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While processed foods can be cheaper, they have negative long-term effects on our health. Spending a little extra on healthy eating can ensure you feel your best, so it's a worthwhile investment.

So it's about time that you look for alternatives to common foods. Keep reading for some excellent choices, so you can lead a happier and healthier life!

Processed Cereals

It's important to start off every day with a hearty breakfast. But many people reach for things like Frosted Flakes and Honey Nut Cheerios. They're full of sugar and don't have enough whole grains, which are essential for regulating cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

To start your day off right, you should opt for whole-grain oats, millet, or wheat berries.

Chips

Chips are easy to reach for when you hit that afternoon slump and need to refuel. Not to mention, they come in a wide variety of delicious flavors too.

However, this snack is deep-fried, making it high in empty calories. It also has a large amount of sodium, which can cause high blood pressure.

Instead of stocking up on chips, you should make oven-baked chickpeas. Not only can you control the amount of salt that goes in the snack, but you can also switch up the flavors to suit your palate.

You can also make a trail mix with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, peanuts, and cashews, as well as dried pieces of fruit for a little bit of natural sugar. These things will all help you get through the day.

Chocolate

Anyone with a sweet tooth will have a weakness for chocolate bars. But regular chocolate is high in sugar and saturated fat.

If you must have your chocolate, then swap milk for dark chocolate, which is healthier since it has significantly higher levels of antioxidants, as well as iron, zinc, and magnesium. You should also get high-quality raw and organic chocolate, which can help with heart health.

Pizza

Pizza has the potential to be healthy, but storebought ones never are. Not only are they greasy, but the toppings are usually very salty and high in calories.

It's best to make your own pizza at home, where you can top it with wholesome ingredients like fresh mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, red peppers, onions, and lean chicken. Use a whole-grain crust and low-fat cheeses too.

Switch From Common Foods to Healthier Alternatives

You may not realize it, but many common foods aren't fantastic for your health. But by learning and choosing alternative foods, you can switch to a healthy diet that's still tasty.

In fact, many of these foods can be more delicious than processed junk. So be proactive and put nutritious things on your grocery list. Your body will thank you.

If you're ready to make better food choices, then shop our selection now! We're a family-owned and operated business that specializes in organic ingredients and essentials.

The new year is just right around the corner. If you're wondering how to improve your life for the upcoming year, try switching to organic food. Organic food is prepared, produced, and processed without any chemicals. Because of this, organic food sales are growing—in fact, organic food sales reached over $57 billion last year.

There are many reasons to kick fertilizers, pesticides, and preservatives out of your diet. But many people are still unsure about the benefits of eating natural food. Here's why eating organic, healthy food is one of the best New Year's resolutions and is the most beneficial way to improve your diet.

Antioxidants

The chemicals found in produce react with natural antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables. Antioxidants are natural substances that prevent cell damage, reducing the risk of many diseases. When you choose organic food, you consume more vitamins and antioxidants, boosting your overall health.

Healthier Heart

If you're showing signs of heart disease, your doctor may have recommended you stay away from animal products like meat and dairy. That's because many forms of meat and dairy are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, especially when the animals are fed a predominantly grain-based diet instead of grass-fed. 

Eating a plant-based diet is a great way to reduce your heart disease risk. The secret lies in eating the right type of fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids which can be found in chia seeds. hemp seeds and flax seeds. Many plant foods contain high levels of antioxidants, such as berries, dark leafy greens,  and raw cacao - these antioxidants help protect the cardiovascular system and reduce free radical damage. 

Fewer Pesticides

Did you know non-organic fruit and vegetables are grown with pesticides? Conventional farmers use pesticides because they keep pests away from crops. However, they also contain dangerous chemicals, such as organophosphorus.

Pesticides in food are linked to numerous diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and different types of cancer. Organic food isn't grown with pesticides, and farmers use safer methods to keep pests away. These include releasing beneficial bugs, pheromone traps, and other organically-approved techniques.

Stronger Immune System

The modern food industry expedites produce and meat to feed the growing human population. This results in more meat, grains, and bigger fruits and vegetables. While growth hormones and GMOs have solved some of the world's food insecurity problems, these foods aren't healthy. GMOs can pose some risks, such as:

• Allergies
• Toxicity
• Immuno-suppression
• Antibiotic resistance
• Nutrition loss
• Cancer

There's a reason why eating organic is one of the best healthy New Year's resolutions—you can avoid these problems by switching up your diet. Organic produce also has higher vitamin and mineral content, strengthening your immune system even more.

Taste Better

Last but not least, organic food tastes better. Organic food takes longer to grow, so the sugar and mineral structures mature. This leads to tastier produce. You'll not only want to eat your fruits and vegetables, but your kids will also be excited to snack on organic food such as nut butter.

Eating Organic Is One of the Best New Year's Resolutions

Now that you know eating organic is one of the best New Year's resolutions, you're probably wondering where you can get organic food. We sell numerous organic products, such as probiotic/prebiotic powders and kid's snacks. Shop our organic food today!

The weather is cooling down, and many of us are ready to dive into fall. And while the season is beautiful, all the holidays can cause some stress. From figuring out kids’ Halloween costumes and cleaning for Thanksgiving to buying Christmas gifts, you may be feeling your blood pressure going up.

Practicing fall wellness can be a great way to care for yourself and your family this holiday season. Read on to discover some of our top fall wellness tips so you can enjoy all the beauty of this amazing season.

1. Wash Your Hands

While fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year, it’s also the time when germs run rampant. Everything from the flu to the common cold to COVID-19 ramps up this time of year. One of the best way to keep your family well this fall season is to make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and often.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds. You can sing “Happy Birthday” twice in a row or the opening lines of “All-Star” by Smash Mouth to time this out. Don’t forget to scrub on the back of your hands and in between your fingers.

2. Get Fresh Air

There are few things more glorious than the weather during the fall. The air is crisp, the leaves are glorious, and every hour feels like golden hour. One of the best fun fall activities is to go spend some time in the glory that nature has to offer during this season.

Spending time in the sun can help to improve your vitamin D levels, alleviate depression, and boost your anxiety. And walking for half an hour five days a week can help you to lose weight if that’s your goal and help you stay healthy. Take advantage of the gorgeous weather this fall and go for a walk a few times a week.

3. Cook Nutritious Meals

Fall is also one of the best times of the year for fresh produce. During the early fall, you can still catch the ends of tomatoes, summer squash, and peppers. And once the weather starts cooling down, you get the winter squash, root vegetables, greens, and, of course, apples, pumpkins, and other fall fruits.

Take advantage of that gorgeous fresh produce to make nutritious meals for yourself and your family. Squash bisques, risottos, casseroles, and stews are fantastic options, and you can make excellent veggie side dishes for meaty mains. And, of course, baked apples and poached pears always make stunning additions to your fall diet plan.

Focus on Fall Wellness

Focusing on personal wellness can help you feel your best and give you the resources you need to have a great fall. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and often, and spend plenty of time enjoying the gorgeous weather. Take advantage of the wonderful produce this time of year to cook delicious meals for yourself and your family.

If you’d like to learn how to focus on fall wellness, check out the rest of our site at Windy City Organics. We even offer decadent treats like raw chocolate bars that will help you stay satisfied while sticking with a healthy lifestyle. We even have all the raw cacao ingredients that you need to create your own chocolate magic right at home, from cacao nibs, powder, butter, paste, and more. Shop our brands today and discover the organic goodness you need to make your fall better than ever.

This banana bread is perfect - moist and melt-in-the-mouth, low in sugar (only 2 tablespoons of added maple syrup), and makes for a delicious breakfast, snack, or even healthy dessert. It's also made with almond flour so is entirely paleo-friendly, gluten-free, and grain-free. You can make it with pastured eggs or go vegan and make a flax egg mixture (1 tbs of ground flax + 3-4 tbs of water = 1 flax "egg").

Get ready for your kitchen to be filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked banana bread - is there anything better??

Serve with almond butter or coconut yogurt and some fresh berries from the farmer's market for a delightful, summer-friendly treat.

The Recipe

Paleo Almond Flour Banana Bread

Yields 1 loaf

Dry ingredients

2 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp Himalayan salt

Wet ingredients

3 very ripe, spotty bananas
2 pasture-raised eggs or flax eggs (if using flax eggs you may need to add a splash of extra water as flax absorbs liquids, unlike eggs)
1/4 cup melted Dastony stone ground coconut butter
2 Tbs maple syrup

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease your bread loaf pan with a little coconut oil, or line with parchment paper.

2. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine in a large bowl.

3. Pour mixture into your prepped loaf pan and pop it in the oven for 50 minutes. The top should be starting to lightly brown and a toothpick should come out clean when stuck through the center.

Be sure to let it sit for at least an hour to cool before slicing. It will carry over cook and needs time to fully set or it will be too soft to slice.

This “yogurt” isn’t cultured like a typical yogurt at the store but has plenty of probiotics in it thanks to our Sunbiotics vanilla probiotic and prebiotic powder. If you’re looking for a delicious way to sneak in some extra love for your gut, this creamy and lemony plant-based yogurt is a great option that doesn't require any special kitchen equipment aside from a blender. Serve with fresh berries for a yummy breakfast or snack, or layer with granola + fruit for a parfait. 

Sunbiotics probiotic formulas are certified organic, food-based, and contain the top strains of beneficial flora to help support digestion and overall gut health. Unlike many probiotic formulas on the market, they are free of all additives and common allergens like wheat, soy, dairy, and corn. They are shelf-stable and activated in the GI tract once ingested - which means they're also travel friendly (no refrigeration required).

Try our probiotics for adults in powder form and chewable tablets, or if you’re looking for a great option for kiddos try our Just4Kids bountiful berry powder.  

The Recipe 

Raw Lemony Cashew Probiotic Yogurt

Makes roughly 3 cups

Ingredients

2 cups raw cashews, soaked

1/3 cup Dastony stone ground raw coconut butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Juice from 1 large lemon

1 cup purified water

5 drops therapeutic-grade lemon essential oil** (or use the zest from your lemon as long as it's organic)

2 Tbs raw organic honey or maple syrup

1 tsp Sunbiotics vanilla probiotic powder

Big pinch Himalayan salt

Say you're going to a desert island and can only take one salad dressing. Balsamic? Herb vinegarette? It's a tough choice, but in the end, we hope you choose a tahini-based dressing! Why? Because they're so easy, pair well with so many options, and always seem to hit the spot. And this Orange Tahini Miso dressing recipe is exactly all of those things - especially if you like to dress your veggies with that perfect flavor harmony of salty-sweet, creamy, gingery, and citrusy. This dressing has it all! 

The Recipe 

The Recipe

Photo by Jessica Lewis from Pexels

● Local Honey/Bee Pollen: Eating local honey or bee pollen can help prevent allergies, this is because you are ingesting the local pollen so it helps your body acclimate to the environment, and over time you become less sensitive to the pollen.
● Spirulina: It is a blue-green algae that naturally detoxifies the body, supports immune function, and acts as a histamine blocker. You can add spirulina to your smoothies and can buy it at most health food stores or online/Amazon.
● Probiotics: These help to balance the gut microbiome with good bacteria. Daily stressors, both environmental and internal, as well as the use and abuse of antibiotics, disrupt the balance of bacteria in the digestive system. Check out SunBiotics probiotic supplements and probiotic almonds here. I suggest the cheesy almonds because they contain nutritional yeast too!

Remember spring IS in the air, so don’t let those pesky allergies get in your way! Take charge of your health and get on with celebrating this season of warmer weather and new growth!

About the Author

Jenna Johnson is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and founder and creator of The Scrounge, a lifestyle brand that began with her love of food and ‘making more with less’ in her home kitchen. Through working with clients 1-on-1, social media content, virtual cooking classes, workshops, and events, Jenna is shifting people’s mindset of healthy cooking to an approachable style called “Scrounging” – using the food you already have at home to create a meal. Jenna is passionate about taking the complication out of cooking and eating healthy. She believes food is medicine and that nutrition and home cooking shouldn’t be stressful, but rather a fun and positive experience. Jenna’s “scrounging” style of cooking has expanded from kitchens of friends, family, and colleagues to hundreds of people around the world. She encourages everyone to get creative with what they have at home and not to be afraid of not having all of the ingredients listed in a recipe. Jenna’s passion for healthy cooking and helping others led her to pursue a career in nutrition. Now, as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist specializing in gut health, she focuses on helping women eliminate chronic stomach issues without medication. Jenna’s own experience with gut issues led her to help others with these same struggles. Jenna’s goal is to help others get their life back and live life to the fullest without the stress and anxiety of stomach pain.

Photo by Benjamin Brunner on Unsplash

From reusable water bottles to bringing your own grocery bags, some zero waste tips are common practice. Those of you that have been making an effort to minimize waste for a while may be craving more creative solutions. In that case, these fresh waste-reducing tips are for you. New to minimizing waste? Don’t worry. These tips can work for everyone!

Plant Decor

The next time you are looking for décor to spruce up your home or for a low waste gift idea, go green with a plant. Plants reduce stress and purify the air, all while helping you minimize your waste output since they won’t go to the landfill like most decor eventually does. If you find you and your plant really aren’t vibing, they can be planted outside (climate zone dependent), regifted, sold, or composted as a last resort.

Say No

Sometimes saving the environment is as simple as saying “No, thank you.” And one easy way to do this is to skip the promotional items the next time they are offered to you. These items tend to get very little use, break easily, and inevitably end up in the landfill. If you already have a drawer overflowing with these types of items, see if you can find a place to donate them. Many community art programs are more than happy to receive extra pens, notepads, highlighters, erasers, etc.—even if they have some branding on them.

Homemade Snacks

When the mid-day munchies hit, you may find yourself reaching for a snack. However, many of these quick snacks come with more than an energy boost—they also have unnecessary wrapping. Luckily, you can easily avoid the wrappers by making your own snacks. As a bonus, homemade snacks like granola bars and cookies tend to be healthier than their store-bought counterparts. Try shopping for ingredients in bulk with your own refillable containers to reduce as much waste as possible. Buy things like nut butters in glass jars and reuse the jars for storing personal care items or office supplies. Have a snack recipe that calls for fruit? Check out the produce that is marked down because it is close to spoiling. You won’t have to wait for the fruit to ripen and you’ll save some money, all while helping to reduce food waste.

Food Scraps

Composting is an excellent way to reduce the waste you produce, but you may want to try reusing those food scraps before you reach for the compost bin. Reusing food scraps helps you get the most out of food before tossing it and can also be a great way to get kids interested in reducing waste. You may want to try orange peels dipped in dark chocolate. They pair great with apple tea brewed from boiling apple peels and cores. Want to do something with scraps beyond snacks? Use a banana peel to polish plant leaves or soak a few peels in water for a couple of days to make natural plant fertilizer.

Rentals

If you find yourself needing a tool for a project or that pregnancy has you outgrowing your clothes, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a shopping trip. Instead, you may want to try renting these items. For example, many home hardware stores offer tool rentals by the day or hour, so you can skip the wasteful packaging and avoid buying something you will minimally use. Then there are several online clothing rental places that offer maternity clothes so you don’t have to buy a temporary wardrobe. Once the baby is born, you may want to continue the renting trend by subscribing to a toy lending library instead of buying new.

Speak Up

Sometimes you can minimize waste by making a simple request, so don’t be afraid to speak up. This may mean asking the cashier if a receipt needs to be printed, requesting a shipped order to have minimal packaging material, telling the waiter you don’t need a straw with your drink, etc. If you see that your favorite restaurant has a specific wasteful habit (ex. using plastic stir sticks), you may want to write an email offering a less wasteful solution (compostable wooden stir sticks). Just be sure to keep your tone friendly. Remember, the worst they can say is that they can’t make that change. On the other hand, your email may push them toward a less wasteful solution.

Party Supplies

An eco-friendly party can still be fun and memorable—perhaps even more so! The next time a birthday or wedding rolls around, skip any wasteful decor like balloons and streamers and take a less wasteful approach. This could look like making a centerpiece by decorating an existing plant you own with lights or foraging for greenery to put in a vase. Planning a meal? Skip the plastic cups and plates and go with real dishware. If you don’t have enough, see if you can borrow some from friends or rent some from a party supply store. Another option is to grab dishware and utensils at a secondhand store and re-donate them when the event is over.

Conclusion

Sometimes the best waste-reducing solutions are a bit offbeat, so don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when looking to minimalize your impact. Reducing waste is a slow process, and we need every little bit of creativity to push us toward a less wasteful future.

Author Bio

Shannon Bergstrom is a LEED Green Associate, TRUE waste advisor. She currently works at RTS, a tech-driven waste and recycling management company, as a sustainability operations manager. Shannon consults with clients across industries on sustainable waste practices and writes for Zero Waste.