People always seem to have trouble with their diets. There are whole industries devoted to telling you what you should eat, when you should eat it, and how much of it you should eat. Sometimes these programs work, and sometimes they don’t!
But since you’re a health conscious person, you probably like to take matters into your own hands as much as you can. Besides, what you eat affects how you feel, your energy levels, and your weight. We all know the basics that we’ve heard for years: don’t eat too much fat, eat whole grain, avoid sugar and junk food. But what about specific information?
There are literally thousands of different types of food in this world. There are almost 4,000 types of potatoes, yet only a dozen or so are commonly eaten here in the States! If you’ve ever been curious about expanding the choices you have for a healthy lifestyle, be sure to read on.
1. Quinoa
Pronounced “keenwah,” this ancient grain was a staple in parts of South America for thousands of years. It has been increasingly recognized as one of the healthiest grains on the planet. It’s one of the few plant sources that is a complete protein, meaning it has all of the amino acids needed by the human body. It cooks much the same as brown rice and you can easily substitute it in any dish that uses rice, noodles, pasta, or any grain.
2. Kale
Kale is, as WebMD puts it, “one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet.” That’s a bold claim, but it’s true. Kale is low in calories, packed with important nutrients, minerals, and vitamins like calcium, magnesium, vitamins B6, A, C, K, and much more. You can eat kale just like any other green; it’s great in salads, soups, and even in some pastas. Kale earns bonus points for being available all winter too!