how does karen learn about food?

10 degrees this morning for the run.  I am intrigued at how much I LOVE getting out there and running in the cold.  Is my need to be a badass that strong?  Apparently...!

Anyway.  Yesterday a friend asked here about what resources I've used to guide my food choices.  WOW has that been a journey!  I'm answering her here (hi Cindy!) because she's not the first to ask.  Here are some of the things that have helped me figure out what to eat (and what not to eat):

Books:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Heaver - talks you through what your body really needs and why.  Supplies recipes.  Good basic information if you, like me, NEVER IN YOUR LIFE considered trying eating the vegetarian or vegan way (you've been reading me long enough to know I'm not all the way vegetarian or vegan, right?)

Eat to Live by Dr Joel Fuhrman - truth is I am STILL working my way through this one, little bit by little bit.  Dr. Fuhrman is hard core!  But he's got good info in there 

Food Documentaries:

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead - really compelling personal journey of one man who went on a 60 day juice fast, and toured the USA talking to other people who were, like him, fat, sick, and nearly dead from bad living habits.  I cried (for joy and with hope) at the end. 

Forks over Knives - takes a good hard look at the Standard American Diet and how truly connected it is to the standard American crappy health. 

Food Matters - goes beyond just the fitness question of what we eat, also exploring how we are mentally and emotionally shaped by our diets. 

Supersize Me - what happens when someone goes on an all-McDonald's diet.  

Website:

Food Renegade - I first went there to learn how to make kombucha, but I've stayed because this site is LOADED with good information.  Some of what she says is in direct contrast to what some of what the above sources say, so there's the matter of sorting that out.  But for an up-close look at why "organic" matters and questions like, "Why is grass-fed beef any better for me than lot-fed?" she is a great source. 

That's the quick skim of big stuff I've used.  I'm such a voracious reader and researcher that the real list of what has helped is probably ten times as long as this one, but these are the most memorable for me of them all.  Hope that helps you in your journey!