Getting Started

It's overwhelming to switch to a whole foods diet, so for those of you who don't like to read or don't have time to read, here are some easy steps you can take to move toward a whole foods diet. Whole foods are prepared and consumed in a state that does not chemically alter, thereby compromising, their nutritional value.

Instead of vegetable oil, use extra virgin first-cold-pressed olive oil or coconut oil.

Instead of butter imitations (margarine, etc.), use real organic butter.

Instead of products containing corn syrup or sugar, use natural products (i.e. Smucker's natural peanut butter, Polaner all-fruit jelly, real maple syrup).

Instead of white and brown sugar, use raw honey or real maple syrup to sweeten foods.

Instead of canned fruits and vegetables, eat fresh or frozen (without extra ingredients).

Instead of white rice, use brown rice or quinoa.

Instead of store-bought grain/bread products, make homemade or buy brands such as Ezekiel. (Ezekiel brand makes breads, pastas, and more.) This can be the most overwhelming part, so I'll tackle this one in a separate post. In the beginning, it's easiest to just minimize or avoid grains for a while. It's a good de-tox anyway from all the white flour products you've eaten in the past.

Instead of unhealthy salad dressings, use Annie's Naturals or homemade (whisk a little garlic salt and vinegar into olive oil).

Instead of pasteurized beverages (milk, juice, etc.), buy raw or natural substitutes or drink water. We pretty much drink only water and kombucha at our house. I use coconut milk or almond milk for baking, but in some states, it's legal to have raw milk. Fruit juice takes all the sweet stuff out and leaves a lot of the healthy stuff behind, giving you just another way to keep your "sweets high" going. Even if it's an all-natural juice (i.e. oranges with pulp), it's still pasteurized which kills nutrients and provides the consumer with several servings of fruit in one sitting, which is not healthy. Whole fruits are so much healthier!

Most products that come in a box, can, or bag or not healthy, although there are more and more products coming out that are decent. We like to keep some natural canned soups on hand (from health stores) for Sunday afternoons or emergencies. Just because something says "natural" or "organic" does not make it healthy though, so use caution and common sense. Organic macaroni and cheese in a box just can't be healthy, can it? :)

There are some healthy, canned foods: tomato products (sauce, paste, diced, etc.), beans, and some others that can be found usually in health food stores. Check labels of course. Usually if the tomato products or beans say "organic," the ingredients are pretty good, but sometimes you can even find generic ones that are good enough.

Any questions? I'm not a health expert, but I believe God created foods for our benefit and not for our harm. We can go to the Bible for answers to anything - even what is best for our bodies! God is for us!