It took a lot of research, time, and effort to finally figure out the foods that work for me.
I used to have a diet-mentality that feeding my body with the lowest-calorie foods I could find was healthiest and the "best" way to eat. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I barely sustained myself on highly processed foods that promised me health and the ability to be skinny and fit. Meanwhile, my mind was a wreck, my body was starving, and my digestive system was suffering. When I first realized I was gluten-intolerant, the stomachaches continued because I didn't take the time to properly research what foods have gluten; I assumed it was only pasta and bread that I couldn't eat. Little did I know that gluten is hidden in a lot of the foods I used to enjoy daily, including farro and soy sauce! This got me thinking...maybe I needed to reevaluate what I was eating in general, and not just with gluten. Since then, I have switched to mainly eating ingredients I can pronounce and know are from the ground, not a factory. This means I eat loads of produce and little processed foods (*cough* I'm looking at you, Splenda *cough*).
How I eat now is still imperfect- and will always be. I still enjoy an occasional Stevia in my tea, and I love having my annual summer Dairy Queen (because let's be honest, nothing beats an original Blizzard). However, I look back on how I used to eat and can't imagine how my body tolerated that hell I put it through. As I continue to grow and learn more about how to properly fuel my body and mind, my pantry will change as well! There is no perfect way to eat and no one-size-fits-all meal plan. Healthy eating is about balance, something I work towards in all aspects of my life everyday. It's a never-ending challenge, but one that I enjoy as I see the benefits of it each day!
Take a look at my favorites, and adjust as you see fit for you:
Vegetables:
Zucchini
Mesclun
Spinach
Kale
Asparagus
Mushrooms
Squash
Carrots
Cucumber
Arugula
Peppers
Sweet potatoes
Raddicchio
Fennel
Bibb lettuce
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli
Onions
Celery
Broccolini
Fruits:
Apples
Bananas
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Avocado
Tomatoes
Grapes
Dates
Pineapple
Lemons
Kiwi
Pears
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Herbs & Spices:
Cayenne Pepper
Turmeric
Ginger
Cumin
Coriander
Cinnamon
Parlsey
Basil
Salt/Pepper
Garlic
Nutmeg
Cilantro
Gluten-free Grains and Starches:
Brown, White, Wild Rice
Quinoa
Gluten-free Oats
Sweet Potatoes
Baking Potatoes
Any beans (especially Chickpeas and Black Beans)
Rice cakes
Fats:
Olive oil
Nuts
Tahini
Coconut oil
Avocado oil
Protein:
Salmon
Eggs
Chicken
Tuna
White Fish
Grass-fed beef
Baking and Extra:
Cocoa/Cacao powder
Stevia
Coconut Sugar
Chocolate chips (I love Lily's Chocolate Chips)
Apple Cider Vinegar (<--great for digestion!)
Balsamic Vinegar
Vanilla Extract
Honey
Green tea
Herbal tea
Coffee
I used to have a diet-mentality that feeding my body with the lowest-calorie foods I could find was healthiest and the "best" way to eat. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I barely sustained myself on highly processed foods that promised me health and the ability to be skinny and fit. Meanwhile, my mind was a wreck, my body was starving, and my digestive system was suffering. When I first realized I was gluten-intolerant, the stomachaches continued because I didn't take the time to properly research what foods have gluten; I assumed it was only pasta and bread that I couldn't eat. Little did I know that gluten is hidden in a lot of the foods I used to enjoy daily, including farro and soy sauce! This got me thinking...maybe I needed to reevaluate what I was eating in general, and not just with gluten. Since then, I have switched to mainly eating ingredients I can pronounce and know are from the ground, not a factory. This means I eat loads of produce and little processed foods (*cough* I'm looking at you, Splenda *cough*).
How I eat now is still imperfect- and will always be. I still enjoy an occasional Stevia in my tea, and I love having my annual summer Dairy Queen (because let's be honest, nothing beats an original Blizzard). However, I look back on how I used to eat and can't imagine how my body tolerated that hell I put it through. As I continue to grow and learn more about how to properly fuel my body and mind, my pantry will change as well! There is no perfect way to eat and no one-size-fits-all meal plan. Healthy eating is about balance, something I work towards in all aspects of my life everyday. It's a never-ending challenge, but one that I enjoy as I see the benefits of it each day!
Take a look at my favorites, and adjust as you see fit for you:
Vegetables:
Zucchini
Mesclun
Spinach
Kale
Asparagus
Mushrooms
Squash
Carrots
Cucumber
Arugula
Peppers
Sweet potatoes
Raddicchio
Fennel
Bibb lettuce
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli
Onions
Celery
Broccolini
Fruits:
Apples
Bananas
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Avocado
Tomatoes
Grapes
Dates
Pineapple
Lemons
Kiwi
Pears
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Herbs & Spices:
Cayenne Pepper
Turmeric
Ginger
Cumin
Coriander
Cinnamon
Parlsey
Basil
Salt/Pepper
Garlic
Nutmeg
Cilantro
Gluten-free Grains and Starches:
Brown, White, Wild Rice
Quinoa
Gluten-free Oats
Sweet Potatoes
Baking Potatoes
Any beans (especially Chickpeas and Black Beans)
Rice cakes
Fats:
Olive oil
Nuts
Tahini
Coconut oil
Avocado oil
Protein:
Salmon
Eggs
Chicken
Tuna
White Fish
Grass-fed beef
Baking and Extra:
Cocoa/Cacao powder
Stevia
Coconut Sugar
Chocolate chips (I love Lily's Chocolate Chips)
Apple Cider Vinegar (<--great for digestion!)
Balsamic Vinegar
Vanilla Extract
Honey
Green tea
Herbal tea
Coffee