Any Healthy Eating readers out there?

Two weeks ago I invited you to join me in expanding our minds, or sharpening our tools, (if you want a little blog title tie in) by reading new books and sharing our discoveries at least twice a month on Tuesdays.

September’s topic is healthy eating, and my original reading choice was “What to Eat” by Marion Nestle.

If you remember, the original guidelines were that everyone who wants to participate should select her own book and report back on Tuesdays on what new discoveries are being made. This way, we can all benefit from everyone’s reading and the weekly “deadline” will keep us all on track.

Well, I think I bit off a bit more than I could chew, um read, with my selection. And then there was that matter of a hurricane that threw me off track.

So now I’m back, and with a new book that I have been devouring.

I’m reading “The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids” by Tosca Reno. This book explains the damaging trend of fast-food and preservative-laden food our society has come to embrace. She explains exactly what all these mystery ingredients are doing to our bodies and offers practical suggestions for changing your family’s diet to a healthier practice.

I only picked the book yesterday, but I’m already finding simple solutions for ridding my cupboards and (and body) of needless chemicals. 

One very simple suggestion she gives is replace Pam and similar cooking sprays (which contain isobutene) with a spray bottle filled with olive oil. You still get an easy application with minimal fat. And you skip the chemicals. How easy is that to do?

The book also suggests you should drink 2 to 3 liters of water a day. To do this, she recommends you fill 3 one-liter bottles up on the morning so you can really track how much you are drinking… Another simple way to keep on track.

I’m looking forward to reading more and seeing how I can make the change for my whole family to eat healthier options.

I will say that after beginning the book my first inclination was to make major changes right away. But now I’ve decided not to allow myself to become too overwhelmed. Instead I’m going to try to add one or two new recipes a week and one or two other principles a week. If I do more, great. But if not, I’ll still be taking steps in the right direction without taking too much on and inviting failure.

So, what about you? Do you want to join in this reading endeavor, too. (Or maybe just read our posts and eat healthier from what we are learning this month?)

If you’re up for September’s topic, pick a book and get reading. Then write about it on your own blog and link to it from the comments.

Or, if you’re not a blogger, just tell us what you know in the comments… I know I’m up for reading whatever you have to share.

And, on yet another reading note, if you’re up for more (or other) reading this fall, stop by the Fall into Reading Challenge and let everyone know what else you’ll be reading.