Real Food Revolution!

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Farewell (or a simple “see ya”) to days when the resolve to lose weight meant living on protein bars, chalky chocolate pre-made drinks or counting every point consumed. A new health revolution is happening in
these days—one to help shrink your waist and enhance overall well-being. Plus, it’s good for planet Earth. It’s the Real Food Revolution. We can learn and embrace for a healthier today and tomorrow.  Let’s bring back eating real food, complete with real nutrients. 

First let’s break down the basics of classic definitions when it comes to eating real food:
food [food] n 1. fuel that nourishes, sustains, or supplies
real [ree-uhl, reel] adj 1. true and actual; not artificial

When it comes to eating real food, it’s simple. Focus on eating more from planet Earth and less from a prepackaged box. As another dietitian, Kate Rountree, RDN, LDN espouses, “Eat from the ground up, not the box down (or out).” Here are practical tips for starting your own real food revolution (in honor of our esteemed Patriots after all).

  1. Shop primarily the perimeter of the grocery store. This helps reduce the amount of highly processed and packaged foods. A traditional grocery store is set up with the cookies, cereals, chips and other foods filled with added preservative on the inside aisles. The outside
    perimeter of the store is more often stocked with fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, dairy, eggs, and protein. (Note however there are good foods in the aisles such as whole grains, beans, etc.)

  2. Visit local farmer’s markets to buy fresh, local produce. The farmer’s market is an excellent opportunity to try new foods and learn new ways to prepare them.

  3. Be prepared by having fresh foods on hand. Stock up on fresh produce and have in a place visible and easy to access—citrus is an easy one this time of year. Cook brown rice and sweet potatoes in advance. Peel, cut, and chop veggies to have easy go to snacks. Concerned about fresh food going bad? Frozen veggies and fruits are great to have on hand as an
    alternative. They’re flash frozen at the time of ripeness, locking in nutrients.  Edamame is a tasty pre-game offer—protein and healthy fats. 

  4. Plant a garden, join a CSA of food co-op and be part of your own real food revolution.

  5. Read ingredient lists and limit foods with never-ending list of ingredients.

  6. Add more greens to your day, such as spinach to morning eggs, kale to smoothies, and arugula to salads.

  7. Eat dinner foods for lunch. Yep, you read that right. The simple shift from a traditional lunch such as a sandwich or wrap, to a meal such as baked fish, brown rice and broccoli is an easy way to decrease processed foods and increase whole food intake.

  8. Plan your meals around fruits and vegetables. Add color and variety to your plate with fresh orange slices, berries, sliced red bell pepper, spinach, kale, broccoli, purple cabbage and more! Try to get at least three colors on your plate.

Catherine