A healthy guide to eating healthy food

CONTENTS
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...4
Chapter 1: Why Eat Healthy?.....................................................7
Chapter 2: Understanding Your Relationship with Food…………10
Chapter 3: The Dangers of Diet Trends…………………………………..14
Chapter 4: The Food Pyramid…………………………………………………17
Chapter 5: How Food Can Be Your Medicine………………………….19
Chapter 6: The Health Benefits of Eating Vegetables……………..22
Chapter 7: The Health Benefits of Eating Fruits……………………..25
Chapter 8: The Best Meat to Eat for Healthy Living………………..29
Chapter 9: The Dangers of Processed Foods………………………….33
Chapter 10: Bringing It All Together with Meal Planning………..39
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..46

INTRODUCTION
For some reason, one of the hardest things for a human to do
is to eat right. Whether that is because we have limited access
to resources in all areas or if it is because we simply have too
much access to unhealthy food, there are many reasons that
eating healthy is a challenge.
Sure, we can eat just about anything and it will sustain us. We
will manage to move from one moment to the next and be able
to call ourselves healthy. But is it healthy to subsist on a diet of
processed foods and sugary drinks? Just because we are alive
does not mean that we are healthy. And the older we get, the
more our bad habits begin to catch up with us.
It is unbelievably important to form healthy eating habits early
on in life, or at least, as early as possible to prevent any future
issues from occurring. You do not want to wake up one day
and realize that you have had a nutrient deficiency for years
and it is causing complications that are almost impossible to
rectify. All of us need to take more responsibility for what we
put into our bodies, because if we don’t, it can become
extremely dangerous.

Of course, when we are older and we are able to look back on
our mistakes, hindsight is 20/20. We realize that there were
things that we could have done and probably should have done
that we simply didn’t do because we were either unconscious of
the ill effects, or simply lazy. Just having the simple knowledge
does not necessarily make then needs to do something health-
conscious a reality.
For the most part, it takes us truly being exposed to the suffering
that can occur because of bad health choices before we are more
conscious of the way we treat our bodies and our health in
general. When we aren’t able to see the reality of the
consequences to our actions, it can make them feel
very far away and difficult to relate to. We may even blow them
off entirely. This can be a very debilitating place to find yourself
in. Especially when you are already dealing from the side effects
of poor eating and a lack of a healthy diet.
Everybody deserves a chance to become the greatest version of
themselves possible, but if we are not even acknowledging the
fact that unhealthy eating can take us right off course, even in
the present moment, then we are ultimately waving goodbye to
the best future possible.

But all of this can change. By reading this book, you are going to
understand the importance of eating healthy and how food
impacts our bodies and functions.
Without understanding exactly why our bodies react to food the
way they do, it can sometimes be difficult to stay on track. But
there are many ways that you can begin to understand why
eating healthy foods is so important, and exactly how to begin
on a healthy eating journey. Let’s not waste any more time. We
should begin eating healthy today!
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CHAPTER 1: WHY EAT
HEALTHY?
Healthy eating is important for a lot of reasons. Most of us are
already aware of the increasing obesity epidemic in North
America. This is particularly true of the United States in general.
There is even a phrase for the way many Americans eat, and that
is called the SAD diet.
SAD stands for standard American diet, and it refers to a diet low
in vegetables, high in fat and sugar, and lacking in nutrition.
Processed foods are definitely a part of the SAD diet. These are
foods that are easily available and quick to consume and prepare
but have long-lasting negative health effects.
If you do not want to find yourself obese, it is generally
considered a good idea to avoid eating such processed foods and
keep your focus on eating whole grains and fruits and vegetables
and meat that has not been treated with hormones and other
chemicals that can ultimately end up in your body and cause
issues. Unfortunately, in North America, we are given a lot of
options to slack off when it comes to preparing meals.

We have so many things readily available to us, and the amount
of money that you have to spend to buy bad food is far less then
it is to buy good food. It seems strange that it costs more money
to buy organic than it does to buy foods that will ultimately cause
health problems in the long run, but that is the rule of supply and
demand.
Not only that, but processed foods are mass-produced and make
a huge profit because of their convenience. That is why, in many
ways, and obesity epidemic in North America is not particularly
surprising. Nutrition is not number one on the list of companies
that are attempting to cash in on people’s laziness in the kitchen.
However, there are many ways that eating healthy is important,
and good reasons to avoid processed foods and the standard
American diet. For example, if you do not want to be obese, you
should definitely look into the rest of this book for ways to
improve your diet and begin a healthier lifestyle.
Another reason to eat healthy is because you can make yourself
prone to diseases by eating unhealthy foods and by staying on a
standard American diet that is full of fat and sugar. Diabetes is
something that can be developed because of poor eating and can
often times be treated with healthy eating.

Type II diabetes is ultimately something that can be maintained
and controlled with proper eating habits and triggered by poor
eating habits. If you want to avoid these types of difficulties and
complications, you should do your best to be conscientious
about your food choices.
Other diseases can result from poor eating as well. High blood
pressure is common, as well as other chronic diseases.
Osteoporosis is something that can affect many people later in
life because they were not making healthy eating choices earlier
on. You may find yourself suffering from poor bone health,
hypertension, or even heart problems. All of which can be very
demanding on your body and cause major stress that can
ultimately be very dangerous.
If you want to show your family that you care about them, you
should begin making choices now that will help you to stay in
their lives for as long as possible. Poor health is not something
that only affects you. It is also something that affects the people
around you. If they are watching you suffer because of poor
choices that you have made, in a way, that is quite selfish. They
are suffering too. Now, do your best to make the choices that
will be the best not only for yourself, but for your family in the
long run. This book will show you how.

CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING
YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH FOOD
Over the course of time, everybody begins to develop certain
habits. We develop habits in all arenas of our lives. We develop
hygiene habits, food habits, work habits, and all sorts of other
types of habits. However, they are usually pretty oblivious to our
habits until they
begin to affect us negatively. And even then, when we begin to
understand that we are being poorly impacted by our habits, it
can be very difficult to change them. Because that is what I have
it is like.
A habit is something that we do almost unconsciously. We are
programmed to follow these habits, and it takes a great amount
of willpower to break free from the cycle.
Once you begin to understand that your relationship with food
has everything to do with the habits that you have created and
habits that you can continue to mold and cultivate, then it
becomes far easier to change your mindset.

When you realize the impact and importance of your future and
making positive choices about these things, it can make you
more primed toward healthy eating and less inclined to make
choices that negatively impact you and your future.
To be truthful, many of us seem to consider the future bleak. We
do not see reasons enough to change our habits because if we
do not believe that we have anything good to look forward to,
then it doesn’t matter whether we make good choices or not.
We do not see how we can actually pave our future to be in our
best interests. Probably because we do not believe that we have
any power over our lives.
If you can relate to this feeling, don’t be alarmed. It is very
common of the human experience. We are generally
discouraged from taking control and utilizing our power from an
early age, and sometimes stopped believing we have any
authority over our lives because we are usually told what to do
by other people.
As children, that makes sense. Children don’t always know what
is best for them. But it can encourage a very helpless type of
mindset that causes us to have a hard time understanding that
the consequences of our actions can truly begin to shape who
we are and how we present ourselves to the world.

This is why it is important to truly take steps to help you
understand yourself and your dietary habits. When did your
habit begin? How did you form that habit? Why? What benefits
do you have from this habit? What negative effects do you have
from this habit?
Ask yourself as many of these questions as you possibly can so
that you begin to truly have an understanding of how it is that
you are shaping your future with the food that you are eating.
Are you creating a healthy and energized future, or are you
creating a future that is bleak and potentially full of negative
health consequences?
Next, evaluate your sense of self discipline. Are you capable of
maintaining discipline over your choices? Or is this an area where
you struggle? Discipline can be difficult for everybody, and if you
find yourself having a hard time staying disciplined, it would do
you well to look into different ways that you are able to
encourage yourself to be a more disciplined person both in
practice and mentally.
Only then will you truly have what it takes to begin a journey of
healthy eating. Because whether we like it or not, and bad health
choices are everywhere. They are easy and they are addicting.
If we allow ourselves to be swayed by these poor choices, and
do nothing to change our habits, then it doesn’t matter whether

you eat healthy sometimes or not. The negative effects will still
be gripping your body and waiting to spring up on you when you
least expect it.
In a way, unhealthy eating is a self-destructive pattern that a lot
of us take part in. Whether this is because of poor self-esteem,
or simply because we are unhappy with our situations and have
no faith in the future, self-destructive eating patterns are
dangerous. You have to look to yourself and truly value your life
and your future before eating healthy will stick.
There are many ways that you can do this, and if possible, you
may even want to consult a mental health professional for
support. Sometimes, they can help us to see biases and negative
patterns in our lives that we remain oblivious to. Once those are
understood and accepted, then it can be that much easier to
overcome them and take the steps that you need to take in order
to make positive choices.
Whether you seek out the help of a qualified professional or not,
there are many things that you can do to change your mindset.
As long as you understand that you are worthy of a healthy body
and a positive future, then you will allow yourself to take the
steps necessary to get there.
But if you do not feel good about yourself, it is going to be a lot
harder. Overall, understanding yourself, your habits, your
mental roadblocks, and your discipline, will help you in your

journey. All of us can take steps every day toward becoming our
best possible selves, and healthy eating is one great step in that
direction. And it is a step we can take today!

CHAPTER 3: THE DANGERS
OF DIET TRENDS
Diet trends are rampant in our society today, and almost all of
them come with dangers attached to them. Unfortunately, most
people who are desperate to make money often don’t look at
the long-term health consequences of their products. What they
are truly concerned about is making money and doing something
that will help them to capitalize off of a desperate desire that
many people have to lose weight in a fast and easy way.
There is something that you are going to have to accept if diet
trends are something that captivate your interest. The
unfortunate fact of the matter is that there is no healthy way to
lose weight fast and easily with no work and no healthy eating
and no exercise. Losing weight is a good goal if you are obese or
if you are lacking in fitness and you need extra mobility.
All of us have at times needed to start making better lifestyle
choices, and that is something that we can do with food and
healthy body movement as opposed to by trusting companies
that want to exploit us in order to make money.
Some of the diet trends out there are exceptionally dangerous
and have dire health consequences both long-term and short-

term. Many of them rely on methods that cause us to starve
ourselves and Robert body of essential nutrients. Sometimes,
even dehydrating us.
These types of diet trends are extremely disgusting. They are
taking advantage of people who want to be healthy but don’t
know how to go about it. They are taking advantage of people,
often women in particular, who are crumbling under the
pressures of unrealistic beauty standards and women who are
told that to have any value, they must look a certain way.
That is absolutely untrue. Whether you weigh 100 pounds or 700
pounds, you have value. However, healthy eating is one of the
only real ways that you are going to be able to kickstart your
metabolism and provide your body with the nutrients that it
needs to function on its highest possible capacity.
If you are robbing your body of the vitamins and minerals that it
needs in order to thrive and trusting a diet trend to teach you
how to lose weight and have value when all they really want is
your money, then you are going to end up further behind the line
then you were to start out with. The unfortunate truth about
many diet trends is that they cause the body to go into starvation
mode.
This can wreck your metabolism and cause you to gain weight
even faster in the future. Don’t let yourself be exploited by the
advertisements promising that you will lose weight in a fast and

easy way. All of that will come with a price. Not only that, but
there are health trends out there such as the hCG diet that can
really screw up your body and your hormones.
The ironic thing about diet trends is that they often will make it
harder for you to lose weight in the future because you are
implementing unhealthy and difficult ways of maintaining your
weight. If you want to be skinny, don’t trust a pill on TV to make
you skinny. Start cutting out unhealthy sugary and processed
foods and replace them with healthy whole-grain wheat and
organic fruits and vegetables that will not introduce chemicals
into your body that will make it even harder for you to lose
weight and that will ultimately mess up your body chemistry.
It may seem tempting to be able to lose weight quickly and not
have to sacrifice the negative eating habits that you have
developed over your lifetime, but it is not healthy. You are
hurting yourself and priming your body for further health
complications in the future if you are not careful about the way
you attempt to lose weight. Make sure that you are doing
everything in your power to make choices that you would want
other people to make for themselves.
Do research before you let yourself be swayed by the snake oil
salesman on TV. Look into these things because you are worth
doing things the right way and you deserve a positive future and
not one that is complicated by the side effects of a sales pitch
that only wants your money and not your health.

CHAPTER 4: THE FOOD
PYRAMID
Most of us have probably seen the food pyramid. Growing up,
the food pyramid was often used as a guideline for us to provide
us with an idea of how much food and what kind of food we
should eat every day in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Of course, there is always evidence to state that the food
pyramid is flexible, but overall, if you are able to observe the
food pyramid you will have a general idea of what is acceptable
in a healthy and nutritious diet.
While this may sometimes be controversial, it is still good to have
a basic food. Possibly one that you create yourself. A lot of
people will say that it is no longer considered the most healthy
thing to do to eat as many grains as the food pyramid may have
suggested.
In fact, with recent outbreaks of celiac disease, a lot of people
are touting a no grain lifestyle as the most healthy choice.
Rather than relying on the food pyramid for your basic guideline
of what is healthy to eat, try to take into consideration your own

personal experiences with food and go from there. Some people
are healthier with a lot of grains, and some are not. Use your
judgment here to the best of your ability so that you will be able
to take steps in the right direction for your health.
The standard food pyramid recommends as follows:
• Rice, cereal, pasta, and bread, can be as many as 11 servings
per day.
• For vegetables and fruits, you should have between three
and five servings.
• As far as their eggs, you can have two or three servings
every day, provided you are not allergic or lactose
intolerant.
• When it comes to meet and beans, and other things like
nuts and fish or poultry, it is recommended that you have
two or three servings every day.
• Unsurprisingly, things such as sugar and fat and oil are the
very tip of the. Because you should not have any of these
things in excess. Rather, use them only as necessary in order
to guarantee your healthiest possible lifestyle.
Again, this is only referencing the standard food pyramid.
Depending on your own singular needs and dietary functions,
you may need to modify this chart for yourself. But if you do not
have any specific requirements, this is the standard for the food

pyramid that can be utilized to your greatest possible advantage
in creating a healthier lifestyle.
CHAPTER 5: HOW FOOD
CAN BE YOUR MEDICINE

The same way that not eating healthy can make you sick, eating
healthy foods can often times cure you of illness and provide you
with relief when you are suffering.
It can also act as a preventative measure to take against illness.
In fact, there is an entire method of healing around India for
thousands of years called Aryuveda.
This ancient healing style is utilized in order to treat any illness
simply by changing your diet. Food is literally the medicine that
has helped to keep the people of India alive for centuries. And it
can still be applicable today.
In fact, many remedies are simply healthy foods that have anti-
inflammatory properties and the ability to nourish your body
from the inside out. Everything from infection to cancer has been
known to be impacted by healthy eating choices.
And with this ancient healing art, that has never been more
apparent.
Of course a lot of modern technology will frown upon these
methods because they have not been scientifically investigated,
but a lot of it has been tried and true for thousands of years and
will continue to impact the body.

Whether you believe in the ancient healing art or not, the fact
remains that food can ultimately determine whether or not you
are susceptible to illness. If you eat well, your body will be
stronger and it will be able to fight off illness and infection far
easier than it would if you find yourself malnourished on
standard American diet.
Without the proper vitamins and minerals in your body, it can be
almost impossible to fight off the negative effects of illness.
Sometimes, it can even cause illness. If you are eating unhealthy
unprocessed foods, certain types of these foods can actually lead
to illnesses and make you more susceptible to certain types of
cancer as well.
Although cancer is still being researched and has not fully been
understood by the scientific community well enough to actually
cure it, there are many instances of people who were able to live
long and healthy lives simply by changing the way they need.
Healthy eating can help in decreasing the symptoms of many
difficult and impossible to cure diseases, such as multiple
sclerosis.
As long as you are making sure that everything that you put into
your body is nourishing and is providing your organs and cells
with all of the fuel and resources that they need in order to keep
your body strong, they will continue to do that. And they will do
it to the best of their ability.

However, if you are actively sabotaging your body, they will not
be able to put up the same fight as they would if they were
receiving adequate nutrition. That is why it is so important for
you to take heed of the way you are nourishing your body. If you
are not making active and conscientious choices about the food
that you eat, you could be setting yourself up for failure in ways
that you may live to regret.

CHAPTER 6: THE HEALTH
BENEFITS OF EATING
VEGETABLES
Vegetables are one of the most under-sung foods in existence,
especially when it comes to the standard American diet. Most
people don’t realize just how important it is to provide the body
with the vitamins and minerals that vegetables and vegetables
alone can provide. Sometimes, people will look into vegetables
as a way of improving their beauty, but when it comes to
improving their health, they become somewhat disinterested.
However, now that you are here and reading this book, it is safe
to assume that you are willing and able to take into
consideration why it is important to eat vegetables. Here are
some of the best reasons to provide yourself with vegetables
daily as a part of your diet.
First of all, the body needs fiber in order to get rid of excess
waste. Without a way to find the waste together and eliminated,
it stays stuck in the body and can contribute to weight gain and
other potential complications.
Fiber is extremely important for other reasons as well. It can help
you to prevent your blood cholesterol from raising and can even

prevent heart disease, or at least lower the chances of suffering
from it.
Folic acid it is also present in vegetables, and when you are
providing your body with this substance, it can generate the
production of your red blood cells. This can be very important in
helping you to prevent anemia from occurring, and can be very
beneficial to women in particular, who have a tendency to need
this substance during pregnancy and menstruation.
Vegetables are also naturally high in many vitamins, such as a
and C, which are helpful in fighting infection and keeping the
body healthy. It can help you to speed up the healing process
and to absorb iron, which is another way of helping to combat
and prevent anemia from occurring. Vitamins are high in
potassium and this is very useful because it prevents the body
from succumbing to high blood pressure.
Vegetables have been proven to reduce the risk of strokes and
other heart related complications. They can prevent kidney
stones from developing and prevent the disintegration of bone
matter. Filling yourself up on vegetables is a good way to help
you to manage type II diabetes and obesity.
Not only that, but it can help you to stay strong in a fight against
cancer and in cancer prevention. Perhaps one of the most

redeeming qualities about eating vegetables is the fact that they
are very low in fat and are definitely not calorie dense.
This means that you can eat as many vegetables as you want to
without having to worry too much about gaining weight.
Snacking on vegetables is a great way to help you to reduce
hunger cravings and to stay focused on a healthy lifestyle.
There are so many great things about vegetables. It is surprising
that they are so rare to come by in the standard American diet.
One of the best ways that you can help yourself in avoiding high
fat and high sugar and high salt processed foods is in walking
around the outside of your grocery store first.
Go along the fresh produce section so that you are making
conscious choices in providing your body with healthy fresh
vegetable options rather than skipping to the end and cheating
by buying pastas and other processed foods that are low in
genuinely nutritious vegetable content.
Healthy eating starts with making the choices to nourish your
body, and there are few things more nourishing than vegetables.
We can often lose our taste for healthy foods because of
unhealthy and poor eating habits early in life, or even self-
imposed later in life, but it is easy to get back on track. Make
time in your life for vegetables. They may take a little bit longer
to prepare, but the benefits are worth it.

CHAPTER 7: THE HEALTH
BENEFITS OF EATING FRUITS
It is an unfortunate but common knowledge that people who
follow the standard American diet do not eat enough fruit. What
fruit they do eat is usually found in cans or saturated with sugar.
The added sugar and fruit is definitely something that takes away
any health benefits that eating fruit in its natural state can
provide the body.
There can be some complications to eating too much fruit,
especially if you have diabetes. Fruit is high in natural sugars, and
when it is juiced, you get a lot of sugar without a lot of fiber,
which can provide the body with an excess.
The fiber present within fruit is one of the things that makes it
the healthiest, and helps the body to lower heart disease and
avoid constipation. Not only that, but fiber rich foods like fruit
and vegetables are very beneficial for weight management
because it helps you to feel full with fewer calories. Not only
that, but fruit is high in many vitamins and minerals, especially
citrus fruits when it comes to vitamin C.

Vitamin C is a powerhouse when it comes to helping the body to
heal, and if you need something that will help you to keep your
teeth and gums healthy, vitamin C rich fruits will definitely do
the trick.
Another thing that fruit can help the body achieve is stroke
prevention and kidney stone prevention. Fruits are very helpful
in supporting the body and preventing and fighting disorders
such as skin conditions and heart problems. Fruit can be one of
the most healthy ways to help you to get a boost of energy and
get rid of sugar cravings that you may have when you are
attempting to cut unhealthy foods out of your diet.
As long as you aren’t overdoing it with your fruits, such as
throwing a bunch of them in the blender and ultimately
consuming a ridiculous amount of sugar, then you can have a
healthy snack that satisfies your sweet tooth if you are willing to
utilize the tremendous power of fruit.
If you are interested in the benefits that food can have to your
health, both fruits and vegetables have a natural tendency to
help your skin glow and appear far more hydrated and
nourished. Fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants and
vitamins and minerals that provide your body with the hydration
necessary in keeping your skin and appearance healthy.
It can help your hair to grow softer and more healthy, as well as
retaining the youthful look of your skin. Fruit can even help you

to stop acne in its tracks by keeping your body free of waste
products that come out through your pores and hydrating your
skin. Fruit is excellent for helping the body to stay hydrated
because of its high water content, and you will quickly begin to
see the benefits and that aspect.
Not only that, but fruit is particularly helpful for digestion.
Because of the high fiber content, it helps to bind waste and help
the body to eliminate things that might otherwise cause issues.
Because of this, fruit and vegetables can also aid in weight loss.
Rather than allowing waste to be broken down and stored as fat,
the body eliminates it before it has the chance.
Fruit is another great way to help you to fight and prevent
disease, even cancer. Some fruits, such as apples, help to keep
asthma at bay. Others, can significantly lower cholesterol levels.
Grapes have been known to be used in the combat of cancer as
well, particularly the red skinned grapes. They are also helpful in
fighting eye issues and kidney problems. If you suffer from
infection, berries are especially helpful. They are high in
antioxidants.
Just make sure that you are eating fruits and vegetables that are
not treated with commercial pesticides, as they can absorb these
chemicals and actually complicate weight loss and cause issues
in the body.

You can even eat dry fruits as a way of substituting unhealthy
and sugary snacks and providing your body with a sweet snack
that will pack quite a nutritional punch. Just be conscientious of
the sugar levels in dried fruits, because sometimes when they
are commercially sold, added sugars make what could be a
healthy treat into something that may ultimately help you to
pack on the pounds.
However, when you are eating fruit in a healthy way and on a
regular basis, fruit can help to aid you in weight loss. As long as
you are not over eating things that are high in sugar, the fibers
and water content of fruit will help your body feel full and your
cells and organs nourished. The fibers and water content will
help you to eliminate issues that are contributing to obesity, and
overall you will feel an immense shift in your energy levels.
You can utilize this energy to exercise and work harder toward a
healthy lifestyle. This can be especially effective if you are
replacing sugary junk foods with healthier fruit alternatives as
you continue to transition on your journey toward better health
and well-being.

CHAPTER 8: THE BEST MEAT
TO EAT FOR HEALTHY LIVING
Meat is generally considered one of the primary staple foods in
an email, but it may be surprising to find that there are actually
some meats that are healthier than others. Of course, we know
the difference between red meats and white meats. Red meats
are more often linked to health problems and coronary issues,
while white meats are considered leaner and healthier overall.
What some people may be surprised to find is that there are
other issues that make meats unhealthy. Issues such as the
things that they are fed while the animals are still alive and
antibiotics and hormones that may be injected into them to
make them grow faster or produce more milk, at least in the case
of cows.
These types of hormones ultimately enter the meat that we
consume and can cause problems in our own bodies. If we are
not conscientious of the choices that we make when we are
choosing our foods, they can ultimately come to contribute to
poor health in the future, including but not limited to cancers
and hormone changes that can be quite debilitating.

However, if you are confident that you are receiving your meat
from sources that are healthy and do not feed animals in excess
of steroids and antibiotics, then you are already ahead of the
game. If not, try to do some research about local places where
you can receive meat that is untainted by some dangerous
industry standards.
That being said, even considering the healthy meat options,
there are certain meats that are healthier than others. One of
the healthiest meats that you can eat, especially if you are
hoping to lose weight, is fish. Fish is lean and packed with
nutrients. However, you have to be careful about the source of
your fish.
Some fish is raised in unhealthy conditions, while other fish may
come from areas that could be contaminated with mercury. This
is why it is frowned upon for pregnant women to eat fish or
shellfish.
But if you find a healthy source of fish, this can be very beneficial
for your body. Fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps
brain function and your memory. Overall, Omega threes are
highly coveted and the body needs them in order to function at
its highest possible potential, especially when it comes to
intellectual matters.

Chicken that has been raised in a good environment is another
great option. Chicken is high in protein. In fact, it is the highest
in protein of any other meat. They are usually raised in good
conditions, or at least fed foods that will not cause the human
body issues the same way a lot of beef can.
However, if you are eating grass that beef from a trustworthy
supplier, that can also be a great option as well. If you are going
to eat organic chicken, there are generally less likelihoods of
these animals being raised with dangerous carcinogens.
Chickens that have been conventionally grown are usually fed
foods that increase the rate that they grow, which can lead to
serious health problems for the chickens themselves and for the
humans that consume them. They are also given a large supply
of antidepressants and painkillers, sometimes, even arsenic and
caffeine.
It is dangerous to consume a lot of conventionally grown meat,
but if you are able to find a good supplier, then you definitely
should do so.
Turkey is another great meat, because it is high in selenium. This
is something that is great for the body, especially because it can
help to eliminate free radicals and other toxic substances.

Again though, you want to try to make sure that you are
receiving your meat from trustworthy sources, because it is
standard for conventionally grown chicken and turkey is to be
treated similarly and fed dangerous chemicals that unnaturally
increase their rate of growth and ultimately contaminate human
bodies with those chemicals.
Eating meat overall can be very beneficial for the body, as long
as you are not eating meat that comes from dangerous and
conventionally grown methods. The chemicals that these
animals are often subject to our exceptionally dangerous, both
to the animals themselves and to the humans who consume
them. If you want to eat healthy and lose weight, it is better to
avoid any chemicals that may end up staying stuck in your body
and preventing weight loss from occurring.
Even if you are not hoping to lose weight, eating healthy includes
avoiding anything that could be dangerous to the body, such as
the hormones and chemicals that are disruptive to our sensitive
systems. Fortunately, there are many sources for healthy meats,
whether you want to indulge in chicken, beef, or even lamb.
There are ways that you can get healthy, ethically raised me to
satisfy any cravings you may have.

CHAPTER 9: THE DANGERS
OF PROCESSED FOODS
It does not come as a surprise to anybody that processed foods
are dangerous. What does come as a surprise however is that
they are still allowed out on the shelves, despite the havoc that
they wreak on our bodies and minds. Eating unhealthy food isn’t
just a personal choice to some people.
Sometimes, because of the way the economy works, people in
poverty are forced to turn to processed foods because they are
a cheap and easy way to feed large families on a low budget.
The hard thing about that is that these foods ultimately cause
medical problems down the line that cost even more money
than it would take to feed a large family healthy, sustainable
options. Ultimately, it seems that people with little money are
suffering either way.
Even if you don’t have to feed a family on a budget, processed
foods are simply unhealthy. Part of what makes them so
addicting is their high fat and sugar content.

They are often boxed meals that include pastas and an
exceptional amount of sugar. Excessive sugar is dangerous in
general, but especially to people who are prone to developing
type II diabetes. If you consume sugar and high amounts, you are
ultimately going to overload your body and not only will you
become obese, more than likely, but you also develop health
issues.
Sugar can help speed along the process of diabetes because of
the fact that it causes insulin resistance to occur which ultimately
makes it difficult, if not impossible, to control your blood sugar
levels.
If you eat foods like this excessively, such as for every meal, or at
least every day, there is bound to be a negative consequence.
Consuming that high amount of fat and sugar on a consistent
basis can lead to not only diabetes and obesity, which are
commonly known, but also heart disease and even cancer. This
is exceptionally dangerous, and if possible, processed foods
should be avoided at all costs.
Another danger of eating processed foods is that not only are
they addicting, but they are highly artificial. Most of the
ingredients in those foods are not nourishing the body. Rather,
they are leading us to feel full while depriving our bodies of the
essential nutrients that are required in healthy functioning.

When we are eating a diet that is bland and not nourishing, we
are ultimately allowing ourselves to be dumbed down. We are
not thinking properly, we are not moving properly, and we are
not functioning at her highest possible potential. All of these
things are highly damaging and can lead to poor coordination
and even depression.
On some level, we all know that processed foods are not as
healthy as the types of foods we should be consuming on a
regular basis. Our bodies know it, even if our minds are not
aware. And we suffer for it. We have stress about it.
When we indulge in unhealthy foods, whether we are addicted
to them or not, our bodies know it. And, whether it’s a
subconscious occurrence or not, we often punish ourselves. We
know that we are doing something wrong. We feel upset about
it and dissatisfied, even if we are processing it in the moment.
Processed foods are also high in artificial colorings that have
been proven to be highly carcinogenic. When we are eating
foods that have fixed coloring in it, we are essentially swallowing
dye. Would you want to eat hair dye? Not really. But these types
of chemicals are what are used in your food. They stay in your
body and do not come out. They dye your organs on the inside.
They are highly dangerous and can lead to cancer.
There also full of preservatives. Processed food stays on the shelf
for a very long time. Longer than is healthy and normal. Any

typical bottle of milk would not last for months on end at a time.
It would curdle and spoil. The same as with cheeses, and the
same as with other foods that you find on the shelves that have
long shelf lives.
Shelf lives are important for companies to establish because they
are able to make more money if their food is able to stay on the
shelf longer. They will do whatever it takes, whether it is
healthier not to the human body, to ensure that they are making
the most money possible.
Preservatives often include unhealthy and unnatural chemicals
and excessive amounts of salt. Neither of which are good for the
body at all. Processed foods can lead to issues with the heart,
and hypertension, because of the excessive amount of salt
present in these foods. High blood pressure is a common
occurrence among people who survive off of processed foods,
and obesity and heart attacks are some of the number one
killer’s in North America.
This has absolutely everything to do with the standard American
diet. The sad part about it is that even if you know it is unhealthy,
the chemicals and high sugar and fat content make these
processed foods extremely addicting.
The body begins to crave them, and it can be almost as
dangerous as a drug addiction. When you are addicted to a food

that is neither nourishing nor healthy, it can have long-term
consequences on your health and development.
Another way that processed foods contribute to obesity is
because we digest them far too quickly compared to foods that
are rich in healthy dietary fiber. If we are digesting these foods
quickly and they are not filling us up because we are not
receiving the fiber that provides us with the full feeling, we are
not even burning the same amount of energy as we would to
digest healthy foods.
This means that we eat more and digest less, leading to fast and
rapid weight gain. The calories present in your body are much
higher when you are on a diet of processed foods. You burn far
more calories when you are eating healthy, whole foods that are
rich in dietary fibers.
Unfortunately, this means that people who live and subsist on a
diet of processed foods are ultimately going to gain weight
whether they want to or not. And they will not provide you with
the same amount of energy because they are not nourishing.
They are likely to leave you tired and sluggish, and feeling far too
full because you eat a lot more of these unhealthy, sugar filled
foods without feeling content or satiated.
Processed food is not metabolized properly in our bodies. They
are quickly turned to fat. Not only that, but they are high in fat.
They are often full of hidden fat and sugars. Vegetable oil is one
of the primary ingredients in many of these processed meals,

along with things such as high fructose corn syrup, which is a
huge culprit in weight gain.
If every processed food on the shelves contained high fructose
corn syrup, and most of them do, it is no wonder that North
America is facing the worst obesity epidemic in the world history.
Hydrogenated oils are highly unhealthy because they do not
break down.
They remain in your body and become merged with the fat cells.
These oils make fat far more difficult to burn off. They are harder
to get rid of, and that type of stubborn fat can lead to obesity
very quickly. The ingredients in processed foods lack most of the
nutritional value that humans need in order to function at their
highest potential. We need the fibers and the vitamins and
minerals that are present in real food before we can truly thrive.
If you find that processed foods can’t be entirely avoided, they
should at least be eaten in moderation. They are dangerous.
They can make us feel sluggish, irritable, and unhappy overall.
Our dispositions can go from positive to negative when we go
from a healthy diet and ultimately find ourselves consumed with
nothing but processed foods that are too sugary, too fatty, and
to unhealthy.

Our bodies crave nutrition. The easiest and most beneficial thing
you can do for yourself is to provide your body with that
nutrition. It can be hard to get used to changing of routines such
as subsisting off of processed foods, and it can be very frustrating
at times.
You have to spend a lot more time in the kitchen cooking and
taking your health and your meals into consideration. But
ultimately, eating processed foods is something that can kill you
and cut you off from yourself. You are actually consuming toxins
and avoiding the foods that can act as antioxidants that will
provide you with a chance to get rid of the waste that you are
putting into your body.
Processed foods are the same as junk foods. They are no
different. They are healthier seeming junk foods. They are snacks
in disguise. In order to become healthy and to actually feel
healthy, avoiding processed foods at all costs is the first and most
effective step that you can take. Don’t let yourself be fooled by
packaging that claims these foods are healthy.
They are saturated and fat and sugar and salt, and lacking in
anything that gives your body nourishment. Do everything you
can to change your habit of relying on processed foods. Eating
healthy is easy and possible if you set your mind to it.

Just remember the strategy of walking around the grocery store
to pick up the fresh produce and meat as opposed to walking
through the aisles that are full of dangerous and alluring
packaging that is hiding the dangers of the processed food
within.

CHAPTER 10: BRINGING IT
ALL TOGETHER WITH MEAL
PLANNING
Meal planning can be one of the single most important aspects
of developing a healthy lifestyle. When we are unable to visualize
the future of our eating, it can be very easy to succumb to the
temptations of unhealthy foods that we have become addicted
to. Especially if it is our habit to eat them rather than eating the
foods that will nourish us.
Meal planning is quite an endeavor. It can be somewhat
intimidating, especially to somebody who suffers with
organization. If you find yourself having a hard time with meal
planning, don’t fret. There are many ways that you can begin to
delve into meal planning that are fun and easy, whether you
struggle with creativity in the kitchen or not.
There are many meal planning kits that you can buy. Many of
them have the option of ordering boxes full of fresh foods to
cook with and include recipes that you can use. This can be very
helpful if you are not used to cooking, which is often the case.

Especially when poor eating habits and a busy work schedule
make it seem difficult to carve out the time necessary in order to
make full, nourishing meals. The first step in meal planning is
research. If you are going to get yourself healthy, you have to
look at your options.
Researching recipes is the best first place to start. Accumulating
a binder full of healthy foods that you want to try out can be both
fun and educational. It will open your mind to several food
possibilities you may have otherwise scoffed at as too difficult
for you to prepare, or maybe teach you things you had never
known before.
Recipes can be very mind-opening. Especially when you are
interested in making new discoveries. Cooking can be a hard
habit to get into, but once you begin to master it, you will be
surprised by just how much freedom you can find in putting a
meal together for yourself that is both health-conscious and
delicious!
Look at recipe books and magazines and get an accumulation of
recipes that you want to try. Start with the things that look the
most delicious and nourishing, and if you are a novice in the
kitchen, you may also want to look to the things that seem the
most simple.

Next, you should keep your recipes organized in a simple way
that is easy to navigate. If you find yourself overwhelmed by a
lack of organization, it will make meal planning that much more
difficult.
When you are beginning a new habit, you want to make sure that
you are doing everything as simply as possible. Too much change
at once can be demanding on your system, and you should
always try to implement small, easy changes until they have
become a new habit.
Make sure that they are easily accessible, so that when you want
to begin preparing your meal you can do so easily. If you are
using a binder, you may want to consider laminating the pages
or using plastic sleeves, so that if you are using it in the kitchen,
they are not affected by water or other food contamination.
When you organize your recipes, it would help to put them in
order of breakfast meals, lunch meals, dinner meals, and snacks.
This will help you to reference the proper recipes more easily
once you begin to start cooking. If you like, you could even
organize your binder by day of the week, and have your meals
planned out for every day and printed out in the binder that way.
There are many ways you could organize your recipes. Do what
seems to make the most sense to you intuitively. Don’t force
yourself to adhere to a type of organization that doesn’t work

for you. Instead, make sure that you are doing what works best
for you in your own life.
Make sure that you are taking the time to regularly seek out new
recipes that stand out to you to keep your creative juices flowing
and your kitchen exciting. There are many types of recipes you
can try, and the more you attempt, the more interesting going
on a journey of healthy eating can be!
Next, you should explore software such as Excel on Microsoft
Office that will help you to organize your meal planning. On Excel
you will find a plethora of templates you can choose from to help
yourself plan out your meals by the day, time, and week. This can
be a hugely valuable resource!
If you would prefer not to use excel, there are also apps you
could download on your phone or tablet or another device to
help you to utilize your time and resources better.
You can even go the old fashioned route and buy a notebook that
is specially designed toward planning meals. This is an important
step in making sure your meals are organized and easily
accessible.
Having a meal plan is extremely helpful when it comes to
embarking upon a journey of healthy eating. Creating good
habits takes time and patience, and it is inevitable that you will
slip somewhere along the way.

But that doesn’t mean that you have to stay stuck on the ground!
Actually, it just means that you are going to have to get back up
and keep trying, because giving up is far easier than sticking to
your plans.
One thing that can really help when it comes to meal planning is
sticking with the theme. For example, a lot of people have
specific themes like taco Tuesday or another day that is assigned
for a specific type of meal. If you think that would help you to
stay on track, feel free to imitate that type of meal planning. It is
done for a reason, because it works and it helps to keep things
simple and streamlined.
It can be very annoying to find yourself stuck doing a lot of
planning and preparation every single week or month, so if you
want to keep things easy, that can be a good way to do it. You
could have a theme for biweekly meals, such as taco Tuesday
one night and maybe rice and vegetables Tuesday the next and
alternate between them. There is no wrong way to plan your
meals. What you have to make sure you do is to observe follow
through.
Without follow-through, everything else becomes redundant
and difficult. Something that can truly help you to succeed at
meal planning is accountability. If you let somebody who knows
you and cares about you know that you are attempting to plan

your meals, ask them if they would be willing to help you to stick
to your routine.
They can help you by asking questions about how things are
going and whether or not you are staying on track. They may also
choose to encourage you and cheer you on through your
endeavors.
However they choose to support you, they can be very
rewarding for both of you. If they are a positive and supportive
person, it can be great to know that you have people rallied in
your corner who truly want you to succeed. Just make sure that
you are weeding out toxic people who bring you down by turning
the attention onto themselves or by making you feel as if it will
be difficult for you to accomplish your goals.
Sure, constructive feedback can be incredibly useful, but if you
are not seeking constructive feedback, it can at times be toxic.
Make sure you understand the difference between a toxic
person masquerading as a supportive person and a supportive
person who truly wants to see you thrive.
Another way to take accountability is by taking personal
accountability. Personal accountability can be achieved through
journaling and self affirmations. Talking to yourself about your
goals, what do you do it internally or out loud, can be a good way

to help you to stay focused and ask yourself whether or not you
are doing the things that you hope to accomplish.
If you find that you are not, instead of beating yourself up about
it, consider your obstacles and move on as you begin to uncover
them. The only way you will ever be a failure is if you do not try.
If you try, everything will ultimately fall into place because you
are making an effort and creating positive changes in your life.
Journaling is useful for many reasons. They can help you to write
down what you have eaten and when and how much. This will
give you a good idea of what you can realistically expect from
yourself. The things that you are unhappy with, you should
address and take note of. But instead of being angry at yourself
for not being a trickle right away, remember that it is a process
and you need to go slowly.
Instead of implementing an entire change in routine and
planning out every meal for the next month when you have
never done it before, instead, start slow by easing into one or
two meals a week, and then gradually adding in the rest as you
feel comfortable with the process.
Make it something that does not shock your system. Gradual
change is the most lasting. And journaling about your
experiences will help you to uncover your innermost thoughts
about the process and things that you might not even realize
were holding you back.

You will begin to sense patterns in your behavior and possibly
predict when you might find yourself tempted to get off track
and why. If you are able to identify these trigger points, it will be
easier to avoid them in the future.
Meal planning can be a very fun and exciting endeavor. Even if
you aren’t the type who enjoys that type of organization, it can
be very rewarding to think about exactly what you are going to
be putting in your body and take the steps necessary in actually
doing so. Everybody deserves a chance to become the healthiest
and most healthy version of themselves possible, and with meal
planning and a healthy dose of self-esteem, you will be well on
your way to a lifestyle of healthy eating.

CONCLUSION
Healthy eating is something that can be very difficult to begin
doing, especially if you were not able to develop healthy eating
habits from a young age. However, it is not impossible to become
a more health conscious and proactive person.
Fortunately, every single day that we wake up living and
breathing is a day that we can begin to better ourselves and
move forward in our lives.
Becoming the best version of ourselves can seem intimidating at
first, but once you start to realize that every choice you make has
an impact on your life, whether positive or negative, then it
becomes a lot easier to see the course of our actions before they
come back to haunt us. Poor eating habits are definitely choices
that will come back to haunt us.
If we are not careful, we will begin to develop health problems
later in life because we were not conscientious of what we put
into our bodies when we were younger. Healthy eating and
exercise is the only way to create a healthy and happy body and
mind.

We become stir crazy and restless when we stay stuck in our
homes all day eating nothing but sugar and fat laden processed
foods and sitting around watching TV without exercising. The
standard American diet is dangerous, and it is costing people
their lives. Don’t let yourself become one of those people.
Instead, make the choices that you need to make in order to truly
better yourself and become the best version of yourself possible.
Make choices that will make your family proud and will provide
them with your presence in their lives for years to come.
When we are not taking care of ourselves, this is actually very
selfish. There are people around us who care deeply for the
people that we are and the value that we bring to their lives,
whether we realize it or not. Everybody deserves a chance to
take their future into their own hands and create positive
changes that will benefit them for years to come.
Healthy eating is just one of many ways that you can begin to
better yourself and prepare your mind and body for the future.
If you want to be independent and active for as long as possible
without costing yourself thousands upon thousands of dollars in
medical bills and other expenses, then healthy eating is
something that you should begin sooner rather than later.
If not, it is bound to become a drain on your life, both materially
and physically. By reading this book and utilizing the information

within it, you are now more prepared for taking the first step
toward a healthy lifestyle.
Planning your meals and becoming more aware of why it is
important to make healthy food choices will drastically improve
your quality of life now and for years to come. All you have to do
is stick with it, and you will begin to see the positive health
effects of healthy eating right away! All you have to do is try. You
can do this!

A healthy guide to eating healthy food

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