Natural Foods are “real” foods-not created in a laboratory nor industrially manufactured. They are prepared and their nutritional properties are intact. Consuming wholesome, natural food is the way to start to bring good health and balance to your life. Food keeps your body up and running and healthy. Its time to be concerned and take personal responsibility for our own eating habits, and to make them health supportive. Foods can be a very tasty new adventure- with a huge pay-off. It’s truly amazing to think that so many of the health boosters our bodies need to thrive can be found in the right kinds of food.
With so many different diets being promoted as “The Way” to eat healthfully, and the vast amounts of confusing and often contradictory information streaming at us from the media, we can lose trust in our own bodies to tell us what we need. We pay attention to magazine articles and television features rather than to ourselves, to how we feel when we wake up, and to our energy levels throughout the day. And we can forget that food is good, it tastes good, it’s good for us and it is part of the fabric of our lives. We include food at celebrations, we share meals with friends and our families.
Eating is part of every culture, and looking to tradition is a way to cut through modern day media hype and to figure out our own ways of eating well. There is no controversy about eating foods that have sustained people for centuries. This approach means eating whole, natural foods, such as grains and beans, vegetables, and animal products from free-roam animals. It means avoiding refined carbohydrates (such as white flour products and refined sweeteners) and refined or hydrogenated oils (such as “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” and most corn and soybean oils). It also means avoiding artificial and synthetic “foods” and food additives (such as artificial sweeteners, flavors and preservatives), and avoiding highly processed and manufactured foods (such as fast foods and many “convenience” foods). We want to eat food prepared in someone’s kitchen, not a laboratory.
If you’re new to natural foods, start simple. Take it one step at a time. Pick one new thing to try. Buy whole grain bread instead of white bread. Use brown rice instead of white. Replace the white sugar in your pantry with sucanat, which is unrefined sugar. Have eggs for breakfast instead of a protein bar or shake.
Simply including more vegetables in your meals is an easy way to make your diet more nutritious. Steam some broccoli to have with your frozen pizza. Have a salad with your pasta. Try something you’ve never had before: Brussels sprouts or parsnips or fennel! If you’re unsure of how to prepare something, the produce staff at the Wedge will be happy to give you some suggestions.
If you start by adding one new natural food to your diet at a time, gradually your diet will change. You’ll be on your way to eating all (or mostly all) whole natural foods before you know it! When you’re ready, you can start thinking about planning “balanced” meals, too. For me, a balanced meal needs to contain protein, carbohydrates, and fats. These are the three major macronutrients, and our health depends on all of them. In general, including them all in any given meal or snack will make you feel more satisfied. Satisfaction means having enough energy, being able to concentrate, and not having a lot of cravings for sweets or caffeine. It means feeling and being well nourished.