Clean Eating, by Guest Blogger Jess Bailey

Since early May, I’ve embarked on a new “life plan” with regards to food. It first started as “The Sonoma Diet”, which was a dietary book I bought several years ago, but never opened. After finally accepting that the 45 pounds I put on with JJ was not going to magically disappear, I decided to follow the diet to the letter.

As prescribed, I gave up all processed food, while savoring in the robust and flavorful cuisine of the Mediterranean. Initially, it was a lot of cooking (something I have only recently begun to take an interest in), but I have to say, the weight did drop off relatively quickly, and I did feel better. It’s been the first time that I ever believed any diet actually gave me more energy. And with an infant and toddler to keep up with, energy is good.

I’ve never been one to jump on any bandwagon, particularly the organic one. I’ve long believed organic clothes are a massive marketing ploy targeted at new parents, to guilt them into spending quadruple the cost for an oatmeal-colored onesie that promises “no pesticides”. Little do those new parents realize that their $25 onesie’s maiden voyage will quickly be soiled (and most likely, stained) with a lovely concoction of vomit and diarrhea.

This skepticism carried over with regards to “grass-fed cows”, “free-range chickens”, and “pesticide free vegetables”. However, the more I learn, the more I am starting to believe that perhaps there is something to “natural” food. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still pretty selective on what I buy that’s organic, after all, the price tag alone is worth considerably weighing the pros and cons. But there is a comfort in knowing (or at least, believing) that my chickens at one point in their lives were able to stand upright and walk on all four legs; and my cows were free to nosh on green pastures — that is, before being slaughtered for my dietary enjoyment, of course.

Two-and-a-half months after having JJ, I am happy to report that I am no longer wearing elastic-waistband pants. As I recall, it took much longer after Ryan, and I think I was bullied into it by our Denver dry-cleaning lady telling me in no uncertain terms that I was fat. Leave it to a complete stranger to tell it like it is. Nevertheless, clean eating is doing the body good!