27/100 Days Corn Free

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

21 of 27: December 20, 2009

Lunch: Rice noodles and Non-Dairy Pesto made fresh by Basiltops with goat cheese and stuffed grape leaves

Dinner: Grass fed chicken, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, tomato and avocado salad

Sunday, December 20, 2009

20 of 27: December 18, 2009

Lunch: Fresh fruit (Apples and Bananas)

Dinner: Rice noodles and Non-Dairy Pesto made fresh by Basiltops http://www.basiltops.com/ with goat cheese

19 of 27: December 17, 2009

Lunch: Mixed green salad

Dinner: Larabar flavor Apple Pie http://www.larabar.com/food/larabar/apple-pie, carrots, and two slices of goat cheese

18 of 27: December 16, 2009

Lunch: Fresh fruit (apples and bananas)

Dinner: Leftover mixed green salad

17 of 27: December 15, 2009

Lunch: Leftover mixed green salad

Dinner: Amy’s Rice Crust Soy Cheese Pizza with additional goat cheese

16 of 27: December 14, 2009

Lunch: Fruit salad

Dinner: Mixed salad, carrots, tomatoes, goat cheese, apple slices, and veggie apple sage sausage with homemade orange vinaigrette

How and Why This All Got Started

After seeing the film, Food Inc., I began doing my own independent research to verify the claim regarding corn. The more I read, the more I was outraged. According to the website article A Zillion Uses for Corn, did you know that “of 10,000 items in a typical grocery store, how many would you guess contain corn in one form or another? Answer: At least 2,500 items use corn in some form during the production or processing.” (http://www.ontariocorn.org/classroom/products.html)

Based on my reaction to Food Inc. and my own research, I decided I needed to do something drastic. Thus, I am going to attempt to go on a corn free diet from November 29, 2009 until December 25, 2009. This experiment will, therefore, be 27 days long. I felt this is the perfect challenge to flirt with a life independent from the main ingredient in American industrial food.

The Diet: No processed foods that include corn e.g. very few places to eat out, no more fancy Aviation cocktails with Crème de Violette, and only grass fed or wild animals and fish. I also live ‘kosher style’ meaning this experiment will not include pork or selfish. Plus I am lactose intolerant, so many food challenges will involve me figuring out how to navigate this diet honoring a low lactose intake.

Disclaimer: I will not avoid medications, vitamins, or toothpaste that might be made with corn byproducts. I am focusing on my main food consumption only. I am also not a doctor nor am I allergic to corn thus no postings on this site should be seen or understood as medical advice to anyone allergic to corn.

Why Blog? I decided soon after beginning this challenge and discussing it with close friends that others might find this experiment interesting.

What will be included in this blog? I will post general discoveries during my 27-day quest to live corn free. This will include reposting educational materials, pictures of meals eaten, a daily food log, recipes created as a result of this challenge, and, at times, my frustrations with this project.

How 27 days turned into 100 days: I decided around day 25 to extend this project for an additional 75 days to live corn-free for a total of 100 days. This would allow me more time to note quantifiable changes in my life.

In reality, 27 days is not a very long time. While I have begun to witness health benefits and deal with challenges, I want to extend this experiment to account for more days where struggle will be evident. For example, I am planning several road trips in the coming months. I want to see how difficult is it to drive long distances without caffeine energy drinks and fast food. Basically, I want to allow enough life to happen to see if this is just a one-time experiment or if I am beginning to develop a new way of life.