Healthy Eating Habits

If you create healthy eating habits, your food will be better digested and give you the vibrant health you desire! Food is more than carbs, fats and proteins. It's our basic nourishment and a whole body and soul experience.

Here's some healthy eating habits to play with.

1. Choose whole foods. These are farm foods, foods that are harvested, fished, or hunted. Food from nature not a chemistry lab. Marshmallows don't have a growing season in the garden!

Here's a whole foods grocery list

2. Choose quality foods. Ask yourself, where did this food come from? Is it local, organic and or in season? Read labels and research companies. Learn about organic foods here.

3.Find your personal balance. This takes listening to your body. Each of us needs carbs (grains, vegies, fruits) proteins (meat, dairy, beans and soy), and fats (nuts, seeds, oils) in different amounts. We need some food from each macronutrient group, usually at each meal.A food journal can help you find your balance.

4. Eat in peace. Eat free from the TV and computer screen. Eat free from the newspaper, books and talk radio. Enjoy your meal.

5. Have gratitude for your food. Pray over you food if you like. I like to bless the farmers, the elements and the cook!

6. Eat with beauty. This opens up your soul for receiving good food. Have candles or flowers, a table cloth, and pretty dishes.

7. Chew well. Whole foods have lots of fiber. Chewing well breaks up the food into smaller particles that make it easier to digest.

8.Eat breakfast! This is key to get your metabolism going and stabilize your blood sugar for the whole day.

9. Eat at regular times. The body likes consistent cycles.

10. Help your digestion. You may wish to take enzymes and/or HCL(hydrochloric acid) if you are over 40. Take probiotics and eat raw fermented foods like sauerkraut, miso or kefir. These will strengthen digestion. Daily walking will help as well.

11. Use herbs and spices. Many herbs have healing properties. Cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar, and turmeric helps the liver digest foods. Oregano and rosemary are full of antioxidants. And they taste great!

12. Have a mix of raw foods and cooked foods. We need raw foods for the folic acid, Vitamin C and other nutrients that are destroyed by cooking. But most of us need cooked foods as well. Find your mix!

13. Eat with the seasons. In summer you may like more raw salad, and in winter more warming stews. Learn more about eating with the seasons here.

14. Eat your greens. We all need the cleansing of the green chlorophyll and the soothing magnesium that greens provide. Greens also build the blood.

15. Healthy eating habits include drinking tea. Green tea is popular, but I prefer herbal tea because I am sensitive to caffeine. You can try dandelion root tea, chamomile and others. There is a tea that is caffeine free, called roobios.

16. Reduce the anti-nutrients: refined flour, sugar, caffeine, chemicals, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, fast foods....you get the idea. These foods don't give you nutrients and stress your body.

17. Drink enough pure water. Sometimes when you are a little hungry and want a snack, try a glass of water. Many times we are just thirsty!

18. Healthy eating habits requires healthy snacks. Many people like to snack in the afternoon and mid morning. Be prepared with fruit, nuts, seeds, hummus and celery, and more.

Your body will love the attention when you follow these healthy eating habits. Yes, they can be a challenge in our culture that is always on the go. Pick one or two and experiment.

Here's an affirmation for you: I choose to make this fun and easy!

Check out the healthy eating pyramid

How to read a food label!

Here's the best nutrient dense foods for your health