Trying to start eating healthy, but not knowing where to start is the obstacle that keeps most people from changing their lifestyles in order to adopt new eating habits. I absolutely love exploring healthy eating, and I have compiled a list of my essentials! These items are exciting, super yummy basics that will help your transition into intuitive eating a bit easier.
Açaí Powder
A superfood from Central and South America, the açaí berry is loaded with antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats. Blend a few teaspoons with some frozen berries, hemp or almond milk, and honey, and you'll have a beautifully thick, delicious açaí bowl to eat for breakfast (or any time of the day, really!). Top it with coconut flakes, granola, berries, bananas, kiwi, and organic nut butter, and you have yourself a delicious and amazingly nutritious meal.
Nut Butter
Avoid brands that add way too much added sugar, salt, and artificial preservatives (JIF and Skippy, I'm lookin' at you). Instead, go for an organic peanut butter or almond butter (usually, a good natural nut butter is more runny in consistency). Eat it with a whole wheat English muffin or a banana, or pour some on top of that açaí bowl! Yum.
Nutrition Bars
These make a great snack for between meals. But, be careful, because many are loaded with sugar, too much saturated fat, and unnatural ingredients. The fewer the ingredients, and the more ingredients you can actually pronounce, the better. Look for bars high in protein and low in sugar and saturated fat. My favorites are Lara, Kind, and Luna.
Brown Rice
You need healthy, whole grains. Purchase some brown rice in bulk, and eat it as a side with grilled chicken or other lean protein. It's simple and easy.
String Cheese
String mozzarella cheese is low in calories and will give you a burst of protein to hold you over until your next meal. They're super easy to carry around, too, so no excuses for grabbing something unhealthy as you head out your door!
Greek Yogurt
So much protein, and so good! It amazes me how long this stuff keeps me full, and how much I actually enjoy eating it. Pay attention to nutrition facts, though, and avoid greek yogurts with too much sugar (this often includes those yogurts with lots of mix-ins). Don't automatically go for fat-free greek yogurt, either, as these yogurts tend to be high in sugar and other unnatural ingredients. This makes such a great breakfast or snack, and it's an absolute must-have.
Granola
Add some crunch to your yogurt or açaí bowl! Kind Peanut Butter granola is my favorite, as it combines the goodness of nuts, the healthy grains in granola, and protein.
Chicken Breast
Grill it and add it to anything- salads, brown rice, or wraps. It's super lean and oh so healthy.
Spinach/Kale
Both are so good for you and so low in calories (you can eat SO much and it's almost like eating nothing at all). They make amazing bases for smoothies and salads and taste amazing in sandwiches and wraps.
Avocado
Although we tend to cringe at the sound of the word "fat," avocados have the fats that our hearts need to function properly. I love eating my avocado with turkey slices in a whole wheat wrap- so balanced and so good!
Whole Wheat Wraps
These are amazing for turkey and avocado, and also work super well to make small pizzas with! They come in handy when packing lunch, so if you need to bring lunch to school or work, these are a must-have.
Fruit
This one is sort of a given. My go-to fruits are apples, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries, as they are perfect to eat alone, with nut butter, in smoothies and açaí bowls, or on salads. Fruit even makes amazing desert! Find the fruits you love and see what you can do with them!
Vegetables
This one is also a given. I love carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, kale, broccoli, green beans, snap peas, and the list goes on and on. When I feel like snacking on something crunchy, I reach for veggies, as they are so amazing for your body and so easy to grab.
Chia Seeds
These are loaded with Omega-3s. Sprinkle them on salads or yogurt or blend them into smoothies to experience their amazing health benefits. You can't even taste them, I promise!
Almonds
Almonds have good fat and protein, and oftentimes all you need to hold you over is a palm-full of these. These also make an amazing post-workout snack, helping your sore muscles recover!
So, there they are, my go-to healthy food items. All of these foods are so delicious, and your body will absolutely thank you! If you are in the process of adopting healthier eating habits, add these foods to your shopping list and get your hands on them!
