Page 18 - May 2018 Magazine

Your house can always use a little Spring cleaning but have you considered cleaning
your pantry too? When you make the decision to start living a healthier lifestyle, it’s
crucial that you get rid of all the harmful foods that are in your kitchen and in your
life (and probably frequently calling your name). Getting rid of all junk food is not
only a great way to assure that you do not have easy access to sugary or fat-filled
snacks but this also serves as a way to de-clutter your life. Clearing any clutter in
your kitchen can set the stage for moving forward so that it is more easy to create
conditions for success. That is why this is one of the very first exercises I give my
clients as “homework” when they begin my program.

So, now it’s time to clean house!

1. Head to your kitchen and grab a large garbage bag. (Yes, a large one.)

2. Toss anything into the bag that is obviously junk food such as candy, chips and
cookies. (Note: even fruit juice has got to go!) Discard frozen dinners as they tend
to be full of fat and sodium.

3. Pay attention to the list of ingredients and the order in which they are listed. If
an ingredient that is not healthy, such as sugar, is in the top 1-3 ingredients, this
means that your food is full of it. So toss it out. Ingredients are listed in decreasing
volume beginning with the highest volume.

4. Start counting chemicals, not calories. Read the nutrition table if you’re buying
packaged foods. You’ll most probably have to throw out any salad dressings or
dipping sauces. And if you can’t pronounce the name, chances are, it’s not good for
you. Check out this article that talks more about the hidden chemicals found in
many packaged foods. Click here.

5. Throw out expired foods that you just never got around to. You’ll need to make
way for all the healthy foods you’ll be shopping for later.

Note: If the food in your bag is not expired and non-perishable, then consider
finding a local charity or soup kitchen that would accept food donations.

Now, it’s time to go grocery shopping!

Here is a basic list of plant-based foods you should now own. I have plenty of
recipes involving these ingredients so be sure to be stocked with the below at all
times.

Bliss Planet 18