Thursday, December 18: I’m careful what I put into my mouth because I want to provide my body with the best nutrition possible. Before I reach for a snack—or any other food, for that matter—I ask myself two questions.
1. Did nature create this for food?
2. Is this food in a form that’s healthy for my body?
Regarding my first point, much of what passes for “food” these days is man made—not something grown in nature—containing artificial sweeteners, preservatives and hydrogenated oils.
Man has excelled in the last one hundred years at taking something that nature created—wheat, for example—and turning it into some totally unhealthy by stripping out the natural nutrients and adding chemicals. Nearly all snack foods like potato chips, crackers, and cookies contain unhealthy trans fats, which is a type of fat formed when vegetable oils are hardened into margarine or shortening.
Artery-clogging trans fats are found in baked goods, fried foods, processed foods and snack foods. It’s everywhere and is believed to lower your good cholesterol (HDL) and raise your bad cholesterol (LDL), which is why it’s bad news for your heart. If you look on the Nutrition Facts label of a bag of deep-fried potato chips, for instance, you’ll find out how many trans fats you’re eating.
That’s why, when I choose what to eat or what to snack on while watching a DVD, I stick as close as possible to foods that nature created. Besides Zesty Popcorn (see yesterday’s blog), I might have something like an apple with raw almond butter or natural peanut butter. Maybe I’ll dive into a bowl of sweet strawberries.
I also love organic cheese with whole grain Ak-Mak crackers or baked corn chips dipped in salsa, guacamole or hummus. You’ll never go wrong chopping up some fresh veggies like carrots or celery.
So the next time you and a loved one watch a movie at home, make that snack a nutritious—and delicious—one. You’re going to like the ending.