My Grandparents Knew

My grandparents knew.

They knew the grandkids were eating badly. They fussed at our parents, but nobody listened because the foods we were eating were so addictive. We reasoned that they were the older generation and they were just being cranky. They didn't like it when we ate sugar-laden cereals for breakfast or soda pop with lunch and dinner. They knew it was bad for us.

I blame it on my microbes

My grandparents lived to be 90 and 94 years old and ate whole, real foods. They instinctively knew that all these new foods in cans and boxes weren't healthy. Why didn't we know that? We were seduced by the flashing TV commercials and the sugars, chemicals, and additives included in these foods. So, as a consequence, we developed different species of bacteria in our guts that craved these foods and cried for more. Our grandparents never developed these junk food-craving microbes, so they resisted with ease. I disliked my grandma's carrot salad that she made every Thanksgiving, and I wanted the one with red jello and marshmallows. I blame it on my microbes.

My grandpa called my frozen Icees "liquid poison" and shook his head. But we ate them anyway.

My grandma was a nurse, and now I wish I could go back and talk to her. I have memories of things she said and did, and I never paid attention. I remember asking my dad what they ate for dessert growing up, and he said, "Fruit." I feel sad I never recognized the importance of what she was doing and for the way I dismissed the things she said. I had much to learn. I'm sorry, Grandma. You knew!

Throwing out the last box of cereal

I remember the day I threw out the last box of breakfast cereal I would ever buy. It was garbage, and I'd had enough. No more pop-tarts or cupcakes masquerading as muffins. I started making smoothies instead. It wasn't easy since we craved those cereals and muffins, but I was determined not to spend another dime on junk food cereal. We felt infinitely better! That was the beginning, and twenty-three years later, I still make my kefir smoothies. My body and microbes now demand it. Fresh fruits with kefir blended together - breakfast of champions!

Hopefully, my grandkids won't think I'm weird or cranky. Maybe they will ask me how I lived to be 100, and I will share what I have learned and let them choose to carry on the legacy. I hope they will listen because I now know that . . . mistakes are meant for learning, not repeating.

Check out the recipe!