Ten Healthy Foods I Gravitate Toward…

In an effort to add a layer of healthy living to my life as a runner, I want to share with you some of the foods I have been gravitating toward lately.

For me, it’s not a weight issue. Instead, I notice a direct correlation between eating better, feeling better and running stronger. No longer am I okay with eating the corn dog my little one left on her dinner plate or having ice cream in the evening just because my little ones are having ice cream. Moreover, I am 33 years old now. I want to look 10 years younger than I am for the rest of my life (naturally; without surgery of any kind) and I want to one day race in the 60+ age bracket.

I’ve been on quite the health food kick as of late. And this is what I’ve been eating:

1)      Anything by Kashi. I eat their cereal for breakfast, have their granola bars for a snack and love their frozen lunches (I’m a busy mama of two-sometimes I don’t have time to make myself a sandwich).

2)      Almond milk instead of cow’s milk.

3)      Pita chips and hummus (Usually the garlic kind. Yum!!).

4)      A lot more fresh fruit and vegetables. I alternate throughout the day, ensuring I eat a piece of fruit every other snack time. When out to eat, I ALWAYS get the salad instead of the fries.

5)      Vitamin Water. Some would argue I should be drinking regular water (tap water even, so as not to fill our landfills with plastic bottles) and that Vitamin Water has a lot of sugar in it. And I’d probably agree on both accounts. That said, I do like it, it does have healthy benefits, and it does keep me from drinking a nice, cold, refreshing Coca-Cola. Ahhhh….

6)      Whole wheat flour instead of white in absolutely everything I bake.

7)      Lara Bars.

8)      Vega Energizing Smoothies. These smoothies are delicious and the perfect quick breakfast for a woman on the go. I like a lot of the Vega products and these smoothies are no exception. Try the chocolate smoothie with vanilla silk or almond milk. Oh my goodness….

9)      Homemade bread instead of store bought (so as to control what goes into it). I make cinnamon raisin bread, sweet walnut bread, whole wheat bread, egg bread, sourdough bread, etc…  

10)   Anything by Amy’s. I just read a New York Times article stating how Amy’s Kitchen is one of the last remaining independent organic companies, so I feel good about them (I’m a big fan of their pesto pizza and Mexican casserole bowl).

Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean going gluten-free or diary-free or anything to the extreme. It’s about making tiny choices and choosing wisely. So what about you? What is your go-to healthy snack or meal?