The Simplest Way to Health: Eat Real Food

No matter the season, feeling your best starts with what’s on your plate. Real food is the simplest—and most powerful—way to support your health. Read on for 6 ways eating real food (vs ultra processed) can help from providing more energy, better sleep, and steadier moods:

1. Energize Your Day: Ditch the processed snacks and embrace the vibrant rainbow colors of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

These nutrient-packed foods will fuel your body with the energy it deserves. And they’re full of fiber- helping you feel full, longer (reducing cravings!)

2. Sleep Tight, Wake Bright: Real foods like cherries, kiwi, and almonds are your new bedtime buddies, promoting better sleep with their natural sleep-inducing properties. Say goodbye to restless nights and hello to the sweet embrace of quality sleep.

3. Better Mood, Happier You: Sugary and highly processed foods can lead to inflammation and may contribute to mood disorders.

You can enhance your mood naturally by eating real food loaded with serotonin-boosting nutrients such as dark chocolate, bananas, berries, oats and nuts. Choose whole grains over simple carbs.

4. Stress Less, Live More: Stress – the unwelcome guest that loves to crash the party. Whole foods—especially those rich in fiber, healthy fats, and protein—help keep blood sugar steady. Blood sugar spikes and crashes can trigger irritability, anxiety, and fatigue, which make daily stress feel more intense.

Leafy greens, berries, and omega-3-rich fish can help lower stress levels and keep you cool, calm, and collected.

5. Immune System Supercharge: In the battle against germs and viruses, your immune system is your frontline warrior. Arm it with the best weapons – real food!

Load up on citrus fruits, garlic, almonds, kale and yogurt to give your immune system the boost it needs to keep you healthy and thriving.

6. Affordable Wellness: Eating real food is often more budget-friendly than its processed counterparts. Shop on the perimeter of the supermarket and stock up on fruits, vegetables, nuts, dried legumes and grains.

Your local market also showcases the in-season produce by placing it front-and-center; and it’s usually what’s on sale. By eating more whole foods, you’re reducing your risk of a host of diseases (obesity, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular issues…) - saving potential expenses from missing work, medications and doctors visits.

With more energy, better sleep, improved mood, reduced stress, fewer cravings, a fortified immune system, and a wallet that's still intact, eating more real foods will help your year be healthier, happier, and more vibrant!