Holistic Healing: The Power of Whole Foods

I remember growing up watching Saturday morning cartoons with periodic PSA shorts of Time for Timer popping up reminding watchers that “you are what you eat, from your head down to your feet!” Timer, the keeper of body time, knew the importance of feeding our bodies essential nutrients to grow on. Today that song continues to ring in my ears when I’m making poor eating choices, especially when on the go and lacking the luxury of time to prepare a healthy, whole foods meal. Here is where the beauty of meal prepping helps.

Whole foods, not to be confused with the grocery store Whole Foods, are foods that are minimally processed or unprocessed and retain their natural nutrients. They are typically found in their whole, unrefined state and do not contain added sugars, salts, preservatives, or other artificial ingredients. It’s been proven that consuming a diet rich in whole foods can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer, in addition to enhancing mood and mental well-being while boosting energy levels.

Kicking off our first holistic health entry, we are preparing a mason jar salad packed with fiber and protein to give you a natural boost needed to move throughout your day. The key to preparing mason jar salads is how you layer the ingredients. Always add the dressing to the jar first, followed by your protein (i.e. beans), veggies, grains, nuts/seeds, and topping it with your leafy greens. These salads hold well for up to 3 days.

Quinoa Chickpea Salad (makes 1 serving in a 32oz mason jar)

• ½ cup quinoa

• ¾ cup chickpea

• 5-inch piece of cucumber

• 3 cups spinach

• 2-3 Tbsp of garlic tahini dressing

Garlic Tahini Dressing (makes 3-4 servings)

• 2 Tbsp tahini

• 1 Tbsp liquid amino

• 1 Tbsp bottled minced garlic

• 2.5 Tbsp water

• 2 tsp grapeseed oil