[Debunking Healthy Food Myths] Myth #1: Healthy Food Tastes Like Cardboard

By Shaina Kamman

Shaina is a Board Certified Health Coach. She works with mothers and others who are hungry for change and ready to make healthy food the staple in their home. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition school, and she is also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the Weston A Price Foundation.

DEBUNKING HEALTHY FOOD MYTHS
With Shaina Kamman

Myth #1: Healthy Food Tastes Like Cardboard

There is a myth going around, and it’s been here for a while. I can definitely remember it from when I was a kid. The myth is that healthy food tastes like cardboard. And I think many of us can attest to that. Who remembers eating those fat-free, sugar-free, low-sodium poser “cookies” that taste like cardboard because they are, in fact, basically cardboard? I do.

But there is a catch. Here is the question: Are those fat-free, sugar-free, low sodium poser “cookies” actually healthy? The answer is a resounding no. Those beautifully packaged little cardboard morsels that will last for ten years on a supermarket shelf are not healthy.  After ten years, if the bugs and the bacteria are still not interested in those things, it’s a pretty clear sign that there was nothing of value to begin with. So- not cookies, not healthy, not yummy. What a bargain.

In our current world, with such vast food choices, how does one identify which foods are actually healthy? It’s easy for anyone’s head to spin, even the intelligent and consciously discerning. When I work with my clientele, I ask them to let go of the “____-free” stigma and switch to something more simple, and much, much more accurate: If it is something your great-grandmother would recognize and feed her family, that is a great place to start.

Let’s start with a simple recipe for Garlic Green Beans:
Steam or blanch green beans to your own desired crunchy/mushyness. In a separate pan, gently sauté garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil for about ten seconds. Turn off the fire and add in the drained green beans. Toss it all up, add salt, and serve. Could it be easier? Come on! 

Want to feel good about it?  


Green beans are high in calcium, potassium, and B-complex vitamins. Studies show that, along with other green veggies, they reduce the risk of lung cancer.

Garlic is a rich source of dietary sulphur and selenium, and is great for treating blood pressure disorders, infections, headaches, and parasites. Garlic also contains an oil called allyl disulphate that acts as an anti-bacterial agent in the gut. It lowers cholesterol, prevents cancer, protects again blood clotting, aids in treating bronchitis and emphysema, and strengthens the immune system. BOOM! Drop the Bomb!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a wonderful stable monounsaturated fat that is 75% oleic acid, which helps to regulate blood sugar. It is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E, and above all, it has proven the test of time.

So what do we have here? A delicious, easy to make dish that is incredibly healthy, tastes nothing like cardboard, and is something your great grandmother would be proud of.

Myth #1 has been debunked!
On a side note, when is sent this article to Mimi, she wanted to know: “But are there any legit healthy "foods from the shelf" ideas that are tasty and healthy? Well, everything is on a continuum. Ideally, yes, if you make it in your kitchen, 95% if the time it will be better for you than packaged. When you cook, you probably don’t add toxic preservatives, food coloring, or the cheapest yuckiest oils available. However, that being said, I also have a quick tip for buying packaged anything. If you can pronounce the ingredients, go for it. If you can’t, its likely more related to plastic than food.

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For more information on Shaina’s Health Coaching practice visit www.lifewithin.info and LIKE Life Within on Facebook! Considering if Shaina’s program is the right fit for you? Mention this LadyMama article for a 10% discount on your initial consultation!