Eating guidelines

Here are some simple dietary guidelines to consider for a healthier lifestyle full of fruits and vegetables.

1. Avoid processed “junk” foods including fast food, packaged foods, high fat foods this first week and frankly the longer you can limit them in your diet, the better you will feel.

2. Choose as many local, seasonal, organic foods as possible. Begin by adding whole fruits and vegetables into your diet. Link to our recipes for soups, smoothies and salads. They are fun meal choices that help you integrate more fruits and vegetables into your diet.

3. Eat smaller amounts more often. Eating just enough to nourish yourself without going beyond what is comfortable is at the heart of being gentle to your body.

What counts as a serving for fruits & veggies?

  • 1 cup leafy greens, berries or melon chunks
  • 1/2 cup cut or cooked fruits and vegetables (broccoli, carrots, pineapple…)
  • 1 medium piece of fruit or vegetable (apple, plum, peach, orange)
  • 6 ounces natural, fresh 100% fruit/vegetable juice
  • 1/4 cup dried fruit (sulfur free)

4. Consider how you prepare your food so you get the most out of them (and we don’t mean the most calories, we mean the most nutrients). Obviously, your deep frying days are over. Bake, broil, grill, roast and steam your food. Stir frying is acceptable as well with a small amount of oil.

5. Eat a rainbow every day. Many of the health benefits of micronutrients are concentrated in the pigment of fruits and vegetables. Essentially the properties that give each fruit or veggie its rich color are the same elements that help protect our immune systems and keep our bodies strong. Each color family is rich in unique and important micronutrients. The American Cancer Society recommends choosing at least one representative from each color family per day. We like to say: “It’s good practice to eat a rainbow every day.” All fruits and veggies are good for different reasons. Don’t be afraid to take chances, to try new combinations and to customize the fruits and vegetables you mix and match.

  • Red: tomato, watermelon, red pepper, beets, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, grapefruit, pomegranate, apple, guava, red onion, Japanese persimmon
  • Orange/Yellow: orange, sweet potato, mango, winter squash, papaya, carrots, orange peppers, tangerine/Clementine, nectarine, peach, apricot, Asian pear, Japanese squash
  • Dark Green: spinach, kale, swish chard, mustard or collard greens, avocado, asparagus, artichoke, bok choy, green cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green pepper, watercress, kiwi, apples, cilantro, basil, parsley, mint
  • Blue/Purple: blueberries, eggplant, concord grapes, purple cabbage, blackberries, plums
  • White: garlic, cauliflower, onions, ginger, Japanese radishes/Daikon, burdock root, Shiitake, Maiitake mushrooms, Jicama 

6. Think about protein in a new way. When you are not on a Reboot, you should be eating protein. Protein is essential for a healthy immune system, building and maintaining lean body mass, regulating the speed of digestion, and overall energy levels. Health advocates recommend reshaping our plates for balanced, healthy eating. Recreate your plate by shifting to 50% plant foods like vegetables or some fruit, 25% lean protein and 25% whole grain.

Examples of the Plant Proteins You Should Be Eating:

  • Beans & Legumes (lentils, split peas, black beans, garbanzo beans, hummus, kidney beans)
  • Nuts & Seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds)
  • Natural Nut Butters (almond, peanut)
  • Soy Foods (edamame, tofu, soy milk)

The Animal Proteins You Should Be Eating:

  • Organic, cage free Poultry
  • Grass Fed lean beef (bison, ostrich, buffalo)
  • Organic eggs
  • Wild caught fish
  • Organic dairy products

Two avocados have more usable protein then a 9oz steak would. Two avocados along with a handful of raw almonds is a powerhouse.