Let’s talk about food. I’m going to keep it real here – I LOVE FOOD. You know how you’re “supposed” to eat to live..well I live to eat workout to eat. I am a huge believer in the 80/20 rule. I eat clean 80% of the time, but allow myself to eat “not so healthy” foods 20% of the time. This works well for me because I never feel that I am depriving myself of anything. I also meal prep every week. This gives me peace of mind for my breakfast and lunch meals during the work week and helps me avoid ordering out for those meals as well.
I really like Prevention magazine. As an added bonus, the website has great recipes as well. It’s a small magazine but it is always full of great health information. The November issue had two great food related articles, “Become a Food Label Pro” and “The Case for Organics”.
Prevention Magazine – November 2014 |
Let’s discuss how vital it is to read food labels. Not only do you need to know whats IN your food, but more important, you need to know the serving size as well.
Basic rule of thumb – if you cannot pronounce the ingredient, don’t buy the item! I shouldn’t need an encyclopedia to read the ingredients on a bag of popcorn. Also it’s best if the products contain five or less ingredients. Two websites that have made me more diligent in reading food labels are 100 Days of Real Food and Food Babe. If you haven’t checked out their websites, I suggest that you do when you have free time.
Now let’s talk serving sizes. Did you know that your 32oz bottle of Gatorade is really 2.5 servings? So many people think 1 bottle = 1 serving size….so you may think that bottle of Gatorade is 80 calories and 21 grams of sugar, but its really 200 calories with 52.5 grams of sugar. That’s a big difference!
Prevention Magazine – November 2014 |
Let’s move on to the importance of selecting organic food. I get it – organic food is more expensive, but when you think about the health benefits, it’s worth the extra money to nourish your body with the best foods. According to the British Journal of Nutrition:
- Organic produce contains 20-40% more disease-fighting antioxidants
- All organic diets deliver the antioxidant equivalent of 2 extra servings of fruits and veggies daily
- Eating organic can reduce your exposure to agricultural chemicals
I think the last statistic is so important. The amount of pesticides sprayed on produce is mind-boggling. For that reason alone, I always buy organic berries, apples, lettuce and spinach.
So how can you save money when buying organic? These are some things that work for me. Hopefully they can work for you too!
- Warehouse Stores: I’m a fan of Costco. They have many natural and organic brands, including Earthbound Farms. I go through an insane amount of spinach every week so this works for me. When I can’t get to Costco, I like the Nature’s Promise brand at Stop & Shop.
- Websites: Don’t forget to check out Amazon, Vitacost or Abe’s Market for deals. There is also a new website called Thrive. I have not had a chance to explore it yet, but it was recommended to me by a work colleague.
- Non-Traditional Grocery Stores: I absolutely love, love, love Trader Joe’s. We also have a store in my town called Mrs. Greens Market.
- Discount Stores: This might sound strange, but check out the food sections in Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. I’ve gotten really great organic snacks and pasta sauces from both place. Just be sure to check the expiration dates before purchasing.
- Sales: This is self-explanatory, but check the weekly circulars for your local supermarkets. For example, my local Stop & Shop has organic salad mix and spinach on sale for $5.99 for a one-pound package and organic carrots for $0.99 for a one-pound package. Those are great deals.
- Reduced Price Rack: Every supermarket should have a reduced price rack. It may be located in the back of the produce section. This is a great place to find organic fruit at a reduced price. I always check here first when buying my bananas for my morning Nutribullet drinks. The fruit may be bruised or “ugly”, but you can chop it up and and throw it into a smoothie!
- “Clean Fifteen” List: You don’t have to buy everything organic! Click here for a list of produce with the lowest amount of pesticides. These are usually foods with an “outer layer” – avocados, pineapples, kiwis, etc.
How do you “eat clean”? Do you follow the 80/20 rule? Do you have tips for buying organic products? Let me know in the comments section!
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