I was going to have this post be homemade chocolate milk but this couldn’t wait so I postponed that to next week (sorry for those of you who were waiting, it will be posted after this post, I pinky promise). I was so anxious to get this out that I’m spontaneously writing this the night before my high school graduation, meaning I will be graduating today. There is a lot of noise about gluten-free, Paleo, etc. still going around. And you know what? I’m pretty sick of it. I’m sick of the labeling and I’m sick of the constant biting of each other’s heads off. I don’t want to read an article that frequently uses big words to make their point seem more valid yet it’s ballooned with strong opinions from people fighting for their own biased interests. The point is eat whatever you please.
No opinions, no biased jabs, just plain and simple. Want to get healthy? Then maybe you should eat less sugar, and treat yourself on more special occasions. I’m not gonna recommend what exactly to eat when you do treat yourself because that reverts exactly what what I just said. Eat whatever you want. Seriously, I’m not kidding. Nobody said you have to eat less sugar, do whatever you want or whatever makes you feel best. I want to eat whole, real, nutrient dense foods whilst avoiding as many harmful things as possible. That’s why I eat the way I do. Nobody told me to and it was a decision I made before I even stumbled upon “Paleo”. And guess what, I feel awesome, oh and I’ve lost over 100 pounds, oh and I’m stronger, oh and I don’t have an emotional connection to food anymore.
I know my playing field pretty well from experience and I know what I, myself, am doing. Also, just because a few people are ignorant to what they’re doing does not mean I get roped in with the rest of them but thanks for making me look like an idiot Jimmy Kimmel. Sure it was just a joke but now (and incredibly ironically so) people who have no say or any knowledge about health/diet are making their opinions because of criticism on a television show. And no I’m not implying that I specifically have a “say” in the perspective of eating but I do believe that I have had enough experience to know that it’s kind of ridiculous to be so quick to fight against something that clearly has worked for a massive amount of people and has a great deal of science behind it just because you saw a joke about it on a tv show or an article fighting against it. Not to mention being cocky about it doesn’t make you look more intelligent, it just makes you look asinine.
I vote that we all just stop bickering over what others should eat and just focus on ourselves, you, the individual. Sure it might be selfish but let’s take a step back and look at what really matters here. If it makes you miserable to live a certain way then find another way to live, on your own, without antagonizing people who have found something that works for them. Eat what you want, what makes you feel good, hopefully you can make those simultaneous like me, whatever, just find your way to be happy.
Well said! As we pass through different stages in our life, different food and eating habits make us happy. So we adjust as we go.
Exactly Sherri, constantly evolving and adapting our views on food. A few years ago I didn’t eat a single vegetable because they grossed me out but now I can’t think of any vegetable I won’t eat. Except kale, I’m still having trouble with kale.
Hi Slim! On the subject of kale: I don’t know how you’ve tried preparing it in the past, but I find it’s important to buy a fresh bunch rather than the packages of cut kale, because the packages include the stem and the stem is nasty bitter! You definitely have to tear the leaves off the stem. After that, give them a whirl in a salad spinner. If cooking, sauté the wet leaves in some olive oil till they turn bright green, which is pretty fast. Add some fresh garlic and lemon juice. If you prefer it raw, try massaging the kale in some oil with your hands — it’s less bitter that way. Oh, and try lacinato kale (the flat leaf kind) rather than the curly one, it has milder flavor. And go organic in the case of greens — according to the Environmental Working Group, leafy greens are on their Dirty Dozen hit list.
Thank you for your post, and sharing your recipes. I wholly agree with you–each individual can reserve the right to choose what he/she wants in any manner they prefer. I agree with Sherri S, our palates are always changing. Our needs can change as well, so it only makes sense that what goes on our plate may change.
YES! Love this.
Well said!
Congratulations on your graduation! I hope you have great plans as you move down the road of life. Oh, and I agree with everything you said 😉
Brilliant! Couldn’t agree with you more. By the way, kale with bacon and pine nuts is divine. Boil the kale for a few minutes, pan-fry the bacon, dry roast the pine nuts, then combine them all together in a frying pan with a bit of butter and fresh ground black pepper. Divine! <3
Love the post – congrats on your graduation. I think folks would benefit by realizing they have to find their own way, but why not learn from the experience of others? Take from them what will work for you, and leave the rest.
Preach it brother!
Congratulations Joshua!!!! All the best to you!
So true! Some people are so judgemental, they just need to chill and enjoy life. Nobody ever has to justify what they eat 🙂
This was very well said, and I definitely understand when you say you had to get it out. I wrote a similar blog a few weeks ago because I was feeling similarly frustrated with the media, and then other folks’, opinions of gluten free, paleo, bla bla bla…it was overwhelming the amount of finger pointing and anger was going around…because of what…what we choose to snack on?! Ugh. Hope you feel better now that you got it out there!!
Great post! I feel the same…I’m so sick of listening to peoples’ ignorance. They are just scared of what they don’t truly understand and they aren’t willing to truly understand it, lest it interfere with their way of life. But as I try to explain to my son, IT IS important what you do because everything has a ripple effect. When you eat a certain way, ie: Doritos, you are saying GMO’s are OK and the use of toxic pesticides that are killing the bees and butterflies, polluting the air and soil is OK….and THAT IS NOT OK!!! When you eat NON grass-fed, pastured raised meat, dairy, eggs, you are saying that inhumane treatment of animals and factory farming is OK and it IS NOT OK!!! How we choose to live does matter and has very serious consequences to the planet and all it’s inhabitants. So for me, “Paleo” is not just about MY personal health and healing, it’s about the animals, the insects and the planet!!!
Happy Graduation and Congratulations to you!! The world needs more young people like you that are passionate about doing the right thing!!!
Congratulations! You are so wise, and I wish you all the best. Ignorance and fear are difficult to combat. Just keep being your terrific self!
Very well said! Congratulations on your graduation!!
Well said, Joshua! I rant about this all the time, but you managed to put it eloquently, and without swearing like I do 🙂
Bravo! I hope they hired you to make this speech at your graduation. 🙂 Congratulations on your graduation and much continued success in your future! Thanks for taking us on your journey.
Congratulations on the graduation Joshua!!
I bet you can’t wait to travel round Europe – I have some great restaurants in London if you’re planning to come over! 🙂
Thanks, Joshua! You said it so very well! Congratulations on your graduation! Best of luck in the future.
Hi Joshua,
I’m new to your blog. I’m very impressed with what you’ve accomplished. You are brilliant. Talented. And gifted. Thanks for sharing what you’re up to. Jimmy Kimmel is very funny. And he makes a good point. So many times people do what they do without really thinking about it; without thinking about WHY they’re doing it. Advertisers know that if they print “gluten free” on their packaging, people will be more likely to buy the product. But “gluten free” doesn’t make a product healthy. This is obvious, right? Coke is gluten free. But I sure ain’t buyin’ it!! (To each his own.) So many times people make their choices based on what everybody else is doing, or based on what they did yesterday; rather than thinking through what’s right for them today. That’s okay, too! Anyway, Jimmy could not have been talking about you. You are following your own path. You are a leader. You ARE thinking; and you are awesome. Jimmy Kimmel’s humorous observations may make us feel a bit foolish about ourselves, but they don’t in any way make you wrong. The truth is always an invitation. I can’t wait to get ahold of your book! Your photographs are amazing. Fresh, simple, original, and stunning. I’m looking forward to trying your recipes. They’re enticing. THANK YOU!
I just found you and I am impressed by your accomplishments. I have to say I agree with Cyndy. I have been gluten-free for 7 years now. I found Jimmy Kimmel’s skit hilarious. I know why I am gluten-free and I know what gluten is. I suspect you do as well. However, Jimmy was spot-on about people who jump on a trend without having any idea what they are doing. He wasn’t making fun of the diet. He was mocking people who don’t do their research. That’s not you. Taking offense is a choice. Looking forward to checking out many of your recipes. Congratulations on completing high school. It’s a big deal. Not everyone makes it.
Congratulations on graduating, Joshua! And what a nice blog post…the message holds true for most things on life, from cooking to parenting…it’s easy to get lost and carried away in the labels and acronyms.
I’ve only just stumbled across your blog as I was trying to find the right temperature settings for slow roasting some lamb, which is a favourite at our house (we’re in the UK and it’s a popular meat out here). And since someone mentioned kale, which we love with our roast chicken, veg and gravy I wanted to plug it 🙂 I just pop in in some boiling water for a minute or two till it turns bright green and serve with the gravy poured on top. In fact I use the kale water to make the gravy so we don’t lose all that goodness. Alternatively I expect one could just plonk it in the gravy as it cooks and just let it wilt in there, thereby not losing any of the good stuff. I always remove the stalks first btw. It’s also lovely stir fried very lightly with some grated onion and a bit of garlic – goes beautifully with beef.
Good luck in everything you do, you seem like a lovely, talented and driven young man. x
So so so true. I know I already told you this, but this is amazing. It’s so important that everyone feel comfortable eating their own way, and finding what works for them! No more biased jabs.
Also, I just listened through the interview we did, and I have to say that my favorite thing about it is that you only said the word Paleo once. It was at the end, when you gave the title of your book.
We need more people like you talking about health. Thank you.
I have endured more ridicule, snide comments,and offhanded remarks since being diagnosed celiac and even more since choosing to eat the Paleo way. I’ve been accused of an eating disorder, of giving my 6 year old (also Celiac) and eating disorder. I’ve been told I need to “chill out about food.” But the truth is, it’s hard to chill out when you spend entire nights bolting to the bathroom and shaking and sweating over the toilet. It’s hard to chill out when the first thing you feel each morning is a gut wrenching cramp that folds you over so you can’t pour the milk into your cereal. And you don’t know what does it. I was vegan! healthy, right? It was worse when I ate gluten but going gluten free didn’t help THAT much. But after discovering Paleo and losing those symptoms along with others I didn’t know we’re related: anxiety, depression, fatigue, widespread muscle pain, acne, hypoglycemia, irritability, and insomnia…I say go ahead and hate me and the way I eat. Go ahead. I’m happy, I’m free of disease symptoms, I want to whirl in a meadow. And at forty, after not being able to get a laundry basket up the stairs for years and years, and just nine months after switching to Paleo, I ran my first half marathon in 1:45. So yeah, pass the medium rare steak and cauli rice. Thanks for your inspiring blog, gorgeous photography, and killer recipes. And screw the haters.
Wendy – hurrah for you. Loved your post.
Joshua, you are so right! The most important thing is to know your body and its reactions to foods. If something does not agree with you, you will know it. Of course there are things that in the long run are detrimental to our health, and the effects don’t reveal themselves until a lot of damage has been done and needs to be undone. That’s where education comes in. We need to stay informed and knowledgeable. The bottom line is that no matter what we do, we will all die some day, our bodies will decay. I love food too much to deprive myself of all the culinary pleasures, and the secret is self control.
I bet if I asked people on the street “What is fat” or “What is cholesterol” they wouldn’t really have an answer either… We know where to find it, but I don’t know a whole lot of people who could actually tell me what fat IS. Doesn’t change the fact that you need to be aware of how you consume those substances. Oh well. I’ll mind my own business and ignore the haters. Nice site by the way.
I like your last paragraph & love your photography on instagram. Thank you for the inspiration ♡