In the last newsletter we talked about the health concerns with eating processed foods today. We also discussed the solution of eating non-processed foods, or whole foods. Easy to say, but how easy is it to do? Where do you start?

First of all, don’t beat yourself up as you look at the ingredients in your pantry. Start slow and integrate things you feel comfortable doing. If you throw everything out and start eating raw tomorrow, your family may sneak fast food and come home late for dinner.

To start integrating healthy steps into your lifestyle, I’d like to feature Farmers Markets. Farmers Markets are a fun place to bring a few canvas bags and pack in some fresh, local produce. It is health beneficial to eat foods grown within 50miles of your home. Find a local in your area and make it a family adventure each week.

Grocery shopping once a month is no longer an option for healthy food choices. Decide that your family deserves good, healthy, fresh food and restock your fridge every week (at a minimum).

I hear a lot of people tell me that eating healthy costs too much. Until more people eat organic, healthy food, the prices will be higher, this is true. However, the alternative, in my opinion, is not food at all. One study with rats showed that eating the cardboard cereal box was healthier than eating the cereal itself (corn flakes). The rats died either way but lived longer eating the cardboard box < Rats and Cereal>. The ingredients we talked about in the last newsletter that are often hidden in our processed foods are not to be ignored (MSG, HFCS, partially hydrogenated fats/proteins, etc.).

Decide that your health and that of your family is important. Perhaps you can eat out less, and spend the extra money on healthy, wholesome food.