Making healthy food choices is hard, especially when there is a range of fast food options calling your name as you walk the streets of downtown. If you want to take little baby steps towards becoming healthy, you need to incorporate these 5 super healthy foods into your diet.
Each of these 5 super healthy foods are versatile and so they can be used in a combination of ways. Read on to find out how you can include these 5 foods into your diet without having to become a full out health nut.
1. Chia Seeds
These seeds have a lot of protein and are heart healthy. They absorb liquid easily which makes them a great addition to pancakes and smoothies. These seeds are also easy to digest, which means they are great for sensitive stomachs. So if you want the benefits of protein and fiber without going too hard on your stomach, these are the seeds for you.
Source: Medical News Today
2. Seaweed
Wait, don’t stop reading. This isn’t a joke. Seaweed is a great source of potassium, iron and iodine. Iodine is necessary for the regulation of the thyroid gland, so seaweed can have benefits for those suffering from thyroid disease as well. Putting seaweed in the oven makes it nice and crispy, making it a great alternative for potato chips. (Trust me, this tastes good. The cat is proof.) Seaweed can also be used on top of salad, as a replacement for croutons.
Source: Giphy
3. Hemp
This is another seed, so if you don’t enjoy the taste of chia seeds this can be a great alternative. These seeds have a similar taste to sunflower seeds. By just eating a little amount of hemp seeds, you can get some of your daily value of phosphorus, magnesium and fiber. These seeds can be eaten raw, they can be toasted to eat as a crispy snack, and they can be sprinkled on top of yogurt and salads.
Source: Authority Nutrition
4. Coconut Flour
Sure, we’ve all heard about the coconut water and coconut oil obsession, but coconut flour has just as many benefits for our health. Using coconut flour is a healthy way to add flavor to cookies, cupcakes and pancakes. Coconut flour contains a lot of fiber and has health benefits for people with diabetes. Oh, and yet another bonus, it’s gluten free!
Source: Nabava.net
5. Almond Milk
Plant based “milk” is actually becoming very popular now. If you’re looking to try a form of milk besides cow’s milk, try almond milk. You can usually find it in flavors such as vanilla and chocolate. Also, it is high in calcium and usually has high levels of vitamin D. It also has fewer calories than regular milk. However, one possible downside is that almond milk does have less protein than cow’s milk.
Source: Lifehack
What are some healthy foods that you incorporate into your daily meals? Tweet us @HCRyerson