What do Kenyans Eat?

So in this first stage of my life transformation into a quasi-Kenyan lifestyle, I need to know what Kenyans eat. I think that is going to be an interesting step. After my lovely wife and I have watched myriad documentaries chronicling the perils of processed foods and high-fructose corn syrup, I believe firmly that our modern diet contributes strongly to our de-evolution as Americans, and am interested in finding out what Kenyans eat to see how that would affect my physical performance and general health.

The best resource that I have found in terms of Kenyan marathoner dietary habits is in an article in Running Times. The article outlines their diet as including: "small amounts of roasted meat, cooked greens, fruit, milk and, always, ugali, a thick, polenta-style cornmeal porridge." Some of those are a bit vague, so I'll have to do some digging into what "small amounts" of roasted meats would entail. Probably not a nightly hanger steak, although I've got my fingers crossed.

This week I am going to be looking into this and will hopefully get some recipes together to dive into my Kenyan diet next week. I'm not sure what it will do to my body, but I guarantee it will be more agreeable than my passion for Snickers and Famous Amos cookies.

Barefoot Running / Vibram Five Fingers

As anyone who follows running knows, there is currently a lot of discussion around barefoot running. And one of the conversation drivers right now is Vibram Five Fingers. For those unfamiliar, they are minimalist running shoes that fit like a glove (literally) to protect the foot from cuts and abrasions, but not to provide padding like a conventional shoe.


When wearing the shoe, you are supposed to strike with the forefoot, using the ankle/foot as a shock absorber as opposed to using the entire leg as a shock absorber like you would heel-striking in conventional running shoes. Proponents of barefoot and barefoot-style running accuse the modern shoe of changing our running style into a high-impact, unergonomic exercise. As for my opinion, the jury is still out.

What I can tell you, though, is that I am excited about exploring the world of barefoot-style running. Physiologically, it makes a lot of sense. It is a more natural way of running and alleviates a lot of the impact on the lower body. And, germane to this blog, it will get me running like a Kenyan.

Live Like a Kenyan

I started running soon after I moved to New York in 2007. It was a way of escaping the city, which is a bit ironic considering I moved there initially to escape the farmlands of Eastern Idaho. Prior to that, I hadn't run more than a couple of miles at a time and didn't know much about it.

Long story short: I started running in a pair of Puma fashion sneakers before footing the $75 bill for a pair of real running shoes. I trained for and ran my first half marathon in 2008, and then continued on to a couple of marathons in 2009 and 2010. I am now in the process of training for my next marathon, either the Coeur d'Alene or Seattle Rock and Roll. My finishing times are nothing to brag about, but what I will brag about is the resiliency and adaptability of the human body and mind.

I recently read the book "Born to Run," and it has not only changed my philosophy on running, but to an extent my philosophy on life. That it is time to pivot the American dream. This blog will help me explore what that pivot should be. A big focus of this exploration is going to be around running and what it does for the human mind and body. To do this, I am going to look at the lifestyle of people who are encouraged to run. I am going to try and learn to live like a Kenyan.

Note: This may be kind of lame since I'll still be working and coming home to a lovely apartment and my lovely wife, so I will be working around that framework. I also probably won't be wearing a loin cloth anywhere any time soon. Probably.