This post is sponsored by Sub-Zero
Kath Eats Real Food. That’s the name of this blog and summarizes my food philosophy in a nutshell. When I set out to lose weight back in 2005, I did what many college-aged girls did at the time: I read the tips in women’s magazines and started counting calories, using artificial sweeteners and looking for fat-free this and that. Basically, I did everything wrong. I focused on quantity over quality. While I did lose weight, as one naturally does when portion size and calories are cut, I can’t say I was living my healthiest life. My skin didn’t glow, and I didn’t feel great.
As I learned more about nutrition, I realized that healthy eating isn’t about what you don’t eat but rather what you do. I learned that if I filled up on wholesome real, fresh foods, I wouldn’t crave the not-so-healthy stuff. Gradually I stopped counting calories, I started packing more real food into my diet, and I shifted my focus to quality over quantity.
Ironically, these days I spend very little time thinking about what I’m eating. Choosing fruit at breakfast, salads for lunch and real food throughout my day is second nature. I’ve found a way of eating that keeps me nourished and satisfied and rarely hungry. I might not be at my all-time lowest weight, but I’ve never been happier with my body, which is strong and fit. I love green smoothies and ice cream equally and often have a glass of wine alongside a kale salad for dinner. I’ve struck a great balance of eating nutritious food and enjoying all the tasty pleasures of life.
The reason I am sharing this with you now is because I have partnered with Sub-Zero for the launch of its Fresh Food Matters initiative, featuring the many matters of fresh food and different perspectives about how it can affect your life, environment, community and more. Healthy eating can feel so complicated due to the food industry’s claims and an extensive “healthy” product selection, yet the answer to “what should I eat?” is really very simple: eat more fresh food. Sub-Zero created 13 short films to show all of the interesting ways fresh food impacts our lives to encourage people to eat more fresh food. The stories range from an urban farmer, a beekeeper, Daphne Oz of ABC’s The Chew and other experts. You can watch them all at freshfoodmatters.com. One video that really spoke to me was Lisa Leake’s The Appeal Of Real. I love her blog! Check out her amazing video expanding on the message:
Some of the pillars of healthy eating that I think are important include:
-Eating a diverse variety of foods and a rainbow of colors
-Keeping ingredient lists as simple as possible
-Including fresh fruit or vegetables in every meal
-Having a big salad every day
-Shopping local and/or growing your own food
-Choosing local, organic, sustainable and/or humane whenever possible
-Slowing down to enjoy meals in the company others as you can
-Drinking plenty of water (and a little good wine : ) )
-Listening to your body and focusing on how you feel
How do you eat more fresh food? Nothing is more motivating than a well-stocked refrigerator. If you have a lot of healthy options available you won’t need to rely on fast food or take-out when hunger strikes. Also, a little planning goes a long way. A loose meal plan and a little bit of food prep on the weekend will help you make good choices on your busy weeknights. And planting a garden is as locally grown as you can get. This is my first year gardening alone, and I will be back to tell you if the seeds I planted last week actually grow!
Thanks to Sub-Zero for sponsoring this post! For every use of the hashtag #FreshFoodMatters through the end of July, Sub-Zero will donate $5 to Katie’s Krops to fund up to 25 more youth-run gardens.
Amber says
This is my first year taking on the garden solo as well! So far my seeds have sprouted, so I consider that a huge success 🙂 we moved to 5 acres to focus on sustainability for our family, and it’s really been eye opening for our kids. Have you thought about getting chickens? They’re so easy to care for, and the eggs are amazing!
KathEats says
Mine are sprouting! We live downtown, so I don’t think chickens would be top of my list, but I do know some people who have done it! I prefer to support them by buying their eggs 🙂
Kas says
Kath – I’ve been following you for some years now, and I must say – I find this post a little disingenuous (I realise it’s sponsored.)
Your more recent posts only seem to show you eating out, or using mail-order meals such as Blue Apron.
I’d love to see you get back to posting more meals and recipes from scratch.
KathEats says
While I don’t deny eating out a fair amount, that doesn’t mean I don’t still completely appreciate preparing fresh food in my kitchen for all of the other meals of the week. I’m growing a garden this year and plan to eat salads from it daily. You’ll probably see those salads all summer. Blue Apron delivers fresh food to your fridge and encourages people to get in their kitchens and learn to cook. Cooking and appreciating real food is what this campaign is all about.
Zoe says
I agree with Kas. While Meal-subscription services are great, that’s not the same as someone going in their fridge and seeing leftovers and repurposing them into different meals for a few days. The eating out thing I can understand, but Kas is right in that this post isn’t really in line with the look and feel of your blog these days. Maybe you feel it is so, but us two readers and others I’m sure are missing the connection.
KathEats says
I go in my fridge and repurpose leftovers all the time! Also, could you guys please give me a little slack considering I’m learning to cook and meal plan for 1 adult for the first time in my life? The past month has not been a normal one for me.
Sophie says
I find that cooking for one is pretty much like cooking for several people only with the bonus of leftovers, LOL! You can always stick some servings the freezer for those nights when you’re just not feelin’ it!
kate says
I agree with Kath here – i think this post is aligned with her overall food philosophy – yes she has been eating out more recently, but she always re-purposes leftovers!
Audrey says
I feel like people are really examining Kath’s posts under a microscope here. I don’t get it! It’s snarky and serves no purpose. She’s eating out and so she shouldn’t post about growing salads and basil?! How dare she mention a budget but then spend money on clothes?! Every post doesn’t have to have the same “theme” and like a normal person, not every day and week and month are the same.
Megan says
I agree with Audrey. Can we please just cut Kath some slack? As someone who has gone through a divorce and had to learn to cook for one, it is not that easy. Kath I think you are doing a great job with your circumstances and agree that not every week or month is the same! Keep up the good work and learning to cook for one does get easier over time. Either that or I just have become more used to eating leftover 🙂
MelanieF says
I’ve been reading this blog since the beginning! I had let it go in the past 2 years because I did not relate to it as much as I did before. But, I’ve been coming more frequently in the last couple of months and the blog is starting to speak to me again! More healthy recipes and daily life posts which I love. Keep up the great work Kath!
cara says
Great post Kath! And I agree with your philosophy 100%!! And to the poster above, Blue Apron sends FRESH wholesome food that you still have to cook. Win, win if you ask me!
Annie says
Love seeing your garden in the works! And great video from Lisa – love her blog too.
Jennifer says
Cute pics! And as a fellow R.D. I agree with all of your tips 🙂
Alexandria says
I’ve always loved your whole foods eating approach and use a similar one when I counsel clients. Healthy, real food may look like meal subscription services some nights and picking veggies out of the garden or from a local farm stand (we live in Amish country :)) and that’s okay! Variety is expected and should be embraced, and is what resonates with most people. Thanks for sharing the videos!
Houston Electrician says
You always inspire me to eat better, I just don’t really know where to start. Any tips?
KathEats says
You might want to read my real food series I wrote a few years ago. It’s a good foundation of what I think of a foundation of healthy eating.
jk says
Enjoyed this post. Especially watching and listening to Lisa Leake. I have been reading her blog since
she started it. I think the Charlotte Observer featured her one time and I have been reading it since.
She has a great book and another one in the works, I believe.
I’m sure your plants will grow nicely and provide you with some good summer veggies!
Good Luck!
Sara says
Kath, I really love your blog and couldn’t believe when I stumbled upon it the great luck that it was LOCAL! I think you are courageous to share your personal life and you do it with great respect and grace. As far as eating out the great thing is that you have shown that you can eat real food in any situation. Whether out, at home or at a party. It’s about choices! I appreciate all the wonderful choices we have right here in this wonderful town. One question, where do you recommend shopping for produce? I love the city market but Saturday’s are full of kids activities and it’s too crazy to haul my many kiddos along. Do you have a go to spot for the best weekly fruits and veggies? Do you have a CSA you Recommend?
KathEats says
We do tend to go to the city market all summer because it’s the most convenient for us, but the Meade Park market is also one of my favorites because it is a lot less crowded and you can park nearby (we used to live a few blocks away and could easily walk!). And I’ve heard great things about the Bellair Farm CSA too – you get to fill up your own box which gives some flexibility.
Amy says
No regard to calories at all? There surely can be too much of even the good things! I eat well, a whole foods vegetarian diet, mostly organic, however I still feel that taking in more calories than your body needs could lead to weight gain. I struggle with what the magic number of calories is for me. I run @ 40 miles a week and take 2 group fitness classes per week focusing on strength moves and some cardio….. Any advice on what my caloric intake should be to maintain my weight? To lose a little? Thanks!
Betsy says
Hey Kath! This is kind of a weird question, but I have a backyard setup similar to yours….on a slope, no fence and neighbors in close proximity. I’ve been hesitant to have any sort of garden because I’m worried about critters, specifically my neighbors cat, using it as a litterbox. Are you concerned about that or are you planning to spray or put up some type of fence? I’d love to do something like you are, if I can get past my paranoia! Thanks Kath!
KathEats says
None of my neighbors have pets, so that’s not really a concern there. I’ve only seen a few deer in the yard, and yes I’m worried about them! Cross that bridge if it’s a problem…
Louise RD says
‘Snarky’ is a great way to describe the negative comments above. Lighten up, already! I love the variety of posted topics and don’t want anyone raining on it, please:-) Keep up the great work, Kath!
Carmen says
Great post to add to your library. Thanks!
Cat says
I have posted what were called “negative comments” in the past when I felt that Kath’s science was lacking – the whole cows make Vit D for milk debacle- because I thought it was poorly researched and something an RD should know. However, I disagree with the posters here that this post is disingenuous. Asking someone to 100% adhere to a philosophy is akin to asking them to be a robot. I tend to cook from scratch and I call myself a scratch cook , but if I showed you a picture of my pantry you would see spaghetti and marinara sauce. Does that make me a liar or disingenuous? Nope, it makes me human with a need for a backup if my husband has to make dinner or I have zero time due to schedules or other circumstances. I don’t buy expensive clothes or jewelry and usually purchase them from thrift shops, but darn it, I wanted the big, shiny engagement ring ten years ago (and I would pick out the same one over and over again.) I buy brand new brand name athletic shoes and no brand flip flops and used snow boots. Inconsistent? Perhaps.
It’s Kath’s blog and she is posting about her life. Would we make the same choices? Maybe, maybe not. She’s going through a transition and her new normal may be different than the old normal. If you cant relate to the new normal, then perhaps say thanks for the time we had together and read a blog you can relate to. (Just make sure the science is solid 😉 )
Judith Scott says
I rarely read comments but for some reason I went through all of these, and I think Cat nailed it.
No one is forcing you to read Kath’s blog, and if you don’t like to see her change it along with herself (gee what a concept, life is ALWAYS changing!) do what Cat suggests.
I also see no reason for not giving constructive criticism; here again Cat did that, but the snarky comments are just mean spirited and hurtful.
Kath, keep up the good work..I found as a single parent my cooking was never better, but as a single adult I am more creative. Love roasting a whole chicken on Sunday then seeing what kind of cool stuff
I can make from it all week long. Love to make big salads like quinoa plus veggies but can get sick of those pretty fast,so make half the recipe. If you have a Sprouts in your area, I’ve found some of their prepared foods to be excellent and waaay less expensive than Whole Foods. Ditto Trader Joe’s. Sometimes it makes sense to get those single servings rather than throw out a big portion of what you’ve made yourself.
Anyway, keep up the good work Kath. BTW noticed you aren’t wearing your wedding ring, sigh
Take care.
I can be more creative
KathEats says
Thank you 🙂
Susan says
I love the diversity of your blog and I’ve been a reader for many, many years. I’m a grandma and I’ve been a single mom too and it’s not easy and I can imagine, much harder when in the public eye. You’ve done a great job and all the negative people should go elsewhere! It really pisses me off when I read nasty comments! I, for one, enjoy the recipes, information, (personal info), products you post, your travels, tips, and fashion – just to name a few things. Yes, some posts I like better than others, but that’s the point because we are all different. Keep up the good work and don’t let these people get you down! Thanks for sharing many things!