I Finally Fell in Love with First Class Foods | Healthy Foods Taste Great Nutrition

Much like a fine art painting, with world class artists, so too, there are first class foods that exist among us. Come refine your taste buds and journey with me and learn about my new favorite foods - natural, with good nutrition value and wonderful for the palate too!

First class foods I have learned to love. Yes, I was taken in by the advertisement, spent my share of time at the drive-through. Now my stomach and my mind are talking and I have learned to love natural and organic foods. I feel much better - more energized because I am actually eating real vitamins and nutrition.

I finally fell in love with first class foods. Yes, I was sold for many years – actually 3 decades to love fast food, love restaurant food, love packaged foods! I bought all the fancy advertising – I was completely sold.

Then I started reading the ingredients, and then I delved into nutrition. Still didn’t kick in. Then I turned 40, then 45. Finally at age 47 the wisdom kicked in! I am still addicted to caffeine and chocolate. And I still have cravings for those terrible packaged things but I finally and truly fell in love with first class foods.

First class foods are fresh, full of vitamins and minerals, and sometimes natural sugars.

When I traveled to China, a brilliant doctor gave us some advice – very simple – just three memorable steps.

3 Rules Food When Traveling

1. Don’t drink the water – including and especially the ice
2. If it isn’t fully cooked or peeled don’t’ eat it and
3. If it moves don’t eat it!

Of course, some of it was in jest but for the most part, the essence of his guidance is fundamentally sound.

Like the brilliant doctors 3 food rules, first class foods have a lot in common with these three fundamental mandates.

Then I started reading the ingredients, and then I delved into nutrition. Still didn’t kick in. Then I turned 40, then 45. Finally at age 47 the wisdom kicked in! I am still addicted to caffeine and chocolate. And I still have cravings for those terrible packaged things but I finally and truly fell in love with first class foods.

First class foods are fresh, full of vitamins and minerals, and sometimes natural sugars.

When I traveled to China, a brilliant doctor gave us some advice – very simple – just three memorable steps. 1. Don’t drink the water – including the ice 2. If it isn’t fully cooked or pealed don’t’ eat it and 3. If it moves don’t eat it! Of course, some of it was in jest but for the most part, the essence of his guidance is fundamentally sound.

Like the brilliant doctors 3 food rules, first class foods have a lot in common with these three fundamental mandates.

#1 Water Rule Number One – First Class Water & Ice

The foundation for first class foods is water. Our body needs hydration. Our muscles are made of 75% of water. Our muscles need water.

In the United States we take for granted potable water. While we don’t care for the taste of chlorine, chlorine does keep us safe from harmful bacteria. Ice machines that are filtered deliver much better tasting water. With the chlorine removed, the water does taste different. Look for filter that remove fluoride and reduce lead. First class water is simple – just pure water!

#2 Rule Number Two – Fine Foods - Real Foods

Fully cooked foods are often the very safest of choices. I love sushi and rare meat but I also have had the unpleasant experience of food poisoning. After being violently ill, I am forever careful about what I eat.

Foods that are pealed are pre-packaged by Mother Nature and are again very safe to eat. The caveat to this is who cut the food. What utensil was used. Even pealed fresh food that is safe inside can easily become contaminated by an unsafe utensil.

A friend of mine, never orders drinks with lemon or lime – specifically for this very reason. A little extreme but when review the documentation on food recalls, again this may be a wise standard to set for yourself and your family.

#3 Rule Number Three – High Nutrition - "Nutritionally Dense Foods"

High performance engines demand high performance gasoline.
Change the octane that your system runs on and your body will run better.

"Nutritionally dense foods" are foods that give you the most nutrition possible out of the amount calories you eat. Many fruits, vegetable, nuts just to name a few items.

Like a fine machine, high performance vehicle, change the octane that your system runs on and your body will feel better – and look better too! GmaGoldie

Natural deserts such as blueberries, clementines, pineapple offer nutrition not fillers. If your desert is prepared, the amount of nutrition could be low. Be aware. Be disciplined. You can do it!

#4 Rule Number Four - Low Salt

Thankfully the United States Food and Drug Association has stepped up to the plate and is mandating lower salt. The prepared foods, the foods from take out and the foods from the fine dining restaurants love to load the food with salt for "added flavor". The added flavor is in the food. Don't mask the food, taste the real first class food. Throw out the salt shaker. Invest in spices. Lessen the salt that you cook with. Live healthier, live longer. Remember, GmaGolide told you Salt Makes Fat Around the Heart.

#5 Rule Number Five - Nothing Deep Fried

We need to consciously limit fats, oils and my downfall sweets. French fries, deep fried foods and the gravy and other batter dipped fried foods such as potato chips need to be few and far between in our diet.

Food as Medicine

Dr. Oz has brought about many great items to our daily routine. I commend him for his hard work and his research. His intelligence and communication skills are both of the highest level. His network shows is one of only a handful I will actually sit down and watch. However, Dr. Oz has stated "food is medicine". Food is delightful. We just need to change our thinking about food. Food cannot be our emotional release. And sorry, Dr. Oz, food cannot be medicine. Food, first class foods are a true joy and delight in our lives. Food has nutrients, hopefully our food has no drugs, no chemicals and no contaminants. Food, first class food is what I am striving for myself, for you and for our families.

Take the Time to Change Your Palate

The love of drive-throughs and high fatty foods didn't occur over night. Cut down each week, change your food habits, change your palate, change your health.

Final Thoughts on Food

Shop locally. Shop at small local meat markets. Most every community has a local meat market. It may be a little bit out of the way. The items may appear more costly at first. Paying for quality is frugal. Food is what runs your body.

First Class Foods = First Class Health/Living/Body

We are what we eat. If we put garbage into our body, our body, the muscle tone, the skin color, the whites of eyes, will showcase that we are what we eat.

In Appreciation

photo courtesy of starksilvercreek.com

Disclaimers Copyrights and Disclosures

Medical Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only. Neither it nor the products sold here are designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis, testing, or advice on how to use the information/products listed in this site.

Copyright: © 2010 Gma Goldie All Rights Reserved - GmaGoldie loves to share her ideas but greatly appreciates credit for her hard work. Please email the author for permission for use of terms and ideas shared in this or other Gma Goldie articles on health, fitness and exercise.

FTC Disclosure: The author is a certified personal trainer and the inventor of the EZ Swimmer - the ultimate water aerobics tool for the swimming pool.