We Are What We Eat

They say we are what we eat. What exactly does that mean? A group of us were sitting around eating our bagged lunches. In between conversation and chews, someone pulled out a cheese and Wonderbread sandwich. Suddenly one of the guys did a double take; his eyes popped out in disbelief “Is that white bread?!!!! Whoa! That is sooo last decade.” His astonishment was real, but we found it wildly amusing, since, in today’s diet, white bread seems to be the forbidden fruit. Old school snacks immediately became the topic-o-the-hour.

Cheezewhiz on soda crackers (so that when you squished it together the cheese would ooze through the holes), or even better, the little snack packs with the red spread stick, beans and weinies, Mr. Noodle (cooked or raw), Fruit Roll Ups, Zoodles, Sloppy Joes…the list went on and on. Thinking back, no matter how many times my mom wanted to be creative and make real macaroni and cheese (melted cheddar and pasta) – it was never as bright orange as good ol’ Kraft Dinner. And it lacked a certain…flavour that only came from KD. It just wasn’t the same. Those were the days. When eating was unconscious and “simulated” was a food group. When munchies were fun, even though they had no nutritional value what so ever.

Thankfully, my taste buds have evolved. I actually do enjoy a hearty, raw nut, cookie over Chips Ahoy and if I had to pick, I’d choose a fresh fruit smoothie over ice cream any day. Perhaps it’s a part of growing up. Realizing the reason our parents bought trail mix -when what we screaming for-were chips. There is a great difference between foods that give energy, and foods that reap it.

Which is why, now, I seek out goodies that I know my body will thrive on. My mother tried to engrain this in me years ago (she’d hide chunks of tofu in my noodle soup). But I didn’t really catch on until after university, when jugs of raw juice replaced pitchers of beer. The Urban Oasis on Pandosy, is an organic juice bar that blends daily concoctions for what ever your need is– tired, low, hung over (I didn’t say I gave up all my bad habits), there is a magical creation for it all. Unlike coffee, these juices replenish and give your body energy. Vitalize. Rejuvenate. It’s an addiction I am proud of. And the future of juicing goes far beyond cafes. Cherise, owner and juice doctor, has a dream of taking the juice bar to another level. Where raw juices would actually be the drink of choice at dance parties and clubs. Imagine that? People buzzing off their own energy; dizzy from antioxidants versus intoxicants. In addition, she feeds her customers with organic wraps, soups, sandwiches, and baking.

We need to get closer to the root, not farther from it. Nature made food in a certain state for a reason because it was good for us. Along the way, the taste of “real” was taken over by quick fix and convenience. Think about it, if we really are what we eat, I definitely want to be something real with longevity. What do you want to be? It’s your choice, so choose well and find the goods that put value into your body, instead of take it out.