Have you seen the revamped “Healthy Plate”? I admit it is better than the old food pyramid , but still far from what I would call healthy.
First of all, at least half the plate should be vegetables. Fruit should be eaten by itself, not with the meal. The reason for that is because the sugars break down quickly when digested and interfere with digestion of other food. Fruit is often best in the morning or as a stand alone snack.
Contrary to popular belief, I believe that grains should be eaten in moderation because they are an acid producing food, that contribute to inflammation in the body. If they are consumed, then certainly unrefined, whole grains such as brown rice, millet or quinoa are good choices. In fact quinoa is actually a seed, not a grain, and it is a complete protein!
When it comes to protein there are many great choices that are not animal based such as tempeh, avocado, nut butters, and many vegetables have some protein. If you are eating animal protein please try to eat grass fed beef, free range organic chicken, and choose fish that is not endangered or heavily laden with mercury such as fresh Atlantic salmon or fresh water trout. Try to avoid all meat and fish that is farm raised as they have been raised on grain, and often there is the possibility of contamination from living conditions. Farm raised meats are also full of hormones and antibiotics. If you are gluten intolerant like me this is an important thing to know!
Most of us were raised with the “meat and potato” mentality right? Maybe you are still eating this way. The problem with combining a starch and a protein in the same meal is that it takes different enzymes to digest them. So if you must have that baked potato…try to eat it by itself without the steak. Instead have your protein with a large salad chocked full of veges and your digestive system will thank you! Below is an example of a healthy well combined meal.
quinoa sweet potato and green
