The Case for Whole Food

Eating Healthy to Live Well Whole Foods is one of my favorite stores, but I’m not writing about that market. Instead, this is about the need to return to a time when we sat at the dinner table or grabbed a snack and ate food that was whole—complete in itself—not manufactured using tons of chemicals making it highly processed, less nutritious, and fattening.

My journey in life is to learn as much as I can about living well. It’s a passion and deep desire that fulfills me. What I learn isn’t always easy to apply. But when I see and feel the difference it makes, making the right whole food choices for me and my family (including our dog, Lucky) are easier to do each day.

About a month ago, our Jack Russell Terrier took a turn for the worse. These dogs have so much energy they’re often accused of being annoyingly cute, hyperactive, and hilariously charming. Lucky is a mild-mannered JRT but when he quit walking in the house and refused to move, I knew it wasn’t good.

My daughter, Siena, and I did everything we could think of to coax him to move. We dangled his favorite toy (a noisy chicken that squawks loudly), pulled out favorite commercial-food treats, and even shouted out ‘Go for a walk’—in the past that always produced a strong tail-wagging, ears perking up, and head-tilting to the side… but not this time. I have to admit I was scared. He’s only eight and these dogs can live upwards of 15 years but it wasn’t looking good at the moment.

With my busy schedule, raising a teenage daughter, reporting and producing feature news stories, trying to keep fit and healthy, all the while having some sort of social life, and finding time to really study Lucky’s diet was not a top priority. I figured the commercial dog food would do the trick and keep him healthy. It was expensive and supposedly exactly what he needed.

Now, I’m not knocking all commercial dog food and I’m certainly not a veterinarian. However, one thing I believe at my core to be true for people and dogs is that eating less processed, whole, nutritious foods is best. That means keeping it simple with relatively few ingredients (but the right ones).

So, I began to find time to cook for Lucky—foods with just a few ingredients. Of course, I researched and read about doggy needs. I cooked chicken (even salmon) and added broccoli and organic flax oil. Some meals he had oatmeal with eggs, and apples—blended into an unrecognizable form. And each time I added just a bit of dry, high-end dog food to ensure that if he were missing nutrients, he’d get them as well as have something crunchy with his meals. Wow! Within a few weeks, Lucky was bouncing with energy--fit, healthy, walking again, and excited.

It dawned on me that whole foods are the essence of eating, are what I believe to be real food. The aisles that contain the beckoning sugary cookies, salty snacks, canned concoctions may be very tempting but definitely not fulfilling, high-nutrient-based foods. These are the foods that make you want to eat more because of those sneaky mind-altering ingredients. I’ll write more on this in upcoming columns.

Getting back to the basics, for pets and people, can create a rejuvenating life. I have found the simplest meals often produce the most energy. So salmon, a deep green salad (with arugula), and a full glass of water makes me enthusiastically energetic. Apples and almond butter or a trail mix that I make consisting of pumpkin and sunflower seeds, almonds, and a sprinkling of dried cranberries are the perfect snack. I know what’s in them—it’s whole food without the preservatives. It’s healthy eating that produces the ability to live well.

Phoebe Chongchua
		About the author:
		Phoebe Chongchua is an award-winning journalist who appears on TV, in print, and on the Internet. She's a former ABC affiliate News Reporter/Newscaster who founded Live Fit Magazine in 2004, recognizing how the journalism industry is rapidly moving online. The magazine has evolved frrom producing content only for LFM to producing much-needed video feature news stories and documentaries for companies and associations. Phoebe discovered an unfulfilled niche market and expanded LFM in order to meet the needs of a growing marektplace. Her clients are happy she did! Live Fit Magazine produces video news stories that entice viewing audiences to watch the video, spread the message, buy the product or visit the establishment. It's a creative, credible approach to marketing companies, products, and services. Few companies offer what Live Fit Magazine can do for your company in a single feature video story. Phoebe works with clients to seamlessly integrate their newly produced video into their current marketing materials. She offers expert advice on new marketing strategies and call-to-action campaigns. Her innovative efforts keep companies positioned for success and their customers regularly watching new and informative videos.
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