One of the most fundamental concepts I share with my clients is the idea of whole foods vs. processed foods.  If whole foods make up the foundation of your diet, it’s easy to avoid the chemicals, excess sugar, salt and processed fats that harm your health.  These are the foods that naturally provide the nutrients we need to thrive such as vitamin and minerals, fiber, enzymes, and phytonutrients like antioxidants.

I also like to call these foods “real food”.  They include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, eggs, dairy, herbs, spices, meat, fish and poultry. 

What is a whole food?

A whole food is one that is the closest to its natural form.  It is either unprocessed, or minimally processed.

Imagine an apple that was picked from the tree.  Now imagine cooking and pureeing that apple until you have apple sauce.  Now imagine apple sauce packed in a small plastic cup that has added sugar, artificial cinnamon flavor and blue food coloring (yes, that does exist and sadly it’s marketed to children). 

While the first apple sauce is not in the same state as an uncooked apple, it is a very different quality than the highly processed food product that has been depleted of nutrients and exposes the consumer to a variety of chemicals shown to be harmful to health.

Why is it important to avoid processed foods?

Processed foods contain a wide variety of additives that have been shown to contribute to chronic, degenerative diseases that are the leading causes of mortality and decreased quality of life.  These additives include chemicals used to artificially manipulate the color, flavor and texture of food products.  

For great ideas and examples of delicious whole foods dishes, check out my Instagram page.