I know I’m fortunate to have a lemon and orange tree in my backyard. Color me happy about it. I’m from Illinois and it was years before I simply ate an orange instead of drink [frozen] orange juice. Big difference. There are a multitude of “big differences” in my life today.
I read in Nourished Magazine that Sally Fallon is visiting Australia. How exciting is that? If you don’t know about her and the work of Weston Price [westonprice.org], its time. Although not new information, it was revolutionary to me because, coming from the 60’s, my friends and I practiced vegetarianism. Organic wasn’t big then nor was veganism. Diet for a Small Planet was my “cookbook” and I adored that little book. I ‘graduated’ from that way of thinking very slowly moving into veganism and not-too-long-ago, vegan raw food. So, I’ve been across the map and back regarding my thinking over the years.
Those that I’ve studied and still respect to some degree are Dean Ornish, John McDougall, Christiane Northrup, Andrew Weil and currently, Sally Fallon along with Thomas Cowan. All but Ms. Fallon are MD’s which means to me that they had to “unlearn” a lot to be able to talk about what they talk about. However, my introduction to the Price work via a seminar in Vancouver was the most up-rooting and challenging yet! I had just come from a McDougall seminar and all of its low fat, no fat vegan approach to a Nourishing Traditions approach where [most] “fats are not the enemy.” It was, needless to say, a huge paradigm shift for me. I kept an open mind and tried to keep breathing into it. *chuckle*Â
I remember during that week-end in Vancouver that I had the best lunch ever. It consisted of salmon, veggies and bread and butter. I sat across from Ms Fallon and watched her put butter on her bread. Wow. What a novel concept that was to me! Real butter. Amazing.  I’m telling you, honestly, my brain was short-circuited. When I told Ms. Fallon that I had just come from a McDougal seminar, she threw her head back in laughter. She “got” what I was going through.Â
Needless to say, I was shocked when I could only eat half of what was on my plate. That’s when I began to think there was something to all of this data. That was a year ago.
Today, I have implemented this way of living into my life with a few starts and stops and fumbles. Yet, with all of those included, I must say that the fog has lifted, my mood has shifted, and I feel “back” to myself. That said, there is still weight to be shrunk and stretching to be done, but I am capable now of doing those little tweaks. And, I know I will be successful….for the long term.
There have been conflicts with this paradigm shift as there always are, yet, they dissolve rather quickly considering what’s changing….my whole way of living.  Now I trust myself more [what a gift!] and know in my heart that this way of ‘being’ is called ‘nourishing’ for a reason: because it is. Evident to some, but new to me. Paul Campos’ work in his book, The Diet Myth, states among other poignant facts that the consequences we are seeing [i.e. 8 million Americans suffering from eating disorders] are a direct result of “allowing persons who see the world through anorexic eyes to define what “normal” means.” His work is extraordinary and goes against the wind in a huge way. I can’t say enough good things about this research.
Run, don’t walk to attend any of Sally Fallon’s lectures. I’d attempt two or three because, if you are like me, you need to hear these “radical” concepts more than once. She’s walking a path that can’t be easy &  going against the last 30 years of low fat/no fat ideology and she’s going  with ideas and research  from a dentist, Weston Price. Go figure. On top of which, she is approachable and answers questions graciously even though, I’m certain, it’s for the 688th time. My hat is off to her and the work.Â
I’ll leave you with a ‘Sally comment’ and that is that “the sign that you have put enough butter on your bread is that it shows teeth marks in it when you bite in.”   *chuckle*
About the Author...
It has taken me years to unlearn much of what I learned about psychology and health. Suffice it to say, I believe in home schooling, the work of Price, Fallon, Enig and Cowan and one's right to be happy in one's life. My husband and I live in Sunnyvale, CA with seven fabulous cats. They teach us to take a nap when the urge strikes, to eat heartily when hungry and to stretch into the new day. La Vida es Bueno!
Mar 16th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Mmm, I can really relate to this! I always describe Ms Fallon’s approach to food as simply - intuitive. The extreme obsession with turning food into an enemy to be tamed and controlled in our society is so harmful - hence as you say, the eating disorders and myriad of other maladies. Growing up, it seemed every girl I knew denied themselves the nourishing goodness of vital foods in a foolish battle of wills with all things ‘fat’. I wonder now what lasting damage they have done to ther bodies. I am glad my grandfather insisted on butter, and taught my mother to eat ‘god’s food’. Im glad I managed to escape the low-fat quagmire that others are still stuck in. Im glad I worked out, after a brief flirtation, that convenience foods are decidedly inconvenient! As a young mum, Im proud to be nourishing my daughter with real food. I look forward to hearing more of your journey as my little family continues on theirs!
Mar 18th, 2007 at 2:47 am
Good to hear from you, Fiona. And, delighted to hear how your grandfather instilled healthy eating…how blessed your mother was as a child growing up.
I think your ‘intuition’ summary is right on. I find it fascinating how I rather “ditched” my own intuition in favor of what I call “allopathic science.”
Your post reminded me how difficult it was to cancel the last “advanced class” on the vegan approach after the Nourishing Traditions seminar. I did and it took me another 2 months to request a refund instead of applying it ‘later.’ I had help. An acquaintance that I turn to for scientific translations upon occasion, Eddie, was most helpful in saying “just cancel it…”. He also had reviewed an article or two for me and said “Not good data.” So, I did. He’s an engineer and has a site with some good resource information at http://www.health-heart.org/
And, I haven’t looked back: my mental health is better than it has ever been and it is so exciting.
Thanks for writing. It’s refreshing to see a whole new generation embracing a healthy approach to life that includes eating joyfully. Eating disorders are a solvable problem and I want to see that happen in my lifetime.
Hugs…
Mar 18th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I can remember when I first was first told about the Weston A Price Foundations recommendations on diet and nutrition. At the time I was still mostly vego (previously 5yrs a vegan) and I almost fell over when this guy was telling me in a car-park that he drinks raw milk that he ferments with bacteria and has left standing for 2 days. My mind was freaking out to hear of the horror of eating raw unpasteurised cream and saturated fats by the bucket load.
The guy was Abby Eagle ( http://www.rejoiceinlife.com ) and I must say I owe him a debt of gratitude. I can recall that at the time , no matter how much my mind was vehemently opposing what he was saying, my intuition was just saying YES YES YES.
I am loving reading your blog Karen. Keep it up! Mine is coming soon ;-)
Mar 18th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
We all have rather interesting stories, eh? Dig it. So glad you posted your “shock and dismay” of eating “unpaturerised cream and staturated fats by the bucket load.” I can just see your brain short-circuiting like mine. However, your intuition was dead-on right whereas mine had been shelved. Well, no matter, we’re here now. And, obviously, I relate!
I’m waiting [im] patiently for your blog, Wes. :-) I couldn’t believe how easy it was …5 minutes, maybe? I honestly can’t get enough of this kind of reading..so write!!
In the meantime I’m going to keep reading Paul Campos’s book “The Diet Myth” and another one I picked up called “The Fat Fallacy” by Will Clower.
For now though, I’m going back to reading Joanne’s blog about how she *switched* and now chooses “nourishing” ways, whether that is body, mind or spirit. How commonsensical is that? :-)
Just love this venue! Thank you Joanne!
Best….
Mar 18th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
And the food tastes good! “Love your food again” - now where have I heard that Karen? Pretty simple huh.
Have you ever had home-made chips cooked in organic duck fat? OMG! Especially with home-made Ketchup - I am talking the real, fermented stuff.
It’s so strange that humans have created nutritional myths that keep us (sometimes even by law) from enjoying the tastiest and most divine foods, not to mention nourishing? That never ceases to amaze me. The amount of people I see drink raw milk for the first time and they go “oh wow”, they become really present with what they are tasting.
Glad you love the venue - I had a small hand in it too :-)
As for my blog - I think it will be worth the wait. I have a special suprise instore :-)
Smilies all round!
Apr 11th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Does anyone know when Sally will be in Australia and in which city?
Thx