Health Food Beginner

[justanothersteph]

Hi there. I'm brand new to eating healthy. Well, that's not entirely true. I love to eat healthy foods and I've been doing my best but it's hard to have variety sometimes if you don't want something like.. fruit. . So, recently a light bulb went off in my head and I got really excited. I forgot all about the health food store!!! I'm really excited to go in there and dive right in to a world of organic/natural foods. Where do I start, though? It's so overwhelming and eventually I'd like to eat mainly organic and natural foods but that seems like too much of a drastic change (overnight). What I would like advice on is what are some core/essential foods I could pop into my diet(food plan, not necessarily a diet) that would be good things to eat during the day and start the ball rolling on my eventual change over to the "Natural side" of life. Should I start with a snack or should I do something like a full meal like breakfast everyday to get things moving. I'm new to this and I've noticed that I really stick to patterns only if they are gradually introduced so I'm not looking to go ALL out before I don't know much of anything. Thanks for helping me out and taking time to read my long winded question/explanation.

 

[devon_jay]

whole grains, raw nuts/seeds, lean meat, fruits and veggies, low fat dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese), extra virgin olive oil...
avoid: added sugars, white flour, saturated fats/transfats (mainly packaged anything= not so good for you)

Get your groceries from the areas on the perimetre of the grocery store, not the aisles...

That should be a good start for you! congrats on choosing to eat and live well.

 

[kateelle]

I know most people recommend yogurt, but dairy is just not healthy despite its persistent marketing. (same with soy products, research unbiased reports about the toxins in soy) It’s pumped with antibiotics, testosterone, steroids, and pesticides. They artificially impregnate the cow to produce the milk and honestly, it just isn’t healthy. When I was in my super health phase (I’m still eating healthier than most people, but I do eat relative junk food with my healthy food options, don't like the idea of depriving myself since it was never a diet to lose weight to begin with) the foods that have superior health factors are: apple cider vinegar, flaxseed oil, fish oil, grass wheat juice, dark berries, wild salmon, 100% cocoa…forget the rest. I probably have a list someone where. oh, and no splenda!

 

[Erin]

Some of the most important things to focus on are fresh fruits and vegetables. As far as organic there, some of those items do not need to be organic... such as bananas... there really isn't much of a difference...

The thing about the health food store is that a lot of the foods there still have many calories.

I think the trick to eating healthfuly is eating the most basic things... 100% whole wheat bread (ALWAYS check the ingredients first - and a good rule of thumb is eat products with 2g+ of fiber per 90 calories), lean meats, a variety of colored veggies and fruits... but that's just the start... once you start doing those things, you'll discover new ways to enjoy healthy eating.

 

[tott]

Well...

A healthy diet should ideally be made up of foods that are as natural and pure as possible; no refined products of any kind. That means no white sugar, flour, rice, etc. Some healthy things you could eat are wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, fish, seafood, a bit of pure fats like virgin olive oil or even pure butter... Milk, meat and poultry are also fine if they come from a reliable source. Avoid processed mystery meats...

It can be a challenge to change your diet, because we all have our habits... I say anyone trying to change should start slow. Slowly replace things like white pasta with wholegrain, stop eating sugary or "sugarfree" sweet youghurts and switch to plain youghurt with fresh fruits and berries instead, avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague...

The first thing you should do is really to try to avoid sugars/sweeteners, basically. Period. And it's not that easy, because sugar can be found in all sorts of fast food, where you least expect it... I'm not saying you need to skip sugar for the rest of your life, but you should treat it like a "spice" and not a main staple of your diet...

 

[misssakura]

I like keeping frozen fruit in my freezer and just shoving it into the blender every morning for breakfast. You don't have to add any sugar at all most of the time which is great. I think that's a health food...

I also like homemade soups with fresh organic vegetables, just made the base and leave it to slow cook for 5-6 hours.

Health food to me just means naturally grown crops/meat without modification. Any sort of processed food isn't really a health food, you can probably make a nice brown roll without too many additives yourself, or maybe even find one in the store but ultimately as tott said it's about finding pure ingedients.

 

[J'aime_la_mode]

^I second the fruit smoothies!! They are so delicious and so good for you. I use bananas to sweeten them.

What works for me is to substitute things you crave and enjoy that are junk foods for the healthy option. It takes some etting used to but once you make it a habit, you'll begin to crave the healthier version. For example when you want ice cream substitute it for a fruit-smoothie. It has the same texture and it should satisfy your craving. When you want pizza, make it with organic pre-made pizza crust (I buy mine from the health food store) with veggies, herbs, a small amunt of cheese and sauce. It can be overwhelming at first so ease into it. Substitute healthier options in slowly and always be aware of the ingrediants of what you are eating. If you can't pronounce the ingrediant it's probably not a great choice.

Also, some people think eating healthy costs so much more. But in reality it's not that bad. Some of the healthiest foods are the cheapest like oatmeal, in season fruits and veggies, etc. Most foods you can buy in a regular grocery store. I just use the health food store for special treats because it tends to be more expensive and allows for less flexibility.

 

[em 692]

whole grains, definately. but don't be fooled if a bread package says "wheat bread"...all bread is made from wheat, really make sure it says "whole wheat" or "whole grain"

and V8 juice really is good for you...

...and props for wanting to be healthy B)

 

[justanothersteph]

You guys are amazing. Thank you so much. I'm eager to learn more but this is a great start!!! I can't wait to stroll into the natural food store and be like, "Yeah uh, I know exactly what I want, thank you very much!" You are all so amazing thanks SO much for taking time to point me in the right direction! What keeps y'all satisfyed longer after eating it? I'm interested in what you eat everyday in your normal lives, not just breakfast smoothies and drinks (ps- isn't v8 amazingly high in sodium?). You guys who are actually working away and living healtier and organic based lives fascinate me. I want to know how you do it in todays society, it's hard! You pump me up and give me tremendous motivation. I guess I have to take a lot of time reading labels at first but it should get easier from there after I know what I'm doing. How long have you been doing this? You are all so great. thanks for writing back!!!

 

[Trista]

It's hard for anybody, the nice thing is that my dad works at PCC which if you are familiar with it or the Seattle area, you'll know that it's a natural foods co-op with pretty stringent requirements on what is sold there. For fruits and such, it's easier than ever to buy organic and I find that the taste is a lot better. For my tomatoes, I do not buy them, I will only eat tomatoes that have been grown in my own backyard. As far as foods, it is difficult at times, especially working at a mall where you don't necessarily have storage for organic foods so you're stuck with the Food Court. Sometimes for dinner I will have a butternut squash soup, and it's easy to make and heat up after a long day on my feet at work. Other times I will make burritos-and while it's not the best natural thing I use some lard-free tortillas, vegetarian refried beans, light cheddar cheese, onion, green onion, and Gimme Lean. Gimme Lean is a soy-based substitute for ground beef in many foods and it's good. Amy's does good stuff, too. There's a lot that is meatless and convenient. Now if you are wanting to go natural but not necessarily vegetarian, look at free-range eggs, chicken, beef, etc. that has been grain-fed or vegetarian-fed. Those typically tend to be more expensive, but better for you. Also when looking at seafood never look at farmed.

 

[em 692]

justanothersteph, i just checked the bottle of v8, and it has only 3% sodium. ...this kind is called "vfusion", though, it tastes more like hawaiin punch but is still healthy and still counts as a serving of fruit/veggies...

oh, and to stress the organic craze...i just watched a video in one of my classes today talking about the high levels of pesticides put into fruits and vegetabless (at least in the U.S.) ...i think we all knew that already, but just to stress it

 

[Erin]

^ Now, if only most organic fruits and veggies didn't cost an arm and a leg. That's the only deterrent for me sometimes.

 

[misssakura]

Buying organic from supermarkets is more expensive than buying direct. Back home in Reading (berkshire, UK) there are loads of organic farmer's markets. You go around with some tupperware and load them up then get a bulk quote, so you go home with a whole box of fruit and veg for a tenner. It's awesome, sadly Auckland doesn't have that luxury but still...

 

[J'aime_la_mode]

What keeps y'all satisfyed longer after eating it? I'm interested in what you eat everyday in your normal lives, not just breakfast smoothies and drinks (ps- isn't v8 amazingly high in sodium?). You guys who are actually working away and living healtier and organic based lives fascinate me. I want to know how you do it in todays society, it's hard!

I got into eating healthy naturally because I became a vegetarian at a very young age and I had to learn very early how to balance my diet. I just became extremely aware of how the foods I eat/buy affect myself and the world. I find it really isn't as hard as one might think in today's society. When dining out, organic is hard to find but settling for the next best thing on the menu. Salad bars are amazing and they can fill you up when you pile the beans etc on. In fact I love them so much, I keep all the ingrediants in my fridge at all times so salad-making is quick and easy. I make a meal out of salads and will pile everything from apples to pieces of veggie burgers on them. I use olive oil and vinegar for dressing and keep them in bottles on my counter. Herbal tea (without sugar) is a favorite but I also still drink coffee (a lot) although I try to buy it "free trade". Brown rice, whole wheat/artichoke pasta, certain organic cereals, whole wheat breads, potatoes are all great options for carbs. I think the key to eating healthy is creativity, flexibility and willingness to try new things. Looking to other cultures for ideas on their healthy foods is another way I get ideas.

 

[Anastasia]

Lots of good advice here - I just wanted to add avoid anything containing corn syrup, high fructose or not. That stuff is poison. And any artificial sweeteners, including Splenda. Limited amounts of actual cane sugar are better for you that that garbage. Try molassas, honey, or stevia instead.

A lot of the "natural" butter substitutes contain trans or hydrogenated fats, so read labels carefully. You'd be surprised at how many unhealthy things make their way into the health food stores.

You know what's really, really good and healthy? Ezekiel Bread (they sell it in the freezer section, in an orange bag) - it's "sprouted" whole grain bread. Back when I could eat gluten, I'd toast it and top it with avacado slices and pomegrante seeds.

 

[Hipkitten]

I would recommend an all-natural, no preservative diet. Mr. Hipkitten and I have been on such a diet for over a year now and we've never felt better! First things first, though: Learn to read food labels! In addition to what others have said, I suggest buying local organic produce (and other locally grown/produced items). Also, only eat produce that is "in season" - better quality and it's better for the environment. Best of luck! You've made a great decision

 

[thunkani]

Someone listed Apple Cider vinegar, but what are you supposed to do with that stuff? Drink it?
Thanks!

 

[adi]

lots of people here are saying "learn to read food labels", but i'm still very clueless of what i should be looking from them.. how should i read them? what are the things that i should avoid in what amounts? if someone could give a plain example to get me started here

also about yogurt. i've been eating lots of "fat-free" yogurt that consists 0,1 % fat, but i'm aware that yogurts are still so called sugar-bombs. so what kind of yogurt would be good? just natural with some added fruits from our freezer?

 

[Hipkitten]

lots of people here are saying "learn to read food labels", but i'm still very clueless of what i should be looking from them.. how should i read them? what are the things that i should avoid in what amounts? if someone could give a plain example to get me started here

also about yogurt. i've been eating lots of "fat-free" yogurt that consists 0,1 % fat, but i'm aware that yogurts are still so called sugar-bombs. so what kind of yogurt would be good? just natural with some added fruits from our freezer?

When I look at food labels I'm looking for artificial ingredients, preservatives, corn syrup, fat grams, and calories. Artificial ingredients, preservatives, and corn syrup can be tricky - some natural ingredients sound unnatural for instance, and corn syrup/sugars go by many names. The best thing you can do is start looking at labels. If you're unsure of an ingredient, look it up. Before you know it you'll be able to separate the good from the bad.

As for yogurt, I would choose an all-natural fat free yogurt. Cascade Fresh is a personal favorite.

 

[adi]

^ thanks hipkitten that helped me a lot. karma!