When I refer to "whole food eating", it means you are consuming food in its most natural state, or as close to it as possible.
The best foods to eat for health and proper fuel, are foods that are one ingredient, aka whole, or you sometimes may hear them referred to as “clean” foods. Typically these foods are the best because they are unprocessed or minimally processed, and don't include preservatives, artificial ingredients, additives or fillers that will derail your health. Foods occurring in “nature” are the most nutrient dense and will provide you with the best results. If the majority of your eating can come from whole food nutrition, your body will reap the benefits.
Eating organic is best to avoid toxic chemicals, pesticides, preservatives, hormones, and GMO’s that are being put into our food and causing inflammation, various illnesses, obesity, and food intolerance. It is not easy to always buy organic, but these foods are more beneficial to health.
Some tips:
Meal timing: this can vary depending on your lifestyle and activity level, but aim to eat intuitively ~ every 3-4 hours from your first meal to allow your body to fully digest between meals, while preventing extreme hunger and maintaining energy levels.
Balance your macro-nutrients. Meals should consist of lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates ("one ingredient" carbs are best, which are not processed and are occurring in nature).
Get label savy. Always read the "ingredient" portion of your food labels first. That is the true guide to what you are eating. Shorter ingredient lists are a good sign of a healthier product. A word you don't recognize usually means chemicals and non-food substances that don't belong in your body! * Tip- Ask yourself did this come from the ground? Or Aisle 7!?
Best to limit: overly processed foods, refined sugars, white flour, bad fats such as trans and saturated fats.
Consume healthy fats everyday (essential fatty acids, or EFA’s)
Monitor portion sizes (no calorie counting needed!)
Drink plenty of water throughout the day
