Good for You Foods

LOL... Depends on what I'm doing!!! Because 'good for you' changes depending on what's going on medically.

If I'm sick... My favorite good for you food is McDonalds. Practically already digested for you, and loaded with fats to help the immune system.

If I'm in training... Then we're talking mega proteins (gosh, I love steak) & powerbars.

If I'm being really sedentary... Popcorn with Nutritionsl Yeast!!! & celery (not together)... Because there isn't much to them. Sooo yummy. Also roasted carrots and beets.

Most of the time I hate fruit (messes with my blood sugar far worse than candy)... But sakes alive do I love frozen grapes in the summer, and the 2 week window for muscat grapes in the winter!

Love love love greens, but I don't get kidney stones! Greens are great for me, but will land my mum in the hospital.

I could eat sushi for every meal, except when I'm sick.

My bones miss cheese (pear & blue cheese flatbread is another fruit I'm willing to suffer for)... But I've recently become lactose intolerant. Oy. No bueno!

Yeesh. I'm soooo OLD. (Not really). But, point being, 'healthy' changes dramatically. My favorite 'best' for me food is actually really unhealthy for AMost people... But Marrow reeeeeeally helps my joints. It's a wonder food for me, regardless of how it affects others.

ALL the foods I eat are delicious. I'd rather not eat than eat icky foods (sensory issues). Most of them are also EXACTLY what my body needs right then. Whether its McDonalds, sautéed greens, etc. it's all about looking at what my body needs that day/week

since moving toward a mostly plant-based diet, i'm finding veggies much more interesting than i used to. one of my favorite go-tos is broc/caul nuggets. i chunk 'em, toss them with olive oil, spices and a little bread crumbs or panko, then roast them on high heat for about 15 minutes, flip and go for a few minutes more, et voila! a little yogurt-based bbq dip, and i've got a way better version of chicken nuggets.
and because anything worth doing is worth doing to excess, i can plough away enough of those bad boys to nullify the 'good for you' effect.
:) khairete
S.

My family eats dried apples like it is going out of style. We bought a dehydrator for about $30 and will buy a few cases of apples and have that sucka going all week! Of course, if you eat too many, the calories add up, but they really are as good as candy.

I loooooove cabbage these days. There are so many things you can do with it. We make Chinese Chicken salad with it, or cut it into large wedges, wrap in bacon and cook in the oven. Or I will shred it and saute it over the stove and add a fried egg and some salsa or marinara for breakfast. Shred and steam and then substitute it for pasta and add your favorite sauce. Yum!

Broccoli. Raw, added to salads, steamed with salt and pepper, roasted. It is the only veggie the whole family loves so we buy a lot of it.

I also recently discovered how tasty it is to slice a cucumber, add a bit if shredded chicken on top, bit of balsamic vinegar and possibly a bit if feta cheese. Healthy, low-cal and super satisfying.

Oh yes, and brussels sprouts and kale. Never tried em till recently. I only like the brussels sprouts roasted or sauteed (and they have to be fresh- never from the freezer or they taste slimy and bitter), but then they taste great plain or with anything on them. I will make a big batch and eat them with all my meals. They taste like a cross between cabbage and cauliflower, In fact, I think that MAY be what they actually are... Also kale and spinach freeze well and I add them to scrambled eggs, soups, meatloaf, smoothies, etc.

Chick peas, kashe, kale, mmmm

Brocolli. I can eat it steamed, raw, or cooked--anytime.

I am eating one of my favorites now, steel cut oatmeal with fresh raspberries.

I also love raw carrots from a local farm, I swear they are the best carrots ever. I buy 20lbs. when they have them :-)

I love steamed broccoli and cauliflower, green beans too. I also love beets and brussel sprouts, roasted with olive oil.

one thing i've found on my fitness journey is that sometimes it's not about what "tastes" good. lol. i know no one wants to hear that..! but keep in mind it's there to sustain us, not be a guilty pleasure. what i did was get very strict during the day (i work ft so at work is easiest for me) and then i loosen up a little at dinner (although i still watch my portions) and on weekends.

when i got serious about eating better, i started buying carrots, broccoli, and celery. i cut up a baggie full and eat it every day at work. i always liked carrots, but i went from feeling "so-so" about broccoli, to loving it, and from really disliking celery, to actually "kinda" liking it lol. anyway it's better than just a bag of carrots. much better variety and much healthier to mix it up. i eat them with some ranch dressing (just a little cup) and have absolutely no guilt. and i am losing weight. (although i also work my butt off, working out for an hour every morning so that helps)

my normal "lunch" for work days (although i eat them throughout the day) is this: a boiled egg, my bag of veggies and ranch, a fat free turkey/cheese rollup or sandwich, maybe an apple, maybe a bag of 100 calorie microwave popcorn. i've also been pretty liberal with allowing one sweet snack most days.

i also experimented with hummus - YUM! i found that making my own IS way cheaper, and very easy - but doesn't taste near as good as store bought lol. i have been craving some for a couple weeks, i really need to go get some.

i also love the 100 calorie packs of microwave popcorn - you get a huge "bang" for your buck there. lots of crunchy craving satisfaction, only 100 calories. there are 100 calorie packs of cookies and crackers too that are SUPER yummy, but to me they are gone too fast and don't go very far to quench that craving.

I love roasted cauliflower. Cut it into chunks, toss it in olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake at 400 until they are soft. You'll want to turn them once or twice so they don't get too brown on either side.

I also love chicken chili. Ground chili, white beans, a can of roasted diced tomatoes, chili powder, and whatever other seasonings you like in your chili. Eat it with a dollop of sour cream. Yum!

I mix black beans with some spicy hummus, spread on a whole wheat tortilla and add lettuce. Its also good with chicken-sometimes i warm the chicken in a pan with a little dressing. I shred chicken and portion it out in advance.

Surprisingly I am loving Kale. It is probably one of the MOST healthy foods that you can eat. Brussel sprouts also-slowly working on those though :-)

I am addicted to apples! My favorite breakfast is an apple cut in half with peanut butter spread on it, then dipped in granola. It is so good, satisfying and keeps me full, sometimes I forget to eat lunch!

Spinach leaves...but not if you're prone to kidney stones. I love love love cheese, but lately it doesn't love me back. Really any raw vegetable is a go to for me.
Also, around my period, I love red meat. I don't touch it any other time, but I crave it then. I figure different foods are healthy for ME depending on what my body is needing at the moment.