Eat real food and good nutrition just happens naturally. Do you agree? That good nutrition can be that simple? Or are you feeling overwhelmed? Well, I’m here to tell you that it can be “made simple”. That’s why I chose Nutrition Made Simple as the name for my wellness coaching business. (Note: As of October 2018, I’m no longer practicing as a wellness coach.)
Every where you read (look), there are articles (and news stories) telling you how to eat properly. Or, to try this diet or perhaps you should skip this list of foods. I’m here to tell you that it can be a simple subject. I admit that at one time (actually for quite a long time) I too was one trying all the diets to see which one fit me best. I researched the properties of food to no end. It was exhausting! I was frustrated. Perhaps this has been your experience too.
Well I’ve made it past all those difficulties. So, don’t worry. It can become simple for you too.
Listen to this: The only reason that nutrition has become such a difficult subject is that foods have been (and continue to be) introduced that don’t qualify as real foods.
Here is a sample list of foods that don’t qualify as real foods:
- Margarine and hydrogenated oils
- Boxed cereals, chips, pastries (loaded with preservatives, sugar and unhealthy oils)
- Soft drinks and soda (contain addictive preservatives and chemicals)
- Microwave “ready to eat” meals (such as pizza and even many “diet” offerings)
- Cured meat products (with added preservatives)
- Packaged breads, biscuits (with added dough conditioners, extra gluten, preservatives, unnatural yeasts)
(Sorry that I’m one of those people giving you another list. But stick with me, soon you won’t have to refer to any lists or any food or calorie counting charts.)
I could have added more to the list, but I don’t want to lose you. In no way am I suggesting that you cannot eat these foods. This decision must be your own of course. It’s just that improvements can usually be made in whatever foods you decide to eat.
Eating Real Food is a Simple Nutrition Plan
Because, when we eat real foods we don’t have to think about nutrition. Good nutrition happens naturally.
You are going to have to trust me on this one (and stick around for future articles). When we eat natural “real” foods our bodies will guide us as to what we should eat and we can even throw away the calorie counting and food rules for good.
There is only one simple rule. The only rule you should strive to follow is to eat real foods as close to their natural state as possible. (This will be defined for you later…or simply check out the recipes on this website for ideas.)
What about cravings? Most of our cravings are unnatural and are highly encouraged by the foods that we choose to eat. It’s the chemicals, flavor enhancers, etc. in unnatural foods that drive our appetite. They make us desire more fat or more salt or more sugar or more chemicals. Remember that famous slogan: “Bet you can’t eat just one”? (Mike drop.)
More so, these unnatural foods are are out of balance. They simply don’t contain the nutrients (protein, vitamins, minerals) and fiber we need. As a result, we become out of balance: our appetites don’t get satisfied and our bodies don’t receive the needed nutrients.
Here is the good news. We can train our bodies to crave natural “real” foods. How do we do this? By eating real foods and avoiding those that are unnatural. It’s just that simple.
When we eat a diet full of whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables we will feel satiated. These foods are full of fiber which will guide us to know when we have had enough. Eating this way is low in calories, but high in fiber – which means you can easily get your “fill” of nutrients while keeping your calorie intake lower than eating the Standard American Diet. Yes, you might still crave the “other” foods, but if you think you are still hungry after a meal…just eat more of the real foods!
Eating more fiber to fill up your stomach will satisfy those cravings and they will soon dissipate. This is the truth and it’s truth worth savoring! I hope you learn to savor real foods and enjoy them to the fullest!
Here are some simple, natural “real” foods you can focus on to get you started:
- Smoothies
- Fresh pressed juices
- Salads (make as colorful as you can, avoiding heavy oils that just add calories)
- Whole cooked grains (brown rice, barley, oats, quinoa, millet)
- Soups (full of vegetables and legumes/beans)
- Fresh fruit
- Nuts, seeds (Limit to 1-2 TBS/day)
- Lightly steamed/baked vegetables – yes, even baked potatoes, but don’t load them with butter/cream…instead, try adding vegetables and spices as toppings
So, is it time for you to make a change?
Try a simple meal plan this week:
- For breakfast eat cooked whole grain cereal such as oats.
- At lunch have a large salad, loaded with leafy greens, colorful vegetables, nuts/seeds and a cooked grain to make it a meal.
- Snack on fruit in between meals if you are hungry.
- For dinner, I’m going to suggest more VEGETABLES. Cooked with a whole grain or baked potatoes. Beans and rice with a side salad.
Did you notice I didn’t include meat in the simple meal plan? My purpose is to encourage you to eat all the other food groups! (If you eat meat, then I’m sure you don’t need any encouragement – other than…I think it’s very important to choose wisely.) We miss out of many nutrients when we skip fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, legumes┬á and whole grains.
Here is another nugget of truth: You can get all the protein and fat you need also by eating this way (without meat, if you choose to do so) and get a load of other important nutrients. So, for the purposes of these posts and recipes, they will all be WFPB (Whole Foods and Plant-Based).
Let me know if this is the beginning of a new lifestyle change for you. Yes, I call it a lifestyle change instead of using the word “diet” because we all know that diets don’t work. They are just too complicated! So stick around and I will prove to you that nutrition can become a simple thing.
I want to help you create a new lifestyle. Perhaps you have health issues that you are dealing with, want to lose weight, have more energy or simply desire to continue to improve on your current path of health and wellness. I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter so that you won’t miss any posts or recipes.
