Throwback Thursday and My Dad

So for a “Throwback Thursday” I’m sharing a few old shots of my dad. My dad was a big musician, way “back in the day,” and I have some of his old headshots… wow, how Mad Men!

But I am posting because I want to talk about his diet. You might have noticed I’ve posted a few things about food lately. I am a huge foodie. Both my parents are even bigger foodies! They were always trying all the finest restaurants and they were known to bring me to any of them, here and in Europe, from when I was a child. One condition, I had to try everything, and I did happily. I remember being about 5 years old and trying escargot in garlic butter, not being told what exactly escargot was! Oh boy! But I appreciate the experience.

My parents eventually opened a restaurant when I was in high school and I would hang out in the kitchen tasting anything and everything. But I couldn’t cook until I was an adult and I discovered the cooking channel and Food TV! So, note to parents, tv can be good sometimes! 😉 I learned and watched and tried. I also have an obsession with cookbooks and I have a massive collection. But I am equally concerned with health these days. As a model, I hated seeing the girls who would diet and starve themselves in order to be thin, so I would study nutrition and try to argue with them. I also was a fitness-fanatic. I believe in moderation and living life, but I truly believe in the power of overall health, good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle with exercise. And I despise diets and fads!! Despise!! One more time… despise!

My father, the reason for this Throwback-Thursday/Food post, is why I am writing. My father was a musician all his life. He smoked by age 13, worked in bars around the same time, drank well, and ate anything that “walked past the kitchen.” (His words for describing a rare steak!) Vegetables? Hell, no! Drink water? Water’s for bathing!  Well, you get the idea. And after years of this, he had a heart attack while on vacation in Denmark. But here’s a kicker: he couldn’t tell the difference between that and the heartburn he was accustomed to, so he ignored it! And my mother helped him “walk it off!” Really!! Then even more years later, he had two more! This time putting him in the hospital, no kidding around. That was 13 years ago. That finally made him quit smoking, that was huge. After all, he was quarantined to a small corner behind the garage because my mother is actually very healthy. He was still extremely stubborn about his diet and food choices though. And my mother couldn’t compete with him. Butter, salt, meat, sweets, soda, beer and a good scotch. End of story. “I’m going to live my life.”

I think it was after my little boy stole his heart; suddenly, without acknowledging there might be some reason behind eating well, my father started to listen to the rest of us. He has very slowly come around. Over this last Christmas holiday, he had a health scare again. Not as severe as a heart attack, but enough at his age to startle us all. Since then, I’ve also tried to step up my healthy eating. (I just need the energy to chase after a 7-year old!) And I am trying to cook for my parents as a way to give back for all they do for me. So it’s lots of kale, avocado, tomatoes, chick peas, cauliflower, broccoli, quinoa, grains, and fish! I think it’s more delicious than anything! I’ve discovered some really yummy meals! My dad might even be listening to me about cutting out soda. (Do you know that one 16-ounce soda depletes your body of enough calcium and minerals to shut down your immune system for 6 hours! It doesn’t just take the rust off nails!)

Note the cigarette… on an airplane! (My shiner is another story!)

Yesterday his cardiologist made a special call to him, really amazed! 

“What have you been eating?!” 
“What changed? Have you eaten more vegetables?!” 

My dad then called my mom, all confused, “Am I eating more vegetables?!” (Lol!) He has to change and decrease his medications immediately! There is noticeable improvement and remarkable changes in his blood this quickly! I’m so excited! This is proof!! The body continues to heal itself even in old(er) age, we just need to give it what it needs! Woo-hoo!! Go Dad!

I’ll post another recipe and some food ideas shortly! 

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