The Whole Story

Sometimes when I go into a bookstore or a place like Whole Foods, I see an overabundance of books relating to diets. Which diet is best for you? Is it best to follow the Paleo diet or maybe just cut carbs out of your life? Should you follow Atkins-style eating plans (many people still do!) or go completely vegan? What are we to do to lose weight and be our healthiest?

Well, I am here to tell you that I am certainly no nutritionist or expert on the matter by any means. But here's what I do know...

Whole foods make a difference.

What do I mean by whole foods? I'm talking about foods that are in or closest to their most natural state. Foods the way nature intended them to be. Fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts, grains.

I think we need to get away from just following one particular regimen. If we focus on filling the majority of our diet with these whole foods, our bodies will certainly thank us for it. Our bodies are meant to eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies, and when we make up to 80 or 90 percent of our meals from these wonderful foods we will feel and look healthy, happy and vibrant! Like I said, I haven't done any specific research on this topic. However, I do know that when I am personally eating like this (and taking care of myself in other ways) I feel fabulous. My immune system is functioning great and I have abundant amounts of energy. For the past two months, I've really been focusing on eating this way and it has become a treat to have some pineapple for "dessert" after a good meal. It's amazing how, when you consistently eat whole foods, your taste buds change. In the past if I've consumed more than enough sugary foods, I crave more sugary foods. When we sit down in the evening to watch TV or work on the computer, I used to make repeated trips to the kitchen to snack on either salty or sugary stuff. But as my taste buds and my body have changed I don't feel that way any more. My "sugary snack" might be a bowl of grapes or an apple. And I feel great that I haven't given in to the temptation of a snack that's just going to make me crash afterward. I'm not saying I never eat desserts or sugary things anymore. I enjoyed the most fabulous pumpkin pie mini indulgence from Seasons 52 the other night! I'm just saying I don't crave it as much anymore.

Including more whole foods in your diet is not the only important step to take toward great health. Getting rid of all the processed foods that surround us is just as important. I was looking at some ingredient lists at the grocery store today and the amount of crap that is in some of the foods we consume is unbelievable! Perhaps you've heard this before, but when you shop, focus on the outside aisles of the grocery store. Focus on fruits and vegetables and if you are lucky enough to have a store with a bulk section, stock up. This is a great place to get a stash of nuts and seeds, dried beans, oats and other healthy grains.

The most important thing to do is think. I'm not saying we have to eat perfectly. Perfect is boring! Just focus on having more whole foods than processed foods in your diet and see the difference it makes.

(In my next several posts, I will talk about some recipe books I love that can help you integrate these whole foods into nourishing and delicious meals for your whole family! Of course, my cookbooks will focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes but a lot of times you can add some lean meat or fish to the recipes if you choose.)