Tips for Making Healthy Food Delicious

This is a guest post by Kristin Schuchmann of http://CharisChildbirth.org

photo by Joy Schuchmann

While trying to encourage her son to eat his dinner one evening, my friend quoted the well-known saying, “You are what you eat,” hoping it would be the motivation necessary to cause him to heartily eat his vegetables with gratitude.  His response, however, was not what she anticipated, and made everyone in the room roll with laughter.  “Well,” he proclaimed, “then I want to be a cupcake!”

That little boy is not unlike most adults.  While we say we want to BE healthy, we don’t always want to EAT healthy.  The reason for that is very simple.  We BELIEVE that healthy food is not as delicious as unhealthy food and we fear that to embrace a healthy diet means to give up the enjoyment of food.  That is so far from the truth and, with creativity, it is possible to eat well and thoroughly enjoy it!

We understand that eating a food as close to the way it grows as possible will provide the most nutrients and enzymes.  But most people don’t know how to make raw vegetables taste good.  As a coach you can help your clients enjoy a smoother transition to eating healthy by giving them a few tips that can make it super delicious to add nutrient-packed raw vegetables and fruits into their diet.

Be adventurous. Be willing to break out of the box and try new things.  Keep a positive attitude and this can be a lot of fun.

Become educated. The time and effort it takes to research and learn about the benefits of eating a variety of raw fruits and veggies is well worth it.  There is an abundance of living enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and water present in raw foods.  These are the building blocks every cell in our bodies needs to function properly.  Once we learn for ourselves and truly understand how much our bodies need raw foods, we have an easier time taking ownership over this adventure.

Use the internet to find recipes. I have found my most favorite raw recipes by searching online.  Many people post their favorites on their blogs or on raw food websites.  Some recipes will be delicious, and some might not.  Remember, this is an adventure!  I try to regularly post new recipes our family enjoys in the delicious healthy recipes category at www.happyhealthyliving.wordpress.com.

Experiment with international flavors. Other countries serve raw vegetables seasoned differently than we do in the United States and they are extremely delicious.  Many of my favorite meals have been inspired by international cuisine.

Make your plate a work of art. The more color, the better!  A variety of colors means a variety of nutrients to build the body and a variety of flavors to please the palate.

Stimulate all five taste centers on the tongue. When preparing food, it is important to balance the flavors of all five tastes (sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter) so that your tongue is completely satisfied with every bite.  I learned this from Sergei and Valya Boutenko, teenage authors of the book “Eating Without Heating”.  Even my children have learned to put this into practice as they experiment and create their own delicious recipes with raw vegetables and fruits.

Eat fresh, locally-grown produce when it is available. Produce that is harvested and shipped long distances is not as fresh and lacks the wonderful flavor that fresh-from-the-garden produce packs.  I have never tasted more delicious broccoli than the broccoli I picked myself at Henley Farm in Virginia Beach.  It was so delicious that my children wanted to eat it raw, dipped in a simple sauce we made in the blender, for every meal; and when it was gone, they begged me to go back and pick some more.

Make your own dips, sauces, and dressings. Not only are people choosing to make their own condiments because they are healthier, but also because they are more delicious and less expensive. It is so easy and only takes about 5 minutes to make a delicious, nutritious dip or sauce in the blender.  Dressings can often be made by simply shaking the ingredients together in a mason jar.  There is an abundance of recipes for raw dips, sauces, and dressings online that can turn a drab salad or veggies into a wonderful taste experience.

Host a Raw Food Potluck. Even if only a few people come, a raw food potluck is a fun way to try new dishes and exchange recipes.  We host one in our home monthly as a way to encourage others toward wellness and to provide another enjoyable avenue of accountability to be a good steward of these amazing bodies God has given us to use while on earth.

With a little education, some creativity, and a good attitude, your clients can change their minds about wanting to “be a cupcake” and take a giant step toward wellness.

In addition to being a coach, consultant, motivational & pro-life speaker, childbirth educator, and doula, Kristin Schuchmann is the founder and executive director of Charis Childbirth, an international school for birth professionals.  She and her family live in southwest Florida where they pastor New Life Church of North Port.