lunch. At the time I found this shocking. How could someone lose interest in the wide variety of foods and the pleasure of eating? Now that I have children and a busy calendar, I have days when I understand his logic. Often I find it challenging to find time to figure out what to make for dinner or have the necessary food on hand. It would be easier to just serve the family a healthy pill and get on about my business. These harried moments remind me that this typical American scenario has lead to fast foods, microwave dinners, and prepackaged foods that adorn the shelves of grocery stores.
"Not so many years ago, natural and organic foods were smiled upon as a quirk of cranks and hypochondriacs," explains Bob Schildgen in our Conscious Eating column on page 20. "Today, natural foods have become mainstream. Millions of people now better understand how diet affects their health and environment." In an effort to bolster my own health, I am focusing my diet by choosing mostly plant-based foods. Growing up in a ‘meat centered’ culture makes it challenging to easily conjure a variety of meals centered on vegetables. However, there are many motivating benefits to this type of diet. Meals are less expensive, recipes can be easier to follow than the directions of many prepackaged foods, and the internet abounds with suggestions. Plus, I plan to use the shopping list of recommended foods on page 22. This list of foods for spring is provided by Dr. John Douillard and is based on the teachings of Ayurveda. Ayurveda teaches that we benefit by eating with the seasons. I like the idea of following Mother Earth. It just makes sense.
This issue features a myriad of tips, suggestions, and ideas for creating a natural home. Find out how Qigong can be used to improve the chi in your environment on page 14. Discover ten ways to eat well on page 20. Plus, find out how to catch some green zzz’s on page 26. Then, on page 35, learn how to spring clean the feng shui way. This month, with the aid of the shopping list, I plan to add some new healthy recipes to my arsenal. I hope this issue helps you find an inspiration for your natural home.
Happy Spring!
Kris Urquhart, Editor
