When I sit down at a restaurant and see "buffalo chicken egg rolls with blue cheese dressing" as an appetizer, I may have a stream of drool going down my face. If someone brings a DQ ice cream cake to a party, I might want to cut a piece the size of my face. But I have slowly began to shift away from these foods. I know what you're thinking, "that is stupid."
Oreos, Cheetos, Reese cups, and Kraft Mac N Cheese may have once been a staple in my diet. But not anymore. I began experimenting with a cleaner eating regimen my junior year of college. I stopped buying processed food. I stopped ordering pizza weekly. I stopped snacking on foods that had zero nutritional value. And while at first it was for my waist line, I learned very quickly I felt better physically and mentally when I ate less foods made in plants and starting eating more foods made from plants.
Just to clarify, my diet is not completely "clean." I still eat an occasional Will's pizza slice, and Snicker's bar. I don't deny myself a liter of beer and a tasty grilled cheese sandwich. But eat healthy when you can, and make an effort to do so.
Some of the grossest things can be found on the Internet, which began to spark my curiosity. There are plenty of controversial things out there regarding healthy foods; is coconut oil good for you? Is flaxseed actually beneficial? I started reading up. I never thought about how certain ingredients could affect you. I started figuring out which ingredients were unappealing. Take Carrageenan for example. I didn't really like the idea of extraction from red seaweed being in my food, they're in a lot of processed foods. I also realized that I didn't feel very good after eating dairy. But if you're like me, you're probably like "uh...well how do you eat normally if you don't want processed foods or dairy?"
Surprise, there is a way! Cooking your meals at home, from scratch, with the ingredients you want. There are so many resources online to find easy recipes, if you aren't the most culinary skilled person in the world. But if you are already a master in the kitchen, it is easy to find ways to substitute things for healthier options.
The United States has a problem. We drink more soda and eat more refined foods than any other country, but I'm sure you've heard that before. According to MarketPlace.com, processed foods make up 70 percent of the U.S. diet. We need to lower this number. Make a change. Swap out your potato chips for some multi-grain crackers and hummus. Toss out those processed pre made smoothies and opt for making your own with fresh or frozen fruit.
Don't be afraid to splurge every once in a while and go out to dinner with your friends. But start making changes in your diet at home by buying more fresher ingredients rather than the ones that don't expire for two years. Stop shopping in the candy aisle and start circling the produce department. Try on a diet that is more plant based, even if it means eating 6 more carrots per day rather than six bite-sized Twix.
