Hey Gorgeous, I’ve listened to loads of health & wellness experts & studied a wide variety of dietary philosophies over the last few years & have come to the conclusion there is always going to be an ongoing debate about what to eat & what not to eat - Should I be paleo, vegan, pescatarian, adopt the ayuverdic principles perhaps or maybe only eat organic foods – seriously this is full on stuff!
Ultimately & fortunately the decision lies with you & if you are committed to creating & maintaining a happy healthy life, then I urge you to take the time to educate yourself on this topic. What I do know for sure is that when you tune in & listen to your body, ask your body what it needs, observe how you feel after you eat & most importantly infuse a loving energy into the foods you eat you are on your way to discovering the right eating style for your body.
There are a myriad of practical lifestyle considerations which you might like to factor into your decision making process whilst you are figuring out what foods give you the energy you need including + Fresh food availablility + Price point & affordablility + Cultural beliefs & values + Food allergies & intolerances
It’s definitely not a one size fits all scenario.
So please, take the time to explore & experiment with different ways of eating & ultimately you WILL find the right fit for you. Ask loads of questions when you are grocery shopping, this is a fantastic way to empower & improve your food knowledge & build your shopping confidence. In the meantime here are some super simple guidelines I follow when I’m buying my groceries & if you feel drawn to using them, then please do so, I hope you find them helpful for your needs.
Local Farmers Markets _ I prefer to buy my fresh produce here when it’s available to me. I prefer to buy organic & locally grown produce & find the shelf life of my fruit/veggies is much better than the supermarket varieties. I also love supporting my local community by spending my money locally.
Local vs Imported_ Locally grown produce has a higher nutrient value compared to imported produce. This is an important consideration because a lot of our produce is now imported. Fruit/veggies are normally labelled “Australian Grown” or “imported from (insert country name here) so look out for this next time you buy your fruit/veggies & buy locally where you can.
Seasonal Produce_ If price point is a consideration for you then I recommend buying fruit/veggies which are currently in season. They are more abundant & cheaper to buy as well as being super yummy.
Rainbow Colours – I like to stock up on all colours of the rainbow to ensure I’m consuming a wide range of nutrients.
Grow your Own - If you have the time why not start a little herb garden or veggie patch with your favourite fruit and veggies. This is a fantastic project for your children & a great way for them to learn where food comes from.
Fun Foods - In our family, we aim to eat healthily most of the time & always leave room for “sometimes” foods as Elmo would call them.
Now, let’s be honest, in an ideal world we'd all pick our organic fruit & veggies from our backyard every night for dinner, but the harsh reality is most of us buy "food in a box" or processed foods, so I've included below my super simple guidelines for buying "food in a box".
Read the Ingredient Label
Read the Ingredient Label
Read the Ingredient Label
Now, my tip for you is, if you don’t understand what you read on the ingredient label, then please think twice about buying it. Happy shopping & have a beautiful day!
Love K xxxxx