I love food. I mean, I know that’s obvious, but I mean I really, really love food. Not only for the pleasure of preparing, cooking and eating it, but for the gift that it is. Real food is what our bodies need to function. Like gasoline, diesel or electricity for cars, food is the fuel that human bodies run on! And yet, so much of what we put into these precious bodies of ours is not food. It’s manufactured “food-like products” that deplete us of energy, rob us of nutrients, and leave us feeling drained, unhappy and unwell. Food-like products require the body to do so much WORK with virtually NO benefit to them. What kind of relationship would survive if all we ever did was take, take, take and treat the other like a trash can? Not long. And it certainly wouldn’t be a healthy relationship.
Personally, I want to enjoy a healthy relationship with my body and it’s something I am passionate about helping others to do, as well.
That’s the way I see my relationship with my body–like a relationship! And I nourish my relationship with my body through the way I treat it. The food I eat, the people I allow into my space, the thoughts I choose, the way I move through the world; it all combines to create a relationship that feels...healthy.
When I think about the foods I want to put into my body, I first consider the macronutrients–making sure I get a balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. I don’t want the majority of my food intake to be carbohydrates, and yet, so much of what’s called food out there is in a box, package or pouch–refined carbohydrates that leave us feeling sick and drained and craving more carbs. Chips, crackers, candy, pastries, these so-called “treat” foods that the body sees, simply, as carbohydrates (sugar) have to metabolize as such. The coffee with sugar and a doughnut in the morning. The handful of M&Ms off our own or a colleagues’ desk. A slice or two of pizza for lunch. A muffin in the afternoon. A plate of pasta with tomato sauce for dinner. Sugar, sugar, sugar.
It’s too much and it’s hurting us. We are looking and feeling so much older than we need to feel. There IS a better way.
Let’s do our best to create more balance on our plates and in our diets. Let’s enjoy proteins, healthy fats (think whole food fats first, like walnuts, salmon and avocados and then EVOO and coconut oil next), and all the colours of the rainbow for fruits and veggies. Enjoy starchy carbs (like sweet potatoes) and some whole grains (like brown rice and quinoa) in there, too. It’s about variety and flavour and choice and seasonality…and fun! Food should be enjoyed! Not feared or avoided or eaten in excess; rather, seen as a tool to help us live our best lives.
At least, that’s the way I like to do it.
So, if you’re looking for a few ideas to get started on a path to looking and feeling your very best, might I suggest the following foods that are suuuper high in antioxidants, making your skin look and feel great, helping you to ward off disease, while also tasting amazing.
First up, KALE: Kale is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, but unlike cabbage or cauliflower or Brussels sprouts, it’s a leafy green, so it can be swapped out in salads, blended easily into smoothies, or enjoyed as super tasty (and easy!) kale chips. Kale is also very high in iron. Iron’s main role is to carry oxygen throughout your body, so it’s key to not be deficient if we want to look & feel our best. Have your bloodwork tested and if you are low in iron, be sure to take a high quality supplement and eat iron-rich foods, like kale!
BLUEBERRIES: Blueberries are believed to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables. Eat 1/2 cup after dinner as a sweet treat that’s low in sugar. I like adding a cup of them to my morning smoothie. You can also blend frozen blueberries with frozen banana to make delicious “Nice Cream”.
BROCCOLI: Any “cruciferous” vegetable is generally high in antioxidants, but broccoli is super versatile and can be roasted, steamed, stir fried, pureed in a soup, eaten raw in a salad, or enjoyed in about a million other ways. And don’t toss away the stems! I use a knife and a potato peeler to get rid of the really “woody” parts and then slice into salads, stir fries, or use in a soup.
GREEN TEA: Green tea is made from unoxidized leaves and is one of the least processed types of tea. It is considered one of the world’s healthiest drinks and contains one of the highest amounts of antioxidants–especially those called catechins–of any tea. Catechins are antioxidants that help prevent cell damage. I love green tea because although it does contain caffeine (so please don’t drink it after noon hour), it offers a much more gentle lift than coffee or other caffeinated beverages. Plus it tastes amazing! Earthy and rich and umami. Add a squeeze of lemon to your green tea to boost the catechins even higher.
DARK CHOCOLATE: The darker the better. 70% minimum so you get the superfood benefits without all the sugar. Enjoy a square or two on their own, drizzle melted chocolate over strawberries, or melt a square in a bowl and enjoy dipping a frozen spoon of peanut butter (or other nut/seed butter) for a delicious treat!
I hope you regularly incorporate these antioxidant-rich foods into your diet and continue to develop a more loving relationship with your body through the things you put into it.
Because I want you to love your life one bite at a time.
P.S. Email me for recipes using any of these–or other–ingredients. Who knows! Maybe I’ll do a video on it! Here is my latest video, sharing the recipe for my “famous” Pina Colada Green Smoothie. Soooo easy, fresh and tasty…great for anyone who doesn’t like to eat their vegetables!
P.P.S.Registration for my One Bite At A Time Group Coaching is open for the spring session! If you’ve been curious about the program and want to cook with me in my kitchen while learning tools and strategies to help you live your BEST life while uncovering patterns that have kept you stuck, you won’t want to miss out on the next round! We start on Monday, March 16th, 2020. I’d love to schedule a call to chat and you can visit OBAATCoaching.com to learn more if you’re curious.
P.P.P.S. Join ONCE, stay FOREVVVER! That’s right! Once you join ONE TIME, you get lifetime access to ALL future rounds of coaching. FOR FREE. Some of my students have been with me since the very first round (March will be number 8) as a way to go deeper, learn more, connect with others and continue to stay on the path. I love that.
P.P.P.P.S. If you’d like to learn more about my work around food and sugar and body image, I did a live training called:“The Truth About Sugar and How To Live A Life Of Freedom Around Food.”
P.P.P.P.P.S. If you’d like to prioritize your health for 14 days, I’d love for you to sign up for my 14 Days of Wellness. Simply enter your name and email address up on the right to begin receiving the messages today. It’s FREE, with no diets, products, challenges or catches…just a chance to remember how amazing you are…for 14 days.
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