Candy Crush

Ihad a pretty typical relationship with food. Because of the backyard garden we had in my childhood home in suburban Chicago, I had an appreciation for fruits and veggies from a young age, but as an adult I wasn’t very aware of labels. I ate ultra-processed food and I enjoyed candy.

But about 12 years ago, I discovered that my first child had eczema. He was miserable, and it totally upended our lives. Even at 18 months, he was up all night, itchy and uncomfortable. After trying conventional approaches with no success, a friend suggested that I visit an alternative medical professional. He recommended an elimination diet, which sounded intimidating and overwhelming, but by that point, I was desperate. I tried it, and to my relief, it worked.

It also sparked a new interest. I started reading more about nutrition, fascinated. For thousands of years, humans ate foods that had the ability to nourish. But in the past 75 years, with the rise of packaged and convenience foods, non-nourishing — and sometimes harmful — foods have become the norm.

All of the products that we buy in cans, packages, and boxes are delicious and last forever for a reason. They’re full of things that enhance flavor, that leave you wanting more, some with ingredients that are illegal in other countries.