August Unprocessed

Last October, Kelly and I tried to eat only unprocessed food for the month. This website was the inspiration (a friend had posted it on facebook). What with going to the NCLA conference at the beginning of the month, I didn't do very well. Earlier this summer Kelly suggested we try it again.

To prepare I bookmarked this page on my computer and phone so I could refer to it as needed. I also browser recipes I'd pinned on Pinterest to pick out ones that would fall into the unprocessed category.

Last time, my big concern was bread, because my normal lunch is a sandwich and some fruit or veggies. And most flour is super processed. Even the whole wheat breads in the bread aisle had processed ingredients. At the suggestion of a couple of friends, I went with this Ezekiel bread. So this year, I bought another loaf and figured I was set. Then I made some sandwiches with it. For some reason it just grossed me out this year. It was too chewy. And when I made my breakfast sandwiches (fried egg, cheese, toast) with it? Forget about it. I could eat about half before feeling a little sick. As I had just checked out A Feast of Ice and Fire, I flipped through it and found what looked like an easy bread recipe. So I bought some whole wheat flour and learned how to bake bread.

Later, Kelly gave me a loaf pan, and I made some more bread!

Big question--did I manage to exclusively eat unprocessed food? No. It's really hard to do that when you go out to eat. Yes, at Sherefe I got a salad and the gyro plate. But you know what they give you? Pita. You know what looks too white to be made with whole wheat flour? Pita from Sherefe. Also, a friend and I have been trying for about 4 months to go out for lunch. Our schedules finally worked out in August. Do you know how hard it is to eat unprocessed food at a buffet? With hushpuppies? Delicious, delicious hushpuppies? And macaroni and cheese? Ooh, hold on, I have to wipe the drool from my keyboard.

The main purpose of this was really to be more aware of what I put in my body when I eat. And to stop drinking pop. (Says the girl who had 2 cups of root beer and a cherry Pepsi at work yesterday.) And, as an added bonus, I lost 8.4 pounds!

So, what did I learn?

• baking bread is a lot easier than I thought it would be
• zucchini fritters are AMAZING
• I'm getting past the "make sure there's pizza money before cooking" stage
• if I eat too much processed food now, I don't feel good
• sometimes McDonalds employees will ask you what kind of salad dressing you want when you order a Caesar salad. Seriously.
• it might take a little extra effort, but eating unprocessed food isn't that hard