Over the last month, I have had numerous people ask me to explain what foods they should be eating to support wellness. Keep in mind, I am not a nutritionist, nor am I a doctor, however, my research and reading has led me to the following simple conclusion…eat foods in their unprocessed state as often as possible and avoid packaged food with ingredients you can’t read

This means avoid most processed foods and prepare your own food more often. Make salads from raw ingredients. The greener the leaf the more nutrients it has …is a good rule of thumb. Swiss chard and kale for example have much more nutrients than iceberg lettuce. The real trick is liking this kind of food. How do you prepare it so that you can eat it and enjoy it? Here are a few tricks. Tear off the leaves of Swiss chard and Kale from the rubbery steam and cut them in small l inch pieces. Rub the leaves with an avocado or a small amount of olive oil. This softens the leaves and makes it easier to eat in its raw state. (Check out my Swiss chard salad recipe posted to Hannah's Living Green Blog).

Try to mainly eat vegetables and fruits that are grown organically. This does not mean you can skip them if you don’t find them organic. Simply wash well and remember to peel off the skin of apples and other fruits and vegetables that may have been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides.

Be like a squirrel…eat raw nuts and seeds. These treats are loaded with healthy fats and protein that make them a good choice for a snack or to add flavor to a meal. I have recently discovered how much I like raw hemp seeds on salads.

Eat lean means in moderation. Your body does not need to eat meat at every meal. Buy meat that have been humanely treated and allowed to roam (free range). Beef should be grass fed. Chicken should be organic and free range as well. This kind of meat cost more but is much higher quality and better for your health. Buy the good stuff and eat less . The cost will even out in the end. An even better option is buying wild caught salmon.

As far as avoiding certain foods or ingredients…here is a short list of the bad guys.

hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (better know as trans fats)

high fructose corn syrup (found in almost everything including sodas, crackers, cookies, ice cream, etc

artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives (found in most packaged food especially ones packaged for kids)

white processed sugar

white processed flour

Where does this leave you…buying most of your groceries from a health food store. Stores like Whole Foods find crackers, cookies, chips, ice cream, etc. from alternative manufactures who do not use these ingredients in their products.This means you can shop without reading labels for the most part. Surprisingly, the healthier alternative foods bought at the health food stores taste nearly the same now a days. I was shocked to discover that Newman O’s taste nearly the same as Oreo cookies without the trans fats and artificial flavors.

The secret is to change out one food at a time. Giving up all your chemical ridden, toxic treats you love at once will only make you race to the nearby Seven Eleven for a blue slushy and big bag of fiery red Doritos. Start by changing out your milk to organic. Then choose a whole grain bread switching out your white processed bread. These small changes add up to make a big difference for better health and wellness for you and your family.

I would love to hear your eating for wellness ideas and comments. As always…if you have any health concerns, please consult your doctor for advice.

Hannah