A recent article in Real Simple magazine about nutritious eating strategies included a list of the healthiest foods. According to the country’s top dietitians and nutritionists, these are the 30 ingredients we should be regularly incorporating into our diets:
- Walnuts
- Whole-Grain Pasta
- Peanut and Nut Butters
- Oatmeal
- Barley
- Quinoa
- Lentils
- Bulgur
- Almonds
- Chicken Breasts
- Wild Salmon
- Sardines
- Mushrooms
- Kale
- Kiwi
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Avocados
- Black Beans
- Sweet Potatoes
- Edamame
- Chard
- Kidney Beans
- Oranges
- Spinach
- Pumpkin
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Skim Milk
- Eggs
- Nonfat Greek Yogurt
On a monthly basis our family eats about half of the things on the list fairly regularly, but admittedly not barley, quinoa, lentils, bulgur, sardines, salmon, kidney beans, kale, chard or pumpkin.
Also, we eat regular pasta instead of the whole-wheat variety, and 1% milk and yogurt instead of nonfat.
So! I’m motivated to try those dozen super-healthy foods in the coming weeks. I just heard that Tina over at Carrots & Cake decided to use this list as a month-long challenge to try each of the 30 foods. I like that.
But for me, I’m simply going to add some of these items that we don’t usually eat to the grocery list during April and May and encourage our family to try some extra healthy foods.
How does your household stack up? Look at the list and post the number of things you eat often in the comments section below. (Also, if you have any thoughts about how to make sardines appealing to kids — please do share!)
About Eliza Cross
Eliza Cross is the author of 16 books, including Small Bites, 101 Things To Do With Bacon, and BERRIES. She enjoys sharing ideas to simplify cooking, gardening, and home projects. She is also the owner of Cross Media, Inc. and founder of the BENSA Bacon Lovers Society.
I counted 17 regulars, so I have a long way to go. The offbeat grains are something rare for me–and I’ve yet to even figure out how to like sardines myself, let alone for kids!
I remember reading somewhere that you can get some great trace minerals by eating a wide variety in your diet — so it’s time to eat some of those offbeat grains you mention. I’ll have to work my way up to sardines! 🙂
I wonder how often is regularly? I have eaten all of the foods on the list (and I like all of them), but on a regular basis? I doubt it.
I’ve had all of them within the past year, though. Well, except skim milk. We drink whole milk here, and eat low-fat yogurt instead of non-fat yogurt.
The bulgur and edamame would probably be the toughest items for us to eat regularly. Also kale. We grow chard and spinach, but we grow collards instead of kale; I rarely think of buying any.
We buy frozen edamame and make it fairly often, just steamed in the microwave with a sprinkling of sea salt. I’m just guessing, but I bet collards are as healthy as kale — full of all those vitamins and antioxidants…
Hi Eliza, I’m at about 60%. I don’t like barley and I’ve cut back on nuts a bit recently, but I should stick them back on the list. I never eat pumpkin. (except pie:) Love Kale, sweet potatoes and I went back up to 1% because it’s better than non fat milk. Good ideas for some new ingredients!
I agree, Barb; I love barley in beef barley soup but that’s about the only time I have it. Pumpkin is good in muffins but I seem to think of it as an autumn thing. I agree with you about milk, too!
I probably eat about 1/3 of these items on a regular basis. I’m glad to see that oatmeal was on there, as I usually eat that for breakfast most weekdays. But I notice that fish is on this list and I just don’t eat much fish, or lentils, or edame. I guess I need to start going back and shopping at Trader Joes for some of these items. 😉
I too wonder what regularly means… I eat at least 10 a few times a month or week. Some are seasonal…so can’t eat regularly year round… I should definitely work on trying to add maybe 5 a month into my diet.
I just picked up barley and quinoa today! These are two we have not tried but I am excited to cook with them.
I would think if you eat something 3 times a month or more that would be regular…. I counted 19 but included only myself when thinking about it. My husband and daughter would be a bit less especially since our daughter went vegetarian 4.5 months ago.