What a lot of us are unsure about though is HOW.
Healthy eating is confusing. I’m not going to lie to you or sugar-coat it for you.
We’re drip-fed through the media diet after diet, and claim after claim. One week paleo is all the rage, the next it’s a raw vegan diet. One week kale is the best thing since sliced bread (or a million times better if the paleo trend is pervailing), the next – IT’S KILLING US (wtf!?)
So what should be really be eating to be healthy? What’s the best way to eat to maintain a healthy weight, have glowing skin and glossy hair, and keep us strong and full of energy?
In among all of the diets that are pushed and health claims and studies and research, there is one constant – eating a diet rich in plant-based wholefoods is usually deemed – across all camps – to be the best option when it comes to an ideal diet.
(Well, except for maybe kale which, y’know, might kill you!)
So…. What are wholefoods?
Wholefoods are whole, unrefined foods, that are either minimally processed or completely unprocessed, the majority of which are derived from plants. So think vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, wholegrains, legumes, natural dairy products, fresh meat and seafood and so on.
Unprocessed wholefoods are those which have not been proceed at all, for example whole fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Minimally processed wholefoods are those which have been slightly altered from their original form yet still contain all whole, natural ingredients, such as canned beans which have been cooked and canned in brine, and yogurt which has been fermented.
Why wholefoods?
So then why is it so important to eat wholefoods?
Why should you ditch that can of soft drink and chocolate bar for a raw brownie and some fermented drink that has a dubious looking “fungus” growing in it? (I’m talking kombucha here, and I promise it’s everything it’s cracked up to be!)
Well for a start, a wholefoods diet has been shown to
- Increase energy levels and boost mood
- Assist with the prevention of disease and illness
- Assist with weight loss and maintenance
- Improve skin and hair health
- Help to regularise sleeping patterns
- Improve digestive health
Plus, eating wholefoods can actually work out to be a lot cheaper than eating packaged convenience foods. Yes, really!
To Her Core + a wholefoods approach
To Her Core was initially created as a way for me to share the wholefoods recipes I had been making for myself and my partner at home. Through posting recipes and hearing people’s comments both here and on my Facebook and Instagram pages, I became aware that people were not only confused with what they should be eating for their health, but also how to prepare these foods. Should I soak my grains? What about sprouting them? How can I make my favorite sweets healthier? What are fermented foods, and how do I make them easily at home?
As a result of the conversations around this, I decided to branch this space out to also include sections which detail what wholefoods are, how to prepare them, what to prepare them with and how to turn them into delicious, healthy meals.
On this site you will find the following sections –
The good stuff.
Here you’ll find a treasure-trove of delicious, nourishing recipes, ranging from simpler dishes such as go-to one-pot soups and porridges, to dishes that take a little longer and require a few more techniques – but are definitely worth the effort (case in point – Soaked Buckwheat Pancakes with Roasted Tomato Salsa).
If you’re just starting out with wholefoods recipes and ingredients, I recommend you start here.
Sometimes, the best things in life require a bit of effort. Relationships. Getting a degree. Securing your dream job. They don’t happen over night, and unfortunately getting your health back on track won’t either. Especially if you are coming from a diet where take-away food is the norm and you’re quite partial to grabbing lunch (or breakfast or dinner) on the go.
That’s where I’m here to help. While there are a bunch of recipes on here that are super quick, you might also find things that require a little more effort. Soaking your grains for optimum digestion is a prime example. Or making your own cheeses (dairy or vegan) from scratch so that you know exactly what’s in them.
Don’t worry – I got you.
In the Wholefood How-to’s section, you’ll find a series of step-by-step posts which detail how to make wholefood staples like homemade ricotta, nut milks and freshly milled flours.
You’ll also learn why it’s better for you to make these items at home, such as
- You’re guaranteed freshness and flavour
- No added nasties, unlike most commercial versions
- You can make the amount you need, leading to less waste
- Making these items from scratch is often more economical than buying them from the store
Along with the staple ingredients you may wish to stock in your wholefoods kitchen, this section covers off on all of the non-food related essentials, such as nut-milk bags and seed sprouters, to the best types of skillets to cook with and other nifty kitchen tools.
For each item, find out not only why they are an essential in a wholefoods kitchen, but also links to which recipes utilise each item.
The key to eating a healthy, wholefoods diet is being prepared. I’d love to tell you that you can continue your fast-food lifestyle whilest enjoying a wholefoods diet, but for the most part this just isn’t the case. Yet. There are more and more wholefoods options showing up around the place, but we’re still along way off being able to live healthier eating out all the time.
And therefore the best way to ensure that you can quickly and easily whip up wholefood meals at home is to have a well-stocked kitchen. Luckily for you, the How to Stock a Wholefoods Kitchen eBook will step you through the various groups of ingredients you may want to stock up on, and then links through to recipes that utilise those ingredients.
Want more?
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