Back To Basics, Ingredients You Trust!
What’s the problem?
As we countdown to 250 years of the USA, it has become clear that the health of America is at a breaking point. A society that has been built on quick fixes like fast food, ultra processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and crash diets is being restructured to address the 70% of American adults that are obese and the rising crisis in pre-diabetic teens, at one in three.
Secretary Kennedy stated that “These guidelines return us back to basics.” The goal is to realign the food system to “support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food.” We are re-establishing food as the way to reclaim health, as opposed to pharmaceuticals.
How to put real food at center of health
These guidelines return us back to the basics and emphasize flexible guidance based on modern nutrition science. The new pyramid looks inverted compared to the previous with the placement of protein, dairy, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats at the broad top, while grains are at the narrow bottom.
Other key changes include an increase in recommended protein, endorsing full-fat dairy, increasing healthy fats like avocado, nuts, and olive oil, eliminating added sugars, focusing on "real food", and decreasing processed options. So many foods contain chemicals and additives, which add zero nutritional value, stress the body, and inhibits living your best life!
How can AWG help? Ingredients you know & can pronounce!
Some of the clean ingredients in our organic gluten free and grain free breads are almonds, coconuts, and plants based flours. On the new food pyramid, they are highlighted as being an essential part of a well balanced diet, providing healthy fats, protein, and many essential vitamins and minerals. Also, it is high in fiber and protein and contains no processed food ingredients, so you get all of the nutritional benefits with none of the guilt!
What are ultra processed foods?
UPFs contain a combination of ingredients used in food processing, such as artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers, and hydrogenated oils. These foods contain little or no nutritional value, yet comprise a large portion of most adults and children's diets due to the false satisfaction and convenience they provide through maximizing taste and triggering cravings, similar to tactics used in the tobacco industry. Examples include soda, breakfast cereals, frozen meals, fast food, chips, cookies, candy, and more.
These foods are particularly triggering for children (who they promote to), young adults, and people with busy lifestyles, especially those who lack a formal background in nutrition. Please consider, when you read a food label are you able to buy each of the ingredients and recreate the recipe? All of these unnatural ingredients are not items you would keep in your kitchen because you can't purchase them at a grocery, huge red flag!
Why are fruits and veggies so important?
Fruits and vegetables in whole form, raw or cooked, are extremely essential in a healthy diet. They are high in fiber and antioxidants, provide a large variety of vitamins and minerals, boost immunity, improve digestion, manage weight, and lower the risk of disease, all while being naturally low in calories and high in protective phytonutrients. To maximize these benefits, it is important to prioritize organic options to minimize exposure to synthetic pesticides. Many people use the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists as a guide, opting for organic when buying produce with higher pesticide residues like strawberries and spinach while feeling more comfortable buying conventional versions of thick-skinned items like avocados and pineapples. Focusing on these lists ensures you are getting the densest nutrition with the fewest environmental toxins.
Why are grains at the bottom?
At a glance, it seems to be that the old food pyramid has been inverted. What used to be the largest food group section at the bottom (grains), is now the smallest. This is due to the fact that science has proven our bodies require more proteins and fats and less carbohydrates than once believed. However, fiber that is found in beans and grains is important for our gut health, cholesterol, energy, and overall health, so getting enough of it is key in any healthy eating pattern.
How to change your food habits
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to make healthy eating easy and stress free!
Meal Plan - Spend 1 hour planning out the week’s meals. This will help with feeling overwhelmed when it comes to cooking, stop the waste of unused food, and save you money by not eating out.
Grocery List - By making a list before you go to the grocery, you can stay focused and within your budget. Do not impulse by!
How To Shop - The natural ingredients can be found around the edges of the store, not in the aisles, like produce, dairy, and meat. Stay away from the middle. Also, it is extremely important to read food labels. If you don't know what an ingredient is, don't buy it.
Meal Prep - When you have time, start to prep for a meal and store in containers.
On The Go - Pack a lunch and take healthy snacks when you venture out. Your body will thank you and so will your wallet!
You Got This!
AWG is excited to support this new food pyramid as our gluten and grain free bread is an organic and necessary part of a healthy and balanced diet. We hope this information will help you change your food habits, reduce stress, and save you money. Just start to make small changes in your day to day life and you will see and enjoy the results. It is time to feel good again, and we are here to help!