First stop? The bread isle. Most having white flour (most likely bleached) I opted for the new Sarah Lee Whole Grain bread. I could at least read all the ingredients without having to pull out my medical dictionary. I noticed I either had to squat down or stretch up to reach anything of seemingly nutritional value. The produce was wilted, soft, shiny and sometimes rotten and moldy. Yum. Guess what you’re breathing as you’re holding a tomato that was plump and shiny on one side and moldy on the other. At least they had organic grapes, which I nabbed. The remainder of my shopping trip was typically the same; unsatisfying.
Since I decided to make pizza as my prepared meal I perused the frozen section and picked out the least vile of the frozen pizzas. The Tombstone Pepperoni and Cheese. I remained cautiously optimistic as I placed it in my cart, paid for my items ($60) and journeyed home. After putting away the groceries I turned on the oven, unwrapped the pizza and followed the three step instructions (after replacing the fallen “cheese” and “pepperoni” on the pizza). The timer dinged after 25 minutes and I took the pizza out. Only to be burned by the searing hot grease spewing down the pizza, the oven glove and onto my arm. I placed the pizza on the oven to cool after nearly dropping it.
I looked at the pizza under the oven light. The cheese looked bubbly and orange from grease. The pepperoni looked like dark red shiny rubber coins. I mustered up my courage and cut myself off a slice. It was a mistake to put it on a paper plate. The grease nearly tore through the thin paper dishware. I soaked a paper towel dabbing the grease from the top of the pizza and took a bite. If you could soak a U-Haul cardboard box in grease for a week, top it with more spongy grease, place a few coin shaped rubber pieces on it and cook it until it causes second degree burns and then ate it, you’d know how a Tombstone Pepperoni and Cheese pizza tastes.
I only finished my slice for purely scientific reasons. I wanted to know how crappy I was going to feel in an hour or so and how long the crappy feeling would last. Within half an hour my stomach was rumbling curses at me. A few hours later I took some chewable Pepto-Bismol and lay down, as I was abnormally tired. I had no energy to clean or cook, or even play. I was frustrated and grouchy, still hungry and unsatisfied with my meal. The rest of the pizza and the packaging found a new home in the garbage.
Today was the day to visit Henry’s, an organic and whole foods grocery store. As the automatic doors opened and I stepped inside my nose was caressed by the warm, oat smell of fresh baked bread and recycled paper bags. Too bad I had already bought the Sarah Lee, or I would have indulged myself in some fresh bread. I made a mental note to make more homemade bread; after all, I have a bread maker. I was not overwhelmed by sights, sounds or smells. I took my time walking to the cheese and enjoyed the selection. I chose a block of Monterey Jack and continued.
I next perused the meats. Chicken, pork, beef or fish. I decided most people like chicken (or can tolerate it more than dark meat), so I picked out an unfrozen package of two chicken breasts. The package said the chicken was free range, vegetarian, with no hormones. I picked two slightly fuzzy tomatoes off the vine and chose clean-ish looking mushrooms. One onion and one garlic cluster later I was off to find tomato sauce. Instead, to my delight, I found an organic pizza sauce. On my way to the flour and bulk items section I noticed the essential oils. I just couldn’t resist and put three of my favorites into the cart for future use. At the flour and bulk isle I selected the whole wheat flour and helped myself to two giant spoonfuls.
After purchasing my items ($20) and driving home I arranged the pizza ingredients on the counter. I boiled water for the chicken and prepared the dough. The tomatoes, garlic and mushrooms were chopped. I mixed the dough with my bare hands, reminded of my mother-in-law as I pounded it into submission. I was reminded that cooking something yourself from scratch is more satisfying and rewarding than receiving the instant gratification of a frozen, processed meal.
The chicken was cooked and I cut it into small strips. The dough had risen and I arranged it with some pushing, pulling and stretching onto the pizza pan. I only used half of the can of pizza sauce and saved the rest. The chopped and minced garlic went on top of the sauce and I grated the whole block of Monterey Jack cheese. Three fourths of the cheese went on top of the sauce and I added the chopped chicken, mushrooms and tomatoes. It already looked so colorful and delicious. The rest of the cheese went on top and the pan went into the oven I had already preheated to 400°f.
Twenty minutes later my oven dinged and I removed the pizza. It had already filled the house with a wonderful earthy aroma and my family members were clamoring as to when they could have a slice. I let it cool on the stove a while and then sliced it with my pizza slicer. We used paper plates and nary a drop of grease on them. Garlic flavored pizza sauce and cheese oozed from the pizza as we bit into our slices. No one talked while we ate. I savored the moist, tender chicken and the slightly crunchy whole wheat crust. My Step-Dad actually complimented my cooking, which has only occurred a handful of times before. He is a picky man. Everyone was full and happy after only one slice.
I believe the differences in shopping experience and nutrition levels for both pizzas are obvious, but I will state them. Food-4-Less tries to grab your attention right when you walk through their door, overwhelming you and practically hiding the small amount of whole foods they offer in the store. You feel like you just want to make the fastest, cheapest purchases necessary. Whereas at Henry’s you feel welcome and at ease. Like you can take your time.
As for the difference in pizzas? The first relied heavily on fat, grease, sugar and sodium to mask the texture and bland taste. You felt heavy and not satisfied after eating it, thus putting you in a bad mood. On the other hand, the second pizza was rewarding and fulfilling. It satisfied all the senses. Raising the spirits and energizing the body.
Whole foods are nowadays easy to come by and in abundance if you know where to look. You also have to know how to look. Most Americans aren’t overweight because they don’t eat healthier, whole foods. It is because they don’t know how. No one has ever taught them. As massage therapists we need to set the example, having an obligation to our clients and our profession to put an effort into a healthy lifestyle.
Lead by example. You are what you eat.
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Frozen Tombstone Pepperoni and Cheese Pizza
Wheat Flour, Water, Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Tomato Paste, Pepperoni Made with Pork, Chicken, and Beef (Pork, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Beef, Salt, Contains 2% or Less of Spices, Dextrose, Pork Stock, Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Oleoresin of Paprika, Flavoring, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Nitrite, BHA, BHT, Citric Acid, May Also Contain Paprika, Natural Smoke Flavor), Vegetable Oil (Corn Oil or Soybean Oil), Contains Less Than 2% of Sugar, Salt, Yeast, Flavor, Spice, Garlic. (12% Pepperoni).
Wheat Flour, Water, Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Tomato Paste, Pepperoni Made with Pork, Chicken, and Beef (Pork, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Beef, Salt, Contains 2% or Less of Spices, Dextrose, Pork Stock, Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Oleoresin of Paprika, Flavoring, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Nitrite, BHA, BHT, Citric Acid, May Also Contain Paprika, Natural Smoke Flavor), Vegetable Oil (Corn Oil or Soybean Oil), Contains Less Than 2% of Sugar, Salt, Yeast, Flavor, Spice, Garlic. (12% Pepperoni).
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Crystal’s Organic Chicken Garlic Pizza
Crust: Whole Wheat Flour, Dry Yeast, Dead Sea Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Honey, Filtered Water, Organic Brown Eggs.
Sauce and Toppings: Organic Fresh Minced Garlic, Enrico’s All Natural Pizza Sauce (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Olive Oil, Sugar, Corn Starch, Salt, Onions, Oregano, Garlic), Free Range Vegetarian Chicken Breast, Organic Mushrooms, Organic Vine Tomatoes, Organic Monterey Jack Cheese
Crust: Whole Wheat Flour, Dry Yeast, Dead Sea Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Honey, Filtered Water, Organic Brown Eggs.
Sauce and Toppings: Organic Fresh Minced Garlic, Enrico’s All Natural Pizza Sauce (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Olive Oil, Sugar, Corn Starch, Salt, Onions, Oregano, Garlic), Free Range Vegetarian Chicken Breast, Organic Mushrooms, Organic Vine Tomatoes, Organic Monterey Jack Cheese
