Eat real food: from soil to mouth

healthy life nutrition practical steps Feb 01, 2022

There are so many diets and eating programs that you could follow. There is so much information out there that you could read and apply to your life, and before you know it, you end up more confused than before you even started. We thought we would simplify this.

Here are some incredibly simple tips to getting healthy and sustaining a healthy lifestyle in yours and your family’s lives.

Think about what health means to you:

Is it to be thin?
Or having enough energy to get through our busy days?
Maybe it is to have no illness in your body?

Define what you see health as, and write it down. Spend time recognising why you are taking a step into a journey towards good health.

Once you have a good understanding of why you are doing something it cuts out a whole lot of other “noise”, which in turn helps you to not get yourself distracted by other fad diets or other people’s experiences.

Stick To Real Food

The real foods we are talking about are the foods that come straight off or out of the ground, a tree or plant or out of the sea, in their natural, unhindered state.

For example, eat a carrot not a processed carrot chip out of a packet in the supermarket.

Here Are Some Ways You Can Define A Whole Food:

A whole food, remains as close to its natural, organic state, as it would be in nature.
They are totally unprocessed and unrefined.
These foods are free from added ingredients such as fat, salt and sugar, flavourings, or any other manufactured ingredients.
They are as natural as possible which means they provide maximum nutritional value.
They are not manufactured and therefore they are not manipulated in any way.
Whole foods are not genetically modified, processed, coloured, made by synthetic means, or laden with hormone additives.
They have a high levels of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants which keep us healthy and feeling good!

Other Benefits Of Whole Foods Include:

Having a higher nutritional content, whole foods are richer in vitamins, minerals, good fats and antioxidants as opposed to processed foods.
Whole foods are a rich source of essential fibre. Whole foods provide dietary fibre which prevents constipation and is thought to help prevent diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
They help promote and maintain a healthy weight compared to a diet high in processed foods. (I have never seen anyone overeat broccoli or spinach!)
Compared to taking supplements, eating whole foods is the best way for the body to absorb essential nutrients and align with great health.
Whole foods are complex so contain a rich variety of the micronutrients your body needs rather than just a single nutrient.

Anything with more than a few ingredients should be avoided, and ideally, single ingredient foods would be our goal. This includes eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains & legumes, natural sweeteners, full-fat dairy and healthy, lean meats that are minimally processed.

Here’s a list of whole foods for you to try:

If you’re looking for recipes with whole foods, to inspire you, Subscribe to our youtube channel and keep an eye out for our up and coming ideas, recipe and tips.

Vegetables (Fresh or Frozen)

Artichokes
Asparagus
Avocados (technically a fruit)
Beets
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Garlic
Green beans
Greens such as spinach, chard, collard or kale
Leeks
Mushrooms
Onions
Parsnips
Radishes
Shallots
Squash of all kinds
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips

Fruits (fresh or frozen with no added sugar)

Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Grapefruits
Grapes
Kiwi
Lemons
Mangoes
Nectarines
Oranges
Peaches
Pineapple
Plums
Pomegranates
Raspberries
Star fruit
Strawberries
Watermelon

Lean Meats (buy organic when you can)

Fish of all kinds
Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
Whole chicken (more cost effective)
Turkey
Mince
Venison (in place of beef)
Eggs

Beans And Legumes (dry or canned)

Adzuki beans
Black beans
Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
Kidney beans
Lentils (all types)
Navy beans
Pinto beans
Split peas
White beans

Whole Grains

Brown rice
Buckwheat
Bulgur
Quinoa (technically a seed, but treated as a grain)
Rye
Spelt
Steel cut oatmeal
Wild rice

Canned Or Jarred Items

Coconut milk
Olives
Sun-dried tomatoes
Tomato sauce/paste (no sugar added and little to no added sodium)
Tuna packed in water
Vegetable or chicken stock/broth (no sugar or dextrose added, and little to no added sodium)

Dried Fruits And Nuts (raw nuts not roasted and salted)

Almonds
Pistachios
Walnuts
Cashews
Brazils
Macadamia
Goji berries
Coconut
Seeds
Nut Butters (with no added oils are sweeteners)

Condiments And Spices

Balsamic vinegar
Herbs and spices of all varieties (not the spice mixes like taco seasoning, just the pure herbs.)
Mustard with no added sugar
Greek yogurt in place of sour cream or mayo
Extra virgin olive oil
Unsweetened cacao powder