Getting "Fresh" With Lorianne
Many of you know that Lorianne is a foodie who loves natural and organic food. In fact, she feels that good food is so important to our quality of life, she went back to college to learn more about how what we eat or don't eat impacts every aspect of our lives. In December 2006, Lorianne graduated with Highest Honors from Clayton College of Natural Health with a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition. She is currently studying for her Masters Degree, Holistic Nutrition. Here are some of her thoughts on healthy eating that also tastes amazing!
People love to talk about food! I know I do. When some of the stars I interview find out I've been studying nutrition, they ask "what is your main advice about healthy eating?" That's a big question! I have a couple of answers. First, my years of studying taught me that every single person has a unique body chemistry, which means that a "diet" that works for one person may not work at all for another person. Just like finding the right partner in marriage, we all have to put in the effort to find the right foods that give us energy and make us feel like we can take on the world day after day.
In my opinion, one of the most important things we can do, and what I strive to do at every meal, is eat fresh, colorful foods from the earth. The colors in fresh foods are the signal that they are full of vitamins and minerals we need to be healthy. Most things in cans and boxes have been processed, meaning they've gone through some man-made factories where many of the natural nutrients the body needs have been destroyed by various packaging processes...or artificial ingredients have been added that are not so good for the body. Now I admit it's impossible to eat only fresh foods. That's just not practical in today's world, but here are some examples of fresh meal ideas that I prepare every day.
Breakfast: A small handful of fresh fruit, either blueberries, chopped pear (wash it but don't peel it, the skin contains tons of nutrients!), or raspberries, anything you like. Add a few spoonfuls of plain yogurt, sprinkle cinnamon, a small handful of walnuts, and then drizzle with honey or agave nectar. Agave is nectar from cactus, which sounds strange but it's really good. To me it tastes like liquid brown sugar! Studies show that it doesn't raise blood sugar as much as table sugar or honey. In fact, the famous anti-aging doctor N.V. Perricone is a proponent of agave nectar. This breakfast is so good, I eat it almost every day, using different fruits and types of nuts.
Lunch: I love bread and I don't think it's bad for you if you eat the real whole grain type that is so hearty and filling. Especially in the summer, I enjoy slicing up fresh tomatoes and cucumber, placing it on whole grain bread sometimes with a slice of Havarti cheese, and adding some brown mustard. Instead of potato chips, I eat sliced radishes. That may sound terrible, but I'm hooked on radishes!
Dinner: I almost always have a great big salad piled with fresh vegetables, like green bell pepper, carrots, a little bit of red cabbage, and of course radishes! I love to make all kinds of home-made soups, so I'll have a bowl of that. Sometimes there is some leftover seafood or meat that I add. My husband is a real meat-and-three country boy from South Carolina, but he loves my salads, especially when I sprinkle pecans on top.
Those are just a few examples of meals I live on. Many people tell me it just sounds like too much trouble to buy and chop up all those fruits and vegetables, but Dr. Andrew Weil said it best...if all of us are going to reduce the epidemic of obesity and lifestyle diseases in America, we absolutely MUST make it a priority to take the time to prepare and ENJOY healthier food choices. I am one of those who was eating fast food, gaining weight, and feeling lackluster several years ago. And I had never cooked in my life! But once I started putting together a few fresh meals and realized how great they tasted, I was hooked! I continue to scour America for the healthiest and easiest recipes. My goal is to share them with you as often as possible!
-Lorianne