Health for Godly Generations review
Many of us — myself included — desire to eat healthfully. Renee DeGroot, in her book Health for Godly Generations, addressed the theory behind healthy eating and helps our generation know why it’s such an essential choice.
Written in a very textbook-like style, this book asks some vital questions: How can we be good stewards of the bodies God has given us? What food did He create for us to eat? How can we eat to the glory of God?
The subtitle, “A Reformational Perspective”, refers to having the view of the Reformers. As she puts it: “These men were passionate about submitting to and applying the whole and authoritative counsel Scripture in every are of life.” Renee builds her book on that premise: We can’t compartmentalize our lives. We need to seek God’s will for our health and eating just as much as we need His will for our attitudes or our plans. She elaborates,
“Jesus is Lord of our physical bodies and our diets just as he is Lord spiritually over our souls and broadly over the whole universe. To divide any aspects of life into a neutral or secular realm is to say that Jesus is not Lord over some realms and that we do not care whether we obey Him there.”
Renee shares little-known definitions of buzz phrases like “organic agriculture”, “sugar-free”, “all-natural”, and “natural flavors”. She also includes “Charts for Comparison” (Chapter 21), in which she compares the conventional and organic manufacturing. She reviews several food items and how they compare under those two manufacturing styles. She also compares different sugars and sugar substitutes and reveals shocking information about strawberry flavoring.
I’ve always seen myself as something of a health nut, but this book certainly challenged even my standards. As I read it, I started to look with opened eyes at my cupboard. Started to wonder just what that ingredient would do to my body. Started to applaud myself when I made a salad with veggies from my own garden. I think this book was a good eye-opener for me, as the family “hunter and gatherer”. I personally think she sets the standard a little unattainably high, but it certainly is a good goal.
Health for Godly Generations also really sparked discussion between my husband and myself. To me, that’s the sign of a good book…when you’re thinking about it in between reads, talking about it, and acting it out.
Renee is giving away a copy of Health for Godly Generations to one of you! To enter the giveaway, comment and tell us one step you’ve taken to help improve the health of your family’s eating habits. (Giveaway ends March 23. Open to U.S. and Canadian mailing addresses only, please. Congratulations to our winner, commenter #14, selected by random.org: Lydia!)
I am currently reading this book. I have found it highly informative.
One thing I’ve started implementing is switching to healthy, natural body care products. Skin is not impervious and the products we apply to it infiltrate our blood stream. I don’t want to spread harmful chemicals on my body thereby adversely effecting my health and the health of future generations.
My family has been grinding our own grain for a number of years now. We are also very much interested in herbs and how God has given us these “medicines” for the health of our bodies.
One thing my mom has recently started doing is making keifer smoothies for breakfast. I do enjoy eating healthy food – it’s definitely worth the extra effort!
My husband and I have started eating primarily vegetarian, and we’ll meet in the afternoons for a 2-mile walk before we pick up our daughter from school. It’s been challenging, but I know the healthy rewards will be great.
We’ve always made fresh breads with freshly ground whole wheat flour and eliminated as many desserts and sugars as possible. More recently, we’ve increased our organic, health-food snacks, and made 100% fresh fruit smoothies almost every day! We drink only water (a little juice now and then) and make most meals from scratch. We very rarely eat out. I thank my mom for all of this…she motivates the rest of us to stay healthy!
Good for your mom, and all of you, Lydia!
And guess what, you’re our winner for the book Health for Godly Generations?!
I would love to read this book!!
Since I before I was born, my family has been eating healthy (using raw sugar, less red meat, less bread, more fruits and vegetables). When I was 6 or 7, I started to react really badly to all meat and all dairy (except butter), so for me those went out the window too. Throughout the next several years, our eating habits got a little worse and I added meat and cheese back to my diet. When I was 16, I started suffering from stomachaches and headaches and yeast infections so (again) I completely cut out all sugar, red meat, and gluten. I started to see that I must feed my body with good food if I expect to feel better.
Just recently, my mom started us with a product called Juice Plus+ which gives the opportunity to eat real fruits and vegetables but in a capsule form because our current situation doesn’t allow us to buy as much raw fruits and veggies as we would like. I have already felt the difference and am so excited that God provided something like this for us!
I’d love to win my own copy. Renee has been an inspiration to me and I’d love to really read rather than page through friends copies! 🙂
I have given up eating all meat.My husband eats out once a month.I eat all vegan.I have lost 67 pds. so far.I give all the Glory to my lord and savior.By gloryfying in with my body he has help me in the are of food.I still have 60pds.to go.I would love to win this book.Thanks so much for the give away.catherine
We have been trying to eat more organic foods and less things from boxes. We also avoid almost all dairy! 🙂
We have cut back on the amount of bread and carbs we eat and try to focus more on protein, fruits, and veggies. We’ve also cut way back on the amount of dessert we eat, although we do still enjoy ice cream occassionally. 🙂
This book sounds like it breaks out of the mold of “traditional” health books. What an inspiring way to think about how we feed our bodies!
I was recently diagnosed with some health issues that I am working on resolving naturally with the help of a natural path Doctor. One of the main things my family and I have changed about our diet as a result is removing gluten completely. Easier said than done! It has been a challenge, but the Lord has been faithful to guide us to new resources and recipes to help with the challenge.
Would love to read this book!
I have started making yogurt from raw milk for the beneficial probiotics it offers for my family. They even eat it unsweetened, which is a win for me, trying to get them used to not having everything be sugary sweet.
Oh, this sounds like an excellent book! We’re trying to eat less processed foods all year round. We grow a good sized garden and are actively involved in our local farmers market.
Another thing we love to do is buy local raw milk (we used to have goats).
I would love to enter the giveaway!! My family and I have cut out pretty much all sugars like pop and sweets.
This is what I’ve been dreaming about!
Being a Christian committed to feeding healthy food to your family is sometimes more challenging than some would realize. When all of the significant sources of information seem to come from Mormons or nature worshipers, there can definitely be questions that I have a heard time finding answers for. A book which bases physical health on God and the bible would be a treasure in any Christian’s library!
Because I am newly married, I have mostly carried over my mother’s steps for healthy eating into my new household–I haven’t begun anything new on my own yet. But the biggest thing would probably be that I do not use refined sugar in my kitchen, and that has been a big step for my husband.
Thank you for sharing this book with us!
God bless,
~Hannah
I am a teenage daughter right now, so I really don’t have much influence on my family’s eating habits. But I am trying to educate myself about nutrition so that when I do have a family someday, I can make wise choices about what I prepare for them.
I would love to win! I have made many steps in the past few years towards healthier eating, but one big step we made at the end of last year was purchasing 1/4 cow that was locally and organically raised on grass, finished on organic grain.
We’ve started doing breakfast smoothies about once a week. The little girls love them! 🙂