5 Simple Tips for Eating Green & Healthy

So you're thinking about starting to eat cleaner and greener? Good for you. But are you worried that green foods are just not going to be enough to sustain you - or that you won't be able to find the right foods? Well, there's no need to worry. You can live on truly healthy and green foods without a problem. Give yourself two weeks of eating green to create the habit. Here are some ways to eat green that you might want to try...

1. Eat lots of greens.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eating your spinach will make you strong to the finish as Popeye says! Vegetables do a body good and filling your plate with plenty of hardy vegetables is not only healthy for you, but it's also filling and will give you plenty of energy - positive energy that's good for your muscles and your bones. It's a great way to sustain a healthy body. A good rule of thumb, without trying to count servings, is that for every meal, 2/3 of your plate should be vegetables - primarily green ones. This is literally "eating green."

2. Follow a vegetarian diet.

This doesn't just mean no meat, though. You have to make good organic food choices if you're going to go vegetarian. For example, peanut butter seems like a great source of protein that your body is craving when you switch to a vegetarian diet, but it isn't going to help you in eating green. Some processed foods like peanut butter may contain toxins or man-made additives which are difficult for the body to digest. Eating vegetarian isn't necessarily healthier if you just switch to vegetarian processed foods.

3. Go temporarily vegan.

Take it one step further and don't just cut meat out of your diet, but also milk, dairy products, and seafood. With the use of growth hormones to raise the chickens and cows there's more of a risk of there being a negative effect on our bodies when we eat or drink products made from this stuff. It is possible that the hormone residues could disrupt our hormone balance. As with the caveats in going vegetarian, going vegan isn't healthy if you just switch to vegan processed foods! Be sure you are eating natural, whole foods, and skip the processed fake meat products and that sort of thing. Typically I recommend you go vegan only for a short period of time, so you don't become deficient in certain vitamins that are found only in animal foods, but it's a great way to cleanse and detox your body periodically. And if you do choose to eat meat (or animal products), be sure it is naturally/organically raised! These are the ONLY animal products that are truly safe to eat.

Home cooked food! (Photo credit: Kai Hendry)

4. Eat healthy home cooked meals.

If you're not prepared to go full on vegetarian or vegan, that's okay. Preparing meals at home from scratch has all too often become a thing of the past. Convenience foods (aka junk foods) have taken their place, or eating out. If you prepare your meals at home from scratch then you can control more of what you put into your body. Not only that, but when you eat at home and cook from scratch you will save on energy and package waste. That makes it good for the environment and good for you too, since you can monitor how much sugar and salt is being put on your food. Visit our Cooking From Scratch blog for weekly recipe ideas and healthy cooking tips!

5. Eat super foods that sustain you.

You don't need to eat junk foods when you have a craving. There are some really tasty foods that have the added bonus of being good for you, too. Snack on a piece of dark chocolate instead of a Hershey bar, or an apple and a slice of cheese instead of greasy salty potato chips. Some other must-haves in the super food list include nuts, granola, dried fruit, yogurt, and even kale chips. Or try signing up for a service like NatureBox, which provides you with a selection of naturally healthy snacks every month, so you never have to succumb to temptation in the snack aisle!

All in all, eating green means reducing the amount of processed foods you eat, and meat as well. Less red meat and more green veggies makes for a green diet that will sustain you and which can help you lose weight, too. You'll feel better and more energized as your body is more capable of metabolizing non-processed foods.

Keep Your Pet Healthy With Natural Dog Foods

Many commercial dog foods are made primarily from soy or grain, which really aren't natural for dogs to eat, and don't do their health any favors. In fact, many pets fed on these foods are now suffering from some of the same diseases we humans are (obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.), after eating an abundance of grains and soy for the past 40 years! If you are going to feed your dog a commercial dog food, make sure it is a natural brand, containing natural ingredients which are healthy for dogs.

Most natural dog foods contain essential minerals and vitamins such as manganese, phosphorous, calcium and potassium, all of which dogs need to have in their diet. Dogs also need some antioxidants, which are contained in many vegetables that are included in most good quality natural dog foods. There are lots of branded natural dog food options available today for your pet. However, it is better to consult with a veterinary doctor before starting to feed natural food to your dog, to find out what type would be best, since some dog foods are formulated for specific breeds.

There are many advantages of feeding natural foods to dogs. Natural dog food is usually very rich in vitamin E, which is very important for their growth. Vitamins such as beta carotene are helpful in removing toxins from the body commonly known as free radicals. Dogs need vitamins to be healthy, just like you do!

(Photo credit: Finger Food)

Natural dog foods shouldn't contain artificial ingredients, and instead should consist of whole, healthy foods that a dog would naturally eat, such as meat and vegetables. This will help reduce toxins in the body, and keep your dog healthy and thriving for as long as possible. Feeding your dog natural foods is basically like an insurance policy for your pet!

You can also make your own natural dog food quite easily, from raw, natural meats and vegetables. However, there are certain foods that should not be given to dogs, such as oily food or pork, cured meat, bread, grapes, citrus, raisins, onions, pasteurized milk products, and any sugary food. These are junk foods to your dog, and aren't good for him - some can even make him sick! However, feel free to feed your dog raw meats such as beef, lamb, poultry, fish, carrots, leafy greens, and other vegetables, as well as very small amounts of cooked grains. Raw eggs are also a good healthy food for dogs.

Natural dog foods have a lot of health benefits, and many doctors suggest it is better to give natural food to dogs. Natural food can also affect the behavior of your pets, making them more active, playful and happy. Feeding your dogs natural dog food can help your treasured pets live a healthier, happier, longer life.

Natural Dog Foods Are Available for Purchase Online: