Earthly Eating

With the fear of unhealthy pesticides and chemicals in our foods now days, a lot of people are turning to health food stores and what they offer to the public. But, are you making the right choices, even at a health food store? Here are some ways to make sure you make the right decision and choices the next time you visit your local health food store.

• Don’t be fooled by fads: Bad fats are unhealthy by any name. Ghee (clarified butter), has the same amount of artery clogging saturated fats as does regular butter and was found to promote cardiovascular disease in four separate studies. Stick with liquid vegetable oils, trans free spreads, and low-fat cheese, all found in abundance at these stores.

• Do stock up in the “dairy” section: With healthy dairy and nondairy selections, is easy to get the dairy products that are the bone-0building calcium products you need. The options are: low-fat, creamy Greek-style yogurt made from sheep’s or goat’s milk; kefir and other products with friendly bacteria that improves digestive health and boost immunity; plus soy or rice-based items that are low in saturated fat.

• Don’t assume that the hot food deli bar is healthier: Freshly made doesn’t necessarily means good for you. For example, mashed potatoes prepared with butter, whole milk and salt, and bakery goods made with eggs, butter, and cream are fresh and unprocessed, but they can be high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium per serving. Organic macaroni and cheese can range upward of 410 calories and 16g of fat (10g of which is saturated) per cup.

• Do check out the faux meat aisle: They are one of the few places that carry an extensive variety of “vegetarian meats,” including ready-to-eat, high protein, fiber-rich, cholesterol, and saturated fat free lunchmeats, hot dogs, burgers, and sausages. Incorporating more vegetarian proteins into your diet and eating less saturated fat helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

• Don’t get your vegetables in the supplement aisle: Most natural food emporiums have sizable supplement departments, compared with supermarkets, accounting for up to 15% of the square footage of some store. Though supplements can help round out nutritional shortfalls, they can’t replace the thousands of natural nutrients in whole foods. Never spend more on supplements than you do on groceries.

• Do look for local produce at your health food store of choice: A health food store can be the next best thing to a farmers’ market. Whole Foods, for example, aims to dedicate 20% of its produce section to locally grown fruits and vegetables. Buying local has its advantages: Because the distance from the farm to your plate is shorter, it’s good for the planet (fewer carbon emissions are created in transit), and the food is more nutrient packed than varieties from distant lands.
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

One-Step Party Dip
Makes: 2 cups or 16 servings

1 container (16 oz.) Sour Cream
1 package of Italian Salad Dressing and Recipe Mix

Mix ingredients until well blended. Serve with cut-up fresh vegetables.

Here are some cookbooks to add to your collection:

Happy Eating!