The Vintage Remedies Guide to Real Food

     As many of you already know, I am a student at Vintage Remedies School of Natural Health.  The founder, Jessie Hawkins, has written several amazing books and her most recent one is the subject of this post.  I was excited as usual to read one of her new creations and willingly agreed to write my thoughts and opinions of her latest book here on my blog.  And no, I'm not getting paid to do this :) I actually purchased the book before I knew she was going to give me a copy for free to review!
    If you haven't noticed yet, there is an awakening going on about our food system.  Many people are starting to ask questions about what exactly is in our food, how does it affect us and our unborn children, and does it really need to be there.  Eye-opening documentaries like Food Inc. and King Corn are challenging our way of life, exposing some dirty secrets, and calling for a rise against the "machine." With sky-rocketing rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer, ADHD, asthma, and autism, don't you wonder even slightly that it might have something to do with what we are putting into our mouths?  It's time we stop adulterating our food to fast, easy, and cheap and start considering it as the nourishing and communal part of life it was meant to be.  How?  Well, this book is a good place to get you started.
     The Vintage Remedies Guide to Real Food is broken down into five easy to read, easy to understand  and easy to apply sections.  In Section One, the author covers the history of food and how it got to where it is today.  She gives a brief discussion about nutrition, vitamins, and minerals and clarifies misinformation about carbs, fats, and proteins.  I especially found Chapters 4 and 5 on how the food industry has targeted our children a must read for parents.  Our kids are much more susceptible to the harmful effects of the junk added to our foods and they are really paying the price for our poor decisions.
     Section Two begins teaching readers how to make a change.  In it, Hawkins explains how to recognize real foods.  Six questions are explored and suggested to help you make decisions in the grocery about which foods are healthy and which are not.  She gives tips on reading nutritional labels and whether or not you should believe the health claims boldly printed on the packaging.  Are you confused about milk and meat, or oils and sweeteners?  Chapter 8 covers those and other frequently confused foods.
   How to eat is the topic for Section Three.  Completely changing the way you eat is not easy and often daunting.  The author, again, gives tips on how to make a smooth and easy transition for you, your kids, and your wallet.  It is not an overnight change, but her steps are very do-able and will set you up for success.  I loved Chapter 10.  It's all about how to get the kids to eat real foods and be excited about it.  Ms. Hawkins is a mother and she knows how hard it can be to get kids to like healthy choices.  She even gives recipes for healthier versions of kid favorites like gluten free chicken nuggets.  The last chapter in this section covers how to eat healthy on a budget.  Walk into the organic section with a budget in mind and most everyone will immediately walk out.  But, with her advice, she claims many people actually discover their grocery budget with real foods is lower than with conventional foods.  It's all about rethinking priorities.  Hawkins makes a good point when she says, (and I'm paraphrasing) "Buying cheap foods may seem like an answer to our bad economy...but this type of living is like living on a credit card...the deal is great now, but the real cost is coming-and will be much more than we bargained for."
    A major chunk of the book is Section Four: Let Your Food be Your Medicine.  Here, the author covers over 150 foods in alphabetical order from agar agar to zucchini.  She tells of the benefits, how each food can improve our health, and even lists a recipe for how to incorporate the food into our diets.  It is a great section to have on hand for referencing.  Recipes like Arugula and Chevre Penne, Cashew Pesto Dip, Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles, and even how to make your own vanilla extract offer a variety for different tastes.  I can't wait to see which ones my family loves the most!
     The final section is all about resources.  The author tells of common food additives, where they're found and how they affect our health.  She covers sweetening options and which ones are better.  Because it is in alphabetical order, it's easy to flip through and look up something questionable like "EDTA" spotted on your condiment bottle.  Finally, she also offers advice on consuming naturally leavened bread and even how to make it.
     Well, if I haven't convinced you to read this book by now, then I never will!  Personally, I most enjoy it because it's like having several books in one.  Every family needs to have tools to help take control and better care of themselves, this is a great one for that.  If you're ready to learn and make a change, you can order your copy from her site or on Amazon.  If you like what Ms. Hawkins has to say and want to learn even more, you can visit Vintage Remedies online to purchase other books or enroll in one of her courses.  Cheers to a healthier you!