I am writing this to share with you my new found love for delicious, healthy food. I have become very interested in health and nutrition this past year and wanted to share my knowledge! First of all, I want to emphasize that in order to eat healthy, you don't have to sacrifice taste. It's incredible how many foods taste absolutely delicious and are also good for you. What I mean by "good for you" is that the food you eat has nutritional value and benefits your body in some way. For example, spinach, a leafy green, is filled with vitamins A, K, D, and E. Other than the abundance of vitamins, spinach also contains anti-inflammitory antioxidants and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. All these components of spinach benefit your body in some way or another. On the other hand, foods such as candy, ice cream, or anything processed, have little to no nutritional value. You can indulge on these items, of course, but you should not base your diet around them. I encourage you to base it around foods from the earth, like fruits and vegetables. I also encourage you to eat lots of healthy proteins, like salmon (or practically any other type of fish), eggs, beans, and soy. Avoid getting your protein through unhealthy food like bacon, hot dogs, etc...
Things I eat on a regular basis to stay healthy:
Smoothies are absolutely fantastic nutritionally, if done right. Making a smoothie is a quick and easy way to load up on nutrients to energize and replenish your body. You can practically add any fruit or vegetable to your smoothie, which are all beneficial in their own way, to make sure your body is getting vitamins and nutrients. Some form of liquid needs to be added in order to make a smoothie. I like to put tea in my smoothies, experimenting with different flavors. I don't recommend using liquids such as milk or juice because they add unwanted extra calories and juice is often loaded with sugar. Other, better options, include soy milk, tea of any flavor (unsweetened, of course), coconut water, or just plain water. Other ingredients that can be added to smoothies to boost their nutritional value include flax seeds, goji berries, chia seeds, any type of nut, and hemp seeds. All these items need to be ground in order for your body to properly absorb their nutrients. You can buy most of these items already ground at the store or you can do it yourself with a coffee grinder, which is what I do.
My favorite smoothie recipe
Fruity - My fruity smoothie is my favorite and what I drink almost everyday. It gives me an energy boost and leaves me feeling healthy and happy. I also feel good knowing that not only is my smoothie delicious, but it is also helping my body.
What you need:
- half an avocado
- 1 1/4 cup green tea
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- half a kiwi
- 1/2 cup ice
- 1 frozen banana
- tsp ground flax seed
- tsp ground goji berries
- tsp chia seeds ( the chia seeds don't necessarily need to be ground because they expand it water, however, they can also be ground if preferred. )
- Sweetener to taste ( I sometimes put a little pure maple syrup to enhance the flavors but any sweetener can be used. This smoothie can also be made without any sweetener. It's a matter of personal preference. )
Simply put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth!
You can experiment with the ingredients of course. I prefer my smoothies thick so I can have it with a spoon, but if you want it thinner simply add more green tea.
- More healthy recipes and pictures to be added soon!
