The Wholefoods Life: A Simple Guide to Eating Whole and Well

07 May 2015

Living by a wholefoods lifestyle simply refers to consuming foods that are as close to their source as possible. This means eating local, seasonal produce that Mother Nature provides for us. One ingredient foods including fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, pulses, whole grains, eggs, fish, red meats, and white meats are classified as whole foods. This is because they do not contain any other added ingredients to enhance flavour or to change the properties of the food itself. Wholefoods living is all about taking it back to basics – a farm-to-table approach by which we are able to identify the source of the foods we eat and are confident that minimal adulteration has occurred during the harvesting process. Eating organic whole foods (that are non-GMO and contain no pesticides or fertilisers) is the ultimate goal; however organic is not always readily available and often comes at a heavy cost; therefore I recommend local produce from smaller farms. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the produce farm, the higher the crop yield – which means more fertilisers, GMO’s, herbicides and pesticides to meet demands. It is always best to buy from smaller grocers than mainstream stores.

What Should I eat in a day?

I get this question a lot. I am not about singling out one specific way of eating. I really do believe that each individual is completely different – from the way we perceive the world to the way we process and assimilate food into our bodies. This is why nutrition, as with any individual difference is very personal – something we ought to take the time to figure out by truly listening attentively to what our bodies need. The better we are at tuning in to our bodies, the greater our understanding of what works for us becomes. So what should you eat in a day – well let’s start with what you should do before you eat:

• On waking up, drink a large mug of hot water with lemon, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper and cinnamon to cleanse your system.
• Take a probiotic to promote healthy digestion.
• For breakfast opt for low GI carbs such as rolled oats or proteins such as scrambled eggs cooked in coconut oil. If you are feeling a little flat, add a scoop of vegan protein powder to oats/chia to give yourself a protein kick.
• For lunch try opt for a salad of some sort – the more veggies, herbs and seeds the better! Add chicken, chickpeas, quinoa or lentils to keep you satiated. I absolutely love Tahini, so I usually drizzle my salad with some delicious tahini dressing.
• To snack on, stick to a handful of raw nuts, seeds, berries, fresh fruit and dates – dates in particular curb any sweet cravings and are fantastic before a workout.
• For dinner, try and keep your carbohydrates to a low. A wholesome dinner should consist of lean meat, chicken or fish with loads of steamed veggies, salad, leafy greens or stews/curries. If you enjoy your stews with a carb try CAULIFLOWER RICE instead. This is a fantastic, great-tasting low carb alternative that works with just about any dish.

What should I eat more of?

Nourishing whole foods straight from Mother Nature! These foods provide us with high quality vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fibre, nutrients, and antioxidants. So lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocados, pulses, legumes, whole grains, coconut oil, olive oil, nut butters, macadamia nut oil, superfoods, eggs, and organic animal proteins (if you wish). Adopting a whole foods approach to eating is colourful and exciting – especially re-creating traditional recipes using healthier ingredients –yes you can totally make healthy pancakes, cake, bread, muffins and brownies! It’s all about switching up ingredients and getting a little creative. Once you have converted to whole foods, believe me you will never want to go back!

What should I eat less of?

Anything that comes in a pretty, shiny packet, has a "half a page" ingredients listing and “boasts” an expiry date older than you should be avoided! These are not real foods, but rather once-was-food ingredients that have been adulterated, processed, refined and chemically adjusted to look and taste like something else.

This includes foods such as:

Refined sugars

Anything “low fat”/ “light” or “fat free”

Cereals

Marinades

Sauces

Cold meats

Processed goods

Refined grains

Artificial sweeteners

Unhealthy fats

Precooked meals

Junk food

Carbonated beverages

Anything with an expiry date older than you!

Remember to keep it simple, natural and nourishing!

Yours in Health Always,

Cara-Lisa

xoxo