So if you are what you eat, are those who enjoy pork a pig? I know a few people who I could swear they must eat donkey because they are just that sweet 
Sorry – it was just right there!
A healthy lifestyle involves many choices. Today in our second week of “wellness for 2010″ we will be looking at our food choices! Party on, right? It may not make you want to jiggy – but it can be a change that you feel great about! Choosing a diet consisting of moderation, balance and variety is key in our quest to obtaining a healthy lifestyle.
In order for most of us to achieve this balance successfully, we must plan for it. This change towards healthier food choices should be done one small step at a time in order to avoid the pitfall that comes with too much too soon. “Begin to remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits” (realtime). One of the biggest reasons that people fail at “fad diets” is that it is so drastic a change that they feel as though they are depriving themselves. Conversely, when one chooses to approach wellness (in any area) as a series of small changes – their chance at success is greatly increased.
Here are some tips for a healthy you!
1. Fresh organic fruits and veggies! Fresh fruits are naturally sweet and can help satisfy your sweet tooth cravings. Both offer many nutritional benefits.
2. Avoid sugar and processed foods containing sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, opting for natural raw honey instead.
3. Avoid processed meats which are high in sodium and saturated fats and contain nitrates which have been linked to disease.
4. Cook like grandma did! Make your foods from scratch using whole, natural ingredients while eliminating packaged foods that are unhealthy for your body and the environment.
5. Choose whole grains! Focus on eliminating/reducing your intake of white foods including white flour, white sugar, white rice, white pasta (enriched) and go for the nutrient-rich brown foods instead. Some healthy choices include brown rice, Kamut, quinoa, oats, buckwheat and barley.
6. Minimize red meat! By reducing your intake of red meat and replacing it with either lean white meats or meatless meals, you will improve your health greatly – especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.
7. Choose high fiber foods such as artichoke, peas, whole wheat, beans and lentils to name a few. “Fiber — along with adequate fluid intake — moves quickly and relatively easily through your digestive tract and helps it function properly. A high-fiber diet may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes” The Mayo Clinic. This link also has a great list of the fiber content of some common foods.
8. Probiotics! “Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system” according to Web M.D., who also has a thorough article on the benefits of probiotics for our health. “They help protect against illness and are essential for life. Approximately eighty percent of our immune system originates in the gut and without the trillions of beneficial bacteria in our guts we could not survive! Vidazorb Chewable Probiotics (this is the brand that our family loves).
9. Supplements: There is an ongoing debate on whether or not supplements actually help or hinder us. It is wise to check with you doctor on whether or not he/she advises you to include these in your diet. Vitamins and minerals are essential to optimal wellness and are naturally occurring in all kinds of fruits and veggies.
10. Enjoy! Have fun creating new recipes and meals! Mix things up and feel great knowing that you are making your body very happy and healthy 
Great post! My most recent discovery is now a staple in the grocery cart: Safeway’s Organics line, Brown Basmatti. YUM! Great texture, great taste (but not as aromatic as white basmatti) Hope you have it available to you in the US too.
Oooh – must investigate!! That sounds delish and I am always looking for more ways to cook all of the healthy goodies like that!! Thanks for the suggestion girl
great one SGM – what’s Kamut?
Thanks Katie! So glad to see you here again
Kamut Khorasan wheat is an ancient grain that is higher in protein and minerals than modern wheat and because of it’s unique properties, it has been shown to be a very healthy substitute for people who have a wheat sensitivities. It is great for anyone though since it is so good for our bodies! Let me know if you try it!!! You can find it at http://www.kamut.com/en/index.html
I love this post. And … as it turns out … many of the suggestions you offer are also better for the planet. It’s a total win-win situation!
By the way … this post seems to go hand-in-hand with Reduce Footprint’s Change The World Wednesday challenge this week.
Have a great weekend!
Hi friend! You’re so right! It is a win-win!!! Thanks for the sweet compliment
Thanks for the info, they have some really nice recipes I’m going to try it. I have RA and wheat can trigger inflammation, but maybe this wont – I’ll let you know
You are welcome! I hope it helps you!
Yes.
Howdy, I just wanted to let you know I have subscribed to your RSS feeds because of your astounding website layout
. But on the real, I feel your blog has one of the cleanest set up I have ever seen. It really makes your blog post easier to read. Well I’m working right now at goji berry I’ll be back when I free up some time.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!