5 tips for the New Year

Phew! It's been a while since I posted. This holiday was a whirlwind, but thankfully it's over now and I survived.

I promise many new and exciting recipes for 2007 but in the meantime, many people have asked me for some easy ways to incorporate more healthy foods into their everyday eating. So...here are 5 easy tips to try if nutrition and healthy eating are on your resolution list.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1. EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGGIES - an easy way is to try and make fruits and veggies half of your plate. Another way is to get as many colours as you can in your meals. Variety in colour means variety in nutrients. Try eating fruit salad first thing in the morning.

2. BUY ORGANIC OR LOCAL FOODS - When I say buy organic, I don't mean EVERYTHING, although that would be great. I am mainly talkin produce and non-packaged foods. Many grocery stores have cashed in on this organic craze and have all sorts
of "organic" products. Organic white bread is still white bread and is still processed and of no benefit to your body. Choose good quality ingredients first.
When choosing what produce to buy organic - choose foods that are the most sprayed or those that have a thin skin or grow closest to the ground: like berries, potatoes and roots, plums, pears, apples, broccoli, greens... things with a thick skin like oranges are still great to buy organic but can maybe be next on the list if you are on a budget or can't find everything organic where you are. Try and buy local produce to ensure the least travel times.

3. LOOK FOR GOOD FATS/OILS - Omega 3 is your friend. Most processed foods are too high in Omega 6. Increasing your good fat intake also decreases your cancer risk. Omega 3's are also great for skin health and brain function.
Things like nuts and seeds and avocados are high in good fats. Try sprinkling ground flax seeds on salads or steamed veggies. Flax oil, avocado and lemon all whizzed up in a blender makes a great salad dressing.

4. TRY AND AVOID REFINED FOODS - I am always talking about WHOLE FOODS and this is what I mean. Choose foods with the least amount of stuff done to it. This primarily means avoiding refined sugar and processed wheat products. Both of these things have no nutrient value and will effect your blood sugar and therefore your mood. Go for whole grain and natural sugars (like honey and maple). If you are going to buy packaged foods, go for those with the least a amount of ingredients in their list. If you can't pronounce one of the ingredients, don't buy it.

5. MINIMIZE ANIMAL AND DAIRY PRODUCTS - I am not telling anyone to denounce meat and cheese all together. Becoming vegetarian or vegan is a process that not everyone is ready for. Keeping dairy and meat as a small part of your diet does benefit your body greatly. One great benefit to an animal free diet is less mucous and colds. A good rule is to make at least 4 of your meals during the week meat-free. Hormones that are used in producing animal products is stored in the fat - things like cheese and high-fat meats should be organic to reduce your exposure to toxins.

So that's 5...I should add a 6th one...to ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE EATING always. Choosing good food is of no benefit if you're hating every minute of it. Think about why you make the decisions you make and why you want to change your eating.

Happy eating!