The Bear's Personal List of...Foods to start eating NOW

 am going to compile a list of everyday foods (nothin’ fancy here) that I like to eat as much as possible, and I think everyone should include in their diet. I’m not a doctor or a nurse so please take everything with a grain of salt. Which reminds me, I have been eating SO much less salt and hardly adding any to my foods, and it feels good.


Okay here it goes:

1. Spinach. I have loved this since I was little and I always ate it like my Dad, sautéed with some vinegar on it, which led him to showing me what happens when you put baking soda and malt vinegar together. You can sneak sautéed spinach into any meal for example; sauces, toping, as a side, in soups, salads, Kraft Mac and cheese, chicken dishes, shrimp stir fries…literally anything. When it is sautéed it melts down to such a small amount when the water is cooked out of it. I think I ate spinach sautéed with fresh garlic and oil everyday my sophomore year. Spinach has high amounts of iron, more than your Daily Value of Vitamin K, and A. Vitamin K works on protein inside your bones, and helps build you a stronger skeleton. It is high in antioxidants and anti cancer agents. And it tastes GREAT.

2. Protein Shakes. Hmm, so I just got into these. Whey Protein to be exact and the occasional Casein Protein at night time. A lot of my friends and co-workers make fun of me as I shake my blender bottle  in public. I get even more shit when friends come over and they see the collection of protein Mr. and I have collected. Hey you never know when you’re in the mood for a chocolate shake or something that tastes like an Orange Julius. Strawberry Protein smoothies? No problem. I am not a body builder, I do lift weights and drink protein, but there is no way I am going to bulk up. It’s a common myth,my friends. A girl my size and height should be having about 115 grams of protein a day. Don’t get me wrong, I love chicken but I would have to be eating it all day to get that much protein in, so therefore I drink the shakes. End of Story.

3. Eggs. I love eating scrambled eggs with 1 whole egg and 2 or 3 egg whites. The whites are the healthiest part – low in calories (17) high in protein (7). They are also the part of the egg with low cholesterol because I know a lot of people have a stigma about the high cholesterol in eggs. Eggs are also good in many things, even fried on top of a burger!

4. Bananas. I eat them everyday. I love the way they taste and when they’re usually 50 cents a pound, it’s a deal I can’t pass up. They’re a little bit higher in calories than I usually go for in a fruit snack, but bananas are also great with peanut butter, chocolate chips, frozen, or just plain.

5. Greek Yogurt. Amazing. I started eating Fage yogurts my sophomore year of High School until about 2004, they disappeared off the shelves. I could only buy them at Trader Joe’s (I think in High School all I ate were Luna Bars and Greek Yogurt, both ONLY found at Trader Joe’s at this point in time). I went in with one of my dear friends and fellow TJ’s lover, to find that they were GONE! Apparently, Fage had lost their license to sell this yogurt in the United States and all stores were told to destroy any remaining product. Other than that the whole thing was a mystery, and it suddenly appeared on the shelves a couple long months later. When I taught English in Greece we ate Greek yogurt with fresh honey every morning and it was like being in heaven. Greek yogurt is double strained through cheese cloth so its texture is VERY thick and creamy. Its low in calories (if you get the 2% or non fat) and very high in protein. I am now obsessed with this brand called Chobani. Mr. and I ALWAYS have them in the fridge all flavors, plain, big, small. Try it. (Look how thick and delicious it looks in that picture!)

 

Hmm that’s all I can come up with right now that isn’t all the generic stuff about fish and Omega 3s, berries having antioxidants, and lentils and beans being high in protein. You already know that probably so I hope you enjoy my personal list and enjoy eating them all. Please let me know if you actually dislike something on this list (GASP)