Your body needs real food to fuel it.

Give it Grow Food!

So much of prepared food is full of salt, hidden sugar, and chemicals your body can’t use. Give you body a break this year and give it grow foods.

Grow Foods, a term coined by Registered Dietitian Jill Fleming, are items on which the sun has recently shined.

The more refined and processed something is, the farther from a “grow food” it becomes.

Raw vegetables and fruits are great examples of “grow foods,” as are whole grains. These foods fuel your body; allowing young children to grow and adults to thrive.

Here are few hints to finding grow foods at the grocery store:

The 70/30 Rule:
Spend 70% of your time in the produce section and 30% in the rest of the store. Avoid canned vegetables and fruit which contain added salt and sugar. Choose organic produce when possible to limit added chemicals.

Flip it over:
Read the labels. If there are ingredients with more than three syllables, it isn’t a grow food. Keep an eye out for high fructose corn syrup (another source of sugar) and partially hydrogenated oils (the source of trans fat) these are ingredients to avoid.

Salt Salt Salt:
Look for entree items with less than 20 percent of the recommended daily allowance of sodium. Keep your total sodium content for your meal under 30 percent. For more tips to cut the salt check out this article.

Whole Wheat, Whole Wheat, Excellent, AH AH AH AHHH:
Just like the Wayne’s World theme song, look for items labeled as “Excellent Source of Whole Grain.”

Avoid predigested food:
Avoid “quick cooking” packaged foods such as instant rice and oatmeal. These grains are broken down to cook faster and contain much less beneficial fiber. Think of quick cooking foods as predigested food — it doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it?

Give your body Grow Food and Feel Great in 2008!

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Eliz Greene is the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Health. Drawing on her experience surviving a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggling to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com