When Is the Best Time to Start Eating Whole Foods?

There is no time like the present to begin eating more whole foods. In fact, there’s really not a BAD time to start eating them. The sooner you can begin serving whole foods to your children, the easier time you’ll have encouraging them to continue to eat these foods when they grow older. Perhaps a better way to explain why it is better to start children eating whole foods is that the longer they eat processed foods, the harder it will be for them to change their eating habits when they’re grown.

Eating whole foods does not require you to become a vegetarian or a raw foodist. That isn’t the reason you’ll want to add whole foods to your diet. The point is to feed your family – children included – a diet of foods which are as close to nature as possible. If you choose to become a vegetarian, vegan or one who eats only raw, whole foods, that is a decision only you can make as a family.

Beginning with a diet consisting of whole foods will help your children establish good eating habits from the start rather than having to break bad food choices. Obviously you can’t give your newborn a raw carrot when their body requires liquid sustenance. However, if you choose to breastfeed, you can pass along extra nutrients to your child by eating a diet of healthier food choices and avoiding processed foods as much as possible.

When your baby is ready to start eating solids, search for baby foods which contain only one ingredient. You can also puree whole fruits and vegetables in a blender. By using the same foods you eat, you’ll know exactly what your baby is eating.

Scientific reports indicate that children who are raised eating a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes are more likely to be slimmer and healthier than those eating processed foods. Whole foods provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and protein. A diet of whole foods, or even a vegetarian diet, provide all of the nutrients your children need from the time they begin eating solid foods to the time they are teenagers.

Offer your family whole foods – raw, cooked or dehydrated – during any meal of the day. Have these foods readily available for snacks after school. Prepare whole foods regularly and you may find your family prefers meals which consist mainly of these items. Provide a variety of foods, even those you’ve never tried before, when using whole foods in your menu plans and it is unlikely there will be any nutritional deficiencies. 

Next time we will discuss “How Do You Eat Whole Foods on a Budget?”

The above is extracted from a report, “Eat Whole Foods - For the Health of It” and offers the following disclaimer: This report is written for entertainment purposes only. The author is not, nor does she claim to be, an expert in nutrition or health. The report is written in an attempt to share knowledge based upon what was learned during research and by incorporating some of the information contained in it with her family. It is by no means intended for medical advice nor should it be followed as such.

How to Have More Energy

By Kardena Pauza
http://scrnch.me/oa9d6

If you eat a larger than normal meal or a calorie dense meal, do you notice how tired you feel afterwards?

This is what I call FOOD COMA.

This is where you get extremely tired and you start to regret stuffing yourself, but it’s too late the DAMAGE is done. You can barely keep your eyes open and all you want to do is crawl up into a ball and go to sleep. You can’t focus or concentrate on work and even a simple conversation takes effort. All you want to do is lie down.

So many people have this experience on a daily basis. In fact, I was just like this during high school when I would gorge on fast food and pizza and junk.

But this is not how your body should feel after meals.

With the Vegetarian Lifestyle, you won’t be sleepy after you eat. In fact, you’ll be alert, mentally sharp, and physically ready to take on the world.

By eating high nutrient low calorie foods, you will eliminate the side effects from food comas. I guarantee you’ll have more energy with the Veggie Meal Plans diet than you have on any other diet – simply because you will NOT be restricting your calorie or nutrient intake – in fact, you’ll be able to fill yourself up with our delicious foods.

I love making smoothies because they give me so much ENERGY in the morning.

I’ll blend different fruits and vegetables with a little protein powder to make easy to digest and energizing drinks. I’ll also add a tiny bit of fresh ginger to give it a zing and anti-inflammatory properties. You won’t get the same energy or health benefits from a plate of bacon, eggs, and white-flour pancakes!

I also love to make fresh, flavorful soups. And it’s easy too.

I make soups in the blender or food processor, such as a simple tomato gazpacho soup, or Mexican green soup, or an Asian inspired coconut curry soup. These soups can be warmed on the stove or eaten at room temperature. These foods are full of life! I use everything from carrots, celery, broccoli, cilantro, basil, onions, coconut, apples, oranges, lemon, and a variety of spices.

I make these really great wraps using a low-carb tortilla, romaine lettuce leaf, or a collard green leaf as the wrap shell.

Each wrap is lovingly filled with fresh veggies like spinach, sprouts, green onions, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, and then I add hummus, salsa, or herb seasonings/salt.

I also make a pate from sunflower seeds and spices, tempeh, or seitan, which makes the wrap filling, very nutritious, and energizing!

These are just a few ways in which you can fill up on nutrient-rich foods that will leave you energized and feeling great day after day.