How do you decide?

[SaraCate]

Whether you're TF, vegetarian/vegan, raw, low/no-carb, have taken facets from several of these...or whatever, I'm interested!

I've always had a more-than-passing interest in food and nutrition, and I'm really curious how folks decide - especially when they're really strict advocates of a particular way of eating. What books did you read? What experiences led you to your food/nutrition choices?

Right now, we are a 'flexitarian', whole-grains-eating, refined-sugar-limiting, processed-foods-limitng household. I bake our breads (yeasted and otherwise), make fresh cheese and nut butters, and grow sprouts.

Oh, and have any of you come across a book that really looks at various ways of eating in a truly balanced way?

Thanks!
~Sara

[staceychev]

Well, I've been vegetarian (with dairy/eggs) and macrobiotic (no dairy/eggs, but some fish) in the past, and both ways of eating didn't agree with me. My thyroid became out of whack, I gained weight, and I just didn't feel well. So, I guess I kinda crossed those off the list.

At this point, I just go with my gut, take things I like from all eating styles, read as much as I can, and focus on food that I consider "real." That being said, I'm not totally strict about it--probably closer to the 80/20 rule. I would think that my kitchen (and what my daughter eats) would seem really whole foods oriented to my mainstream friends and colleagues, but to some people on this board, I'd be feeding her crap.