Comments on: anorexia, garlic bread, and michael pollan. what do you think? http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/ Author / Eating Disorders Educator / Yoga Teacher in Auburn, AL Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:04:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tessa F. http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-2417 Tessa F. Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:07:11 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-2417 I completely agree with this. People are often way too far from the source and it can be rather confusing, especially for people with disordered eating. I think that you were very right and good for getting this out. There are many things that treatment professionals do in treatment centers that are not good and DO NOT help, this being one of them. I think it is important that we, as in the people who have gone through this and are on recovering road express that so treatment for others can be improved and so the people in recovery can have just as a chance at getting better as we did. Sorry, hopefully those thoughts weren't too conjumbled. I completely agree with this. People are often way too far from the source and it can be rather confusing, especially for people with disordered eating.

I think that you were very right and good for getting this out. There are many things that treatment professionals do in treatment centers that are not good and DO NOT help, this being one of them. I think it is important that we, as in the people who have gone through this and are on recovering road express that so treatment for others can be improved and so the people in recovery can have just as a chance at getting better as we did.

Sorry, hopefully those thoughts weren’t too conjumbled.

]]> By: Elizabeth C http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1840 Elizabeth C Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:05:16 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1840 What a wonderful idea Peach! People are starting to take vacations on working farms for this same reason of getting in touch with the source of our food. I've found it a wonderful experience owning animals that produce food for my family and having a garden. I LOVE the idea of incorporating this into a treatment program. It has so many possibilities for healing and growth. Thanks for sharing! What a wonderful idea Peach! People are starting to take vacations on working farms for this same reason of getting in touch with the source of our food. I’ve found it a wonderful experience owning animals that produce food for my family and having a garden. I LOVE the idea of incorporating this into a treatment program. It has so many possibilities for healing and growth. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Ness Belyea http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1738 Ness Belyea Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:45:52 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1738 I can absolutely agree with you on every word you have written. When I was 21 years old and weighing 86lbs, I return home from the big city (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) to my family farm in Norton, New Brunswick, Canada (having just graduated Culinary School - of all placed to be battling anorexia). For years my mother has been running a business of growing fresh herbs, vegetables, fruit and various produce (no animals though, as we are vegetarians). I came back and began to work with the earth (as my mother's business partner) and grow the food that I prepared for the family meals(as I am a Chef). It has a been a slow process and every day is a new battle, but I have finally learned to trust whole foods, and to stop reading nutritional labels on the local nutritional whole grains and foods that line my cupboards (we are fortunate to live close to a flourmill as well as a farm that produces their own cheeses, milk, butter and yogurts). I have also learned that eating a carrot out of the ground (or 5, and a handfull of cherry tomatoes) does not have to be recorded in a journal to later cause grief, worry, panic, and a need for 5 more crunches. I have never felt so offended as when a friend of mine (whom I met through Looking Glass Foundation in British Colombia, Canada) told me that she was forced to eat non-vegetarian, preservative laden "food" soley for the purpose of gaining weight during a rehabilitation stay. I told her of my experiences and she nearly bought the first plane ticket out to spend a week in my shoes. My mother and I have recently decided to open our very own wellness center in our home and on our farm. We truly believe that the great mother earth can heal you and it is because we have become so far removed from her that we are falling ill. So I guess, keep an eye out for this "food therapy farm" in Eastern Canada and thank you for voicing such a brilliant opinion - at least someone out there shares a certain like-mindedness. I can absolutely agree with you on every word you have written. When I was 21 years old and weighing 86lbs, I return home from the big city (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) to my family farm in Norton, New Brunswick, Canada (having just graduated Culinary School – of all placed to be battling anorexia). For years my mother has been running a business of growing fresh herbs, vegetables, fruit and various produce (no animals though, as we are vegetarians). I came back and began to work with the earth (as my mother’s business partner) and grow the food that I prepared for the family meals(as I am a Chef). It has a been a slow process and every day is a new battle, but I have finally learned to trust whole foods, and to stop reading nutritional labels on the local nutritional whole grains and foods that line my cupboards (we are fortunate to live close to a flourmill as well as a farm that produces their own cheeses, milk, butter and yogurts). I have also learned that eating a carrot out of the ground (or 5, and a handfull of cherry tomatoes) does not have to be recorded in a journal to later cause grief, worry, panic, and a need for 5 more crunches.
I have never felt so offended as when a friend of mine (whom I met through Looking Glass Foundation in British Colombia, Canada) told me that she was forced to eat non-vegetarian, preservative laden “food” soley for the purpose of gaining weight during a rehabilitation stay. I told her of my experiences and she nearly bought the first plane ticket out to spend a week in my shoes.
My mother and I have recently decided to open our very own wellness center in our home and on our farm. We truly believe that the great mother earth can heal you and it is because we have become so far removed from her that we are falling ill. So I guess, keep an eye out for this “food therapy farm” in Eastern Canada and thank you for voicing such a brilliant opinion – at least someone out there shares a certain like-mindedness.

]]> By: HR http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1551 HR Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:44:35 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1551 A year ago I was struggling with my eating disorder (restricting anorexia with compulsive exercise). Rather than go into more intensive treatment, I chose to spend a week at Kripalu at a session called "healing your relationship with food". I got away from my punishing routine for a week and immersed myself in group sessions and yoga. But the best part was the food on offer at Kripalu: whole foods, well balanced, variety of choices. At a differen point in recovery the experience would not have worked for me, buy last year, it was just what I needed. A year ago I was struggling with my eating disorder (restricting anorexia with compulsive exercise). Rather than go into more intensive treatment, I chose to spend a week at Kripalu at a session called “healing your relationship with food”. I got away from my punishing routine for a week and immersed myself in group sessions and yoga. But the best part was the food on offer at Kripalu: whole foods, well
balanced, variety of choices.

At a differen point in recovery the experience would not have worked for me, buy last year, it was just what I needed.

]]> By: Anna Renwick http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1548 Anna Renwick Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:36:13 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1548 That is great Peach. I'd love you to do one on exercise too! Just reading your book and following your blog is really helping to keep me motivated. xxx That is great Peach. I’d love you to do one on exercise too!
Just reading your book and following your blog is really helping to keep me motivated.
xxx

]]> By: Melissa McLain http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1547 Melissa McLain Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:36:14 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1547 Hey Peach! What a lovely blog you have! Just wanted you to know that I love this discussion. I'm about to present on culture and food rules in Boston next week and this discussion is exactly in line with what I'm working on! Thanks for talking about it! Melissa Hey Peach! What a lovely blog you have! Just wanted you to know that I love this discussion. I’m about to present on culture and food rules in Boston next week and this discussion is exactly in line with what I’m working on!
Thanks for talking about it!
Melissa

]]> By: Karin Lawson http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1546 Karin Lawson Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:00:11 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1546 Peach, I love this! I'm so glad you are articulating these thoughts. It is so timely!!! Interestingly, I have recently been more and more reflective about this, having worked for 2 years in residential treatment, sharing meals with the patients and witnessing some of the intense fears over processed food . . . and feeling conflicted myself about what was being served. I think you balance a nice argument about what it means to truly develop a new, healthy, connected relationship with food and the irrational fears that are a part of an eating disorder (and would be there even if served real butter). This also just connects with me on a more personal level, as I have become more proactive in eating organically and locally, and wanting my professional and my personal life to be in sync. I look forward to more writings, Peach! Karin P.S. I thought the article was going to end with you starting your own Treatment on the Farm Program! :-) Peach, I love this! I’m so glad you are articulating these thoughts. It is so timely!!!

Interestingly, I have recently been more and more reflective about this, having worked for 2 years in residential treatment, sharing meals with the patients and witnessing some of the intense fears over processed food . . . and feeling conflicted myself about what was being served. I think you balance a nice argument about what it means to truly develop a new, healthy, connected relationship with food and the irrational fears that are a part of an eating disorder (and would be there even if served real butter).

This also just connects with me on a more personal level, as I have become more proactive in eating organically and locally, and wanting my professional and my personal life to be in sync.

I look forward to more writings, Peach!

Karin
P.S. I thought the article was going to end with you starting your own Treatment on the Farm Program!
:-)

]]> By: Sarah http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1545 Sarah Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:53:18 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1545 Well said. Well said.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1544 Nat Friedman Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:52:16 +0000 http://www.peachfriedman.com/2010/04/20/anorexia-garlic-bread-and-michael-pollan-what-do-you-think/#comment-1544 Peach, this is incredibly powerful and interesting! I love the idea of your "food therapy farm" - reconnecting all of us with the source of our food, and healing our relationship with what we eat through direct experience. Wake up, milk the cow, gather the eggs, and then make breakfast for everyone. I heard an NPR report about urban farms springing up in Detroit. There's one that's apparently entirely staffed by teenage single mothers. And one of them was interviewed and talked about how she used to feed herself and her baby almost exclusively from burger king, but after a few months at the farm - which she found totally alien at first - now she wants a farm of her own, and to feed her family only fresh, real food. What a transformation! I've watched Jamie Oliver's food revolution with some similar thoughts. Like, some of the stuff he's cooking doesn't look very healthy to me. And I think, why's he using so much butter? But then I realize - there's a benefit to just getting people back in touch with cooking in the first place. The tension is interesting: no rules vs. eating nourishing food. You're not saying "don't eat processed foods," I think you're saying, "eat with mindfulness." Mindfulness is not the same as panicked overreaction to transfats. That's a certain, very specific kind of mindfulness. The trick of allowing yourself to eat everything without judgment for a long time seems like a great way to retrain your awareness. Very stimulating post, Peach, thanks for sharing it! I have visions of the "get to know food again farm" now! Peach, this is incredibly powerful and interesting! I love the idea of your “food therapy farm” – reconnecting all of us with the source of our food, and healing our relationship with what we eat through direct experience.

Wake up, milk the cow, gather the eggs, and then make breakfast for everyone.

I heard an NPR report about urban farms springing up in Detroit. There’s one that’s apparently entirely staffed by teenage single mothers. And one of them was interviewed and talked about how she used to feed herself and her baby almost exclusively from burger king, but after a few months at the farm – which she found totally alien at first – now she wants a farm of her own, and to feed her family only fresh, real food. What a transformation!

I’ve watched Jamie Oliver’s food revolution with some similar thoughts. Like, some of the stuff he’s cooking doesn’t look very healthy to me. And I think, why’s he using so much butter? But then I realize – there’s a benefit to just getting people back in touch with cooking in the first place.

The tension is interesting: no rules vs. eating nourishing food. You’re not saying “don’t eat processed foods,” I think you’re saying, “eat with mindfulness.” Mindfulness is not the same as panicked overreaction to transfats. That’s a certain, very specific kind of mindfulness. The trick of allowing yourself to eat everything without judgment for a long time seems like a great way to retrain your awareness.

Very stimulating post, Peach, thanks for sharing it! I have visions of the “get to know food again farm” now!

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