It’s hard to believe that July 4th has passed us by already and we are in full swing for summer. I don’t know about you, but I did not do so well with my eating over the holidays. We took a few days away and I ate way more than I usually do and indulged in a few delicious, but calorie and sweet-loaded foods! So this week, I am back on the healthy lifestyle track, and I hope you are too.
In the past, I would have had a very hard time getting back on track. Those were the days when I was in that “diet mentality” mode. It was from years of yo-yo dieting and chasing every fad diet out there. I was a lifetime member of a famous organization, and all I can tell you is that by chasing these promises of fantastic results, only led me down a rabbit hole. Do you know what I mean? I would lose the weight on some of these things, but mostly, when it was all said and done, I would find that before long, I was back into my old eating habits, and the weight came back on …. and over time, even more pounds joined with those on my stomach!!
I have learned so much since attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and becoming a health/life coach. To me, being on a healthy lifestyle journey is so much easier than living in that “diet mentality.” The added bonus is that I get to eat healthier, more delicious foods than before and still allow myself the luxury of treating myself.
So in this blog, I want to share a little about healthy foods you should eat every day.
While the term ‘healthy’ for food is a little subjective, based on food preferences and dietary restrictions, there are some foods that are ideal as long as you are able to eat them, and these foods are not a potential food allergy for you. These foods are among the healthiest foods you can put in your body and foods which are recommended on a daily basis.
Spinach
Eat your leafy greens! It took me a while to acquire the taste for spinach, but now I love it. Spinach is one of the healthiest greens you can eat and goes great with many types of meals. It doesn’t have a strong flavor, so most people enjoy this green. It goes great in salads, breakfast scrambles, and omelets, pasta, and so many other foods. Try to add more spinach and other leafy greens to your daily diet in order to get more vitamins and minerals — including folate and omega-3s.
Oh, and if you aren’t a fan of spinach, try other dark leafy greens like collard greens, romaine, or kale.
Nuts
Unless you have a nut allergy, these should definitely be on your list! Nuts are a wonderful source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They increase your fiber when you don’t get a lot of it from fruits and whole grains, plus are a source of plant-based protein if you are a vegetarian or vegan. If you are sensitive to peanuts, which is actually a legume, go for healthy nuts like brazil nuts, walnuts, almonds, and pecans. There are so many to choose from.
Berries
When it comes to fruit, it doesn’t get much better than berries. You will get lots of healthy antioxidants by eating more berries like blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. These fruits are delicious and sweet but don’t have as much sugar and carbs as other fruits. You can get a nice boost to your heart health, and have a healthy snack without a lot of added calories.
Avocado
For more healthy fats in your diet, add some avocado. This will increase your fats and calories, which are needed for a well-balanced diet. Avocado is great in a green smoothie in the morning, on toast, diced up as a side dish, or in a salad. It is very versatile. You can also use it as a healthy dip for whole grain crackers or raw veggies.
Yogurt
Lastly, if you can handle dairy, yogurt is great to have every day. This will help to provide probiotics, calcium, and many vitamins and minerals your body needs to grow healthy and strong. If you have a food sensitivity to yogurt, you can try the Almond Silk alternative. However, one thing that I would urge you to do, is to always choose the full-fat version. This has all the nutrients, fiber, protein, etc. that you need; whereas, low-fat/no-fat has been stripped of its nutritional value, and then is chemically altered to make it sweeter and tastier. My personal favorite is Stoneyfield’s Whole Milk Greek Yogurt.
P.S. Are you confused by all the information on the internet? Would you love a clearer pathway to your healthy lifestyle so you can lose weight through midlife, be energized and feel fulfilled/ I would love to talk to you. Schedule your free call here!
Green Spinach Salad with Eggs and Honey Mustard Dressing
Ingredients
- 4 cups spinach chopped
- 1 cucumber chopped
- 5 radishes chopped
- 2 scallions chopped
- 1 cup sprouts
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
Salad Dressing
- 2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp. honey raw, local
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- Sea salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add spinach, cucumber, radishes, scallions, sprouts, and boiled eggs to a large salad bowl.
Salad Dressing
- In a separate small bowl, mix mustard, honey, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Mix with a fork and pour over your salad before serving.
Yummie