Today was a lesson in how to practice sustainability and healthy eating while still enjoying your treats. It was a special occasion for my CrossFit gym. The old owners are moving to New Orleans and wanted to have a going away party. We all wanted our new lords and masters to feel welcome with pomp and circumstance.
So, we held a huge party with the entire membership. And there was a pie contest.
Long story short, this year on Pi Day (3/14), there was a big stink about pie. Since a pie company opened next door to the gym, pie has been a fascination and obsession with several members. So, of course for this party, we had pie.
Pie is not good for you. I don’t care how you make it, it’s not good for you. It’s not paleo, it’s not on Whole30, most pies aren’t vegan or even vegetarian, and all store bought pies have palm oil in them. Not good.
But I don’t have a problem with people having pie. As long as you make it yourself.
Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Cooked, once said “You can eat whatever you want, you just have to make it yourself.” I agree with him 100%. He’s not talking about getting a box of Betty Crocker and making your cakes and cookies. I’m talking Make-It-Yourself-From-Scratch.
The key thing about do-it-yourself baking is knowing what is going in your pie. Many pies have palm oil in them, so it’s not difficult to refuse and resist eating those. Other people may not have as much care in their ingredients. They may have crappy apples, or refined sugar, or factory farm produced butter.
When I make my own pie, I choose what goes into it- fresh and organic apples, raw sugar, not refined, locally sourced butter. I also have ownership of the pie. I savor it more, appreciating the work that went into creating such a delicious treat.
I have a party with a bunch of fitness fanatics, where there is going to be a pie contest. The only thing I love more than pie is winning contests. Guess who made a pie today?
To be fair, I have an amazing mentor. My landlord makes amazing pies. She taught me last year to make pies, but it’s been a while. I wanted a refresher in pie baking, and this was just a good excuse.
I bought all the ingredients- organic, sustainable, and locally sourced apples, flour, and butter. I made the crust yesterday and after CrossFit class, with my landlord only watching and assisting, I made my first apple pie.
It looked magical when it came out of the oven. It smelled of heaven.
There were maybe a half-dozen pies for judging at the party. But I felt confident mine was the masterpiece. When everyone tried it, they agreed. My pie was the best there. 
Funny how food is the only art where you feel offended if your creation isn’t destroyed. I was not offended in the least.
It isn’t healthy. And I don’t advocate eating it everyday, but with ZooFit and Eating Green, you can have your pie and eat it too.
I tried to be partial when judging your pie against the others but there was just no contents, I couldn’t even finish the other pies. One thing I know now is that quality homemade food has really kept me away from junk food, once you go homemade you can never go back.