DIY

Anyone who has ever been on a diet, whether it be for general health or weight loss, knows that one of the greatest obstacles is label reading. It's ridiculous, isn't it? Truly, those center isles in your grocery store are a nightmare to say the least. Are you sure you know what's in your salad dressing, your ketchup, the loaf of bread on the counter, or the canned soup in your cupboard? Do you even know what some of those ingredients are, let alone if they mesh with your health goals?

But there is an easy and rewarding way to get past all this label reading - DIY. That's right do-it-yourself. Now, keep in mind this is coming from someone who, up until a couple years ago, was offended by the assumption that I had to cook just because I was a woman and refused to participate in such an outdated concept (needless to say, my family gets a good laugh out of it now). 

To be perfectly honest, I was amazed at not only how wonderful doing-it-yourself can taste, but how rewarding, fulfilling, and down right easy it can be as well. If you told me a few years ago that today I'd be baking my own bread, canning my own tomatoes, making soup from scratch, could make my own butter and yogurt (not that I eat it these days, but I can do it), and most recently, would be growing my own food; I'd have laughed at you then given you a verbal tongue lashing! How dare you!

Yet here I am, doing it myself. No more label reading. No more wondering what cancer causing additive the FDA let slip through THIS time. Nope, I know exactly what's in my food, because I made it myself. 

Now, I know some of you are saying, "Yeah, right, Heather. I could never do that" (whatever THAT is). But in fact, you'd be surprised. Look through the archives of some of your favorite blogs. Most of us started out not knowing how to do any of these things either and trust me, if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. Before long, you'll be wondering why you waited so long to try. 

So quit inspecting those ingredient lists, get out of those center isles in your grocery store, and head for the produce section. Better yet, visit your local farmers' market or hook up with a CSA for fresher, healthier, tastier veggies. Then become a do-it-yourselfer - it'll be tastier; it'll be better for you; and you'll discover the immense satisfaction and confidence that only a DIY'er can know.

For those readers who still aren't convinced, let's gets some comments posted here about the things you DIY'ers thought you could never do and what you're planning on trying next. Come on. Share the love...