Your Favorite SUPERFOODS!

I have become very interested in making sure that while dieting the calories I consume are nutrient packed. I want people to post their top 5 superfoods, why they are super and how you prepare them. I will go first:

1. Blueberries - they are loaded in antioxidants. I eat them on my morning cereal, plain or add them to a smoothie.
2. Salmon - high in omega 3's, good fats and protein. I like to buy it already grilled from my grocery store and then eat it cold with veggies or I cook it up into an egg white + cream cheese + salmon omelet. 
3. Tea green, white or black - loaded with antioxidants specifically ECGC. I drink it hot or cold. I like to buy the whole tea leaves and brew it myself or buy it pre-made and drink it cold. POM makes pomegranate juice +black or white tea, very tasty!
4. Yogourt or Kefir - healthy bacteria aid your immune system. I like to eat it with fruit or make it into a healthy smoothie.
5. Swiss Chard and Kale - contains beta-carrotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin B, minerals which supports your overall health. I like to sautee them up with some pine nuts yum! 

CHERRIES CHERRIES CHERRIES

CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI- YOU CAN DO SO MUCH WITH THESE LITTEL TREASURES

FISH -----YUMMY

Brown rice
Tomatoes
Flax
Soy, I especially like edamame
Cantalope
Almonds
Spinach
Curry powder- lots of tumeric in curry powder
And I'm on board with the foods already listed.  Very good for you!

apples apples apples

and strawberries strawberries strawberries

:)

MUSHROOMS.

Fresh, sauted (in drop of oil), canned: all with different tastes, different textures, all amazingly good.

1 cup raw = 15 calories.  Wait, what!  I probably burn that just chewing LOL.  Not the biggest on nutrients but some vitamins in there.  Could be cheaper though but its reasonable for fresh produce. 

1. 5-Calorie-Serving Jello
2. Rice cakes
3. Mushrooms
4. Broccoli
5. Celery with mustard

:)

ALMONDS! they are a good source of protein, monounstaturated fats, vitamin e & magnesium. Almonds have also been proven to help weight loss mainly due to the fact that they keep you full.

Tomatoes -- High in anti oxidants! Cherry tomatoes are the best by far!

Broccoli&Cauliflower-- filled with nutrients -- all the good stuff

Hemp Seeds ( Has a higher amount of whole digestible protein then any anything else & contains a lot of essential fatty acids-- it's a really good choice for vegetarians & people who follow a mainly raw diet ) I find it gives me a TON of energy 

Avocado & tuna are the perfect combination especially on a sandwich & a little goes a long way -- i put this on organic whole wheat bread so i get my complex carbs, GOOD fats, and protein all in one.

FRUITS -- (apples, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, grapes, etc)

Cinnamon - which is supposed to be really good for you- tastes really good sprinkled on apples, yogurt, cereal.. anything pretty much.

Ever since I've started avoiding processed foods & eating mainly raw and organic foods ( i still eat meat for dinner pretty much every night though ) i've noticed sooo many improvements - my skin is really clear, i have a lot more energy & i'm getting into really good shape.

Anybody else out there who follows a mainly raw eating plan? Noticing any changes?

 

All very yummy, and super nutritious!  It's hard to pick only five though...

1.  Eggs:  little wonderul packets of highest quality protein (yep - yolk and all)

2.   Quinoa: I pretty much replaced all rice with this stuff - a complete protein, easy to make, nice nutty flavor, and I think it's kind of pretty

3.  Beans:  super cheap, super high in fiber, super low fat, super source of protein...

4.  Blueberries/Raspberries/Blackberries: lo w cal, lots of fiber and antioxidants

5.  Almonds:  healthy fats, fiber, and very satisfying 

Runners up:  yogurt, oatmeal, bananas, leafy greens

Hemp seeds huh? Where do you get them and how do you prepare them??

I agree with boo - I almost feel bad picking favorites... ):

1. Spinach - High in iron, calcium, protein, fiber - heck, tons of stuff! I like to prepare it with tomatoes or summer squash, but it's great alone with some garlic, too!

2. Broccoli - High in vitamin C, fiber, calcium, and iron, along with other stuff, this is another amazing veggie. I could eat plain steamed broccoli every night for dinner.

3. Pumpkin - This one probably won't be mentioned. But for a cheap canned item, it contains tons of vitamin A, fiber, and good iron.

4. Cinnamon - High in fiber and iron. Not only does it give you optimal taste for very few calories, but it's said to be very good for your brain, too.

5. Whole wheat - High in fiber, iron, and good-for-you whole grains. A great way to make you and keep you full, give you energy, and 'move things along.' Dry whole wheat toast is great alone or in so many different ways, I can't begin to list... :)

liseey02 - I'm pretty sure they're only available in Canada but you can order them & get them delivered to your house -- personally i get them as seeds .. they are identical to flax seeds and have a nutty flavour- you can put it on oatmeal, in yogurt, in cereal, and on salads but i put it in a smoothie with a banana or any other fruit ... i'm pretty sure you can get it in powder form as well & even in oil form ...

Here's a link for more info ... http://www.hempseed.ca/

1. Sweet potatoes.  Packed with fiber, vitamin A, and cancer-fighting substances.  Plus, delicious in so many ways.

2. Whole grains.  I know someone already said whole wheat, but I'll second it.  Whole grains keep you full longer, fight cancer, cleanse your system, and taste great.  They are so versatile, i.e., in salads, pasta dishes, casseroles, etc.

3. Peanut butter.  The natural kind.  Yeah, it's high in calories and fat, but it's the GOOD kind of fat,.  Plus, it has protein, so it keeps you full.  It's amazingly delicious, and you can eat it on all kinds of things.  I LOVE PB&Js.

4. Beans.  Cheap, filling, versatile, and full of fiber, protein, and nutrients.  I love lentil soup, bean salads, and tons of other bean dishes.

5. Fish and shellfish.  Low-calorie, low-fat, high in omega-3's.  Salmon, tuna, and certain other fish are especially good because they contain heart-healthy fat that fights cholesterol.  Plus, once again, fish are so versatile, and one of the few things that taste great that are actually good for you.  I also love seafood because it's a good choice to make when eating out--something I know I can fall back on that won't kill me with calories.

Ratinhat: hooray for peanut butter. I lost 70 lbs and I didn't give the stuff up. The trick is to treat it like a fat. I just use a tbsp at a time, no more than once a day.

 

My faves: Tomatoes. Can't be beat for the lycopene.

Eggs: Yep, I eat 'em too. I'm veggie, no other meat and I eat very little dairy so I don't have a cholesterol worry. I ate 2 poached eggs on top of sliced tomatoes today.

Raw spinach: packed with craploads o' minerals. As a side dish with balsamic it's packed with good stuff for very little cals.

Greek yogurt: the drained kind. It's sooooo rich and thick, even the lowfat kind. I mix it with a bit of salsa or southwest seasoning and dip carrots in it.

Miso: boosts your immune system,and a hot miso broth is filling, comforting and tasty for very low cals.

 

Thanks for bringing this thread up and making me crave healthy stuff.

 

 

PUMPKIN

(Pumpkin+Cocoa Powder+Sugar Free Maple Syrup=HEAVEN)

1.-Flax seed(ground) It's great for a healthy omega fat, and a great dose of estrogen-lowering fiber! I add it to my smoothies.

2.- Edaname. Great for fiber,protein, and soo good.

3.- Blueberries. great antioxitants. Used in smoothies.

4.- Olive oil in anything.(go lightly though) Great for heart,skin and just about everything else.

5.-Cranberries. I make this into a dilutued drink. Very high in antiox. too!

Thanks for all the other ideas!!!

 

E3Live - fresh frozen blue green algae

kale - I've been lightly steaming it lately, sprinkled with himalayan crystal sea salts, and a DHA flax oil blend.  YUM!!!

quinoa and lentils - like others said, great cheap source of complete protein

hempseeds/powder - YES!!!  Seeds are wonderful in smoothies, on salads, cereal, whatever!!!  And powder - just a quick way to get good protein.  Perfect ratio of omega 3's and 6's

coconut butter!  Great source of lasting energy, and helps metabolize fats = fat loss

almonds/raw almond butter - mixed with lavash crackers, or dried apricots.... oh and MACA powder sprinkled on top.  Lasting fullness, and so healthy!

beets, sweet potato - good for grounding, after a hard workout (if you tend to feel like a space cadet in need of landing)

cucmber - great for juicing/blending into raw soups.  Lately its been cucumber, dill and avocado soup for me!!! YUM!

Cacao - raw chocolate beans, un-roasted.  Good for a quick fix/boost of energy.  Especially when blended into a smoothie, or taken with E3Live

oh boy....... I could go on forever....

What is quinoa? Is it something that would be in a regular grocery store?

it's a small round seed that you can buy in the bulk section, I've also seen it packaged on the grocery shelves.  It might be in a regular grocery store - but, you can find it at bulk food stores or health food stores for sure!!

Its gluten free, and high protein, superfood!!!!

I love:

nuts - peanuts, whole almonds, cashews, hazlenuts and sometimes walnuts

raisins

muesli with dried fruit and nut

rolled oats

broccoli, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, PEAS all steamed/boiled and frech and crisp celery, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

fruits all kinds: raspberries, strawberries, pears, apples, plums, bananas, mago, pineapple, grapes...just not watermelon...its too watery for me and has a weird texture

does cheese count? if so i like cheese :) especially brie or mozarella

peanut butter (which i could not LIVE without!)

honey

blueberries and raspberries - full of nutrients, antioxidants and fibre!

flax seed and almonds - heart healthy fats, essential vitamins and.. fibre!

low fat, no salt added cottage cheese - Lots of lean protien, and calcium too!

I mix all of these up on a big bowl, and that's my breakfast!

ninja2b: where do you find the E3Live fresh frozen blue green algae and how do you prepare it?