The Real Difference between Healthy Food and Diet Food

Yesterday I started discussing deceptions promoted by the food manufacturing industries in order to sell  so-called "diet'' food which really is not the same as healthy food.

Healthy food is generally whole food. There seems to be a misconception as to what exactly is considered a whole food item. Basically these are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible before being consumed. (For clarification here, whole grain foods like crackers or whole grain breads are in the last category. They are generally healthier food choices and should be included in your food plan but you still want to include totally unrefined foods as much as possible in your food plan.)  Also, whole foods usually do not contain added ingredients, such as sugar, salt, fat, or a sludge of artificial ingredients, preservatives, food colorings and dyes.

Some examples of whole foods include whole uncooked grains, oats, quinoa, amaranth, beans, and lentils which typically have to be cooked, fresh fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meat, poultry, and fish (this means getting rid of those deli type meat products), raw milk from a reputable store, and raw nuts and seeds (not your processed, salted versions from a can or jar). Whole foods are more readily assimilated and absorbed by the body. They are nutrient dense and are thought to promote health because they contain natural occurring vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Readers please share with us how you add these kinds of foods into a busy lifestyle!