My Transition to a Whole Foods Diet

A little over a year ago I made the decision to transition to a whole foods diet, and it has changed my life drastically. I have been able to easily lose 15 lbs, and keep it off, with no changes to my routine other than what I am consuming. Additionally, I feel I have more energy, clearer skin, and just an overall sense of well-being that I did not have when I relied more heavily on store bought meals. Convenience is not always better, especially if it costs you your health!

What are whole foods?

When I am referring to 'whole foods', I am talking about items that have not been processed to have anything added or taken away but are just eaten in their original form. Whole foods do not need to have a nutrition label because they are only 1 ingredient. Whole foods may be minimally processed. Some examples of my favorite whole foods that I eat regularly include:

• fruits- apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, peaches

• vegetables- carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, potatoes

• nuts- walnuts, almonds, pecans

• seeds- pumpkin, sunflower

• whole grains- rolled oats, whole wheat flour

• meat- * I always make an effort to buy organic (animal is not grain fed and eats a natural diet) grass fed beef, organic chicken breasts

• fish- canned tuna, salmon

• eggs- *I always make an effort to buy pasture raised

• beans- black, kidney, pinto

Why I chose to drift away from the conventional American diet?

I really began to drift away from prepackaged items in the grocery store when I started to more closely analyze the nutrition labels. The number of added sugars, ingredients I can't even pronounce, chemicals, colorings, and preservatives are overwhelming. I just simply decided that those are not things I want in my body, and completely stopped buying processed foods. I did not realize just how much sugar I was eating a day until I gave it up and the cravings to want more just went away. Now, If I get a craving for a dessert, I bake it myself with much less sugar than if I were to buy it.

Benefits I feel I gained from eating more whole foods?

• Overall sense of well being

• More energy

• Clearer skin

• Mental clarity

• Boosted immune system

Once I started this journey, I haven't looked back. I enjoy cooking with whole foods, making delicious, nutritious meals from scratch, and feel good knowing I am not overwhelming my body with things that shouldn't be in food in the first place! IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START IMPROVING YOUR LIFE‼️