America's Revolution

"It's time for us a people to start making some changes. Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live, and let's change the way we treat each other. You see, the old way wasn't working, so it's on us to do what we gotta do to survive."   -Tupac Shakur (1971-1996), "Changes"

It's time for America to change. We live in a vicious cycle of bad food and worse guilt that leaves us with unhealthy bodies and bad consciences. We know that the food we can eat for cheap is bad for us, but it's available in spades and normally tastes good enough and is made fast enough to be justifiable. What isn't justifiable is the way it makes us feel. It doesn't give us the nourishment we need, and it doesn't make us feel like great people. 

But I believe that the changes we want to see start with us. As Mahatma Gandhi is often quoted for saying, "We must be the change we want to see in the world." So to loosely quote Michael Jackson, I'm starting with the woman in the mirror. 

I am as guilty as anyone. After growing up eating very healthy under a protective mother, I rebelled in college. I ate pizza and beer for dinner and could polish off a box of Cheez-Its in one sitting. I didn't care what I ate, and I felt that I was free. I had no limitations and didn't need to starve myself in order to fulfill some need to be skinny. But there was a backlash, and I eventually did nearly just that. The truth is, I couldn't get my head around what I should eat and what weight would be healthy for me. There is a great disparity in this country between what is desirable and what is reasonable. Being a big-boned girl, I have always fought with myself over my weight. 

Next to the ads for McDonald's and Coca-Cola that bombard my daily life were ads with very skinny, pretty girls. Thanks to magazines and movies, many, many women believe that they weigh too much. They might, but they shouldn't weigh that little, either. Very, very rarely are women ever depicted as they should be: healthy. This is true for men as well, but as a woman, this is a sensitive subject for me. Models do not mirror the reality that should be. They are not simply people who eat healthy and get a decent amount of exercise. This, however, is my wish for our country. We need to recognize the abilities and limitations of our bodies and love ourselves as we are. 

Then comes the Revolution. It's time for the most obese country in the world to take charge of what it eats. As people who love our bodies, it's time for us to feed ourselves better. We don't need large amounts of sodium, sugar, and preservatives in our food. We need real, fresh food. The good news is that it's available. It may not be as cheap as processed food, but our bodies will thank us. We will feel better. I have been trying to eat fresh meals with a good balance of protein and vegetables for the last week, and already my body feels better. There is no price you can put on that. 

In order for America to really change, it needs to recognize its largest untapped resource: us. We The People. If enough of us unite to change the food in schools, to change what our kids are given after soccer games or swim meets, and to change what we eat at home, it will make a difference. If enough people ask for healthy salads (not with fried chicken) at places like McDonald's with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar instead of caloric salad dressing, they will provide it. American economics are a sticky situation at present, but one thing is true: when there is a demand, there will be a supply. 

It's time for us to demand better. We can do this at home by stocking up on essential ingredients like fruit, vegetables, chicken, fish, etc. Frozen may not seem the best way, but if you buy products with the least amount of preservatives and sodium possible, it is easier. You will always be able to make something for dinner. Another trick is to plan meals and snacks in advance so that there will be time to make them and not resort to fast or processed food. 

We can also demand better publicly. If enough people stop drinking sodas at movie theaters, the management will notice. If enough people ignore processed food in grocery stores, grocers will notice. If enough people opt for grilled chicken rather than fried in restaurants, chefs will notice. We can unite to make this happen, but there need to be enough people keep asking for healthier options. If they do, it will be provided. 

I have signed Jamie Oliver's petition. I believe that it is time for this country to change. It's time for us to realize that we deserve to eat decent food, be happy, and feel better. The children in this country deserve a legacy of healthy, tasty meals, not processed food that contains a laundry list of preservatives. They deserve to live long, healthy lives absent of obesity and diabetes. It's time for us to unite and demand a better way of life for ourselves and for the generations that will follow. 

Jamie's Soup

While his TV show is airing, I have decided to try to support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution by making one of his recipes once a week. I did a review of his cookbook Jamie's Food Revolution, which I still strongly recommend. It is perfect for beginning cooks, since he helps explain things that I couldn't get a clear lesson on, like how to poach an egg. These things may seem simple, but tricks like that are always helpful.

I have already signed his petition, since I believe that the way many Americans eat is very unhealthy. Once I stopped eating gluten and dairy, I became even more aware of how many foods available to us are truly superfluous to any diet. As a child, my parents took me all over the world and exposed me to many different people and exotic dishes. One thing I learned is that the only places that had processed junk food were American chains. And they were mostly full of Americans.

When I was seventeen, I went to a house party with a Canadian friend, and someone brought a fresh box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I had one, and so did she. After she took a bite, she said, "Americans make the best junk food." Some people around us thought this was a compliment, but I thought it was one of the saddest things I'd ever heard.

Three years ago, I flew down to Australia for the wedding of one my close friends I've known since I was twelve. His younger brother had just come back from a six month trip to Canada and the U.S., and I had to laugh whenever I heard him explaining to their parents the details of the food he ate during his trip. Hearing him try to describe exactly what Cool Whip is was one of the saddest things I'd heard. There is no real way to describe it beyond "a frozen whipped topping" because neither he or I knew one ingredient in it.

This is why I believe in what Jamie Oliver is trying to do. Most of us believe that people need to change the things they eat, but no one really knows how. His concept is to learn his recipes and, more importantly, pass them on. Here is a recipe I have learned that I will now share with you.

I am not a big fan of soup, but the sound of his Sweet Potato and Chorizo Soup was too good to pass up. He suggests using butternut squash if you can't obtain yams or sweet potatoes. I recommend that if you can't find chorizo, try your local meat counter. The Whole Foods I shop at didn't have chorizo links available, but when I asked the butcher, he told me that he could easily take some ground pork and add the spices to it. When in doubt, always ask.

After I started making this, I realized that I didn't have any curry powder. So I added 1 teaspoon of garam masala and three curry leaves to have the same effect. Once the soup is almost ready, his instructions are to use an immersion blender in the soup, but alas, I do not have one. So my instructions are for what I do have, a food processor. In hindsight, I suggest not blending the ingredients too much, since having some crunch or pieces to chew on adds interest to the soup.Since I am not trying to steal his recipes but pass them on, I will give you my altered version.

Sweet Potato and Chorizo Soup

2 Carrots

2 Celery Stalks

2 medium Onions

2 cloves Garlic

1 3/4 lb. Sweet Potatoes

10 oz. Chorizo 

small bunch Parsley or Cilantro

1 3/4 qts. Gluten Free Chicken or Vegetable Broth

Olive Oil

1 tsp. Garam Masala

3 Curry Leaves

Salt and Pepper

1 Fresno Pepper

First, prepare your vegetables. Peel and chop the onions, garlic, and sweet potatoes. Roughly chop the carrots, celery, and chorizo. Finely chop the parsley leaves and stalks. If you want to add the Fresno pepper, de-seed (optional) and finely chop, then set it aside. 

Put a large saucepan on high heat, then add 2 tbsp. of olive oil. Add all of the chopped vegetables and chorizo, along with the garam masala and curry leaves. Stir everything together with a trusted wooden spoon. With the lid askew, let cook for about ten minutes, or until the carrots have softened but still have their shape and the onions pieces are a light golden color. While that is cooking, place the chicken or vegetable broth in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the ten minutes are up, add the broth to the vegetables. 

Stir the soup well and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let sit for ten minutes, or until the sweet potato is fully cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste, and stir well. Pour about one fourth of the soup into a food processor and gently pulse until mixed. Place into the medium saucepan used earlier and continue until all of the soup is blended, then stir together in the saucepan. 

To serve, simply ladle portions into bowls. I suggest topping it with some of my Cream Tofu or silken tofu pureed in a food processor. If you can handle the heat, top it with the chopped fresno pepper. If you need more crunch or chewy-ness, get an extra chorizo sausage, dice it into small pieces, and sprinkle it on top. I toasted a piece of gluten free bread and chopped it up into croutons and sprinkled the cream tofu over it. This dish serves 6-8 people, so if you are serving it for a meal, I suggest having small bowls of croutons, cream tofu, and the diced fresno pepper so that people can add more of what they like. Enjoy.