A visit to the supermarket can sometimes be an overwhelming experience.
If you look at the list of ingredients that go into making that particular product - emulsifiers, taste enhancers, stabilizers, ingredients I cannot even pronounce and who knows what not, these do add to the taste of the food, but do we need to include these in our diets?
What we eat to a large extent should be based on the season and what grows in that area during that season. Well, that is not possible all the time right? So, if one must buy something that is prepackaged for convenience, it is important to read the list of ingredients. Choose to consume products with clean ingredients. A can of tomatoes and chilies should ideally have tomatoes and chili as its main ingredients (maybe some water and salt).
The different regions of the world have their various cuisines. And it is safe to say that all food (I refer to food in its natural form without it being industrially processed) eaten across the world is healthy and provides nutrition. The food consumed in colder climates is very different from the ones that is consumed in tropical regions.
Many a times, even traveling a 100km from where you live, you can find the cuisine to be different and adapted to what grows well in that region.
The point I am trying to make is that, it is best to eat what is grown locally and eat it fresh. When we get our produce from the imported section in the supermarkets, they have traveled a long way, probably sprayed with some chemicals and wax so it remains fresh for longer and still looks good when it is put on shelves of the supermarket. So, whenever presented with a local option, buy local or from the region that is closest to yours.
Dairy, fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat, sea food, legumes, nuts and berries and anything else that I may have missed - there is none that can truly be the king of nutrition. We need it all for a well balanced diet. Based on your dietary restrictions, you will always find something to swap that ingredient.
Having said that, we live in times, where smoothies and juices are presented as a healthier option. And I wonder, would it be better to chop the veggies and make a stir fry? Would it not be better to eat a bowl of fruits and drink that glass of milk? Energy bars in our purses is an easier reach than a bowl of berries and nuts.
Choosing to eat healthy and more nutritious is a lifestyle change especially if you live in larger cities. You may have to make time to visit the farmers market, cook up some meals from scratch or even completely eliminate certain products from your shopping hauls.
Be aware of the products you put into your shopping cart. Eat in moderation. Eat Local. Eat Fresh. Be thankful for the food on your table. Share whatever and whenever you can.
I am not a nutritionist.
You are the expert when you decide what is good for your family. just as I am for mine. 😊
All images are my own and have been photographed 📷 by me.