Today, when you walk down the aisles of the supermarket, many of the choices available are not "whole" foods nor natural. They are not filled with the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients we need to thrive. Instead, they are preprocessed, presweetened and laden with artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. As we just alerted in the previous article, due to FDA approval, cloned meats and milk will be offered at the grocery store. Seeds, vegetables, and fruits are being genetically altered..........and put in the box or can. Labeling isn't even required. Wake up people! Stop wondering why you are getting sick. It is what you are eating. Your body can't handle. it.

Foods have very little, if any nutritional value left within them. Take a moment to inventory your eating habits. How many of these foods do you eat? Kraft boxed foods, Betty Crocker potatoes a gratin, hamburger helper, Spam, Vienna sausages, Franco-American Spaghetti-O's, Cheese Wiz, all chemical laden foods (MSG, Aspartame, etc.). This is only a few products available to American consumers that we happily and whole-heartedly consume without even knowing what we are putting in our mouths. You can at least check things out so your children can get some nutrition.

The sign over the doorway at Rockfeller Center says: 'If the doctors of today do not become nutritionists, then the nutritionists will become the doctors of tomorrow.' Wake up people, the red flags are right in front of your faces.  

The truth is, our bodies were not designed to handle these non-foods. There are no keys in our genetic make-up designed to utilize these products.

Today, many Americans are becoming proactive about their health. A great place to start any kind of health program is to adopt a healthy, wholesome diet. I feel, nevertheless, that many are uncertain of what they can do to promote health and vitality, or feel that eating healthy is an "all or nothing" proposition. Many health enthusiasts have led people to believe that in order to be healthy, the only route is to eat only organic foods, or to become a vegetarian. In the big picture of things, yes, they are right in their assertion, but making the transition from the typical American diet to one of a more healthful one tends to seem like an insurmountable task. Many quit before they even try. There are also those who want to but just can't financially afford to live this lifestyle.

When creating a healthful food plan for yourself or your family, here are a few guidelines you can use to help you as you transition to a healthful diet and lifestyle. First, drink at least 8 - 8oz glasses of water daily. Water, not soda, coffee or other beverage is necessary component in maintaining health. Other than it's role in the many biochemical processes our bodies perform, another of its functions is to help to remove toxins from the body.

Secondly, when selecting foods, eat from a variety of whole, unprocessed foods…the more variety, the greater the supply of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients you and your children will be ingesting. Strive eat and serve at least one leafy green salad and a piece of fresh fruit daily for the family. This is still below the recommended standards, yet it is a great place to start.

Third reduce or eliminate preprocessed, prepackaged, chemical laden foods as well as foods that are high in refined sugars, including white bread and white rice. (Watch the behaviors and attention span of your children change for the better.) Remember our bodies can not digest and assimilate these non-foods.

When you parents are preparing meals, ask yourself, 'are any of the foods I am serving fresh or they all non foods'? Fresh fruits and vegetables have enzymes in them that are essential to good health. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best, followed by frozen ones, with canned foods following poorly behind.

Remember that food processing of any kind destroys vitamins and phytonutrients, so frozen foods while still having some nutritional value, are nutritionally inferior to fresh. Canned foods have little to no nutritional value left. Limit canned food purchases to items such as tuna, tomatoes and beans. Also take a look at the sodium levels especially if anyone in your family is overweight.

Hopefully this can get you on your way to making a few changes toward feeding the family, healthier foods. Choose to get away from non-foods that are nutritionally deficient and not building and maintaining health and well-being for your family.