Have you ever looked up the definition of food in the dictionary?

Here’s my favorite Webster definition: food is material which feeds and supports the mind or spirit.

Hailing from France, the idea of food as medicine was ingrained in me. People always wonder why French people live so long, despite their bad habits such as smoking tobacco and drinking wine.

My theory is this: Part of the process of eating food in France is, first of all, walking to the local farmer’s market two or even three times a week. So, food is linked to exercise. Of course, the other healthy aspect of life in France is that the process of eating is slow – the total opposite of fast food. Meals are to be shared in a relaxed atmosphere with good company. It is the human interaction and joy of sharing delicious seasonal food that is also medicine for the soul.

Out here in West Marin, I want to encourage all food providers to think about serving more vegetables, since they are often in short supply, even in the top-notch restaurants bragging that they offer wholesome food.

While I do not necessarily endorse people becoming vegetarians and vegans – though there are considerable reasons to make such a life-style change on environmental grounds – Americans (along with the Brits, Germans and many other cultures) could really beef up (ha ha!) on more veggies.

The simple truth of the matter is that people need to eat more veggies, and yet many people do not know how to incorporate and better integrate them well into their family meals. Yes, having a salad is great! But there is much more to vegetables than that. What about the art of cooking them and knowing when they are in season.

I learned early in my life that whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater, you need colors, nutrition and vitality in your foods...and you will find all of that in the vegetable kingdom. A proper diet will help you live longer, healthier lives. Here in the West, too many people are obsessed with high protein, low carbohydrate diets, which have now been linked to cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The solution? More fiber, whole grain complex carbs, fruits, nuts and seeds , legumes and appropriate animal proteins.

My rule of thumb is that we should FILL HALF YOUR PLATE WITH VEGETABLES they should be the centerpiece, not the side dish.  

This time of year, we should all make room for the vegetables and herbs that detoxify while they taste delicious! Here are a few quick examples:

• garlic: a digestive cleanser
• artichoke: in season now, this member of the thistle family assists the liver in detoxification
• cabbage: a potent anti-inflammatory food

Ultimately, food is probably the most powerful drug we have in our anti-aging arsenal. So eat up, and eat healthy!