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
