12 Steps to Whole Foods

Introduction
Fourth, I strongly recommend a food-elimination cleanse program, overseen by a naturopath or another
practitioner you trust, to get to the bottom of what classes of foods are causing you problems. You may
eventually be able to heal your gut and eliminate some food intolerances under the care of a good practitioner
and while eating nourishing whole foods.
Fifth and finally, I have reviewed many (if not all) of the food-combining theories, and if you are going to do
one—especially to starve out candida (it never goes away, but it can become controlled and dormant, as the
immune system is strengthened)—I recommend Donna Gates’ Body Ecology Diet. It focuses heavily on sea
vegetables, which will be very foreign to most people. It also emphasizes probiotic-intensive foods.
I am not a big fan of the poultry, fish, and eggs Gates recommends (my review of The China Study, on
GreenSmoothieGirl.com under “Book Review” and in other places, will explain why). However, when you
eliminate fruits and grains, in an effort to regain a healthy terrain populated with good bacteria rather than bad,
getting enough calories is a problem. Therefore, for those with candida or significant health problems, I am
supportive of undertaking the Body Ecology Diet and then, when you are healed, shifting to eating fruits and
other whole plant foods.
Will I Have to Use Lots of Tools and Ingredients I’m Not
Familiar With?
You’ll be introduced to lots of whole foods in this book, but never fear: in Appendix A (page 337), ingredients
you may not be familiar with are explained, with tips on where you can find them. I have made an effort not to
use large numbers of ingredients in my recipes or exotic, hard-to-find ingredients. I’ve also made an effort to
use every ingredient in more than one recipe, so you have other places to “use it up” if you buy it—you can
look up any ingredient in the index to find all recipes in this manual that use it. Usually you’ll find a new
ingredient in your local health food store, a place you will inevitably become quite intimate with in the course
of following this program!
A whole-foods kitchen does have certain tools, but I have suggested them only when they are needed for each
new step. Most months, you won’t need any new or expensive tools. However, one thing that no one who cares
about nutrition should be without is the Blendtec Total Blender. On my site (www.greensmoothiegirl.com), I
explain why I like this high-powered blender best, even though I own several (including VitaMix, Bosch, and
others). This is a pricey machine at around $400, but it is the single best thing I own. Not the single best kitchen
tool I own, but literally the best thing I own, period! I use mine four or more times every single day. I even take
it in my suitcase to hotel rooms on vacation. I can’t overestimate the importance of having a high-horsepower
blender with a good warranty for increasing your nutrition using many of these 12 steps—especially step 1.
Some of the foods you’ll be introduced to are not expensive. For instance, whole grains and legumes are
inexpensive—much cheaper than processed, packaged foods and meat and dairy products. And most chapters
have a section on tips for saving money. Of course, some of the chapters, such as the vegetable garden, main
dishes, and whole-grain sections, are inherently going to help you save. I know that most people live on a
closely guarded budget, and being a frugal person with humble beginnings myself, I will not suggest you
purchase anything that isn’t really important and a great investment in your family’s nutrition. Most of the
people I know who are living this lifestyle—whole-food nutrition every day—are folks who live on a strict
budget. You don’t have to be wealthy to be healthy!
© Copyright Robyn Openshaw 12 Steps to Whole Foods 21