On Life As A Picky Foodie

This past weekend was pure bliss.  Vida and I had DW back after a looming deadline, and we took full advantage of family time including a wonderful, long walk on Hampstead Heath. 

Hampstead Heath is, without a doubt, my favourite part of London.  DW and I were commenting this weekend that over the past few years, we have walked there season after season celebrating, arguing, commemorating, taking moments to breath.  If the Heath could talk, it would know our most intimate secrets.

Our little girl loves it too now.  She points at the dogs, has long naps while we wander, watches the ducks in the ponds.  It has gorgeous wilder bits and beautiful manicured gardens.  Even a farmer’s market on Saturdays. 

This weekend, the Heath was filled with thousands of people, mostly women, in pink, Walking for a Cure to Cancer.  There were older women, younger women, women with bunny ears on, women who had tied themselves together to bring home the message that Cancer affects us all, mothers walking with their daughters, sisters, friends, co-workers.  It was quite a sight.

In the past few weeks, I have been excited about the WISH Summit.  WISH stands for Women’s International Summit for Health and it was set up by a beautiful vegan, raw foodist Warrior Woman named Tera Warner.  She seems to be on a fabulous mission to get us all thinking about ways in which we can improve our health. 

While I was really enjoying the interviews she conducted with forty experts in every field of health – spiritual, physical, emotional, social, financial, etc – one thing that really got me thinking was her crusade against the pink ribbon. 

As we all know, pink ribbons are the symbol of our fight against breast cancer.  How could someone who is so interested in promoting women’s health be so vocal against the research for a cure?

Tera, however, made, and kept making a really great point: it’s all fine and good for science to come up with pills and other technology to help us, but what about helping ourselves?  People want some kind of magic pill that will take away the cancer, without taking responsibility and making changes to their diet, lifestyle and state of mind. 

At first, I felt her powerful words were quite jarring.  Why bash the amazing work of researchers trying to eradicate such a devastating illness?  Surely people couldn’t be that callous?  Surely they would attack the problem from all angles?

But last weekend, on Hampstead Heath, watching these women who had raised money, who were walking to increase awareness trudge by, I got a clear answer:

The young woman couldn’t have been older than twenty-two or three.  She was clearly obese and sweating profusely.   Her skin was grey and sallow and she had deep dark circles under her eyes.  The pink outfit she was wearing was tight, as if it understood the irony of the situation and didn’t want to give any more than necessary.  And, as she puffed up a very small hill, our friend took a nice, long, delicious drag of a cigarette! 

Now I realize that breast cancer – the most prevalent form of the illness in women – isn’t lung cancer – the second most common cancer among women.  But seriously, who are we kidding here?

Please, people, let’s take responsibility for our bodies, our health, our lives!  I’m not saying that science doesn’t occupy a vitally important place within the realm of health and illness, but there are so many things we can do to help ourselves first and foremost.

According to Dr. Dean Ornish (and others), illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are 100% preventable and even reversible through diet and lifestyle.  Other studies have found a 70% inhibition of tumour growth in prostate cancer when subjects made dietary and lifestyle changes alone. 

That’s telling us something – and I don’t think magic pills were mentioned.

A few years ago, I went travelling through Hong Kong, Thailand and India.  It was a life-changing experience in many ways.  New foods, new cultures, new customs; the colours and smells and experiences were amazing.  One unexpected discovery that made my trip incredible was the connection with women. 

Traveling in strange countries made me very aware of all the luxuries I enjoy at home.  For example, upon my return, I remember being blown away by all of the beautiful clothing in my closet – the same outfits that I had once taken for granted. 

But really, it was encountering so many incredible women – discovering our capacity to support, challenge, connect with one another -- that changed my life forever.  Throughout my travels, women would appear, seemingly out of nowhere, to share of themselves, to remind me of what is important, to take a moment, to laugh together, to offer comfort when I needed it.  Strangers became immediate friends as we confided in one another in ways that would have been unthinkable back home. 

These women were from everywhere.  They were locals and tourists, wives and mothers taking a break and single post-adolescents looking for Truths.  I think of Joody, of our long talks, and getting lost in the womb of the world.  Of Jim, who fed me with her kindness and her amazing food.  Of Hannah, who walked over to my table one morning when I was very sad and, without introducing herself, asked if I needed a hug.  Of Rose, who embraces all us temporary residents in her beautiful, yogini arms and has created the most magical space in Chiang Mai.  And Jenna; happy, gorgeous, deep, intense Jenna whom I will forever picture on her bright pink scooter.

Something special and unique happens between women.  We can strengthen, inspire and encourage one another in unique ways.  But all too often, instead of taking the time to nurture that bond, we hide behind our relationships with our partners, or decide we’re too busy. 

Something happens when it’s just women.  It’s different when men get involved.  Not that there isn’t a space for men too.  But I make the time to see DW.  With my girlfriends, it’s more of an effort.  It’s nice to be reminded sometimes, to reach out and reconnect.  With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect excuse to do so. 

Because as I learned on my travels, it’s not only giving birth that defines us as mothers, it’s how we relate to and connect with everyone around us – adults, children, men, women, peers, colleagues, strangers.  We have the gift of being able to give life.  Our own lives -- and what we make of it -- is ultimately just as important. 

To all you beautiful women – thank you for being confidantes, guides and teachers to me in so many ways, at so many crossroads in my life.  As mothers, we guide our children.  As women, we guide and are guided by so many others.   

And, of course, to my own wonderful mother and grandmother whom I love dearly.  Thank you. 

With Love and Gratitude

Gabriela