I will not FEAR! Not even my food.....

In the last couple of weeks I’ve wrestled with a question: To be or not to be “Organic”….. For some of us we roll our eyes to this topic. I know I have in the past. I was greatly annoyed by anyone who fell for this trend. I didn’t see the point, nor did I want to spend the exorbitant amounts of money buying that kind of food. I’ve explained how I’ve come to a point in my life where I’m (finally) growing up and becoming my own person; figuring out what works for my new family. Obviously I want to do what is BEST. Being that I’m the mother, I have a great impact on our diet and the kinds of things we ingest. Not very long ago I went the route of convenience. It’s hard being a young mother of two children 18 months apart, so microwave meals here I come! And I possibly was even a little lazy in my approach to cooking. But now I feel it’s time that I step up and ensure that my children, my husband, and I are eating healthy BALANCED meals.

Do you have to eat organic to be healthy? I have often felt like some of those in the organic world look down on those of us who don’t buy that type of product. I’m hyper sensitive to what other people think of me. I have a really hard time not caring. Not to mention I ultimately want to do what truly is best for my family. (part of my melancholic temperament) So I did some research. My first conclusion was “yep, it’s got to be organic.” Of course that was after reading from those that have a somewhat biased opinion towards the “Organic, Gluten-Free, Paleo” type of diets. So I guess they would be telling me to go all out organically. Hmmm… so I tried again. More research. It’s funny how you can hear just about whatever it is you WANT to hear if you go to the right websites. One thing you must be sure to look for when you are researching this stuff is a reputable source and preferably someone who is unbiased with no agenda. (Professors are pretty reliable.) That is if you want the truth or want to be able to come up with your own decision and not someone else’s. My biggest concerns were that of milk and meats. I know all about the pesticides on produce and I think that’s a generally easy fix. But milk in particular is insanely expensive when you go organic. Especially if you have two little ones drinking is out the wazoo! When I bought my first gallon of Publix Green Wise milk that cost 6 dollars my husband about had a conniption. So it was back to research mode. Was this entirely necessary??? After all, I don't want to have it out with my husband once a week over milk! Sheesh. I found this article to be interesting:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14458802/

The things like BGH and antibiotics that I was specifically worried about, according to this article, seem to not really be an issue. The woman who wrote the article is not just putting an opinion out there either, she backs it up with names and studies done. Not to mention she has a MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian, speaker, and writer who serves as nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research. I bet she knows what she’s talking about. =) So I have come to the conclusion on this topic of milk that I don’t need to give my hubby another heart attack over a 6 dollar jug of it. Regular milk will do just fine for us.

However, there are a few other things I have learned. I get it that are chicken and cows are stilled pumped with a lot of crud and also treated poorly to say the least. And yes, it does concern me when I go to buy some boneless chicken breasts that look like they’ve come off a Pterodactyl (yes I DID look that up, the p is silent, who knew!) possibly with implants. So my plan is to shop more cautiously when it comes to things that are so obviously unnatural.

I’m not writing this to sway anyone to either side. I don’t mind if you eat organic or if you don’t. I have some very good friends in fact that are pro-organic. But me, as a mother, trying to do what’s best for my girls, and wife to a very frugal husband, who wants cold hard facts, can’t validate buying ALL organic food, when I haven’t found any evidence to show true detriment to anyone’s health by eating the normal stuff. Prime example, my dad is 56 years old and is in tip top shape, as healthy as can be. He’s always been conscious of his diet and exercise, done lots of research on different things, NEVER gone organic, pretty much sticks to moderation is key, balanced meals. Another example, a woman I know, who is completely holistic with her diet and life style, wound up in the hospital because she refused to take prescribed medicine for her seasonal allergies. She almost died. A lot of people who are organic claim that you'll have more health benefits and get sick less, but ending up in the hospital doesn't scream healthy to me. If I was to have the two of them in a room trying to convince me to go organic or not I’d probably be following my dad. Just saying.

BUT my main conclusion through this whole learning process, (which by the way, I’m still learning) is that I trust in God’s sovereignty. I trust in the things I know for certain. Like, I KNOW God requires me to respect and submit to my husband, if he says “no” to organic than I must respect that. I KNOW that I’m going to do the best I can with my children and that God watches over them.

Psalm 56:3 “When I’m afraid, I will trust in you.” And that means even when I’m afraid I just might digest something harmful unknowingly, I will trust in Him. Psalm 56:11 “In God I trust; I will NOT be afraid. What can man do to me??” That includes the men at Hillshire farms, Publix, Pillsbury, Kraft, Whoever! They can’t do anything to me! In Him I trust. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” OR the understanding of anyone who doesn’t really have your BEST interest, God has your best interest. Trust in Him. Not to mention God has not given me a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) So, why should I (me personally) be so afraid of a little hormone induced chicken or a few preservatives? I feel great. I’m healthy. I don’t need to alter my diet and eliminate certain foods; I don’t have allergies to anything. I’m blessed to be as healthy as I am. And that goes for my entire family. That doesn’t mean we’re going to indulge in McDonalds and BK every day. I will however eat my weekly Chick-Fil-A! What that means is I will do my best to take care of my family and myself by eating a balanced, moderate, healthy diet. Exercising regularly, playing outside and running around with my kids. Making decisions wisely and not obsess over this subject of food. Because I know Satan would just love to use this distraction as something to keep me from spending time with Christ. (which has been the case the last week or so!) My god will not be “my stomach” (Philippians 3:19) I will trust in Him and live my life for His glory. Besides, I can’t wait to go to Heaven anyway! ;0)