All raw fruits and vegetables have nutrients and minerals that if consumed on a daily basis keep the immune system strong and the body healthy. But, alas, we are a fast food quick fix nation and getting enough fruits and vegetables can be a daunting task these days.
We have slowly learned to adapt to eating high sodium, sugar, high fat, high carb, hormone and antibiotic meat and dairy, msg, chemical and pesticide laden prepackaged foods. Whew! No wonder we have higher instances of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autism and obesity! In our efforts to feed a growing population, we seem to have lost our way from our natural diet, the diet our grandparents and forbearers consumed.
Consider this, all animals in the wild, whether they are carnivore, herbivore or omnivore, eat raw meat or insects, raw leafy greens, grasses, fruits, nuts and seeds and generally have beautiful healthy looking bodies when food sources are readily available. Man is the only animal that changes Mother Nature’s food supply. It may be in our nature to do so as we are after all on top of the food chain, but have we unwittingly created our own undoing?
Most people would agree that we need to get more fruits and veggies in our diets but the mere mention of it to our children (and husbands) can sometimes cause gasps and shudders at the thought of eating the funny looking green things on our plates! But, being the creative individuals that we are, we can cleverly increase our intake of vital nutrients, on a gradient if need be, and increase our bodies ability to detoxify and gain better health!
If you were to keep a diary of every meal and snack you eat for just one week, I think you will find that most North Americans are sorely lacking in the fruit and vegetable department. So what can you do? Here are some tips that you may find helpful.
1. If you must eat carbs like cakes and cookies, take Mrs. Seinfeld’s lead and hide pureed fruits and veggies in them. Don’t tell your kids what’s in them until they originate that they love this cake you just made for them.
2. Introduce homemade fruit smoothies at least once a day. They make a great and tasty snack. Adding some protein powder can give you a nice balance and it can keep you filled up.
3. Salads are a great way to get your vegetable intake but you may still have opposition at your dinner table. Another option is to take a few fruits and veggies and juice them. You may actually get a lot more nutrients into your family if you can get them to drink a glass every day. Plus you can sneak in some leafy greens, beans or peas or whatever it is you can’t get them to eat. It’s a quick and easy solution. For the more resistant family members you may need to include a fancy presentation such as putting the fresh juice into a martini or margarita glass with an orange slice. That worked wonders in getting my family to drink up.
4. Raw fruits and veggies are best but soups and stews are also a good way to get your nutrients. Consuming the liquids from cooked veggies make a lot of sense. If you boil and strain your vegetables then valuable nutrients are just going down the drain. Keep those nutrients in your diet by eating soups and stews.
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of your diet. They have almost everything you need to feed and detox your body on a cellular level. It behooves us all to invest in our own and our family’s health by increasing consumption of nature’s incredible bounty!