Top 3 Go-To Movies for Healthifying your life
Okay, so it's the first of the year. What does that usually mean? We SAY we will eat better. Some of us do. Some of us realize to eat healthy, that we actually have to make some sacrifices and lifestyle changes. "Oh no! Danna, are you telling me that I have to give up my ice cream and eat rabbit food?!!" No, not necessarily. I am saying that you will need to practice discipline and make your indulgences in moderation. You will need to make a grocery list and plan ahead. Some of us are great with that, and the rest of us say "Screw that!" after we have to actually plan our meals and do meal prep.
Eating healthy is not rocket science, but a lot of us are just not educated with the proper information. I thought I knew a lot until my husband and I sat down and watched some life-changing documentaries. I know what you are thinking: "Documentaries are boring! When I get TV time to myself, I want to watch cool stuff like football and hot people running around on the beach." I can attest that I also used to be in that frame of mind. But lets go back to our goal: To eat better! This requires some sacrifices. So grab a pint of Halo Top Cookie Dough Ice cream and pull up Netflix and focus on these 3 movies!
1. Food Matters (2008)
This is the documentary that changed it all for me. Not only was it gripping from the beginning, but it was as if the wool had been pulled off of my eyes. It all made so much sense. I am not saying that all of life's questions will be answered in this movie, but it will make you think twice before you pop a pill or forget to take your vitamins. This movie forced me to analyze what I was consuming and make some serious changes in my eating habits. It also gave me a thirst for more knowlege...so we watched the next movie!
2. Food, Inc. (2008)
If you think Food Matters was informative, this movie is a mind-blowing fact explosion. It digs deep into the items going into our shopping carts and how they affect our bodies, economy, and our local farmers. Watching this inspired me to grow my own produce and really pay attention to my food labels. I now shop the perimeter of the grocery store and limit my processed foods as much as possible. Sometimes though, you just gotta get that canned cream of mushroom soup for the Thanksgiving green bean casserole!
3. Fed Up (2014)
https://youtu.be/UVX6_LzX4mM
Just when you thought you may know everything about that soda you are sipping on, Fed Up prove you wrong! This documentary highlights the sugar industry and how it is leading to the diabetes epidemic in the USA. I had no idea that there was sugar and high fructose corn syrup in so many foods and beverages that we eat and drink everyday. So what is our umbrella solution as consumers? We will say, "Oh, I am just drinking diet soda." or "I will get the low-fat kind." This movie illustrates how the low-fat option is made to taste better with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. It breaks down our daily limit on our added sugar intake and educates us healthier alternatives to our calorie consumption. Other than hard-core facts, you also see what is going on in our school's cafeterias, how the food our kids eat affect their behaviors, and how small changes can make a huge impact.
Political points are peppered throughout the films, but there are some massive nutritional info in here that will help you when planning your meals, going grocery shopping, and making smarter decisions about what you put in your body. I need to re-watch these as well.
Honorable Mentions:
- Farmegeddon (2011)
- GMO OMG (2013)
- Super Size Me (2004)
There are many good movies available for food and nutrition, but these are my picks. I hope that you watch them, keep an open mind, and make some changes that your body will thank you for in the long run. If you have seen these, let me know which ones were your favorite!! Also, if you have a recommendation for me to watch, please share it!
Happy New Year and good luck with all your nutritional goals!