Time for Slow Food
More than ever, now is a good time to focus on eating healthy, to support immune function. With everyone spending more time at home, it’s a perfect opportunity to experiment with making more wholesome and healthy home cooked meals and using less processed foods and sugar. There are a few good reasons to do this:
- The additional fiber, nutrients and phytochemicals in a natural, whole food diet support our overall health and resistance to illness
- Gyms and workout studios are closed, and you may be less active and burning fewer calories
- It’s usually less expensive overall and can save you money
Instead of packaged convenience, everyone has time now to embrace “slow food”. It takes much less space in the pantry to stock up on rolled oats, rice, quinoa, cornmeal, lentils, beans, popcorn, flour, nuts and whole grain (or legume) pasta, not to mention a LOT less money! Also, these staples can be ordered online and delivered to your home whenever you need them.
For low carb and keto diets, there are so many great new recipes incorporating protein powder, almond flour and coconut flour you can experiment with a whole new array of homemade meals, treats and snacks. Have you tried making your own crisps out of only parmesan cheese? So easy!
For everyone, no matter what diet you follow, fill your freezer with your favorite frozen veggies. Press the air out of bags of organic spinach and kale and stack them in the freezer. Incorporate frozen veggies into omelettes, soups or a stir-fry. And, berries aren’t just for smoothies! Buy frozen berries and enjoy homemade blueberry and cranberry muffins with chia seeds and nuts on a daily basis. Guaranteed your homemade muffins are a lot healthier than those you buy at the coffee shop!
Keeping cooked legumes and rice separately in the fridge allows for the creation of a lot of new healthy, plant based meals, which the experts tell us is the best way to eat. With thousands of vegetarian and vegan recipes available on the web, options are endless. For ideas, menus, meal plans and recipes using whole natural ingredients, just Google “Whole 30 Diet” or “Mediterranean Diet”.
Jars of olives, peppers and artichoke hearts in the cupboard can make hearty keto-friendly salads if you run out of fresh salad fixings. Add some canned corn, beans and cumin for a latin-style treat!
Nuts, seeds, nut butters, flax crackers, even canned sardines are readily available healthy snack foods for Keto and Mediterranean diet followers alike. Keep on hand (and you can order for delivery) shelf stable almond, cashew and coconut milk to mix with protein powder and greens powders for a high protein snack. Add some nut butter and greens powder and you have a substantial meal. You don’t have to give up healthy eating, you only have to be creative. There are so many high nutrient powder options such as greens powders, fruit powders, mushroom powders and so many super-food power blends, that you don’t have to sacrifice health even if you run out of fresh veggies in the short term.
The point is, disruption to our everyday routine offers the opportunity to change a few less healthy dietary habits and incorporate better ones, and the upside of being “quarantined” at home is that it requires less self discipline if the temptation of a million other choices isn’t there.
Healthy exercise, fresh air and sunshine also boost the immune system. You can still practice social distancing by taking long walks or jogs, biking, hiking and kayaking. And don’t forget you can still lift weights or practice yoga in your own home! It’s important to engage in some kind of activity every day, to keep your mood up and your muscles and immune system strong!
While there is very little we can do about the current circumstances, what we can do is focus on our health. So, we encourage everyone to find some new recipes on the internet and learn some new cooking skills, and with all the money you’ll save, you just might decide to incorporate these changes permanently into a new healthier lifestyle!
Lisa Murray, RDN
Medical Education Manager