Superfoods For Super Health
One of my favorite parts of summer is the abundance of good food, especially fruits, veggies and delicious grains! I love working seasonal foods into my weekly meal plans, and I’m particularly excited about a few superfoods that are hot right now. Why? Because not only will they make your tastebuds dance, but they will help you and your family be healthy and happy!
Food is powerful, and that’s why I do what I do. It brings families together, it heals your body, and it directly impacts your overall health. With many different illnesses popping up, we need to keep health top of mind more than ever when cooking for our families, especially those with younger children. The formative years will set a precedence for their entire lives, so I encourage you to introduce superfoods into their diets early on.
The superfoods listed below are not only healthy, they actually help speed up the weight loss process! Which is awesome for us parents, don’t you agree? So, here we go:
Melons
Melons such as honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon and others, are extremely high in water content. In fact, the majority of the fruit IS water. When you eat these fruits, you are hydrating your body and helping your digestive system, which helps detoxify your body!
Grapefruit
Grapefruits are one of the most talked about foods regarding weight loss. There have been countless studies done that prove grapefruits prevent weight gain and assist in weight loss. They are high in water, so while your body is getting hydrated it will also feel full more quickly for only a small number of calories. Not to mention they’re kinda fun to eat!
Berries
Berries are some of the most popular super foods. Why? Because they are rich in antioxidants and fiber, they are low in calories and sugar content, and they are proven to help people lose weight. Of course, with moderation. The antioxidants help your body get rid of toxins that lead to a multitude of health issues including weight gain.
Avocados
Avocados may be high in fat, which ends up turning people away before they know all of the facts. Avocados are high in the good, healthy fats, which actually increase metabolism. They turn fat into energy and actually prevent your body from storing it! Avocados are also a great substitute for common fatty (and chemical filled) spreads & dips.
Spinach
Popeye was on to something. Spinach really does help strengthen muscles, and also helps medically with other health issues such as blood pressure. You can eat this cooked or raw, so really your options are endless. It is also packed with vitamins and minerals, so it’s an all around amazing food.
Peppers
Peppers help speed up your metabolism, which allows for your body to burn fat and calories faster. The actually make your body heat up, which burns the calories faster. On top of that, they’re full of Vitamin C. So, if your kids don’t like Oranges, just make a homemade salsa with chips!
Oatmeal
Oatmeal (real oatmeal, not the flavored sugary kind) is one of the best foods for total body health. It is a complex carb, which has been proven to burn more fat than simple carbs. It’s also full of fiber and protein, providing you with plenty of energy. What does this mean? Oatmeal keeps you full, preventing overeating…helps build muscle…and gives you energy so that you can accomplish more during your day.
Quinoa
This is a good one, that may be new to many of you. That’s okay! Once you taste its goodness, you’ll find yourself working it into your diet weekly. This superfood is packed with protein, so much so that you technically don’t even need another protein source in your meal. This makes quinoa a rare find that is a complete protein, as compared to an incomplete protein. It also has a lot of fiber since it’s a whole grain. On top of that it’s naturally gluten free. I can’t wait for you to try some of my Quinoa recipes, so good!
Nuts
With these, eat raw nuts instead of the salted ones. When eaten in moderation, they are extremely healthy despite the fact that they are high in fat. They contain the good type of fat along with fiber, which helps prevent overeating. They also have a ton of other health benefits that help keep your metabolism running high. And we all know what that means.
Chia Seeds
These weird looking little seeds are amazing. They help prevent the absorption of fat because of a specific omega-3 fatty acid that they contain. They are also bursting with fiber, so adding just a small amount of these seeds to your food will keep you and your family’s tummies satisfied for quite a while.
I hope you found this useful! I’m curious, are there any superfoods you’re working in to your diet this year?
I keep health and wellness top of mind when creating my weekly meal plans. CLICK HERE to get started! Not only do they make your life a heck of a lot easier with pre-planned meals and grocery lists, but it’ll set you and your family on the right path to better eating.