Debra’s Natural Gourmet Dieting Tips #2

2. Explore the wonderful world of “ethnic” foods.

Well, everyone is different.  But most of the foods that most of us are trying to avoid are those that tend to sit front-and-center on the Standard American Dinner Plate.  For those with food allergies especially, it’s rewarding to explore the culinary cultures of the world.

Understand, I’m not talking about the cheap-and-greasy take-out masquerading as “Mexican,” “Italian,” and “Chinese” that has become mainstream in our part of the world.  General Gau’s Chicken and Crab Rangoon are no more Chinese than the plastic fork and knife they’re commonly served with; Chicken Tikka Masala was invented in Scotland in the 1970s).  But when you go deep into the real traditions – the peasant traditions, the agricultural traditions – you’ll find food that is just lovely.  (Just like you could probably find lovely, healthy food if you could dig into the agricultural, peasant traditions of our culture).