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The New York Times did an article on the 11 best foods titled “The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating” and it made be smile. As I looked over the list I noticed that I’ve eaten 9 of the 11 items some time within the last month (most of them within a week) and nearly all of these items are regularly on my grocery list.

The list was created by nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden, the author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.” Here is the list of foods and some of my commentary:

1. Beets: I love beets. I just bought some at the store and plan on making them later this week (maybe tonight after further thought). All they need is a roast in the oven and a quick saute with some butter and red wine vinegar. I love them cold and in salads as well and I’ve always wanted to try making some Borscht. Nutritionists always say that your diet should be very colorful and the red pigments in beets provide plenty of color and antioxidants.
2. Cabbage: I made some coleslaw for the 4th of July using some red cabbage. I bought some green cabbage this week for some fish tacos. I also like to make my own Kimchi using Napa cabbage. Cabbage is versatile and cheap and it contains sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
3. Swiss chard: I buy either chard, mustard greens, or spinach nearly every time I visit the store. I saute chard to diminish the bitter flavor. Chard contains carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
4. Cinnamon: This one is easy. You can use cinnamon on nearly anything. The benefits of cinnamon is that it “may help control blood sugar and cholesterol.”
5. Pomegranate juice: I buy a bottle of POM every week. I’ve been drinking it for years. Pomegranate juice is very expensive and I find it a bit tart so I normally water mine down or mix it with something. Pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants.
6. Dried plums: Dried fruit is the best. I love dried fruit like prunes, dates, apricots, figs, and cranberries. I buy a couple bags every week for snacking or desserts or to use in a trail mix.
7. Pumpkin seeds: This is the only item on the list I don’t buy or eat regularly. I wasn’t aware that they are “the most nutritious part of the pumpkin” and packed with magnesium. I have read about how roasted pumpkin seeds can be used as a snack or sprinkled on salads. I need to add this one into my rotation.
8. Sardines: I always have a can of sardines in the pantry. I use them for snacks, spreads, and I throw them into the occasional salad. I also keep a couple cans of kipper snacks and anchovies around. Sardines are high in omega-3’s, low in contaminates such as mercury and PCBs, and loaded with calcium.
9. Turmeric: I love Indian food and this was how I was introduced to Turmeric. It is very versatile and can be easily used outside of Indian cuisine. Turmeric is used as an anti-inflammatory agent and may have anti-cancer properties.
10. Frozen blueberries: I’m still buying the non-frozen variety while they are in season, but I always keep a bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer. I could even argue that frozen are better than fresh because they are frozen at their peak of freshness.
11. Canned pumpkin: No joke, this was really on my grocery list a couple of days ago. I found an interesting muffin recipe that called for canned pumpkin. Pumpkin is high in fiber and vitamin A.

While this really isn’t necessarily the best 11 foods I am eating, it still makes me happy and also feel a bit vindicated to read that article. It’s more than just knowing that I’m eating the right foods – It’s knowing I’ve adopted these foods into my diet as part of my lifestyle.

Photo credit: darwinbell

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