A Year of Stewardship – Health
What the Lord is putting on my heart this year.
Disclaimer: everyone has their own viewpoint on what is healthy. Everyone has different health struggles that dictate what they can or cannot do/eat. My idea of a healthy lifestyle may not match yours, and that is okay. Also, this is a huuuuuge topic and for the sake of the length of this post, has been greatly condensed. Perhaps I will go into more detail for certain topics at a later time.
“Health” can easily become an idol in our lives, even though it is a good and worthy goal. This post from Biblical Womanhood on that topic is really good.
It can get really overwhelming when you start to find out just how un-healthy the majority of consumables in America are. I have spent a lot of time during the last decade trying to learn about health. I’ve studied herbal medicine and read books/taken classes about nutrition, whole foods and the correct way to prepare them. I overhauled my closet last year in an attempt to reduce the amount of micro-plastics and toxins my skin is exposed to. I try to choose less toxic shampoos, conditioners and soaps.
However, I can’t afford to buy organic everything, the extra clean ingredient laundry detergent, 100% linen clothing and bed linens, etc. But, there comes a time, especially when you are working with a limited budget, that you have to let go. There is a quote that I really like and applies really well to health care:
“Do the best you can with what you have, and let God handle the rest.”
Jami Balmet
My Healthcare “Philosophy”
My viewpoint on health could best be condensed as “balance”. If you eat right 80% of the time, then you don’t need to worry so much about the 20% and you can relax. Have the occasional slice of cake or pie. Eat cereal for breakfast. Don’t go to workout class if you’re extra exhausted at the end of a day. Enjoy your life, you only get one.
For diet, I lean pretty closely in to the Weston A. Price Foundation’s viewpoints:
- Pastured meats/wild fish
- Whole raw dairy
- Grains soaked or sourdough-ed
- Ferments to provide probiotics
- Fresh organic produce
- Bone broth
- Natural fats
The Mediterranean Diet is widely considered one of the healthiest in the world and it includes most of these components. I wish I could say that I do all of these, but at this point I simply believe that this is the best way to eat and I’m working on getting there. I feel like this “diet” works really well for backyard homesteaders, and if I steward my time, money and home well, feeding my family this way is not unattainable.
What I do:
- I buy the majority of our beef and pork from Wild Pastures or ButcherBox. I can find whole pastured chickens at our local Safeway, so when they run a sale I stock up on those. When I do buy pork chops, chuck roast or chicken breasts from the store, I don’t worry about it too much because it’s not what we eat most of the time.
- I buy whole milk products whenever they are available.
- I’ve been experimenting with different types of wheat flour (some of them give me an itchy throat which makes me think I might have a mild allergy) to see which ones do and don’t bother me. I know how to make both sandwich bread and an artisan loaf. I’m working my way up to sourdough.
- I only use olive, avocado, coconut and sesame oils, butter or tallow for cooking.
- I’ve been learning and practicing making my own jams, pickles, tomato and enchilada sauces and canning them.
P.S. If you’re interesting in learning more about traditional methods of cooking/eating, the Traditional Cooking School is a great resource and starting place.
Exercise
I go to strength training classes twice a week. During the non-winter months I walk to the park with my son pretty frequently. I would like to start the habit of walking together as a family after dinner, which would boost family togetherness but also get us up and moving more.
Sleep is a big one for me. I am a night owl and I have to get up early (for me) to go to work, so I always feel tired. I go through phases where I’ll be doing good at getting to bed at a decent time, and then I’ll go through a phase where I’ll be staying up too late every night. This is an area that I know needs some attention in order to improve.
Mental health is another area that needs support. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail here, but I have struggled with my mental health. I believe Jesus has healed me and I walk in that healing, but I also make sure that I support my mental health too. There are also certain points in my hormonal cycle that I have a higher chance of being depressed. I have noticed a direct correlation between days that I haven’t gotten enough sleep and days that I’ve been super depressed. Making sure I get enough sleep and giving my body the support it needs is a form of mental health care for me.
When I start feeling anxious, if I can’t identify a cause to deal with, I will turn on some worship music and spend some time praising and worshiping the Prince of Peace. He has never not shown up when I’ve come to Him, and He gives peace beyond worldly understanding.
My Health Goals
As always, subject to change or be added to, but here is where I’m starting:
- Severely limit processed food – while giving grace for the occasional splurge.
- Buy the best quality ingredients that I can afford – and trusting God to cover what I can’t control.
- Plan ahead to make fun things like popsicles and gummy bears – at home with healthy ingredients.
- Plan ahead to make weekly staples like bread and overnight oats – why is it so easy to forget to do this?
- Seriously, PLAN AHEAD what dinners you will make this week – this is not rocket science, why can’t I just make a plan and stick to it?
- Actually take the supplements that I bought – I am notorious for buying supplements and forgetting all about them. I have made some progress using them up but I could definitely be doing better.
- Go for a walk after dinner as a family.
- Take a slower, more European approach to life – with this goal I mostly mean taking the time to slow down, notice and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Ah, to be in Italy enjoying a mid-morning espresso… (Lovely Bits Magazine has been such an inspiration to me recently. Someday I will subscribe to her print magazine, but until then her free posts are greatly enjoyed.)
- Upgrade my workout clothes and other under-garments to cotton or silk.
- Prepare a batch of elderberry syrup and other immune boosting agents before school starts in the fall.
- Be in bed by 10 pm – this is almost laughable but in order for all my other goals to be attainable, this one has to be done.
Conclusion
I see it this way: if I am to be the steward of my family’s health (as wife and mom), then I want to do a good job. I want to make sure I feed them quality food, make sure they get good sleep and are being cared for mentally. To do my best to keep toxins and poisons out of our home, not just physical ones but mental and spiritual ones as well. And all that includes making sure I take care of my own health too.
Ultimately, the truth is that we could eat 100% healthy, be completely fit and get great sleep and still receive a diagnosis or be called home suddenly. Our hope is not in our diets, exercise programs or positive thinking practices. Our true hope is found in Jesus and he will walk with us through any and all health challenges we face.
Does that mean we should throw our hands up and say “why bother then”? Of course not! Our bodies are God’s dwelling place and the vessels he uses for his purposes. We should take good care of our bodies so that we are able to do the work he has called us to do, whether it’s taking the gospel to the farthest reaches of the earth or staying home and caring for your family.
Soli Deo Gloria
