introduction to whole foods :)

Vegetables provide most of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need. And Fruit provides complex carbohydrates and natural sugar that can easily converted into energy. (It is harder for your body to convert natural sugar into fat so, it would rather have you expend the energy than to convert it. That's why those who eat this way have more energy! We can't help it. haha.)

We need complex carbohydrates because they provide necessary energy for our bodies. When we eat whole-foods, plant based, it is like a symphony going on in our bodies, so many things working together to provide the cells with what they need.
Natural antioxidants found in the food shields (or the color part of the food) help our bodies with the free radicals, which our bodies cannot help combat on it's own.

Processed can be kind of a loose term. If you do any thing to food (i.e. grind wheat) you are risking some nutritional value being lost. It is for the fact that most of the "american diet" food we buy and eat has been stripped of these complex carbohydrates which are GOOD for us leaving simple carbs, the empty carbs, then, because they don't really taste good anymore are shot with either salt, refined sugar, MSG and a whole host off additives and shelf stabilizing preservatives.
So the idea of being processed is OK (I make my own whole wheat bread, I cook vegetables), but over the years of eating most commercially processed foods, is what has caused our bodies to gain and keep weight, cause diseases, disorders and cancers.

So a few things to mull around...

We must start to think what are the worst things I could be putting in my body? And thinking of was to use them less and less. Kind of like self weaning. (I can give you some starters)

And two-if anyone in your family says they are allergic to vegetables :). Trust me, I know the feeling! To me a vegetable ONLY tasted good it it was SMOTHERED in Ranch (Hidden Valley of course :)

If we or they don't like the regular taste, I don't blame us. So, what are you going to do about that? Welcome to the wonderful world of herbs and spices. When they are prepared at home in all of their loving glory that you can put into them, we will like them, trust me. In addition to herbs and spices, buying Extra Virgin Olive Oil-Cold Pressed, and natural sugar (like honey, agave nectar, 100% pure maple syrup) are excellent choices to flavor veggies.
(And these natural sugars have a low glycemic index so it doesn't give you the spikes in insulin and you don't have to use as much because it's sweeter. I recommend finding some of these and using them instead of white, brown or powdered sugar.)

It's really quite easy! All I do is spend a little more time in the kitchen preparing whole-foods, plant based, and bingo, yummy meals!! There was a 3-4 month learning, preparing and buying curve to this and wow, what a short investment for yummy food and healthy eating!