I'm not saying this is the "perfect" list of foods to eliminate from your life, but there are probably some surprises here, so let's learn more about them.
How many of these do you regularly eat?
No judgment! We all start somewhere. It's the progress that counts!
For me, it's 3. I knew processed meat isn't good for me; the other two are news to me, though - I use canned tomatoes regularly and thought the thicker-skinned fruits were "safer," but I guess I need to research more on how heavily they're sprayed.
Let's go through these together to get some ideas how we can do better, shall we? You can choose which changes work for you now and which are maybe further down the road:
- Canned tomatoes - It's the lining on the inside of the cans combined with the acidity of the tomatoes that causes problems. Opt for fresh tomatoes or those canned in glass.
- Processed meats - I don't really know of an "alternative" here. It's mostly just eliminating them over time. This is my struggle point as I really do love my pepperoni pizza now and then or adding pepperoni to my grilled cheese.
- Margarine - It's one molecule away from being plastic. Our bodies don't recognize it as food. Use butter or coconut oil instead.
- Soy protein isolate - I see this a lot these days. Take a look at your "health" shakes! If the top ingredients include soy protein isolate ... run! It's highly processed. Find a brand made of real food! I know of three I can recommend if you need help.
- Microwave popcorn - Like tomatoes, this is more about the packaging. Pop your own and add real butter!
- Highly contaminated fruits - Pesticides kill living organisms; do you want to ingest that residue? Best option - produce grown locally by yourself or someone you know doesn't use pesticides. Second best option - organic choices from the store.
- Table salt - Completely devoid of nutrients. Use a mineral rich salt instead, such as sea salt.
- Vegetable oils - Highly processed and are easily damaged by heat, meaning they're not suitable for cooking with. Choose coconut oil, avocado oil, or butter instead.
- Artificial sweeteners - These are also fake, and your body doesn't recognize them as food. Use honey, maple syrup, stevia, or other natural options when possible, but even sugar is better than its artificial alternatives like aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, etc.
Can I challenge you? Can you choose one of the items on this list that you currently use often and commit to choosing other options? Just one! You can do it!
As for me, I'm going to grow more tomatoes than I'd planned this summer and can them myself, and I'll be better about choosing the organic options for produce ...
That pepperoni pizza will be more difficult!
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