There are so many opinions out there as to what we need to put in our bodies and not put in our bodies, what causes cancer and what cures cancer, what makes us fat and what doesn’t! What scientists told us was bad for us 10 years ago is suddenly good for us today or vice versa. It’s mind boggling!
I believe in simplicity. I don’t believe in research, I believe in my God. So, if God made it, it’s probably good for you. But, God made a lot of things that are good for us so there are still a lot of choices to make in one grocery trip! I’m not a nutritionist, but I have done my own investigative work and discovered a list of what some call the Superfoods. Superfoods are those packed with multiple vitamins and minerals and are the most beneficial to the body. And you’ll probably notice something – a lot of these foods are located in a grocery store’s perimeter… what a time saver!!!! These are just my thoughts… I would love to hear yours!
Superfoods and other good stuff
-Black beans (and other legumes)
-Blueberries (and other berries)
-Green veggies like broccoli, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts as well as crucifer veggies like cauliflower.
-Chocolate!!! Dark chocolate is best. Nutritionists say Dove’s processing preserves nutrients best.
-Oats – the less processed the better. For the gluten free ladies in the house, you’ll get the same benefits from beans and lentils as well as apples.
-Onions (raw is best) as well as garlic, shallots, leeks, green onions and chives.
-Salmon (and other Omega-3 rich fish like tuna). Of the 5 types of salmon, King salmon are richest in Omega-3.
-Soy such as tofu, Edamame beans, soymilk just to name a few.
-Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale
-Sweet potatoes as well as carrots, butternut squash and orange bell peppers.
-Tomatoes
-Turkey
-Nuts (walnuts and almonds are at the top of the list)
-Avacado
-Red wine, green tea and black tea
-Yogurt (watch out for the sugar-packed varieties!)
-Eggs (keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge for hunger attacks – they keep for 7 days after boiling)
-Use sea salt instead of table salt
-And the best for last, WATER, WATER, WATER and more WATER! The more you exercise the more you need!
Sugar substitutions
Use cinnamon, honey or agave nectar instead of white sugar. And whatever you do, avoid artificial sweetener!!! By definition, this one should be obvious but you can find it in the most unexpected places. Most of the mainstream brands of yogurt labeled “light” have artificial sweetener.
A note about oil...
Extra virgin olive oil for cooking and nut oils for salad dressings are best. Avoid hydrogenated oils!!! Here’s the lowdown – fully and partially hydrogenated oils have been altered by man by adding a hydrogen atom and thus making the molecules unrecognizable to the human body. Why do manufacturers add this molecule? It extends the shelf life. Read the ingredients not the trans-fat content. And just know that the more processed the food, the more likely it is to have hydrogenated oils.
I believe in simplicity. I don’t believe in research, I believe in my God. So, if God made it, it’s probably good for you. But, God made a lot of things that are good for us so there are still a lot of choices to make in one grocery trip! I’m not a nutritionist, but I have done my own investigative work and discovered a list of what some call the Superfoods. Superfoods are those packed with multiple vitamins and minerals and are the most beneficial to the body. And you’ll probably notice something – a lot of these foods are located in a grocery store’s perimeter… what a time saver!!!! These are just my thoughts… I would love to hear yours!
Superfoods and other good stuff
-Black beans (and other legumes)
-Blueberries (and other berries)
-Green veggies like broccoli, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts as well as crucifer veggies like cauliflower.
-Chocolate!!! Dark chocolate is best. Nutritionists say Dove’s processing preserves nutrients best.
-Oats – the less processed the better. For the gluten free ladies in the house, you’ll get the same benefits from beans and lentils as well as apples.
-Onions (raw is best) as well as garlic, shallots, leeks, green onions and chives.
-Salmon (and other Omega-3 rich fish like tuna). Of the 5 types of salmon, King salmon are richest in Omega-3.
-Soy such as tofu, Edamame beans, soymilk just to name a few.
-Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale
-Sweet potatoes as well as carrots, butternut squash and orange bell peppers.
-Tomatoes
-Turkey
-Nuts (walnuts and almonds are at the top of the list)
-Avacado
-Red wine, green tea and black tea
-Yogurt (watch out for the sugar-packed varieties!)
-Eggs (keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge for hunger attacks – they keep for 7 days after boiling)
-Use sea salt instead of table salt
-And the best for last, WATER, WATER, WATER and more WATER! The more you exercise the more you need!
Sugar substitutions
Use cinnamon, honey or agave nectar instead of white sugar. And whatever you do, avoid artificial sweetener!!! By definition, this one should be obvious but you can find it in the most unexpected places. Most of the mainstream brands of yogurt labeled “light” have artificial sweetener.
A note about oil...
Extra virgin olive oil for cooking and nut oils for salad dressings are best. Avoid hydrogenated oils!!! Here’s the lowdown – fully and partially hydrogenated oils have been altered by man by adding a hydrogen atom and thus making the molecules unrecognizable to the human body. Why do manufacturers add this molecule? It extends the shelf life. Read the ingredients not the trans-fat content. And just know that the more processed the food, the more likely it is to have hydrogenated oils.
Pray for wisdom and will power. Don't throw everything in your pantry away and start over. Make small changes - replace one bad food with one good food each day. What is working for you? What recipes do you have that incorporate some of these foods? Let's encourage and help each other!
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together,... but let us encourage one another..." (Hebrews 10:24-25)
We (even my 3 and 5 year old) love the steel cut oats that you can buy in the bulk section at Vitamin Cottage. They have to simmer for 30 min, but you can be doing other things while they cook and they keep in the fridge once cooked, too. They are much tastier, less processed and inexpensive. You can get GF oats, too.
ReplyDeleteMy kids also like Edamame beans, too! They love to squeeze the beans out of the pods. Always important to us to eat healthfully as a family.
Love love love the Agave Nectar, too...
Lisa - what's your take on whey protien shakes?
Thanks Shelly! We just bought some steel cut oats and I'm really on a cinnamon and baked banana kick so we'll give that a try. As far as the protein shakes, I know a lot of people who recommend them but I haven't gotten into them... yet. Would be happy to hear what you think if you go down that road!
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