Get Your Whole Foods!

April 14, 2008

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By guest blogger LaTara Ham-Ying, host of the Vegan Family Living podcast.
When we change things, we often have to make some adjustments and implement.

So goes life!

As vegans, there is a need to change many things and work on new ways of thinking when it comes to living. We are not the “norm” - whatever that is – and so we have a great deal of adjusting to do when it comes to daily living.

One of our major challenges lies in supplementing and balancing meals.

One of the best ways we can get what we need is by eating whole foods. Whole foods are those foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible before being consumed. They typically do not contain added sugar, salt, fat, or chemicals.

For the vegan eater that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, unpolished grains, beans/legumes, and raw nuts.

A whole food diet ensures that you get optimum nutrition and the need for supplements other than those that our diet lacks, like B12. If you eat a diet that is mostly whole food, then you will not have to purchase tons of supplements to counterbalance all the fragmented foods you put in your body. Your body knows the difference and will react accordingly when not properly nourished.

It is important to note that whole food does not constitute organic. Therefore the best types of whole foods to purchase are organic because they are the cleanest.

Getting these foods into your diet is not a difficult task. The problem comes in when you purchase more boxed or convenient vegan products. As a vegan, or anyone for that matter, it is important that your kitchen resemble a garden as opposed to a manufacturer. In other words, buy fresh. It is fine to eat vegan convenient foods like Boca, Amy’s, or Morning Star but we need to insure proper nutrition by consuming whole vegan-friendly meals. For that reason it is best to consume daily one or two servings of whole grains, a serving of beans, plenty of vegetables of many different colors, and fruit and nuts as snacks.

So the next time you are in your grocery store, skip the frozen food section and opt for fresh instead.

LaTara Ham-Ying is the host of the Vegan Family Living podcast and she homeschools two of her children. She enjoys helping other families transition to the vegan lifestyle so they can reap the rewards of healthy eating.

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Posted by Christina | Filed Under Food & Drink 

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