adi, the best way to eat yogurt is to buy plain one and then mix fresh or frozen fruit. That way you are always sure of what you are eating. I cannot eat fruit yogurts because even the sugar free and low fat ones taste too sweet and I feel heavy after eating them. I sometimes buy organic yogurt from Whole Foods or kefir and mix it with strawberries or blueberries in a blender. Takes less than 5min together with washing the blender.
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sleepy said:
Oh, Lord, I love kefir
When I was little I even had a pet rabbit named Kefir 
I also make my own flavored yogurt at home (except for Wallaby brand, love that, very light and thin and not too sweet), and also make plain yogurt from scratch, when I have the time. The ready made plain yogurts I like are Stoneyfield Farm and Fage. Greek yogurt with honey is to die for.
Whitelinen
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This seems to be an interesting thread. But does anyone have tips on starting the healthier eating habits? There are a lot of tips about how to eat and build the new diet, but what about the first couple of days? It can be quite hard to get rid of eating junk food / candy etc. Is there anything besides full detox-diet that would give a "kick start" to a healthier regime? If you know what I mean. Something that would ease the cravings and cleanse the body a bit.
^ WhiteLinen, I think it's best to incorporate good things and take out the bad things slowly, so it's not so much of a shock. Most people who try it all in one day end up giving up on it within a few days, or a week, etc. I think it's best to do it little by little. Also, a main thing is to keep in mind that healthy eating is a lifestyle... and is good for you... it's about being in the right mindset.
fashionista-ta
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The author of the book Real Food (which I recommend) suggests going organic from the top of the food chain because that's where the bad stuff (toxins, etc.) are going to be most concentrated. This means meat, butter, milk, etc.
I try to buy as much as possible organic for both me & the planet, but she makes a good point about where to get the most bang for your buck.
Another tip is that I would question common ideas about what it means to eat healthily. If you're not lactose-intolerant, milk is very nutritious. If you just eat egg whites, you're not getting the nutritious part of the egg. Artificial sweeteners are suspect. And so on ...
Good luck
I try to buy as much as possible organic for both me & the planet, but she makes a good point about where to get the most bang for your buck.
Another tip is that I would question common ideas about what it means to eat healthily. If you're not lactose-intolerant, milk is very nutritious. If you just eat egg whites, you're not getting the nutritious part of the egg. Artificial sweeteners are suspect. And so on ...
Good luck
I'm lucky in that I've always eaten healthily - I've never had to start, because my mother started it for me when I was a baby. I grew up in health food stores, and being the only kid in class whose Easter basket consisted of sesame sticks and Umeboshi (pickled dried plums) 'candy'. We got bracelets for Valentine's instead of chocolate. And were happy and content with it. I remember I was eight years old before I had my first taste of actual real candy, those brightly colored dots on paper. I also had tator tots, heinz ketchup, and froot loops during that sleepover - they were peeling me off the walls, and I wound up throwing up.
When I eat "badly" now, it's something like Ben & Jerry's, or all natural organic faux Doritos, and I think I'm horrible. Most of the grocery items in the stores are completely foreign to me. I eat all foods (except nuts, now that I've become allergic) and think you can eat healthily while eating the right amounts (don't gorge) and kinds (organic or free range) of meat, dairy, eggs, etc.
In my opinion and experience, the healthiest, easiest, "natural" diet is to just eat what is natural. Don't eat anything that doesn't naturally occur in nature. Choose cane sugar over artificial sweeteners. Organic butter over margarine. Free range whole eggs. Lots of green leafy vegetables. Stay away from preservatives, flavor enhancers, hydrogenated (solid at room temperature) oils, food colorings, etc.
If you're used to eating a lot of junky food and preservatives, do not go cold turkey. You will feel very sick, and become discouraged. Start with one meal at a time. And try new recipes and cuisines - one thing I learned from going gluten free is that if you take an old favorite that relied on gluten (or unhealthy stuff) to make it good, you're not going to be happy substituting. A pizza to me is a chewy, crunchy semolina crust with fresh tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella. It's not a sandy, grainy yet soggy rice cracker topped with carrot shreds and tofu. Try some Asian or Mexican dishes - authentic ones, not the Americanized full of sugar and cheese kinds. They can be super flavorful and very healthful, and you won't feel like you're missing out on anything.
When I eat "badly" now, it's something like Ben & Jerry's, or all natural organic faux Doritos, and I think I'm horrible. Most of the grocery items in the stores are completely foreign to me. I eat all foods (except nuts, now that I've become allergic) and think you can eat healthily while eating the right amounts (don't gorge) and kinds (organic or free range) of meat, dairy, eggs, etc.
In my opinion and experience, the healthiest, easiest, "natural" diet is to just eat what is natural. Don't eat anything that doesn't naturally occur in nature. Choose cane sugar over artificial sweeteners. Organic butter over margarine. Free range whole eggs. Lots of green leafy vegetables. Stay away from preservatives, flavor enhancers, hydrogenated (solid at room temperature) oils, food colorings, etc.
If you're used to eating a lot of junky food and preservatives, do not go cold turkey. You will feel very sick, and become discouraged. Start with one meal at a time. And try new recipes and cuisines - one thing I learned from going gluten free is that if you take an old favorite that relied on gluten (or unhealthy stuff) to make it good, you're not going to be happy substituting. A pizza to me is a chewy, crunchy semolina crust with fresh tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella. It's not a sandy, grainy yet soggy rice cracker topped with carrot shreds and tofu. Try some Asian or Mexican dishes - authentic ones, not the Americanized full of sugar and cheese kinds. They can be super flavorful and very healthful, and you won't feel like you're missing out on anything.
Whitelinen
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^ I was raised with healthy food aswell, but I've slipped from that way during this year. Thanks for the tips...
fashionista-ta
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Just wanted to mention, one thing that's really helped me eat better is shopping at better stores that place the emphasis on whole foods. If you go to a store that's 99% processed crap, guess what's going in your refrigerator when you get home? 
^ Or, if you must go to a regular grocery store, concentrate your shopping on the outter rim... fruits and vegetables, dairy, (lean) meats, etc.
This whole eating well thing is easier for some than others. It just takes time and committment. But anybody can do it if they're willing... you just have to have your mind and intentions in the right place, and you'll see and feel results.
This whole eating well thing is easier for some than others. It just takes time and committment. But anybody can do it if they're willing... you just have to have your mind and intentions in the right place, and you'll see and feel results.
misssakura
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WhiteLinen said:
I agree with Erin. You need to start slowly. So for example...you'd say to yourself, "Okay, tomorrow morning i'm going to have a raspberry and banana smoothie with no added sugar" and that's your achievement for the morning. Then maybe the next week you can go "okay i'm going to have a banana smoothie with no added sugar and i'm also not going to have my usual <insert junk food here> today." Maybe just do that a few times a week. Also I find a good way to help introduce healthy foods is to pair them with foods you really like and start whittling away until you're left with only the healthy stuff. Then you don't really notice
I agree that it's best to start slowly.
Two of the worst things to eat are partially hydrogenated oil and high fructose corn syrup (Google them and you will get tons of info).
A way to make this transition easy would be to replace the kind of things you like, but are not so good for you, with better versions. Like, soda has lots of high fructose corn syrup, but if you go to a health food store or a Whole Foods you can get a version made with cane sugar, which isn't nearly as bad for you. Then maybe you can dilute it with carbonated mineral water.
If you like ice cream, there are lots of non-dairy frozen desserts. (I love the mint chocolate Rice Dream cookie sandwiches). If you like burgers, you can get a vegetarian version (and if you don't like the first brand you try, get another, because they aren't all the same).
Two of the worst things to eat are partially hydrogenated oil and high fructose corn syrup (Google them and you will get tons of info).
A way to make this transition easy would be to replace the kind of things you like, but are not so good for you, with better versions. Like, soda has lots of high fructose corn syrup, but if you go to a health food store or a Whole Foods you can get a version made with cane sugar, which isn't nearly as bad for you. Then maybe you can dilute it with carbonated mineral water.
If you like ice cream, there are lots of non-dairy frozen desserts. (I love the mint chocolate Rice Dream cookie sandwiches). If you like burgers, you can get a vegetarian version (and if you don't like the first brand you try, get another, because they aren't all the same).
fashionista-ta
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This is my own perspective, of course, but I'm not sure the transition is all that difficult. I buy ground buffalo (can tell it's grass fed for sure because there's almost no fat) rather than ground beef. Don't miss it. Instead of buying donuts for breakfast, buy whole grain cereal or organic yogurt. Don't buy anything you think won't taste delicious, and if you're wrong, give it to the dog 
You don't have to suffer to eat good food ... far from it ... good food is pleasurable, and before long you won't be able to stomach the thought of the frozen blocks of salty fake crappy food you used to ingest 
You don't have to suffer to eat good food ... far from it ... good food is pleasurable, and before long you won't be able to stomach the thought of the frozen blocks of salty fake crappy food you used to ingest fashionista-ta said:Don't buy anything you think won't taste delicious, and if you're wrong, give it to the dog
I don't like buffalo or frozen Rice Dream products - give me an organic ribeye or Stoneyfield organic caramel ice cream anyday
I generally do ground turkey for ground meat though, and sometimes have a sirloin burger. I do love the Quorn brand fake meat, probably because it doesn't try to taste like meat and seems pretty healthy (some of these vegan options are so processed to taste like meat or dairy that you might as well be going to McDonald's). And I love substituting tempeh for chicken in a pot pie. The switching out of brands is a really good idea. It's slightly more expensive sometimes - people aren't kidding when they call Whole Foods Whole Paycheck - but it's worth it to me, both for taste and costs in the long run. I'm much less likely to develop heart disease or diabetes or certain cancers eating more naturally. And the 365 (Whole Foods) brand is pretty good, and not too expensive. Trader Joe's, if you're lucky enough to have one near you, has very inexpensive, organic, frozen fruits and vegetables, among other things. And they're cheaper for gluten free than just about anywhere else.
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There are millions of articles out there on super foods and what you should be purchasing at the store, BUT, I think this article is pretty comprehensive in that area. Here are some Miracle Foods (note that many that top the list are high in antioxidants), many being available at your regular grocery store
Blueberries:
These amazing berries are on anyone's list of super foods. Recent research shows that they're brain food -- feeding blueberries to rats actually slows their age-related mental decline. Blueberries contain pterostilbene, a plant compound recently shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Their ORAC value (antioxidant rating) is the highest of any fruit.
Guava
Among the super foods of the world, guava is a sleeper. With a taste that's been described as "part strawberry and part pear," one low-calorie cup of this vitamin rich fruit contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber. And in one widely used test of antioxidant power, guava scored only second to blueberries, right behind kale. Guava also contains cancer-fighting lycopene.
Kale
Kale is a member of the brassica family -- vegetable royalty that boasts cabbage and broccoli among its relatives. It's rich in potent cancer-fighting substances called indoles, and loaded with bone-building vitamin K. Kale has the highest antioxidant rating of any vegetable and is ridiculously low in calories. Try it tossed with olive oil, a few dried cranberries and some pine nuts.
Sardines
The best kept secret in the world when it comes to health foods and the secret weapon of travelers looking for a cheap, portable, easily available source of protein. Sardines are rich in omega-3 fats, and one of the least contaminated of any seafood since they rank so low on the food chain. Eat them out of the can or throw them on some salad.
Apples
The juicy red or green apple's reputation for keeping you out of the doctor's office is well deserved. Loaded with pectin (an important fiber), apples are one of the best sources of boron, a little known nutrient that helps support strong and healthy bones. An apple with a glass of water is a great natural appetite suppressant. Highest antioxidant value: Red Delicious.
Coconut Oil
This superb oil has been long neglected as a healthy oil because it contains saturated fat. But not to worry: the saturated fat in coconut is a very healthy kind called MCT (medium chain triglyecerides) which is easily burned by the body for energy. Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, a natural anti-viral and anti-microbal.
Green Tea
A superstar beverage if there ever was one, green tea helps with weight loss and helps fight against cancer. It contains EGCG, a catechin (plant compound) which stimulates metabolism and has anti-cancer properties to boot. Green tea also contains theanine, a natural relaxant which helps explain why the caffeine in green tea doesn't make you nearly as jittery as coffee.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseed oil is one of the only plant sources of omega-3 fats, but the flaxseeds themselves provide the added benefit of fiber along with omega-3. Flaxseeds can be thrown on salads, tossed into smoothies, or sprinkled on vegetables. They also contain lignans, a group of plant nutrients that have been studied by the National Cancer Institute for their cancer preventive properties.
(The entire slideshow/article can be found here: http://health.aol.com/facts_findings...or_good_health)
Blueberries:
These amazing berries are on anyone's list of super foods. Recent research shows that they're brain food -- feeding blueberries to rats actually slows their age-related mental decline. Blueberries contain pterostilbene, a plant compound recently shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. Their ORAC value (antioxidant rating) is the highest of any fruit.
Guava
Among the super foods of the world, guava is a sleeper. With a taste that's been described as "part strawberry and part pear," one low-calorie cup of this vitamin rich fruit contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber. And in one widely used test of antioxidant power, guava scored only second to blueberries, right behind kale. Guava also contains cancer-fighting lycopene.
Kale
Kale is a member of the brassica family -- vegetable royalty that boasts cabbage and broccoli among its relatives. It's rich in potent cancer-fighting substances called indoles, and loaded with bone-building vitamin K. Kale has the highest antioxidant rating of any vegetable and is ridiculously low in calories. Try it tossed with olive oil, a few dried cranberries and some pine nuts.
Sardines
The best kept secret in the world when it comes to health foods and the secret weapon of travelers looking for a cheap, portable, easily available source of protein. Sardines are rich in omega-3 fats, and one of the least contaminated of any seafood since they rank so low on the food chain. Eat them out of the can or throw them on some salad.
Apples
The juicy red or green apple's reputation for keeping you out of the doctor's office is well deserved. Loaded with pectin (an important fiber), apples are one of the best sources of boron, a little known nutrient that helps support strong and healthy bones. An apple with a glass of water is a great natural appetite suppressant. Highest antioxidant value: Red Delicious.
Coconut Oil
This superb oil has been long neglected as a healthy oil because it contains saturated fat. But not to worry: the saturated fat in coconut is a very healthy kind called MCT (medium chain triglyecerides) which is easily burned by the body for energy. Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, a natural anti-viral and anti-microbal.
Green Tea
A superstar beverage if there ever was one, green tea helps with weight loss and helps fight against cancer. It contains EGCG, a catechin (plant compound) which stimulates metabolism and has anti-cancer properties to boot. Green tea also contains theanine, a natural relaxant which helps explain why the caffeine in green tea doesn't make you nearly as jittery as coffee.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseed oil is one of the only plant sources of omega-3 fats, but the flaxseeds themselves provide the added benefit of fiber along with omega-3. Flaxseeds can be thrown on salads, tossed into smoothies, or sprinkled on vegetables. They also contain lignans, a group of plant nutrients that have been studied by the National Cancer Institute for their cancer preventive properties.
(The entire slideshow/article can be found here: http://health.aol.com/facts_findings...or_good_health)
E
em 692
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turkey burgers instead of hamburgers- they aren't much of a sacrafice, either, because they are so good! ...the label should say "ground turkey breast"; just "ground turkey" could be a combination of breast/leg and has 11 grams of fat compared to ground turkey breast with only 1.5 g.
I was on a wheat grass juice kick a few months ago - I found it actually boosted my energy and though I didn't like the flavor (I always had to chase it with cranberry juice) I used it as an intro to healthier eating.
I really should get back to that - I seem to have veered off that path - good this thread has let the scales fall from my eyes
I really should get back to that - I seem to have veered off that path - good this thread has let the scales fall from my eyes
misssakura
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Another way to start eating healthy, pick a health store about 30 minutes away and walk there and back XD
gius
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what people have missed to suggest is this:
you should find the diet that works for you.
take a variety of variety of whole food (meat/protein, veggie/carb...) and see how you feel afterwards. sometimes you will get a feeling right after or during the meal or sometimes 1 hour after
take note of things like feeling hungry shortly after eating
or craving sweets
this means you have eaten the wrong kind of protein or carb
(or it may mean you are just addicted to sweets, if youve had a sweet tooth that is. and that is a different problem)
there are 3 types of people: protein, carbohydrate and mixed
protein of course needs more protein and fat, like from animal products and so on. some protein types will go off the wall if they have something so filled with carbs, like bread or other grains
you get the general idea, hopefully
you should find the diet that works for you.
take a variety of variety of whole food (meat/protein, veggie/carb...) and see how you feel afterwards. sometimes you will get a feeling right after or during the meal or sometimes 1 hour after
take note of things like feeling hungry shortly after eating
or craving sweets
this means you have eaten the wrong kind of protein or carb
(or it may mean you are just addicted to sweets, if youve had a sweet tooth that is. and that is a different problem)
there are 3 types of people: protein, carbohydrate and mixed
protein of course needs more protein and fat, like from animal products and so on. some protein types will go off the wall if they have something so filled with carbs, like bread or other grains
you get the general idea, hopefully
Whitelinen
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I agree, there are differences. But I do not think it is healthy to not eat carbs/protein/fats. All of those should be included in your diet in some form or another, those are the things your body needs in order to stay healthy. I do not think there has been any diet that has shown that a diet which does not include some of these important groups of food is healthy in the long run.
