Ever notice how fruit in produce aisle is so much larger than ever before? Yet, taste leaves much to be desired. A tomato grown in a greenhouse will never compare to a tomato grown in a backyard.

It is not nearly as difficult to find stores carrying organic and steroid-free foods as it was even just 20 years ago. Organic products are becoming more mainstream than ever before and are not reserved for only for health food stores any longer. Several large grocery chains now carry complete lines of organic products as a result of demand from consumers.

It is just common sense. When you mess with nature, outcome cannot possibly be good. This is all more reason to choose organically grown fruits and vegetables and drug-free meats.

In our next series, we’ll show you how to change your grocery shopping habits over from traditional to organic without breaking your bank account.

To Your Health,

Patty Gale © 2005

By contract, complex carbohydrates are extremely nutritious, these are foods like legumes, whole grains, vegetables and most fruits. They are loaded with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Calorie for calorie, complex carbohydrates will fill you up more and leave you full longer then simple carbohydrates.

When choosing which carbohydrates to put on your plate, you should try to load up on whole grains, fruits and vegetables but if they are not available in plentiful enough amounts, you should try to balance your simple carbs with your complex carbs and proteins. Use simple carbs as more of a side dish - maybe filling ¼ of your plate with them and fill up on lean protein and complex carbs. This will have a net effect of a more nutritious and filling meal as well as leave you satisfied longer.