A warm welcome to the Making-Healthy-Choices e-zine... Taking the time to focus on your health is the most important thing you can do - you are worth it!

In this month's e-Zine...

• Eating Local
• What are Superfoods?
• Healthy Airport Recipe

John and I just spent 3 weeks in Trinidad and Tobago, a beautiful country in the tropics near the equator. While there we feasted on fresh picked fruits and vegetables that were growing locally.

Eating local is, of course, going to look different depending on where you are on the planet.

In the tropics, there is always a wide variety and an abundance of locally grown goodies to choose from.

We ate freshly picked sugar cane, coconuts (water, jelly, meat, sprouted), cacao beans, cassava, papaya, soursop, mammysapote and sapodilla just to name a few.

Eating locally to where you are is healthy for many reasons;

• High in nutrients as allowed to ripe on the tree
• Full benefit from nutrients as is consumed very soon after harvesting
• Saves on resources as food does not have to travel far distances
• Food is not irradiated at border crossings
• Eating locally allows you to choose foods that are not heavily sprayed with chemicals (the most local food you can get is what is grown right in your own yard)
• Keeps you grounded to where you are on the planet
• Supports local farmers and keeps money right in your own neighbourhood
• Local food is more designed by Nature to heal local ailments

I absolutely love being in the tropics as I adore the food that grows in this region. Whenever I am there I do my best to consume as much as possible.

But wherever you live on the planet, strive to eat as locally as possible - from your own yard, neighbourhood, region, country or closest countries to you. Do the best you can for the health of yourself, your family and our planet.

FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO EAT HEALTHY, CLICK HERE.

Nowadays the term 'superfoods' is a big buzz word. There are all sorts of companies out there are marketing foods from far away and promising their, almost magical, healing properties.

Here is the truth - all foods that come directly from Nature and that are eaten in their natural state are superfoods. The edible weeds (dandelion, chickweed, nettles etc.) that are growing in your backyard are superfoods. The fruit growing on the trees in your neighbourhood are superfoods. All the produce at the farmers market or from your own garden are superfoods. Even the produce at your supermarket are superfoods (providing you buy organic, local if possible and avoid GMO).

But there are many marketing campaigns that are very good at convincing you to buy their product, telling you that you need their product and that you cannot be healthy without it.

Understand that I am not against every single imported product out there - I am sure there are some very good companies but the majority of companies out there are concerned with their bottom dollar NOT your health.

The fact is that there are some really great superfoods that do grow in far away regions BUT you don't need to spend the exorbitant prices to have those shipped to you when there are also great superfoods that grow right in your own area.

No matter where one lives there is always the potential to fall prey to these marketing campaigns that try to get money out of your pocket by selling you promises of health. Just recently we were in the tropics which is a place that is extremely bountiful in super healing superfoods and even there I was surprised to hear a local woman telling me of her desire to buy nopali cactus juice and goji berries from far away.

Nopali cactus juice and goji berries are really great and nutritious foods but, in my opinion, this lady needn't spend her money on these far away products when she is surrounded by things that have even richer healing properties for her. It just showed me that no matter how plentiful the natural bounty is around you there is still a potential to be swayed by smart marketing.

I encourage you to stay aware and save your money. Look to your immediate surroundings for superfoods rather than buying something imported from a far distance.

This again falls in line with eating local. The foods in your region are better equipped to heal your body than something that comes from a foreign region … Nature has designed it this way.

While traveling I strive to eat as healthy as possible and to keep as hydrated as I can. This helps me to avoid jet lag and to feel energized to enjoy every minute of my journey.

Before leaving home I pack a little bag with all sorts of healthy goodies and snacks to eat on the way.

Below is a recipe I created on the spot (in the airport) with what I had on hand. It made for a really great breakfast that kept me energized for hours.

HOT PORRIDGE IN A CUP

Ingredients:

• bee pollen (brought from home)
• chia seeds (brought from home)
• banana (bought at airport) - 30 cents US
• hot water in a paper coffee cup (got at airport coffee shop) - free

Cut up the banana into small pieces and add to empty cup. Add some hot water and some chia seeds. Stir and let sit for a few minutes. Sprinkle with bee pollen and enjoy.

Other things you can add include any dried fruit you brought or a sprinkle of green powder.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT HEALTHY EATING WHILE TRAVELLING

If you like this e-zine please share it. If it's been shared with you please subscribe to the Making-Healthy-Choices e-Zine here.

Next month: More quick and easy Holistic Health Tips and Information.

Until then, make healthy choices and be well,

Nadia

Nadia Harper RHN
Holistic Nutritionist and Health Advisor
https://www.making-healthy-choices.com
Follow us on