So you want to turn over a new leaf and start eating well with healthy foods. Seems simple enough, until you open your refrigerator and realize you have no healthy foods. I promise you you’re not alone. One of the hardest things about adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle, is understanding what foods are healthy, but also allowing yourself to generate some simplicity and consistency with your diet. The following is a list of twelve wholesome and healthy foods (because I’m tired of top 10 lists) that I always keep readily available in my kitchen:

BROCCOLI

Broccoli is a great healthy food because it is a source of Vitamin C as well as potassium and folate. Broccoli is easily cooked in a steamer, but is also great raw for a nourishing snack or in a power green salad.

SWEET POTATO OR YAMS

Another healthy food are Sweet Potatoes. Sweet Potatoes are a fantastic source of healthy carbohydrates. When consumed with the skin they have higher fiber content than a serving of oatmeal. The great thing about this healthy food is that it keeps well when cooked and stored for later. I bake six sweet potatoes at the beginning of the week and use them for snacks and as parts of meals.

ORGANIC PASTEURIZED EGGS OR EGG WHITES

Egg whites are a great source of protein making them an optimal healthy food. The nice thing about having eggs available is that you can eat them for breakfast, hard boil them for a nutritious snack that keeps throughout the week, or make an omelet for a quick easy high protein dinner. Eggs have endless meal possibilities.

ORGANIC UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK

Almond milk is another fantatic healthy food! I am a big believer in the benefits of almond milk because of the healthy fat content and low cholesterol levels. I use it for smoothies instead of milk, and it can also serve as a healthier substitute for cream or non-dairy creamers in your coffee.

LEAFY GREENS

Leafy Greens are probably the healthiest of the healthy foods that you can put in your body, because they are packed with fiber, essential minerals and vitamins and help to protect against heart disease and diabetes. Kale, arugula and spinach are my favorites.

FRESH SALSA

I treat this healthy food like a condiment. I love fresh salsa because it adds great taste to any salad or omelet and keeps me from reaching for Ketchup, BBQ sauce and any other condiment that has ingredients I want nowhere near my body. I commit to buying salsa that only contains fresh ingredients. It doesn’t keep as long but it tastes better and you know what’s in it.

100 % GRASS FED FLANK STEAK

Grass Fed Flank Steak is high in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, making it a premium healthy food. It costs a little more at the checkout counter but the benefits of buying grass fed and organic meats are incredibly beneficial and help to avoid meats with fillers. 

FREE RANGE ORGANIC CHICKEN BREAST

Again, if you buy it organic, chicken is a fantastic source of protein and easy to cook. There are endless healthy meal options for lean chicken breast meat. Mix it with that sweet potato, chop it up with those leafy greens or eat it with that avocado. Any one of those options makes for a quick healthy meal.

BLUEBERRIES

The tastiest of all the healthy foods and incredibly high in antioxidants, blueberries are a super food in any meal. I use blueberries in protein shakes to add a little sweetness, but also in salads or for quick sweet snacks. Oh yeah – Blueberries are also delicious!

FULL FAT GREEK YOGURT (PLAIN)

Another favorite healthy food, Greek yogurt is a great source of protein and probiotics. Stay away from the non-fat and buy the full fat. The right kind of fat is essential to a healthy lifestyle (more on that later!). This healthy food is great at breakfast with those blueberries and also for cooking and in smoothies.   And when I say plain I mean plain. If you buy a flavored yogurt you might as well eat an ice cream instead.

GRASS FED BUTTER

Butter continuously gets a bad name because of all the processed crap you find in your local grocery. Whole grass fed butter is another story and makes the list of healthy foods. Grass Fed butter is high in saturated fats and helps raise your LDL (good cholesterol). Grass fed butter is exceptional for cooking use because it doesn’t oxidize. Oh and this healthy food tastes incredible!