A Return to Pure Food

Kelli Lewton-Secondino

I was having a “soap box” conversation with a family member at a recent birthday gathering about just exactly what does “organic food” mean and why it is important.  Also a hot topic of discussion was the lack of healthy foods, or should I say, the nutrient-void items being mass-marketed to families today.  I tried to inform said family member about the benefits of choosing and eating organic whole foods when my niece tugged at my sleeve, “What did the world do before we had organic?” she asked.  I smiled and told her that our foods used to be free of additives, preservatives and pure, but that over the last 60-plus years or so, natural organics have fallen out of favor to be replaced by highly processed foods and drinks.  “Don’t worry, maybe it will return,” she hopefully replied.  Out of the mouths of babes, it could be that simple!  “Wow, what an initiative that could be”, I said to my adult counter-part, “A Return to Pure Food”…  I then gleefully spouted that I could see this slogan proudly plastered on billboards, magazines, commercials, newspapers, bumper stickers and more!  Could this make people think twice about what they are eating and choose real food more often than not?

As a chef, I am witness to the huge growth as well as buzz around all things natural and organic.  There is a growing momentum of people who desire a return to pure food. My clients demand foods that are rich in natural nutrients and nutrient dense, free of preservatives and additives and contain products that are kind to the environment.   This demand is why the organic, natural food trend is growing by leaps and bounds.

As we continue to share information about the benefits of untreated/ non-altered foods, how to prepare them, and where to find/buy them, word gets around, changes happen and a return pure food is taking place.

I believe that knowledge is power and that what you don’t know can hurt you.  Did you know that as much as 70 percent of processed foods contain an ingredient that has been genetically engineered or modified?  Modified ingredients are found in just about everything we consume such as: corn syrup, canola and cottonseed oils, soy protein and lecithin.  The stream of ingredients in some foods is overwhelming, and often incomprehensible to us as average consumers.  Some should contain warning labels (much like what you might find on a pack of cigarettes!): “This highly processed, genetically modified food substance may cause cancer, heart disease, allergic reactions, learning difficulties, headaches and more!” 

It can be EASY navigating the rough and additive-heavy waters of the grocery store when you buy as close to the real product as possible.  You won’t find high fructose corn syrup on the vine with fruits and vegetables, Vitamin D is naturally absorbed into the organic milk from a non-confinement cow that has access to the sun, and it needn’t be removed through pasteurization and then added back. The good stuff is in it, as a whole food product, vitamin enhancing need not apply.  A multitude of studies support buying local fruits and vegetables at their peak ripeness, as well as buying organic.  This leaves you with produce that is as much as 50% higher in polyphenols, antioxidants and vitamin C.  By supporting local and organic farmers today, you can help ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow, and that future generations will have access to nourishing, flavorful and abundant as well as healthy, variety.

We need to tune in to the world around us, educate ourselves to what is being added in our food, and know the sources of our food.  We need to join together and share our knowledge with others, advocate for fair food labeling and hold firm against practices like genetically modified crops, the influx of chemicals and preservatives into our food chain and into cosmetic and household products.  I invite you to share in the journey with many of us, and Return to Pure Food!

Chef Kelli Lewton-Secondino is a wife, mother, culinary educator and Real Food Advocate.  She is also the Chef-Owner of Pure Food 2 U, which prepares and delivers pure, organic meals.  She also owns and is the chef of 2 Unique Caterers & Event Planners.  Please visit  www.purefood2u.com or www.twounique.com for more information.