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Options are good. There's no denying that we love having them—chocolate or vanilla, sunny side up or scrambled, rare or well done. When it comes to putting things in our body, we like to call the shots. It's just not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. Things taste better that way and it works for us…Except when it doesn't. You see, nowadays we have so many choices when we walk into the supermarket, it can be dizzying. Sure we can pick out the flavors we like best, but its becoming difficult to decipher the healthy snacks from the candy section and the garbage from the goods. So we go in there thinking we're making the best choices like getting the whole grain granola bars for the kids and the low fat ranch dressing for ourselves and come out with two different packages of sugar disguised as nutritious noshes. And guess what guys, these are the same high fructose foods that are expanding our waistlines and putting our country into obesity overdrive. Is that what we really want? Isn't there any way to get past all of these facades and focus on the right finds? Would I have brought this up if there wasn't? While there are some prepared foods with high nutritional standards and quality ingredients, the simplest way to eat right is to stick with foods that your great grandmother would have recognized. (Even if you never knew her personally, you can picture the scene—hair up in a bun, long flowing dress, distressed look on her face knowing winter was just around the corner and your great grandpa hadn't harvested like she told him.) Go ahead, just ask her. Chances are you'll soon be on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, nuts, eggs, cheese and even a little bit of butter. All of these, in the right quantities are key to keeping your body healthy and strong. On top of all that, they taste better than the imitation, overly-processed options. Best of all, you know what they really are without having to read any ingredient labels. No hydrogenated shortening, no high fructose corn syrup, no added flavoring or coloring. Instead you get the vitamins, minerals, oils, phytochemicals, the true flavor, you get the point… Take California Ripe Olives for instance. Sure they come pre-cured in a can (raise your hand if you have time to do your own canning these days), but they use the very same recipe and technique that a German housewife came up with in the late 1800s and haven't changed a thing since. That's real food. So next time you hit the supermarket, don't let all of those choices get you down. Instead ask great-grandma for the go ahead. Because the more choices we have, the easier it is to recognize that sometimes simplifying is the best choice of all. Want to learn how to make more great food choices? Check out the latest nutrition news and fat facts from nutritionist Dr. Connie Guttersen. TOP Basically Speaking The best way is to hit the produce section first and fill your cart with interesting items that you sometimes overlook. Try simple substitutes at first, like pre-cut broccoli florets and pre-washed spinach greens instead of relying on their frozen cousins. Once you get used to the change, you may embrace whole carrots, braising greens and even beets! Here's a recipe to get you started. You can use whole cloves or pre-peeled garlic to save time. Either way, this simple riff on simmered chicken may change your thoughts on those boring old basic ingredients. TOP A Troublesome Twosome I'm not saying give up on fat and sugar. No way, embrace the good stuff. Try maple syrup, honey and real fruit jams when you need to sweeten the pot. As for fat, you can have a little saturated fat here and there, but there's nothing better than those monounsaturated fats which are perfectly packaged in California Ripe Olives, nuts, avocados and olive oil. Here's a recipe with a little natural sweetness and lots of natural flavor, and it's absolutely no trouble at all! TOP
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