Adopting a natural way of eating is not a difficult as you think! Here are some tips for making the transition easier for yourself and your family.
Processed foods have become the bane of our existence. While stripping out the nutritional value, it plugs in harmful chemicals that do not satiate our hunger nor provide needed vitamins and minerals. Adopting a healthier lifestyle has become even more important so that we can naturally heal ourselves from major illnesses and live a longer life.
Here are a few ways you can start adopting a natural way of eating that was meant for you:
Cut the Carbs
People often blame sugar and sweets for the staggering rate of diabetes in our country. What’s often overlooked as a contributor is the amount of bad carbohydrates we take in. My dad lost a ton of weight when I was in high school by replacing “bad carbs” with healthier options, like oatmeal.
Enriched white flour is the major culprit and it’s in just about everything bread-related, which is why reading labels carefully is important. Enriched flours are ones that have been stripped of everything healthy that they contain and supplied with chemicals to “put it back in.” Except our bodies don’t process the enriched flours as well and over time can lead to weight gain or illness, such as diabetes.
We all love bread, so we just need to re-learn how to eat it in a healthier way. One way to start is to buy low carb flour, most of them contain whole grains and oats and contain nearly half the carbs as a loaf of white bread. These flours often contain gluten so shop carefully!
You’ll be surprised at how much you can do with little or no flour. Vegas didn’t have any idea that these bean brownies were flourless… and sugar-free!
Change Up Your Dairy
Many dairy products come from animals who aren’t farmed in the healthiest of environments. These animals are exposed to DDT which resides in their fatty tissues and will make its way to milk and cream supplies. Switching to milk and cheese products from organic farms is your best bet for a healthier change. Drinking organic milk, for instance, can help stave off cardiovascular disease and help maintain a healthy weight due to a higher presence of N-3 Pufa. If you are vegan, your focus should be on coconut and almond milk. They are just as versatile as animal-derived milk and can easily be incorporated into your cooking.
Plus, I just straight up don’t like milk anymore. We always have unsweetened almond or coconut milk on hand! Try it in a shake like this Key Lime Pie Protein Shake, or in your mornings oats like in these Strawberry & Cream creations.
Look to Garlic
Some people worry that the taste of eating natural foods will be bland and not nearly as exciting as other foods they are accustomed to. Much of what is processed is incredibly high in sodium! For natural flavors, look to nature. Garlic is a great way to incorporate flavor and has tremendous health benefits. It is versatile, and can be used in anything you cook as well as any salad you put together. It’s also is antimicrobial and will help stave off plenty of colds and contagions you meet daily. Another big bonus is that it’s fantastic for the heart!
I really like using it in soups, like my Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup.
Making natural changes to your diet doesn’t have to be an overnight change. Look at one meal of the day and change it. It’s doesn’t have to be all or nothing – start slow and it’ll become second nature in no time! Once you notice how much better you feel after a clean meal as opposed to one full of processed foods, you won’t want to go back.
There are a ton of reasons to make this change. None of us want our family and friends to have to worry about our health. You almost might inspire others to make changes in their own lives when they see how much better you’re feeling. Most importantly, do this for yourself. Self-love is a real, very important thing!
[Tweet “Adopting a healthier way of eating is not as difficult as you think! Check out these tips!”]
***
Between traveling and having people in town, we’re making an effort to refocus on natural foods.
What’s your favorite healthy ingredient swap?
Have you ever made bean brownies? I swear they’re good!
i love a good black bean brownies with extra frosting. i am so with you on making smaller changes overtime… so many great reminders 🙂
Ohhhh… good call on the frosting!
YES to all of this! I’m with you, I don’t drink milk at all, I’m all about almond or cashew milk. And using oats instead of flour is one of my baking go-to healthy swaps!
I knew you’d be all over it. Love your baking hacks. 🙂
Processed foods are the devil, I’m always weird out when I see kids holding a bag of chips or when I visit my Mom and Dad and they are snacking on pork grinds. I’m dating a new guy and he’s in awe of my food restrictions. Maybe it’s a California thing but when you put good stuff into your body you get good stuff out. MMMMMMmmmmmm I need these Pinto Bean Brownies right now. That roasted garlic matzo ball chicken soup looks divine.
I have to say though… I can eat the hell out of some pork rinds. I’m Southern, what can I say? LOL!
Simple swaps are so easy and they make such a difference. Even just changing out salad dressings makes a huge difference! Picking fruits over juices or jams, whole grains over processed carbs. It doesn’t take much!
For sure! I should have added that. I always get my dressing on the side with we eat out and I’m sure it saves 200 cals. Plus I HATE a soggy salad.
totally agree with the variety! different sources of dairy (cultured is best) and vegetables. Embrace the change, slowly but surely! and feed me bean brownies any day!
Preach! I just need to make a Cotter Crunch meal plan.
Nice ideas. And i can’t believe i missed that matzah ball soup recipe! Bookmarking it for next year.
Thanks! That soup is my childhood. No, I’m not Jewish… but my mom thought we were. LOL!
I’ve been switching up dairy a bit by adding in almond/coconut milk as substitutes sometimes. Baby steps.
That’s how I started too. Now I won’t even drink milk! Love my Greek yogurt though.
I need to get on the bean brownie train! I always think they sound great!
I love eating a more natural diet – real food has so much flavour! And I adore actually using all those herbs and spices I have in the cupboard. Cooked up some ground kangaroo the other night with mixed herbs, cayenne, garlic, paprika, chili and S&P and it was so good!
You do! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Totally jealous of your access to kangaroo.
All of this! Literally the first thing I tell somebody who wants to eat healthier is “swap all white carbs for something whole grain”. It’s the easiest switch to make because most of those products you’re already buying (because who bakes all their own bread?) and it’s literally grabbing a different item. Wheat flour bakes like white flour once you know what you’re doing. And tossing in some flax or chia seeds makes pretty much no difference in baked goods.
My mom used to make bread for us. It was amazing. I’m not about to be doing that though. HA! But yeah, you’r right on all of this. I can even sneak *most* of the healthiness by Vegas.
I love these suggestions! I think people often overlook that small changes can lead to big changes with your body. It really doesn’t take much. You just have to pay attention to those opportunities where you can improve yourself.
Thanks Megan! I know you’re the queen of swaps. 🙂
Swiss cows are healthy. Ok, probably not. I love coconut milk too and finally (I know, shocking) Switzerland sells it in the ordinary supermarket. That’s like a milestone. Though I simply can’t exclude Swiss cheese from my diet. Like never. It’s natural!
I vote anything Swiss is healthy. Especially the chocolates.
So long as I still get to eat my cheese and bread. 🙂
I’m having a whole wheat pizza tonight so clearly I’m good.
You know I could never give up my cheese. Sacrilege!