Since I have transitioned the family to a traditional diet (although I continue on the GAPS diet), it can be very challenging to keep all foods kosher, so to speak. Maybe I should clarify what I mean by kosher – I mean healthy, real foods which are nutrient dense and that are prepared in traditional ways.
When I say “prepared in traditional ways” I mean soaking grains, seeds and legumes with kefir or lemon juice so as to minimize phytic acid, fermented foods prepared with the lacti-acid fermentation for gut health. Basicially, it means that I prepare our meals from scratch using wholesome ingredients the way our great grandmothers would have done.
A lot of work? Yes, it can be!
Worth it? Definitely!
The 80/20 Rule
I was greatly relieved when I read the work of Dr. Weston A. Price and his 80/20 rule. Basically, Dr. Price said that as long as 80% of your meals were healthy and nutritious, 20% could be left more or less to chance.
While the 80/20 rule could definitely be used as a cop out, for me it has alleviated unnecessary guilt on those occasions when I choose to allow my family to have “treats”.
For those of you who began your journey with traditional foods earlier in life, maybe you don’t have this problem. But, for me, we already had older children who were used to sugary treats especially during the holidays. You know, the recipe that your mother made and is now part of your family’s tradition.
Another example is when we finish pruning the vineyard (and it takes a couple of months to complete the job) we have a doughnut party. While our doughnut recipe is about as healthy as you can get, the icing does contain sugar. I can substitute raw sugar but honey is just not the same.
There are some foods you eat because they just plain taste good, they are comforting and bring back good memories!
So, I have given myself the freedom to follow a healthy traditional diet for the family very closely 80% of the time, and 20% of the time, I can loosen up and have more flexibility. That would work out to be about 4 meals per week that can be more flexible on the nutritional scale. We are a healthy family and eating birthday cake once in awhile or a dessert made from a family recipe is not going to have a significant impact on our health – as long as I provide nutritionally dense foods the majority of the time. This gives us the freedom to eat with those around us and enjoy special occasions.
Is the 80/20 Rule for Everyone?
Does the 80/20 rule apply to everyone? No, I don’t think so.
Dr. Price did see amazing results in school children who ate a nutritious lunch according to his recommendations but still ate their nutritionally poor diet at home. The children stopped getting cavities and began healing!
There are 2 categories of people I would say, the 80/20 rule does not apply to:
- Someone on the GAPS diet who is in the process of healing their gut. It is important to stick strictly to the diet. After all, it is a healing process meant for the short term. That healing process can be prolonged if the diet is not followed.
- Someone with food allergies, such as, peanuts that can cause life threatening reactions, should not just throw all caution to the wind and eat the offending food.
The underlying key is commitment. Commitment to health. Commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Commitment to caring for your body in such a way so as to maximize your potential.
There is more to life than just eating healthy. Health goes beyond what we eat. Don’t get me wrong, our bodies need REAL food for fuel. But, there is more to life and I am going to use the 80/20 rule to allow my family special dishes and desserts once in awhile!
Photo Credit
This post is part of: Fat Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday, Healthy2Day Wednesday, Party Wave Wednesday, Creative Juice, Frugal Days, Keep It Real, Simple Lives, Thank Your Body, Tasty Thursday, Thursday Treasures, Transformation Thursday, Fresh Bites Friday, Old Fashioned Friday, One Creative Weekend, What I am Eating, Fight Back Friday
Although Im not on GAPS I do mostly eat real whole God given foods. I try to keep man-made food out of my diet and at least to a minimum. I was raised eating good whole foods from the land, not from a box or can, so its not been difficult for me. M’honey on the other hand used to eat grocery store & industrial foods so its been a bit of a curve for him to learn to love real food. He eats it but I dont think he loves it like I do.
He went to the doctor a few weeks ago & found out his cholesterol had dropped from 460 to 200 something which was shocking to us all. I firmly believe it has to do with the ways I cook and the ingredients I use.
Yes, sometimes junk comes in our diet.. (thinking about those brownies I made yesterday with my sorta-grand-daughters) but its not every day and this is a good thing.
Blessings!
Kim, that is wonderful about the drop in his cholesterol – I am sure it has to do with your healthy cooking – what an inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
[...] The 80/20 Rule from Cultured Palate [...]
What a relief! lol!!! I’m really glad you wrote this. I am still pretty new to all of this and still struggling to implement it into my life. Its good to know that occasional slip ups are ok.
Lynn
I’ve heard this rule applied to the primal diet, but I’d forgotten about it for regular healthy diets. Thanks for the reminder! We probably follow it from a whole foods, unprocessed foods perspective, altho there’s always room for improvement!
Thanks for sharing on Healthy 2Day Wednesday!
I really need help figuring out how to eat a “traditional” diet. Is the Weston A. Price books something that will steer me in the right direction? The 80/20 does make me breath a little easier, thank you for sharing!
Dana, the Weston A. Price books will help and also look on their website for more information about foods – raw milk, pastured meats, oils, fats ….
You can see my post about grain preparation to help with preparing grains, beans and seeds. Be sure to add probiotic foods to your diet for gut health with yogurt, kefir,homemade sauerkraut, fermented carrots – any fermented foods which use the lacto-fermentation method (you can see my post on that also).
I love the flexibility of the 80/20 rule! It keeps me from being stressed about trying to follow a real food diet 100% of the time.
Thanks for sharing with Old-Fashioned Friday!
[...] Here’s a great post that helps alleviate a lot of stress for those of us that tend to have some issues with perfecttion: The 80/20 Rule [...]
[...] Naturally Whiten Teeth with These Home Remedies What Doctors Won’t Tell You About the HPV Vaccine Why gluten-free popularity can be dangerous for celiacs and gluten-sensitive folks The Missing Nutrient: Vitamin K2 The 80/20 Rule [...]
[...] you know about 80/20 rule? from Cultured [...]
[...] real at all times (unless you are on a healing program and you must be very strict). Remember the 80/20 rule for eating well 80% of the [...]
[...] 80/20 rule [...]
[...] might be one of the most important principles you can apply to living well. Read this great post on the 80/20 rule to learn [...]
[...] Tell You About the HPV Vaccine Homemade Dish Detergent Signs Your Addicted to Sugar Chick Days The 80/20 Rule Sugar Bad For You What is Arrowroot Powder Elderflower Water Sweet Orange with Macadamia & [...]
[...] the small amount that isn’t”. Neat huh? Cultured Palate shares her take on how her family implements the 80/20 rule in their home. Don’t sweat the small stuff … really, people sometimes get pretty crazy [...]
[...] as healthy as possible. When I purchase Lady Fingers for the filling, it falls into the 20% of the 80/20 rule. Since we eat healthy the majority of the time, I allow this indulgence [...]