mom wants to try TF but won't/can't do some of the stuff

[sisteeesmama]

The title says it all but I will elaborate and ask my question.

My mom wants to try to do more TF stuff but is not convinced on some accounts and won't bother with others.
She is on a semi-strict income and does buy her meat from a good source in bulk so she has that.
She has always been on the low-fat bandwagon and can't wrap her mind around the idea of "good fats" but eats a lot of cheese and drinks milk although both are pasteurized and what not.

What are the key things I should talk with her about and how do I explain them?

She did do a csa this summer and it is almost over.

My dad has high cholesterol and is on meds and told to avoid certain foods but I think if he changed his diet to more TF he would improve.

They are both pretty healthy/slim/active.

[Smokering]

Anything's better than nothing. What is she willing to do? Ferments? Organ meats? Raw, organic, grass-fed or otherwise "better than normal" dairy? Soaking grains?

To be honest, even though I'm trying to go more TF there are some things I just have no interest in doing. I know other people on this forum feel the same way. Not everyone wants to drink kombucha or learn to like liver or peel chicken feet for broth... but any change away from the SAD and towards TF is a Good Thing. So go easy on her. TF might have a snowball effect, anyway!

[Magelet]

ummm... I'm supposed to peel the chicken feet? lol

on point though, I agree. Any changes for the better, is better. If just making sourkraut sounds good to her, or eating more chicken broth, its a major improvement. yes, fats are really really important, but think about it, she has at the very least probably 20 years beyond your age of conditioning that fats are evil. Its hard to get over, but it might come if you keep exposing her to the idea in a non-threatening, non-pushy way.

[kjbrown92]

Originally Posted by Smokering

To be honest, even though I'm trying to go more TF there are some things I just have no interest in doing. I know other people on this forum feel the same way. Not everyone wants to drink kombucha or learn to like liver or peel chicken feet for broth... but any change away from the SAD and towards TF is a Good Thing. So go easy on her. TF might have a snowball effect, anyway!

Originally Posted by Magelet

ummm... I'm supposed to peel the chicken feet? lol

That's what I was going to ask... I don't peel my chicken feet. I throw them in the pot. Mmmmm.... I do think that once you start doing more TF things, that other things then come easier as you realize that you feel better/your health is better.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by Smokering

Anything's better than nothing. What is she willing to do? Ferments? Organ meats? Raw, organic, grass-fed or otherwise "better than normal" dairy? Soaking grains?

To be honest, even though I'm trying to go more TF there are some things I just have no interest in doing. I know other people on this forum feel the same way. Not everyone wants to drink kombucha or learn to like liver or peel chicken feet for broth... but any change away from the SAD and towards TF is a Good Thing. So go easy on her. TF might have a snowball effect, anyway!

Yes! This is me, and how I feel.

Can you get her a copy of Nourishing Traditions (or a similar book/cookbook)? That might give her some more ideas and a better understanding as to the why of TF's.

What about helping her locate a raw milk source in the area and seeing if she'd try it?

I think the low-fat ingrained diet is definitely a hard one for people to get past - I tried explaining some to my mom (who is a RN and midwife) and full-fat dairy just seems so extreme to her, much less using bacon grease and otherwise. Even though she uses real butter now, she was very much bought the margarine hype years ago.

[weliveintheforest]

I started by soaking our oatmeal, eating sourdough or sprouted grain breads, making bone broth, and using non homogenized yogurt. Those were pretty easy to integrate.

[cristeen]

I would start by encouraging her to move away from processed foods and incorporate more whole foods into her diet. Unhomogenized milk, whole grains, homemade bone broth, etc. Try to educate her on fats, encourage her to use olive or CO or butter instead of canola or soy or margarine. You can discuss ferments with her, but many people move slowly with those.

The preponderance of fats in the TF diet can come later. Encourage her to read up on it... Eat fat, Lost fat; Most any of Dr. Atkins books; TF, there are any number of sources she could read on the beneficial properties of fats, she doesn't have to just take your word for it... but move slowly with that, she's spent the last 30+ years being brainwashed on that front.

[sweetjasmine]

I can't get past the raw milk. I remember a coworker years ago describing the taste. He said it was thick and rich and warm right out of the cow like a dessert. But the reason I'm not much interested anymore is that the raw milk supposedly has "extras" from the cow, quite normal but there nonetheless, i.e. bits of pus and whatnot. Sorry if tmi. I can't get past that in my head and have no desire to drink it although I wish I could find some non ultra pasteurized and non homogenized milk. Whole Foods doesn't even have anything like that.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

Can you get her a copy of Nourishing Traditions (or a similar book/cookbook)? That might give her some more ideas and a better understanding as to the why of TF's.

I'd suggest "Real Food" - I think it's an easier read to begin with.

And I agree with the other pp's -- any change away from a SAD is better than no change. I mean, if someone had told me a few years ago that I'd be doing what I'm doing today, I'd have laughed out loud. Now it doesn't seem comical at all - just part of my every day life.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by sweetjasmine

I can't get past the raw milk. I remember a coworker years ago describing the taste. He said it was thick and rich and warm right out of the cow like a dessert. But the reason I'm not much interested anymore is that the raw milk supposedly has "extras" from the cow, quite normal but there nonetheless, i.e. bits of pus and whatnot. Sorry if tmi. I can't get past that in my head and have no desire to drink it although I wish I could find some non ultra pasteurized and non homogenized milk. Whole Foods doesn't even have anything like that.

Hey, I respect that. So, you don't have to switch, but just for the record, pasteurized milk has much more pus and blood than raw. Not because of the pasteurization per se but because of the dairy practices (hormones and other mastitis-inducing practices, etc.).

Your state may have some laws about pasteurization, and that may be why you can only find ultra-pasteurized. (That would suck).

[sisteeesmama]

Wow, that was TMI about the raw milk....it's gonna take me some time to gt over that!

I don't think she would go for raw milk but she already said she would look for raw cheeses.
She might do bone broth in the crockpot.
I think for her just the idea of eating more meat/fats and less grains(versus soaking) would be the extent for her and a big deal for now.

I think I will just give her a book and talk about it whenver she brings it up...

[FairyRae]

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

I'd suggest "Real Food" - I think it's an easier read to begin with.

And I agree with the other pp's -- any change away from a SAD is better than no change. I mean, if someone had told me a few years ago that I'd be doing what I'm doing today, I'd have laughed out loud. Now it doesn't seem comical at all - just part of my every day life.

Real Food is a down-to-earth kind of read, and very informative while fun.

If I could see me, and what I now eat/make 2 years ago, I never would have believed it. And yet, here I am, fermenting, making bone broth, (was--now grainfree) sprouting grains to make bread, etc... And eating meat, esp. liver??? NEVER. A lot can change once you get the TF ball rolling. And a little change is better than none.

I also think NT is an amazing resource, and if she had it sitting around to peek into whenever she might want to, there is soooo much info in there it is hard to NOT want to learn more about it all...

Oh, btw, my mom who was vegetarian for years (as I was) has just recently started eating fermented veggies (she gagged the first time she tasted them, and now thinks they are yummy and actually made them w/ me!) and grass-fed beef!!!! Living by example is a great way to influence others to try TF I think. My mom saw how great I *now* look and feel, and how it has helped both my son and I healthwise, so she can SEE that TF really works (if your goal is looking and feeling awesome! ) So that has been motivational for her to learn more about it all. We each do things in our own time...I've just shared little bits of info here and there when she seemed open to it and she's now buying sourdough bread from an amazing local bakery (they soak all their bread overnight) and eating pastured eggs and buying non-homoginized local yogurt (and sweetening it w/ local raw honey) on a regular basis. All of these little things have happened one at a time, but they are real changes that have each made a difference! (Whoah--typing it all out I'm actually very impressed by all the changes she's made in just around 6 months...there is seriously a TF snowball effect!!)

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I would start by encouraging her to move away from processed foods and incorporate more whole foods into her diet.

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

I'd suggest "Real Food" - I think it's an easier read to begin with.

I was going to suggest both of these things. As I look at our diet, I realize we are probably more whole foods than TF...although we do bone broth, lots of fats when we can, raw milk, etc.

Try just suggesting she cut out processed foods. Encourage her to buy ingredients at the store instead of food. Lots of meats, veggies, fruits, etc. Just that alone will probably get her and your dad feeling better and encourage them to look into it further.

[BedHead]

We're definitely more whole foods than tf also. I second (third?) the suggestion of Real Foods over NT. I think that each of us needs to do the best we can based on what our families like, our budget, our time constraints, and our comfort levels. If that means that all you can do is drink kombucha and lose the KD, then that is a great start.

[Drummer's Wife]

oh, I agree with the others that Real Food would be better than NT -- it is what turned me on to TF's. I was just thinking about Nourishing Traditions b/c of the recipes - but that can come later on if she shows more interest.

[sweetjasmine]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Hey, I respect that. So, you don't have to switch, but just for the record, pasteurized milk has much more pus and blood than raw. Not because of the pasteurization per se but because of the dairy practices (hormones and other mastitis-inducing practices, etc.).

Your state may have some laws about pasteurization, and that may be why you can only find ultra-pasteurized. (That would suck).

Really. Goodness, I didn't know that. Hm, well I'm going to at least check Central Market to see what they have in the way of less pasteurized milk, if any. I don't know what Texas laws are concerning that, I'll have to look into it.

Last summer I made homemade pickles but didn't have any whey. Sally Fallon said to use extra salt otherwise. They were good but hard to finish because of the extra salt. I'm trying to incorporate some ferments but I don't have alot of time to mess around. I'd love to try making kimchi sometime. WF sells it but its expensive.