2010 Pantry Makeover
The best way to create lasting change is through gradual consistent and practical food choices. Making a resolution to eat only vegetables for six weeks, will likely lead to binging on Ben & Jerry’s in some dark alley. (I may have done this.) It takes time to create lasting change, they say 30 days, (whoever they are) diets based on restriction and deprivation never work.
For example, last night I had a hot dog and french fries for dinner. Shocked? Well, let me explain. My hot dog bun was Ezekiel brand made from sprouted grains, the hot dog was organic spicy chicken sausage, topped with organic (high-fructose corn syrup-free) ketchup, organic mayonnaise, raw enzyme-rich saurkraut, and organic stone-ground mustard. My french fries were, oven-baked, olive oil tossed, organic sweet potato french fries. (found in the organic freezer section) high in beta-carotene & fiber.
For every indulgence there is an equal and opposite healthier option. Sometimes it is a matter of giving your taste-buds a chance to adjust, but give these products a try, and before you know it you will begin noticing positive changes without struggle or even exercising self control. Start shopping your local health food store like Huckleberries or Fresh Abundance for healthier versions of your favorite snacks, also Fred Myers and Yokes have quite a selection of organic and all natural products.
My best piece of advice when shopping for pantry, refrigerator or freezer products is to read the ingredients list. Too many people focus on the calorie, fat, and protein content of a product and not on the actual ingredients.
Do not buy anything with:
*High-fructose corn syrup
*Hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, or fractionated oils AKA trans-fats.
*MSG
*Artificial colors
*Artificial flavors
*Products claiming to be diet, run for your life!
*Products claiming to be sugar free, artificial sweeteners are worse than sugar & when they are sugar free they almost always have trans-fats.
*Products claiming to be fat-free, they will almost always have high-fructose corn syrup.
NOW FOR THE UP-GRADES:
LETS START WITH YOUR BREAD
Ezekiel is made from sprouted super-grains and seeds such as wheat, barley, millet and spelt as well as beans and lentils. This bread higher in nutrients, with 4 grams of protein per slice! Ezekiel also makes hot dog and hamburger buns as well as pasta’s of all shapes. The breads and buns will mold very quickly, because the grains are actually alive, so they are best stored in the freezer.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GIVE UP ON PASTA
Yes, eating whole grains are ideal, like quinoa, brown rice or millet, but pasta products made from whole-grains are a huge improvement over white flour pasta products. These are a couple examples, but I also love quinoa elbows and buckwheat or Soba noodles.
UP-GRADE YOUR CRACKER
You probably can’t tell from the packaging but they are both made from whole grains and seeds such as flax seeds, millet, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, sorghum, and sesame seeds. They are both great, but the one to the right is really crispy, which I like, just letting you know. These are a great snack with salmon or hummus.
WHOLE GRAINS & PSEUDO-GRAINS
Hopefully you weren’t brainwashed by the low-carb craze, but all carbs are not created equal. True whole grains & pseudo-grains AKA super-seeds are a far cry from refined & bleached white flour products, which will yes, expand your waist-line. Whole grains contain all of the grains original parts, which are meant to balance each-other out. The fiber in the outer hull, slows the release of the starch from the center of the grain. The outer hull is rich in vital nutrients such as calcium, protein, B vitamins and zinc. They help to balance blood sugar and cleanse the colon. When trying a new grain, I suggest forking out the little bit extra to buy a bag with cooking instructions on it versus buying bulk. Or you can buy my cookbook, which will also tell you how to cook each grain.
EAT FAT, FOR GOD’S SAKE
If you weren’t brainwashed by the low-carb phase then you may be of the generation effected by the low-fat and fat-free craze. Some of you, I’m not naming names have survived both of these era’s. My poor mom! Fat has made a strong come-back, and it is here to stay. Our bodies need fat, especially essential fatty acids 3, 6 & 9- for our brains, heart, and skin, we also need cholesterol to create hormones. If we deprive our bodies of healthy fats found in nuts, seeds, fish, flax and even natural butter, yes, butter, then our bodies will crave the closest nutrient it associates with said deficiency, ie. french fries. This is similar to what happens to malnourished children who crave minerals and eat chipping paint from the walls for the “heavy” minerals because it contains a resembling nutrient, ie. lead.
THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN PEANUT BUTTER
Nut and seed butters are a great way to get a variety of necessary fats, which balance your blood sugar and help you feel full longer. Each “butter” is high in different nutrients so I like to mix it up. For instance pumpkin seed butter is high in zinc, which strengthens your immune system, helps heal wounds, supports the prostate, (not my main motive) whereas sesame tahini is an excellent source of calcium. Try spreading different “butters” over toast and top with fresh berries, and if you are ever so inclined, top that with some organic yogurt, yum!
YES, YOU CAN STILL EAT DESSERT!
Once you give up refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup, you will never want to go back! There are so many natural sweeteners, each have different flavor profiles and textures, good for different dishes. I have my favorites, agave nectar, honey, brown rice syrup, sucanat, and of course dates. The darker syrups like yacon or barley malt are good in BBQ sauce or stews. Just play a little and it doesn’t hurt to buy “Recipes for Radiance” sorry I couldn’t resist!
OK NOW FOR SOME SERIOUS HEALTH FOOD!
Fermented foods may possibly be the most under-appreciated food group. They contain friendly bacteria which colonize our digestive system and help absorb nutrients, break down foods, improve digestion, and boost immunity. Many fermented foods also contain live enzymes which are vital to our digestion and overall health. Start investigating fermented foods and see which ones you like. Stir miso into broths or make sauces. Add kim-chi or saurkraut to “healthy” hot dogs or use plain yogurt as you would sour cream.
NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF, WARNING: NOT FOR SISSY’S!
Sea vegetables are another under-appreciated food group. Sea vegetables contain on average 10X more minerals than land vegetables, they have the ability to remove heavy minerals and chemicals from the body, and contain anti-cancer compounds such as fucoidan. It doesn’t take much to reap the benefits, such as improved hair, skin & nails! The best way to start is to buy a shaker of the Gomasaio which is a combination of sesame seeds, sea salt, and flaked sea vegetables. There is a whole section in my cookbook about the benefits, types and uses for sea vegetables.
Well, I hope my 2010 pantry makeover inspires you to upgrade your grocery list and I hope to see you in a cooking class soon. If you are interested in a private health-food store tour or pantry analysis send me an email- editor@wildthyme-kitchen.com
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO INSPIRES & SUPPORTS ME IN FOLLOWING MY PASSION! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.