Take the challenge: October #Unprocessed

What would happen if you gave up processed foods for 30 days?

Andrew Wilder, founder of Eating Rules, asked himself that very question after an “A-ha” moment in early 2009 started him down a path toward better health. Andrew was 32 at the time and dealing with an increased sluggishness and difficulty staying focused. Telling himself that he was too young to feel that way, he resolved to make some significant changes in his life and set out to find a solution that would target the roots of those problems.

Then in October of 2009, he took on a personal challenge with some friends to see what would happen if they spent the month eating nothing but whole foods.

The results at the end of the month were undeniable. Meals prepared with whole foods were more flavorful and aromatic, as well as more satisfying. Andrew felt healthier, happier, more energized, and less dependent on the processed foods we tend to feel addicted to, like refined sugars.

To top it all off, Andrew and his friends found that they were excited by the foods they cooked and couldn’t wait to swap ideas for their next dishes. There was no doubt that a diet based in whole foods could have a dramatic, positive affect on so many facets of life.

In the last 3 years, October Unprocessed has turned into a fun, informative blog-based challenge and a growing movement to get people to step away from unpronounceable ingredients toward the foods your body was really designed to run on. Check out Eating Rules and you’ll find valuable insights from Andrew’s own journey, as well as recipes, how-to’s, and strategies for getting more whole foods into your diet.

Everyone is invited to participate at your own pace. Yep, that’s right—whether you want to go whole hog or just test the waters, it’s really up to you!

While October Unprocessed is about understanding how food affects how we feel day to day, it’s also a celebration of food, friendship, and happiness—because when we’re sharing food that’s really good for us, our bonds grow so much stronger.

So grab your friends and go unprocessed! It’s super easy to pledge to participate!

This year Andrew aims to get 30,000 people to participate in October Unprocessed (and was just featured in the Los Angeles Times this past weekend). Some of us here at DailyFeats have already pledged to participate, and we want you to join us! 

Tweet about your #Unprocessed successes and struggles @eatingrules and @dailyfeats—we’d love to hear from you!

We have a guest post coming out soon on Eating Rules in support of October Unprocessed—a month-long challenge to eat more whole foods in lieu of processed ones. Look for “The Power of One Small Change” on Eating Rules to see how you can incorporate more whole foods into your day!