Food Philosophy

My food philosophy...

My diet isn't just a "diet", it's a lifestyle. Trust me, I don't particularly like saying it; I cringe just using the word 'lifestyle', since it comes with a list of presumed stereotypes and often false assumptions. But I can't argue with it. It truly is a lifestyle. What you eat determines a lot about how you spend your time and even whom with, where you go to eat and shop, whether you own a backyard smoker and are on a first name basis with that "weird guy" at the farmer's market selling beef heart and chitlins ... you get the idea. Long story short, I believe that REAL food is what came out of the ground, off a tree or vine, had a face or came out of an animal. (I’m talking about eggs and dairy here, people. Get your minds out of the gutter…) This means that I eat meats, seafood, veggies, fruits, nuts & seeds, starchy root veggies, the aforementioned eggs, and the occasional dairy product. I eat these in their most whole, natural form, cooked in real, natural fats like coconut oil, butter, and bacon fat… lemme say that again: BACON FAT. You can wipe the drool off your chin now. =) My produce isn’t canned, wrapped in plastic, or most of the time even frozen; it’s fresh and whole, with the dirt it came out of still clinging to it. The eggs I buy have orange yolks and thick whites, which tells me the chickens they came from dined on fresh grasses & living bugs. There’s not a single frozen dinner in my house, unless you count the portioned-out containers of meals I’ve made myself. And fast food? Soda? Candy? FUGEDDABOUDIT. I learned a long time ago that that junk (and it really IS junk) isn’t good for anyone, Primal or no. Have you ever read the ingredients on some of that stuff? Can you even pronounce half of what’s in it? I can’t.

Here’s how I see it: if you must buy packaged, and you read the ingredients, if you can’t immediately picture in your head what the item is, don’t buy it. For example, a jar of organic pasta sauce reads: tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, basil, olive oil, onions, spices. You know what those are, yes? Good. Put it in the cart. If anything on that list couldn’t be pictured in its whole, natural state, back on the shelf it goes.

That being said, here's a list of the things you won't see on the blog:

- Sorry folks, since I don't do gluten, you won't see any recipes that include grain flours (wheat, rye, etc.), cereals, or anything else made out of glutinous grains. Yes, I know: all you carb-loving, bread-eating, pasta-twirling foodies are crying into your cereal bowls right now. If you're wondering why I'm so anti-gluten, here's a great article by Dr. Mark Hyman that explains why, and there are dozens of other sites around the Web that go into even deeper detail. So I hate to disappoint, but if you're not willing to at least TRY giving up grains, I recommend going elsewhere for those types of recipes. I'd give you some recommendations, but I'd probably start crying into my bone broth if I even peeked. That being said, I will *occasionally* feature or link to a baked goods recipe (muffins, pancakes, quick breads, etc.) that are made with alternative flours, largely coconut flour. In the not-to-distant future, I'll be making recommendations for Paleo/Primal-friendly desserts and sweets in cookbooks or on other blogs, so keep your eyes peeled for that! =)

- I also don't do soy, corn, legumes (beans, peanuts, and their ilk), or vegetable oils, especially canola oil. You can watch this video on YouTube on how canola oil is made to find out why- if you're not too squeamish... ick! >P I avoid these ingredients mostly on principle. A vast majority of corn and soy in the US comes from GMO seeds, and I'm a big proponent of organic and sustainable agriculture. GMO products simply don't meet my definition of natural. You can check the stats on GM crops here, here, and here. My legume avoidance throws a lot of people off. "But Megan, they're nature's perfect food: carbs, protein, fiber... they're awesome!" Maybe. But they also contain the same plant lectins as grains, sometimes in greater concentrations. See this article at Mark's Daily Apple for more info about plant lectins.

*Note: I do occasionally make exceptions for some of the above ingredients. For example, certified organic, non-GMO corn chips and tortillas are generally okay in certain situations, like Mexican-inspired dishes, but I'll include them only as an add-on, not as a central part of the dish. Whole corn, whether on the cob, in whole kernels, or as popcorn, won't be found here. I may also use a tablespoon or two of tamari (wheat-free soy sauce) in Asian-flavored dishes, but I won't use edamame (whole soybeans), tofu, miso, or any other soy products.


What to expect...

So what will you see here on Grok Chick?

- LOTS of fresh veggies, meats, seafood, nuts & seeds, some fruit, and a bit of dairy here and there.

- Basics like broths & stocks, dressings, marinades, and spice blends.

- Tips & techniques: how to plan & shop, kitchen safety, equipment recommendations, and making the most of your cooking.

- Science of cooking-type posts: that's right, folks; it's as much chemistry as it is art!

- And for those of you who are interested, posts and links from around the world of the Real Food Movement and the Paleo/Primal blogosphere.

 
Always open to suggestions!

If there's anything in particular you'd like to see here- other than the aforementioned no-no's, of course =) - let me know! It could be a certain dish, a category of dish types (vegan, cultural, allergen-free, etc.), or even a specific ingredient. Since I'm new to the cooking blogosphere, I still have A TON of exploring, learning, and experimenting to do. Any help I can get along the way is greatly appreciated! And this isn't just limited to food; any kinds of tips & techniques you need help with, topics you'd like to see covered in the science- or Paleo-related sections, or even ways I can help make the blog better for you (layout, navigation, etc.) are welcome. You can do this in the comments sections of the posts, or email me at grokchick {@} gmail {dot} com. Just remember, I'm only one girl and this is a big cave, so patience is a virtue here! =)

Thanks for being here, everybody. Grok on!!!! =)

~Megan