Eat Your Veggies - Feel Great!
Most of us are concerned with our health. We hear all the time that we are one of unhealthiest, if not the unhealthiest nation. I have been reading article after article about health and wellness and it ALL comes down to what we eat and how active we are. Most of us know that eating fresh fruits and vegetables and perhaps even meat on occasion is healthy, yet we do not take action. We continue to put it off. ”When this package of cookies is gone I will begin eating healthy,” is the all too common procrastination.
The TV blasts us with ideas of what to eat and what to buy, how to think and what others think of us, among many other things. Do you ever see commercials for kale, berry or watermelon farmers? Never. Dripping fast food; fun fruit rollups; ice cold and refreshing soft drinks. I sympathize - how can you not be tempted? Removing the temptation has to be number one. Turn off the TV.
Secondly, you must have a plan. The grocery store is a well-thought-out maze, like the ones used in experiments on mice. You are strategically moved throughout the store, up one aisle and down the next, filling your cart with all of the brightly colored boxes and seemingly harmless junk that is going pollute your body and our landfills.
It is difficult at first to get control, I admit. And once you have control you can outsmart it. Make a grocery list and stick to it. When cinnamon rolls are not on the list, you have no reason to go down that aisle. There is no reason to go down every aisle in the market. Discuss this with your family. “Look, we need to make some changes and having potato chips and ice cream in the house doesn’t work for us. Let’s work together to keep these two items out of the shopping cart.”
I shop at stores like Target for my household goods. They offer eco-friendly cleaning and paper supplies, etc. Then, when I go to the grocery store I only go to the produce department and nowhere else. If I am not looking for window cleaner, I do not have to go down any other aisle to be tempted to purchase other available items from toothpaste to donuts. As far as I am concerned, nothing in that store exists except for lettuce, apples, broccoli, and an occasional Lara Bar. And please do not be fooled by such “foods” as organic macaroni and cheese. It is still over processed, unhealthy, macaroni and cheese.
Head to the farmers market in Old Town on Saturday and pick up lovely, local, fresh, organic (when available) fruits and vegetables. Meet the grower, ask questions. “Are these nectarines sweet? Is your lettuce organic? Get connected with the source of your food. Bring it home, clean it up and put it away. Go through and give or throw away foods from your cupboards that you no longer want to eat. Start new. Start now.
Here is a surprisingly satisfying and simple ice cream substitute. Blend up 2 peeled and frozen bananas with 1 cup (or more) frozen blueberries for a real treat. Snacking can be a tough habit to give up so leave a bowl of raw almonds and raisins on the table. They will disappear faster than you can say potato chips.
Three weeks of fresh fruits and vegetables and you will experience health and wellness. Toss in moderate exercise at least four days a week for energy and peace. You are on your way to regaining and maintaining health, beauty, and excitement for a life you want and deserve.
Angelena Bosco is a certified raw food chef and author of Fall In Love With Feeling Good. Angelena can be reached at 760-809-6668 or visit www.SimplyRawInspiration.com