"12 steps to whole foods" transformed my family. For about 8 months I obsessed with the goal of the month as if I was doing it for college credit. I've worked in the other 4 chapters here and there. We only got sick about 1/4 as often the first year except for my husband who was constantly sick (unknown wheat allergy). Now we are in the second year and sickness is a rarity, once every other month or so, one or two of us get sick, and it is rather mild when it comes.
If you can't afford 12 steps to whole foods, you can still take on a new healthy habit or two a month. The reason the program, which retails around $160, is worth it, is the info in each chapter about WHY!!! I'm much more likely to make a change if I know why and what it will do for me. It is organized and when you make that monetary investment it motivates you. I've spent $160 in a month and half just on doctor copays, steroids, and antibiotics that made us sicker, so 12-steps is a BARGAIN. Also, you can try to talk your library into getting 12-steps or a green smoothie book for you! Most libraries take patron requests and they usually order "recipe" type books if you ask.
Anyway, I'm going to post my super-condensed 12-steps program. It'll do the trick for anyone on a tight budget!
12 healthy habits, try to adopt one a month!
1)ditch soda, chips, processed meat, and refined sugar & drink a green smoothie a day instead
2)serve a green salad that comprises half of your dinner every day
3)learn 2 home salad dressings that use extra virgin olive oil and use those instead of commercial dressings
4)stop using vegetable oil, shortening, and margarine. Use olive oil, coconut oil, and flax oil. get a coffee grinder ($10) learn how to grind your own flaxseeds.
5) plant a garden or join a csa or both
6) learn how to cook qunioa. Try to do 3 different recipes this month. Note: rinse 3x in cold water before cooking! My favorite quinoa is just adding some bouillion to the water. Then I stir in peas and some kind of nut (sauteed almond, cashews, etc) My second favorite is cooking the quinoa in a 50:50 ration with steel cut oats and serving it like oatmeal for breakfast.
7)try soaking 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds (not roasted of course) in a jar for 8 hours. drain. put them in refrigerator. They will slowly sprout lasting you about a week and will taste excellent on salad, pb sandwich, and granola. Voila you are a "sprouter". Sprouts are super healthy!
8)learn how to make homemade yogurt (boil 1/2 gallon milk to 180 cool to 110, add 3 tablespoons yogurt, let sit in warm place like oven with a light on for 8-10 hrs, refrigerate. If you want it thicker drain of whey in a colander lined with cofee filters or add 1/3 cup milk powder with the yogurt starter.)
9) stop using white flour, try substituting soft white wheat flour instead.
10) learn a healthy granola recipe and some healthy pancake waffle recipes that soak the flour over night before baking. Google soaking grains.
11))"Healthify" 3 treats this month. A good resource is Simple Healthy Tasty
12)learn about alkalinity, consider buying a water ionizer that will alkalinize your water for you. These are too expensive for me, but maybe someday...
Bonus:
for school kids
make sure they have sack lunches. Every sack lunch should have a fresh fruit, a fresh veggie and water. My entrees are famously healthy, but they aren't too bad either, just be creative there. (Please no juice, chips, or fruit snacks!)
