A Personal Overview Of Barefoot-Type Shoes

The following is by no means scientific, but rather a personal insight from an ex-shod runner gone barefoot… gone holistic. This means I am not a hardcore evangelist for any particular type of running, although I am inclined to think the forefoot-strike approach is the desired running form for most runners, shod and barefoot.

Part II : Barefoot VS Minimal VS Neutral

The increasing mumbo jumbo of the industry makes differentiating the various types of shoes quite tenuous. Let me try and offer a bit of help by defining what I think characterizes each type.

A barefoot shoe is a barely-there foot protector that serves the only purpose of protecting the skin under your foot against the elements without getting in the way of your foot’s natural movement. The most famous of them, the one that started it all so to say, is the Vibram FiveFingers. Only runners with barefoot form (forefoot strike) and proper muscle build-up should use these on a regular basis. 

Transitioning runners used to neutral or mildly-structured shoes should start by wearing their usual shoes 70-80% of their training time, then end their training sessions either fully barefoot or wearing the barefoot shoe. Particular attention has to be given to pain and soreness and plenty of rest in between barefoot training sessions is advised. As structure builds up (I’d say about every three weeks to a month), increase barefoot time or distance by about 10-20% depending on progression. Increase all the way to full barefoot. A comfortable transition can take anywhere from 6 months to a year for experienced runners. Runners using heavily structured shoes and motion control should first transition to a neutral shoe using the same strategy, and then from the neutral to barefoot.

SIDENOTE. In my opinion, the absolute best way to learn barefoot running is to do it from scratch, or while recovering from an injury. Why? Because with lower effort capability, you’ll be much less able to do too much, too soon and will have to pay more attention to pain and body signals.

A minimal shoe is a sort of cross-breed between a neutral shoe and a barefoot shoe, in that it won’t shed all of the cushioning and structure of a traditional running shoe in favour of an all-out barefoot approach. Minimal shoes of decent quality should include a zero-drop type sole (minimal-to-no height difference between the heel and the forefoot), no motion control (absolute flexibility of the sole), little-to-no toe lift (the front part of the shoe will lay flat instead of curving upwards), low elevation from the ground and very light weight (4-7 oz). Minimal shoes include some (unspiked) running flats, Vivo shoes, GoLite, Inov-8 shoes and so on.

The following GoLite video is a dead-on example of what I mean.

Neutral running shoes are traditional running shoes making an effort at getting out of the way. That mostly means no motion control, lighter weight and a slimmer, flexible sole, but also significantly more cushioning than minimal shoes. The Saucony Kinvara, Nike Free, some Zoom shoes and many others fall in that category.

Some Road-Tested Shoes

Following is a list of shoes I have purchased and used, some more than others, and my appreciation of them. I’ll try to make this as objective as I possibly can. So here they are, in alphabetical order.

La Sportiva CrossLite

• Type : Minimal
• Use : Trail running
• Price : 100-120$

This is a very stiff sole for a minimal shoe, but since it’s a hardcore trail runner, I figure it’s necessary. This shoe has a very aggressive spike-type pattern that will grip in thick mud, on wet surface and on pretty much everything that comes your way. The top lacing is protected by a gaiter-type fabric that prevents pebbles and debris from getting inside. This is a very narrow shoe and has a snug fit; I wouldn’t recommend it to runners with wide feet. I use these only in hardcore trail conditions where I know I might end up landing on sharp rock tips or other barefoot-unfriendly trail hazards.

MEC Moque Boot

• Type : Barefoot
• Use : Winter running
• Price : 20-40$

This is my take on winter Vibrams. These slipper-like shoes are originally intended for water sports like kayaking. Made of thick neoprene, they are warm and isolated enough to allow barefoot-like running in winter conditions. They don’t get wet easy, which is a true blessing. The soles are made of soft rubber and offer decent grip; however they will wear out very fast if you run on anything else than snow. I recommend wearing socks inside. The absence of lacing makes it very important to make sure you buy the proper shoe size unless you want a BlisterFest.

Merrell Barefoot True Glove

• Type : Barefoot
• Use : Road running
• Price : 120-140$

I was very excited when these were announced late last year. These shoes are offered in many different versions, from casual to road and trail running. They feature a Vibram outsole and all you can expect from a barefoot shoe. The huge disappointment, however, is that the inner sole, more specifically the arch support, seems to have been misconceived. First of all, it is strange that a barefoot shoe has any arch support. But the worst is that said support is positioned several millimetres too far upfront, lifting the ball of your foot instead of the arch. At first I thought my feet were somehow not compatible with the design, but the issue was confirmed by a sales rep at a specialized shoe store and by several other customers as well. I am not saying the Merrell Barefoot are bad shoes, but I am seriously advising anyone who wants to buy them to try them out in store before doing so.

UPDATE. I have field tested the Merrell TrailGlove, for which I wrote a product-specific review.

New Balance Minimus

• Type : Barefoot
• Use : Road running
• Price : 110-130$

This is one interesting shoe. New Balance has really done its homework on this one. The Minimus features a Vibram outsole much like a FiveFingers, but without the individual toes. It has a very large front end that leaves plenty of room for your toes to wiggle, grip and move any way they like, while still offering a good fit through the lacing system. The shoe is feather light and extremely comfortable. I only have a couple kilometres in them so far, but I am very enthusiastic about them.

UPDATE. I have ran about 40KM in these shoes, 28 of which in a single trail run in easy conditions (light gravel paths, easy hills, etc.). I am very disappointed with the results. The Minimus is NOT a serious trail runner, the material of its outer sole ripped off inexplicably and the overall behavior of the shoe is, in my opinion, unfit for serious trail running. I will keep wearing them, but only for short road runs.

Nike Free +

• Type : Neutral
• Use : Road running
• Price : 100-120$

The Nike Free resembles a neutral shoe whose soles would’ve been put through a table saw. It features very deep lateral and longitudinal creases that make the rubber extremely flexible. The top is made out of mesh, which makes it very light and well-ventilated. The removable insole can be taken out to eliminate a layer in-between your foot and the ground and makes the shoe a little roomier for wider-footed runners. It is also compatible with the Nike+ system, a little microchip that you put into the insole and that connects with your iPhone / iPod Touch and serves as an advanced pedometer. Although two very close friends run in those and love them, I can’t say I like the Free. I find it bulky and very high to the ground, which eliminates my proprioception (how your foot feels the ground) and pushes me back into heel-striking. This is a shoe I have run about 50km in and won’t wear again for running. (it’s a size-7 BTW, so if anyone wants it it’s yours).

Saucony Kinvara

• Type : Neutral
• Use : Road running
• Price : 120-140$

To say I had mixed feelings about this shoe is an understatement. The Kinvara was the first runner I bought after going barefoot for more than a year. Although it has a significant heel-to-toe drop, the shoe is very light, flexible and seems to have been made to be worn without socks (a huge plus for me). I first wore them for a 10K, then a long run, after which I started having arch pains. I initially blamed the shoe, but realized it was I who had changed my running form. I have to say the arch section of the sole is stiffer than I’d wish and I think that, combined with the relative height of the shoe, is part of the reason why it’s easier to fall back to heel striking. As soon as I refocused on a forefoot strike at all times, the Kinvara became my shoe of choice when I needed a padded ride or to bring along in trips, when I didn’t know what surface I’d be running on. I have put hundreds of kilometres in those and will buy another pair when I need it. I just hope by then they have an identical model, but lower to the ground, zero-drop style. With all that said, I don’t consider running in Kinvaras barefoot running, but I think this is one great transition shoe and a viable option for any forefoot striker.

UPDATE. Saucony unveiled the Kinvara 2, an improved version of the original. It's even lower to the ground, which I think makes it an even better shoe.

Vibram FiveFingers Classic / KSO / Bikila / Komodo

Oh, my. I’ll try not to write a novel about these, but it’s going to be hard. The FiveFingers are in part what brought me to barefoot running. They are like the MacIntosh of running; those who use them swear by them (and often evangelize, all guns blazing) while nonbelievers scoff at their sight.

Although I cannot oversight the fact that the FiveFingers are largely responsible for the popularity of barefoot running, I have to remain objective about what they bring in terms of benefits.

The original FiveFingers (the Classic, the Sprint and the KSO) were no more than foot gloves. A thin Vibram outsole with laser-etched wave patterns that would open up and offer traction when your foot moves, topped by a ventilated fabric and a basic Velcro adjustment strap. And, of course, the individual toe pockets that made them famous. I initially bought the Classic on the misguided information that they were intended for running. They are not. They are closer to ballerina shoes than anything with their open-top style and they will wreak havoc on your top foot skin with their bungee-cord closing system. Ouch. I kept them for a while to walk around, but eventually gave them to a friend for everyday use. (On the same basis, I couldn’t honestly recommend the Sprint to any serious runner.)

I then got a pair of KSO’s, then another one. I have ran thousands of kilometres in those. As long as you stick to short and medium distances (say, up to a half-marathon), you should be fine with KSO’s if the ground is not wet. The grip is excellent, the proprioception is unparalleled and the protection for the underfoot is exactly what you need, no more. The problems start with the rain or when you crank up the mileage; the interior conception of the original FiveFingers is just too coarse. If your feet get wet or you run long distances, they will rip through the side of the ball of your foot, leaving a blister if you’re lucky or a bloody mess if you’re me. When going downhill on a longer outing, the separators between your toes will hit hard over time, giving you black nails and sore toes. Finally, the top of the toe pockets, mostly the one for the big toe, is made of a thin fabric that tears open quickly from the friction of your toe nail – more of an aesthetic issue than anything however. As for trail running, the KSO’s capabilities are limited. Frankly, there are terrains you just can’t run in these; coarse gravel and sharp rock tips are two examples.

As my barefoot experience was broadening and new products hit the market, I started thinking the FiveFingers would slowly disappear because of these flaws, plus the fact I’m not sure what the advantage of separated toes really is (considering the other Vibram barefoot soles in New Balance and Merrell, for example, that make you run on a thin, flexible sole that is just as good). That was until I tried the Bikila, and moreover the Komodo.

Looks like Vibram really paid attention to feedback from first-generation customers. They came back with a running-specific product, the Bikila, and a cross-trainer, the Komodo. Both feature a well-improved interior liner that feels as smooth as the inside of any running shoe, without adding bulk. The sole now features grip patterns that add a little more cushioning to the ride, a much-welcome improvement over the originals (after all, the idea of FiveFingers is foot protection; if you run on a nice, smooth and safe surface, you’re gonna do it 100% barefoot). The toe pockets have an improved fabric upper with tear-resistant material added. The overall conception of both these models has been greatly improved. I was so impressed with the second generation that I actually bought a pair, something I was doubtful about before trying them out.

After trying both the Bikila and the Komodo (I ran with one in each foot), I chose the latter. I felt it offered more comfort for long runs with its added removable insole and I preferred its double-strap adjustment and upper cushions over the rawer feel of the Bikila. The Komodo doesn’t feel bulkier and seems to offer greater comfort, plus the option of removing the insole should the need arise. I am looking forward to trying them over a long distance.

UPDATE. I now have ran several long runs in my Komodo's, ranging from 15 to 25KM, and even a 12KM mud bath of a trail run. They passed the test with flying colors.

SIDENOTE. As a barefoot runner, I try to avoid socks as much as the Plague. However, with the advent of more shoe-like barefoot shoes, some might be tempted to wear them with socks. I’m not saying you shouldn’t, but I’m definitely not going to recommend it. In my opinion, socks will only make your feet damp and add a layer of friction in the equation, multiplying the chances of blisters. There is, however, one exception. If you have to wear socks, for warmth or comfort or any other reason, I suggest the Injinji. It is a very tight sock with individual compressed toe pockets that literally morph to your feet. I have never had a blister wearing these, which includes runs from anything to 30K.

Barefoot Running... Gone Holistic

I am writing this article in an effort to inform friends and newcomers to the “minimalist running” or barefoot approach. Although it is often presented as a fad that will eventually go away, I am convinced it is a sound method to experience running in a whole new fashion, not to mention one that seems to be free of injuries when it’s done properly. If what your are looking for is advice on various types of footwear, jump straight to the second article.

Part I : What Is Barefoot Running?

Barefoot running is a philosophy and a technique that consists in recognizing the fact that human beings have been running for thousands of years either on their bare feet or wearing only minimal foot protection such as moccasins or various types of sandals.

It also acknowledges that most, if not all, running-specific injuries can only be traced back to the widespread use of commercial running shoes, a very inconvenient fact for a multi-million dollar sporting goods industry. But I digress.

What’s the deal?

Barefoot running, like the name says, consists in running without shoes. The idea behind it is biomechanical: you can’t run on your bare feet and not land properly on the ground, simply because it will hurt. While running, your body will naturally use a forefoot landing stance, which places your landing foot very close to your body (almost under it), with your knee bent, thus activating the human shock absorber chain that is your lower body. The feedback hit coming from your weight hitting the ground will be dispersed by your arch, ankle movement, knee and hip, leaving only a minimal shock for the body to withstand. Consequently, you will run lighter, more efficiently and with much less stress to your bones, muscles and tendons.

In comparison, when you run with modern specialized shoes, the padded interior and (often) inflexible sole of the shoe invite your foot to land heel first with your leg straight and extended, which results in a feedback shockwave coming straight from the ground right to your spine (and everything in between) with the full force of gravity. Biomechanical studies done by the likes of Daniel Lieberman from Harvard estimate that the difference in shock magnitude between forefoot landing and heel striking is at least seven-fold. Although heel-striking will not necessarily cause injury in every runner, there is empiric evidence that suggests the harder you heel-strike and the harder you train, the more prone to injury you will be.

Here's a video from above-mentioned Lieberman explaining the biomechanics of barefoot running.

So why doesn’t everyone just ditch their shoes?

There are many reasons for that. The first and not the least is that not every shod runner suffers injury. Some runners are enjoying great health and performance using their running shoes and don’t seem to be bothered in any way with their heel-striking form. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Then, there is the fact that some shod runners tend to land on their midfoot or forefoot while running with shoes, which gives them the same biomechanical advantages barefooters get. Again, they enjoy healthy running, so why change? And I think they’re right.

Then, there’s the fact that not everyone agrees with what I stated above. Scientifically speaking, there are no substantial studies (although they are coming) done on barefooting that link the running form with the absence of injury or its ability to heal or correct existing conditions. Worse, there are studies being released that establish a link between barefoot running and a new set of running injuries, notably metatarsal stress fractures and achilles tendonitis.

Add to this the hordes of orthopedic specialists, podiatrists and sports doctors who each have their opinions and stances about the issue, the million-dollar-backed advertisement campaigns on each side of the topic and you get one very intimidating mess of contradicting information.

So in short, the whole issue may easily seem confusing to a newcomer, and most people will prefer to go for the well-established idea that running requires high-tech, specialized running shoes adapted to their specific gait and posture. And I can understand that; I would’ve done the same if I had the choice.

Why I run barefoot

I started barefoot running two years ago, when I got caught once again in the same vicious circle of starting to run, getting in better shape, enjoying it, doing a few races, getting more serious about my training, improving my performance… and get injured and stop running. I just couldn’t stand anymore my love for the sport and the frustration I would feel when injuries would ensue. So I started looking for another way. I popped up Google and typed, for a lack of better terms, “alternative way of running”. A couple minutes later, I was staring at my screen, slack-jawed, learning about barefoot running for the first time.

Since I’d been injured so many times before while wearing shoes, it wasn’t difficult for me to make the mental jump into the unknown and actually try barefooting. And man did I love it. In no time, I was back into running, my typical injuries (knee pains, weak ankles, mostly) nowhere in sight. I thought this was too good to be true. I followed the advice I could find about building up progressively, not tolerating pain as a measure of intensity and so on. And I have to say, it felt like a miracle.

From September to the next spring, I built up a new running form from nothing. First thing I knew, I was running a half marathon in early March, and by the end of June I had run five of them, plus other smaller events. I was training 4 times a week steady, getting ever faster, ever healthier. I couldn’t believe my feet :)

An unexpected benefit from this transition was that it also opened me to improve my general health by eating better food, getting decent sleep and overall paying more attention to signals from my body. I mixed yoga with running, too, which proved immensely beneficial for both my mind and my body.

Then I started to think barefoot running had turned me into some kind of unshod superhero. I wore no shoes (ever), except at the office. I ran profusely, always faster, pushing my own limits. I started ignoring pain and body signals because I felt my body was so powerful.

Then, when I really exaggerated, the unimaginable happened: I broke my foot. To be really precise, I suffered a metatarsal stress fracture in my left foot. How did this happen? Well let’s just say I went to race a half marathon after bumping up both my mileage and speed to the point of constant foot pain, while getting no decent rest. I’d literally limped to the starting line, so by the end of the day, I’d turned a warning signal into a full-fledge catastrophe. I missed my fall’s ultimate goal, a marathon I’d been dreaming about for months. I was devastated.

That terrible drawback served as an important reminder: barefoot running will not make you superhuman. The rules of sound training still apply, and you need to be as serious about your rest and recuperation as you are with your training. Whether you wear shoes or not, if you go too fast, too long, too soon, you will get injured.

It took me only two months of active recovery to start running again, and at first I did it with great care and attention. But soon I got caught in my own enthusiasm and wanted to pick up where I’d left: I resumed speed training and augmented my schedule to 3-4 runs a week including a long distance. Before I knew it, I made a bad fall on a patch of ice and suffered an achilles tendon injury. I won’t even begin to try telling you how I felt.

During my second off time being miserable on the couch, I questioned everything. I started thinking that maybe barefooting had gotten me into this trouble. I started reading anti-barefoot and pro-shoe literature in search of answers, and found indeed that the injuries I’d sustained were common in barefooters – but common also in shod runners. My injuries were common among those who don’t train properly.

When I finally got back on my feet and started running again, I changed my philosophy. I decided that I didn’t need to have all my running eggs in the same basket. I researched shoes once again and discovered that some companies were acknowledging there might be something good in the barefoot philosophy, and started integrating some of its principles into their products.

I added a first pair of minimal running shoes in my closet late last fall. Then another. And another. Some I liked, some I ditched. Some I still wear, some I don’t. But over and above everything, what has changed is not so much my closet as my approach to running. No two races are the same, no two running environments are identical and not every training session has to be done the same way.

I realized that, in the true sense of barefoot running philosophy, what I need to do is run with good form on solid feet with a healthy body. What does this mean? It means that no matter what I do or wear, I must always keep a proper running form, which in my case is a forefoot-midfoot strike. My feet need to be strong and springy, pain-free and comfortable. And my body needs to be well-fed, sufficiently hydrated and well-rested. THAT is my recipe for healthy running.

I have been applying these principles for the last couple months and enjoyed, at last, healthy, happy running. I have steadily increased my distance up to a full marathon, and then to ultras. I am not so obsessed with performance anymore and have realized I’d much rather run a couple seconds slower with a smile on my face than break personal records once per season and end it in absolute misery, immobilized on the couch watching other runners enjoy a sunny Saturday.

This is why you’ll see me racing, training or just trotting along in my bare feet, in minimal footwear and in neutral running shoes depending on the environment, the weather, and downright how I felt that morning. Call me a holistic runner :)

Credentials

In case this is of any importance to you or to your evaluation of what I say in this article, here are a few reference points as to what type of runner I am.

I’m 38 years old (1972), 5’7’’ and about 140lbs

Average mileage per week: Between 45 and 80km (28 to 50 miles)

Best 5K: 21:20

Best 10K: 46:45

Best 21K: 1h44:49

Marathon: 4h13

I have done about 12 half-marathons, 4 full marathons, trail ultras and several 10k and 5K races over the course of the last two years. My 2011 season includes two full marathons (Ottawa and Montreal), one ultra marathon (Limberlost Challenge), an XC Trail run and at least 3 half-marathons, plus some 10K and 5K.

Part II : A Personal Overview Of Barefoot-Type Shoes

Midpack

I am not an elite runner.

I do not stand at the front of starting lines, all dressed up in my Timex-sponsored shirt, tiger-eyed and set on the kill. No cameras are pointed at me and the organizers of a race never wonder if I’m going to break a course record. Among the thousands of anxious athletes lining up at running events, I am nobody.

When the gun goes off, no one screams my name. There isn’t a pace rabbit whose sole objective is to make me run a national record or a support team that takes care of my hydration or my gear.

In the middle of the pack, I inhale a couple deep breaths and take a moment to sink in the fact that I’m lined up with healthy, enthusiastic people in better shape than most of the population. I revel in the idea that I’ll finish in front of some of them, and smirk when I think other runners have the same idea about me. There’s always a faster runner, and you’re never really the last one.

Even if you’re in the cheering crowd, you won’t see me. I’m just one among thousands of anonymous faces. Unless your kid pulls incessantly on your sleeve yelling «Look! This one forgot his shoes!», you won’t notice me.

I know I’m not a pro racer and never will be.

But inside of me, there’s a fire raging. I stand at the line focused and jittery, revising my strategy, making sure I’ll be ready for everything that comes my way. I triple-check my gear, my food, my hydration. Among the restless crowd, I start my music, always with the same song. And every race morning has started with a Facebook post that reveals my current mood, followed by the words «Here goes nothing».

In the meantime, thoughts storm in my head. Will I make it? Can I push hard and attempt a personal best? What if I go out too strong and lose it halfway? Did I train enough? Get sufficient rest? How’s my hydration? Am I ready for this?

And then the crowd starts moving. I leave my worries behind and take a first step forward. I’ve just switched universes.

It’s evident I’ll never climb on a podium.

But as I pick up my pace and gather my will, I feel more alive than the vast majority of the time. There’s just me and the road. I’m not doing this for anyone else than myself; I run for a very tough crowd. So I give it all.

In my mind, I go back to all my training sessions, good and bad. I re-live the efforts I’ve invested, the hills I climbed and the intervals I made. I also think of my downtimes while injured, of my yearnings to go out and run. And realize that’s exactly what I’m doing, right in this moment. I feel privileged.

Things will get tough at one point or another. I’ll have to draw even deeper inside of me to find the strength to go on. I’ll think of friends, personal heroes, memories, the woman I love, the places of the world that transformed me and borrow energy from all of them. I’ll call upon visualized images that have followed me for as long as I can remember. And inexplicably, a renewed flow of vitality will run through me and push me beyond my hardships.

I’ll never be invited to join a track team.

But I’ve had the chance to run with the utmost elites. I have sided with the world’s greatest runners like powerhouse Daniel Roy, braveheart Juan Pablo Robitaille, maverick Samuel Champion, wiseman Yves Daigneault, mischievous Geneviève Dupont, loving Laurence Hurtel, leader Ben Sicotte, tough man André Bourdeau and so many inspiring others.

I know I won’t go down in running history.

But I have been witness to superhuman performances from people who have gone to the extreme limits of themselves and reached goals they never thought achievable. I have cheered, cried, screamed, ached, laughed and suffered in the midst of genuine champions.

And each time I cross that finish line, exhausted and overwhelmed, I am one, too.

Angry At Food

This post contains no added trans-saturated omega-12 fats, is high in starch-filtered dietary fiber and is a good source of neutrino-carrabolic acids, an absolutely useless ingredient for healthy bone marrow, peripheral vision and capillar arthritis.

I am angry at food.

My day had started well, then I read a Facebook post from my friend Dan about the latest health movement called the paleo diet (more on that later) and... I went to the grocery store after work to get dinner.

I am sick and tired of having to read every single label and list of ingredients of every single piece of food I put into my mouth just because some profit-crazed maniac on the other end has packed it with chemicals, preservatives, fillers and any other cheap bio-engineered shit to save half a penny on the crap they are selling.

I am not content with the "bio" or "organic" labels, for they do not guarantee your food hasn't been produced industrially, packaged in cancer-inducing BPA's or plastics and they sure don't mean that the ingredients are good for your health. Say what you want, brown rice sugar or raw cane sugar IS SUGAR. Don't fool yourself. And what exactly is "natural and artificial flavors" actually supposed to mean?

The stuff you're buying boasts that it doesn't contain "trans fats" ? Awesome! Check out the sodium contents. Sodium's cool? It's loaded with sugar. No sugar? It's artificially sweetened with asparthame or some other shit.

I have come to the point where I literally walk full alleys of my supermarket without buying anything at all because none of what I think might be nice to buy is of minimal quality or safe for my health. I cannot stand the "healthy choice", "Rich in fiber", "Probiotic" and the hundreds of other false labels that make you think what you buy is good for you when it's not.

Our food is wrong. Our food is a fraud. Our food is misleading.

I am trapped. Even though I'm close, I won't be a vegetarian because I'm convinced what I get from (decently-raised) animal products is beneficial for my health. And even if I went that way, I would still be consuming non-meat products crammed with chemicals and fillers. I chose to eliminate sugar from my diet only to realize that it is strictly impossible (the best you can achieve is a major reduction). I tried going for the organic products until I gawked at the ingredients list and discovered I was now consuming the same crap like palm oils, saturated fats and tons of various sugars, but grown organically. Organic shit is still shit.

I am a hostage of my lifestyle, of the urban metropolis I live in and of the food industry that seems to be the only one able to reach my sorry consumer ass. It is impossible to eat local in Montreal, because there simply are no farms in Montreal or anywhere near for that matter. I can only get fresh produce in the summer time in local markets, and I can only assume these foods are fresh, organic and local because really, I don't know where they come from.

I am also a string puppet to every health fad that goes around these days. Because I have become interested in what I eat, I do a lot of research in an attempt to find out what exactly is and isn't good for me. The problem is: the more I research, the more contradicting information I get! Some swear by a diet mostly based on fruits and vegetables ranging the widest possible gamut of colors (it's called "eat the rainbow"). Others will tell you meat is wrong. The next moment, you learn that some of the soluble minerals our bodies need are only present in meat products. Soy protein, depending on who you ask, is either one of the greatest ingredients in all time or detrimental to male health because of improper hormonal effects. Fish is packed with awesome essential nutrients... but is a sponge to toxic pollutants like mercury and lead, found in water. This list could go on forever.

My runs at the supermarket have now turned into a bleak venture where I don't want 80% of what's already on the shelves, and where the remaining 20% is either not very healthy or downright fraudulent about 50% of the time. I am frustrated.

I don't buy anything processed anymore, save baba ganouj and 2-3 other items with a 3-ingredient list. Still I am uncertain about the toxicity of the packaging. I don't drink standard milk, because of the hormone contents and the herbicides. I had grown a big fan of whole grain cereals, now I'm told they contain ingredients detrimental to my health, starting with starch and gluten. I don't buy any deli for sandwiches, anything smoked or sausage anymore, because of nitrites. I buy only one very specific brand of bread, which is most of the time sold out at the store. I try not to buy regular fruits and veggies because of pesticides and wax, so I have to live with a choice of about 15% of what's available from organic cultures. And by the way, the organic blueberries I bought yesterday are from Chile. I have eliminated canned foods from my diet, but cannot find cod liver, snails, sardines and baked beans in any other type of packaging. I cook with cold-pressed oils, but have no idea what the effects of heat are on their toxicity or on the erosion of the skillet's non slip surface. Want me to go on?

Food has become a battlefield. On one side, a profit-driven, massive multi-billion industry that is doing an awesome job of confusing everything and bypassing laws with their marketing bullshit. On the other, a horde of food evangelists that promise the eternal fires of cholesterol hell to anyone not following their strict, exclusive regimens that contradict everything else based on data from some scientist who discovered a faraway tribe somewhere in the 1930's living in a long-lost eden of naked nirvanian health paradise. G'aaahhh!!!

I want my food to be happy. I want it to taste good, and I want it to be good.

I want to be able to walk into the store and get meat that is pure, untreated and that comes from an animal who had a normal, natural animal life. I want fruits and vegetables that come from plants not treated with chemicals and pesticides, unwaxed, not radiated and not packed in throw-away plastic wrap and styrofoam. I want eggs all different sizes and colors, untreated milk coming from cows not high to the eyelids on hormones, happy flapping fish from fresh rivers and blue oceans. I want biodegradable containers that don't contaminate my food. I want labels clear and evident, so that my girlfriend's 11-year-old understands them and choses her food herself. I want food and health research to be done without bias and financial interest. I want to stop being lied to.

I want to sit in front of my plate and smile, because I'm eating healthy things of my own choosing that make me happy.