Mealtime in Wonderland: Noshing on UN-food???

Organic.
Fair trade.
All natural.
Locavore.
Sustainable agriculture.

The average consumer is definitely becoming more savvy these days when it comes to food. This is certainly encouraging, especially in a society where convenience is king. Yet, we continue to be surprised as more and more companies are being exposed for touting products unfit for consumption.

Spurred by a recent lawsuit against Taco Bell, an article on the subject of what today's quick "foods" are made up of was published on The Daily Beast's website on January 26th. Author Kate Dailey detailed the many ways consumers are continually misguided into thinking products that last on shelves for months and years are made of natural ingredients - in everything from Snapple drinks to blueberry muffins. She points out that many items contain minute amounts of the natural ingredients that make up the intended flavors of, say, cherry or pomegranate drinks. Most, she says, contain so little that they are not included in the list of ingredients!


What's most concerning, I believe, is that while we are becoming more and more educated as to what's best to put inside our bodies, that we still have such a long way to go in terms of making real food as accessible to the general public as the bountiful UN-food counterparts lining much of our big box grocery stores today.

Someone once said, "if man made it, don't eat it." Not something I think you have to live strictly by, but definitely good advice to keep in your back pocket! Dailey pointed out that no ones goes to Taco Bell "for a health kick." True...but I'm sure there are plenty of people supplementing their diet staple Big Macs for a McDonald's salad (hey, they say it's classy!).

That's why it is even more important to continue educating yourself and your family on where your foods are coming from, what they're made out of, and how close to natural your foods are. I try to guide myself by consuming as much food that comes from nature as I possibly can. If it's man-made, I always look at the ingredient list to find out what's in what I'm eating. 

Remember, the more you read, the more you'll come to understand how to eat more healthfully! In the meantime, stay tuned for more helpful hints on how to decipher food labels and get the healthiest bang for your buck at the grocery store!

Sneaky Smoothie Recipes

Homemade smoothies are a great way to help you get in your daily fruit servings. But, did you know this delicious treat can also help you get in some servings of veggies as well? Just a handful of baby spinach added to your smoothie is a quick & easy way to add in extra nutrients while also crossing a serving of veg off your list for the day!

For my smoothies, I typically use frozen fruit - more affordable, especially during the off-season - but always put in fresh fruit when I have it. I simply toss about a cup of fruit into a blender, add a cup of juice (apple, orange, pomegranate, etc.), and a cup of yogurt - you can use fruit or plain. I like to use this yogurt, because it has an amazing amount of protein. Add some flax meal or your own ground flax seeds, your handful of spinach, and a few cubes of ice. Then simply blend and enjoy!

You can adjust the recipe to your taste, and feel free to get creative with your combinations! You can certainly find all sorts of smoothie recipes online, too. You're only limited by your imagination!!!
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The Designed Life - Choose the Life You Want!