Food Challenge

My friend Ann challenged us (being anyone who reads her blog) to a food challenge. This is NOT a diet, nor a supposed "fad" to help you loose weight. Adam and I don't care about that one bit. It is simply about eating a diet that is less "processed" than what you ate before. 


Each week is suppose to build upon the previous week. To be honest, I am not sure we will be able to do that. However, we will give a valiant attempt at weeks one through nine. Of course, the weeks of Christmas and Thanksgiving are off....let's not be ridiculous. 

As I have mentioned, we are going to stop at week 9, or do a modified week 9. 

So far, we have done weeks 1 and 2. I LOVED week 1 and week 2 was absolutely NOT a challenge for me whatsoever. Making sure that 6 veggies/fruits are in a day is a great thing. Talk about flavor and feeling wonderful. Week 2-I don't drink much besides water and an occasional juice in the morning. Soda is almost NEVER a part of my diet (maybe 1 a week...). Again, as we go on, I suspect we will keep week 1 with us ALL the time and do a modified week 2. We have switched to only drinking soda (before this challenge) with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. We NEVER drink diet. So...we will try to keep that going after the challenge is over. Next week (thanksgiving) is an off week. Then we start week 3.

I am curious how my health will change and how I will feel different on this adjustment of food. 

Here is the schedule:

Week 1: Two fruits and/or vegetables per meal – Eat a minimum of two different fruits or vegetables (preferably organic) with every breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal.

Week 2: “Real” beverages – Beverages will be limited to coffee, tea, water, and milk (only naturally sweetened with a little honey or 100% pure maple syrup). One cup of juice will be allowed throughout the week, and wine (preferably red) will be allowed in moderation (an average of one drink per day).

Week 3: Meat – All meat consumed this week will be locally raised (within 100-miles of your hometown). Meat consumption will also be limited to 3 – 4 servings this week, and when it is eaten meat will not be presented as the “focal point” of the meal. Instead meat will be treated as a side item or simply used to help flavor a dish.

Week 4: No fast food or deep-fried foods – No fast food or any foods that have been deep-fried in oil.

Week 5: Try two new whole foods – Try a minimum of two new whole foods that you’ve never had before.

Week 6: No low-fat, lite or nonfat food products – Do not eat any food products that are labeled as “low-fat,” “lite,” “light,” “reduced fat,” or “nonfat.”

Week 7: 100% Whole grain – All grains consumed must be 100% whole-grain.

Week 8: Stop eating when you feel full – Listen to your internal cues and stop eating when you feel full.

Week 9: No refined sweeteners – No refined or artificial sweeteners including (but not limited to): white sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, sucanat, splenda, stevia, agave, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup, and cane juice. Foods and beverages can only be sweetened with a moderate amount of honey or maple syrup.

Week 10: No refined oils – No refined or hydrogenatedoils including (but not limited to): vegetable oil, organic vegetable oil, soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, organic canola oil, margarine, and grape seed oil.

Week 11: Eat local foods – Eat at least 1 locally grown or raised food at each meal. This includes, but is not limited to: fruits, vegetables, eggs, grains, nuts, meats, and sweeteners like honey.

Week 12: No sweeteners – Avoid all added sweeteners including, but not limited to: white sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, honey, maple syrup, date sugar, maple sugar, sucanat, splenda, stevia, agave, fruit juice concentrate, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup, and cane juice.

Week 13: Nothing artificial – Avoid all artificial ingredients including, but not limited to: sweeteners, flavors and colors.

Week 14: No more than 5-ingredients – Avoid any and all packaged food products that contain more than five ingredients no matter what ingredients