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Thursday, September 1, 2016

Healthy Staple Foods

Healthy Staple Foods

"It's not a short term diet, it's a long term lifestyle change"



Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite go-to foods that help me stay on track with eating healthy.  I’ve learned over the years that if I keep my fridge and pantry stocked with nutritious foods, I’m more likely to stay faithful to my diet.  We’re all busy, so keeping healthy staple foods that are easy to prepare is the one of the best things you can do for successful weight loss or weight management. 


The most important thing you can do to clean up your diet is to starting reading the labels on the back of everything you buy.  The more natural the food is, the better.  If you can’t pronounce it, don't buy it!
Always remember that balance is key.  Making small changes is the only way to get lasting results.  Start off slow and by that I mean start cutting out one “bad” food at a time.  If you cut everything out at once, you’ll feel deprived and revert back to old habits quickly. Below you'll find a list of different healthy foods to start incorporating into your diet.

Healthy Starts Right Here! 

Breads: 
          Ezekiel Bread- Found in the freezer section.  This is the only bread I buy now.  It’s clean, natural, and organic.  Not to mention, chemical free, easy to digest, has protein, lots of vitamins, is kosher, Non GMO, no refined sugars, no preservatives, no shortenings, and full of fiber.  It’s absolutely delicious! They also offer buns, cereals, muffins, tortillas, waffles, and more! 

Grains: 
White Flour is stripped of all nutrients which makes it an empty source of calories.  That’s not what we want! Here are a few nutrient rich grains to add to your diet! 

          Quinoa- all kinds.  Quinoa is superfood that is PACKED with nutrients 
          Brown Rice 
          Wild Rice 
          Quinoa Pasta 


Flours: 
          Coconut Flour (Naturally Gluten-Free)
          Almond Flour (Naturally Gluten-Free and Low in Carb)

Dairy & Non Dairy: 

          Almond Milk Yogurt (Non-Dairy)
          Coconut Milk Yogurt (Non-Dairy)
          Greek Yogurt  
          Unsweetened Almond Milk (Non-Dairy)
          Unsweetened Coconut Milk (Non-Dairy)
          Unsweetened Soy Milk (Make sure it’s Non-GMO) 

Fruits: 
          Apples 
          Oranges 
          Grapefruits 
          All Berries 
          Bananas 
          Avocados 
          Pineapple 
          Any fresh fruit you like 

Veggies:
          Kale 
          Spinach
          Broccoli 
          Celery 
          Tomatoes 
          Eggplant 
          Squash 
          Carrots 
          Celery 
          Bell Peppers 
          Zucchini 
          Sweet Potatoes 
          Onions 
          Green Beans 
          Any Fresh Veggies you like 

Meats: 
When purchasing any kind of meat, always opt for organic or grass fed. Also, try and purchase the leanest meat possible.  If you buying lunch meat of any kind, look for nitrate-free! 

          Lean Ground Turkey 
          Chicken Breasts 
          Salmon, Tilapia, or other fish 
          Lean Ground Beef 

Eggs: 
                      Always purchase cage free.  


Beans and Legumes: 
If you are trying to eat healthy on a budget, beans are an excellent source of protein (especially if you are vegetarian or vegan) 

          Beans: Explore different kinds of beans.  Black, Pinto, Red Kidney, Red, Soybean, and More! 
          Legumes: You can make so many great meals with legumes.  They are excellent! 


Other Grocery Store Items: 

          Oatmeal: Always buy plain steel cut oats. Nothing flavored due to the chemicals and sugar that they put in flavored oats.  
          Tea:  Any natural, organic, unsweetened tea is great! 
          Dry Beans and Legumes 
          Nuts: Always try and buy nuts that are organic.  Nuts are a fantastic snack filled with a ton of nutrients but you have to make sure you read the labels.  A lot of nuts that are sold in stores are loaded with sodium and sugar.  
          Bars:  I used to be a protein bar junkie.  Make sure you read the labels on the back of your protein or snack bars.  Most of them are filled with a lot of junk.  My personal favorite brand of health bars are Laura Bars… they are delicious, have minimal ingredients, and are very healthy and clean! 
          Condiments:  Most condiments are also loaded with a ton of junk that could be slowing down your weight loss.  When you can, avoid condiments or try and make your own using all natural fruits, veggies, and herbs.  If you have to purchase condiments from the store, look for the organic condiments with minimal ingredients and no added sugar.  
          Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
          Walnut Oil 
          Coconut Oil 

Sweeteners: 
Processed Sugar is the easiest way to pack on the pounds.  Here are few natural alternatives to sweeten things up. 

          Coconut Nectar
          Honey 
          Maple Syrup 

   •       Agave 




Eating healthy isn't always easy,  but keeping a few of things on hand or in your home will help keep you on track when hunger or cravings strike. Remember that when you're hungry, your body wants nutrients, not junk! 


I hope you enjoyed this blog! 
xoxo, 
Ash 







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