Healthier Eating – Adding More Organic Produce and Whole Foods To Your Diet

Are you eating better yet — or are you still having your share of junk food and fast food? In pursuing a path of positive, balanced living, a healthy diet (or at least an improved one) is definitely something we need to commit to on a daily basis!

Summertime Salads Are Super Healthy!

We are all striving for that harmonious connection of mind, body, spirit and this involves us making physical adjustments — and I don’t mean plastic surgery! I am referring to eating healthier — consuming foods that are more pure, more whole and better for the biological beings that we are.

A healthy way of eating is truly essential to achieve a beneficial body balance that will sustain our well-being for the long term. My one big tip that I always encourage people to follow is to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets. So if I have said this before, I am repeating it with emphasis: these raw foods are extremely beneficial to us. One thing to be aware of is that chemicals and pesticides may be used on most produce and those that are imported from other countries (such as China) are not as monitored in terms of what pesticides are used.

Conventional fruits and veggies (non-organic) do have a risk of contamination from these pesticides. So if you buy conventional, WASH everything really well. Better yet, buy certified organic if you can. Some of the most contaminated crops (sometimes called “the dirty dozen”) are peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes (imported), carrots, and pears. So for these items, stick to the organic version.

Peaches are really considered the worst of all in terms of pesticide residue. Pineapple, mango, kiwi and asparagus are considered to have the least amounts of pesticides — so buying conventional for these is probably fine. But do your research and work more produce into your daily diet.

Become a label reader in the supermarket. Begin to check out the ingredients of those foods you are buying. Most people eat so many processed foods that have long lists of preservatives, food coloring, additives, etc.  If the ingredient list is long and difficult to pronounce — don’t buy the item!

Purer foods really only have one ingredient or limited ingredients.  For example — maple syrup just has one ingredient.  It’s far better than using one of the other well-known brands of pancake syrup. For those who may be curious, here are the ingredients: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, cellulose gum, caramel color, salt, sodium benzoate and sorbic acid [preservatives], artificial and natural flavors, sodium hexametaphosphate.   Which syrup do you think is better — need I ask? So start looking in to what you’re eating — and resolve to bring healthier foods into your everyday dining experience!

Healthy eating affirmations for you:

• I choose foods that provide healthy fuel for my body.
• I am what I think and I am what I eat!
• It is easy for me to include nutritious whole fresh foods in my daily diet.