Snack food or junk food? Just in case we weren’t entirely clear….

Some foods that we eat may taste delicious, but they aren’t very good for us, at all. These foods should be consumed sparingly. We want to mention them here because you probably eat these foods and think nothing of it. But, in fact, they are not helping your brain or body like the foods found on the healthy MyPlate.

What are these foods that aren’t so great for us and which we might want to avoid? Do you recognize any of them?

•  Salty foods,
•  sugary snacks,
•  soda,
•  most white food,
•  red meat.

Use these foods sparingly!

What? No more donuts? No cheese doodles? Coke-a-cola? Even potato chips? Think about your body as under construction (because it always is). You decide what that construction site looks like, what you’re building and how you’re protecting those buildings from storms. Your cells are like the project managers for your construction. If they are fed properly, they will do a good job of constructing great buildings (tissues, organs, skin, muscles) in a timely manner. If your cells are not fed well and actually have to deal with poor nutrition entering the construction site, then it begins to get messy. The cells are tired and cranky and irritable. They are sleeping on the job. Invaders enter the scene and the buildings don’t get built as tall or with a solid foundation. Not good. The next snow storm that comes through town (the common cold) and your buildings are not going to manage well at all. 

That is why when you are offered a donut or an apple, choose the apple. Envision your body repairing damaged tissues or building new muscle – you need the apple. If you eat the donut, don’t worry. It’s just one. You can eat those foods that are not so great for you sparingly. 

The key word here is sparingly – in small amounts.  You can eat them, just don’t make them part of your regular diet. They do not provide nutritional value that your brain and body need. They also add a lot of fat, sugar and salt that in large quantities over time damage cells, clog arteries, increase weight and leave people vulnerable to a host of illnesses – the building begins to fall down. All of this can be prevented by a good diet!