Eating Healthy Made Easy - Part One

Today there are many products and services to choose from in our daily lives. Food is no exception. We can choose from fast food burgers, pizzerias, diners, taco trucks, fancy high-class restaurants, grocery stores, and farmer's markets to buy our food. With so many choices it can be difficult to make a healthy decision; however, with a little practice you can become an expert in no time!


Everything we eat has a direct effect on us. Have you ever heard the saying "you are what you eat"? This is the truth. When we constantly eat burgers, chips, and drink soda, energy drinks and fruit drink it can cause serious damage to our health. Fortunately Mother Nature already has the solution for us. There is no secret to eating healthy. Go for unprocessed foods that come from trees and the ground. This means avoiding foods with artificial colors, flavorings, sweeteners, and preservatives. Vegetables are the main part of a healthy meal. Treat everything else as a side dish. (Yes, even meat!)

You need to get your vitamins and minerals: it's like putting oil in your car, you need them to perform well. Each one serves a vital (important) purpose. The best way to get these "nutrients" is to include as many different types of food as you can. Variety is king. Eating various colors is a simple and fun way to get your nutrients. (not food coloring, but the natural colors)

Here are a few examples of some foods to try and how you can include them in your food: Remember, try to get these foods in the most natural condition possible (i.e strawberries (fresh) in your cereal, instead of strawberry jelly (contains too much sugars and often preservatives *what's the point!?)

Red: Raspberries, tomatoes, cherries, strawberries
Meal Idea: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with sliced tomato, Raspberries and strawberry milk shakes!
Blue/Purple: Blueberries, purple cabbage, eggplant
Meal Idea: Egg scramble with purple cabbage and other vegetables, Blueberries pancakes!
Green: Lettuce, cucumbers, cilantro, broccoli, spinach, green beans
Meal Idea: Stir fry that includes broccoli and green beans, cucumber in your tuna salad!
Yellow/Orange: Carrots, oranges, bananas, sweet potatoes, squash, corn
Meal Idea: Oven roasted sliced squash and sweet potatoes with BBQ chicken! 100% orange juice
Brown/Black: Lentils, brown rice, beans, almonds, mushrooms
Lentil Soup (Recipe on page 6), bean burrito, almonds in your cereal or shake!

Remember, What we eat is our primary defense against disease and illness. A balanced mixture of fruits and vegetables can reduce the the risk of many illnesses including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and digestive problems. This is why it is so important to be conscious of what we put into our bodies.

These days it is often hard to find unprocessed, non genetically modified foods that haven't been treated with toxic chemicals. By making smart healthy choices we can prepare for a lifelong loving relationship with our bodies. Want better control over what you eat? Make your own meals!

The best time to start making smarter food choices is now.
Your body will thank you later!