You’ve purged the fridge and pantry of processed foods, loaded up on organic foods and free-range proteins, and your produce bin is now a colorful rainbow of Mother Nature’s bounty. It’s a beautiful sight – and congratulations on your road to a healthier lifestyle! However, many of us unwittingly sabotage even the best-laid plans for a healthy diet because it’s either what we were taught to do because “it isn’t pretty,” . . . or, frankly, we’re just a little grossed out. It’s time to just “get over it” and stop making these healthy eating mistakes!
Don’t scrape off brown stuff off bottom of salmon: Keep healthy fats in your diet by leaving on the brown-grey gunk found on the bottom of salmon.
I’m not talking about the skin (although that’s good for you too), but the soft, gelatinous layer found between the skin and flesh. This brown-grey stuff is the insulating fat for this cold water fish and also where the overwhelming majority of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids are found.
Don’t pour off liquid pooled on top of Greek yogurt: Despite looking like a cloudy mess that should be drained away, this liquid is actually the whey. Whey is comprised mostly of settled water from the yogurt, but it’s also where the protein, potassium, and calcium live! Stirring in the whey before eating your yogurt keeps the protein content in yogurt high, preserves important nutrients and promotes a creamy texture.
Don’t spit out fruit seeds: Despite your mother’s warnings, most fruit seeds are actually quite beneficial for your health (some companies are even selling packaged watermelon seeds to snack on – they’re good! ), containing a boost of important amino acids, vitamins and minerals. For example, watermelon seeds are an abundant source of zinc and the tropical papaya has an enzyme that helps fight parasitic infestation, a common health issue where the fruit is grown (isn’t Mother Nature clever?). I’m not saying you need to go out of your way to eat every seed in sight, but it’s definitely does no harm to eat a few of them –and, a plant won’t sprout in your stomach!
Don’t peel vegetables: Stop peeling your vegetables, especially if they are thoroughly scrubbed and washed. Not only does it take a ridiculous amount of time to de-skin produce (like potatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, onions, carrots, beets and others), peeling also robs your diet of important nutrients. A high concentration of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are lurking on the skin of your favorite vegetables – for example, the levels of iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C found on potato skins are much more highly concentrated ounce-for-ounce, than in the rest of the tuber. However, if you decide to remove the outer layer of vegetables for aesthetic purposes, save the peels and boil with water for a vegetable stock.
Don’t avoid egg yolks and those “stringy things”: Let’s crack the hype that egg yolks are bad – yes, they contain cholesterol, but recent studies show that eating eggs does not ramp up the risk for heart disease. In fact, the yolk is where the bulk of an eggs super powers reside, packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy fats that benefit the eyes, brain and remainder of our bodies. And, if you’re grossed out by the white stringy things in eggs, don’t be. There is no harm in eating this ropey part of the egg, called chalazae. Chalazae are merely what anchor the yolk to the membrane and are not the beginning of little chick as many think. Egg experts say that the more chalazae you see, the fresher the egg.
Don’t chastise chia seeds over slime: Chia seeds are rich in iron, potassium, calcium, omega fats, zinc, fiber, and antioxidants – and a good source of protein. However, the number one complaint of this super-food is the slimy texture the sand-sized seeds take on when wet. Many don’t mind it, but others get the gag reflex. One way to reap the benefits of chia seeds, but avoid the gelatinous goo, is to incorporate a sprinkling of the seeds in smoothies or baked goods.
Oh, and if you’re looking for a chia seed recipe this Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Chia Pudding is one of my favorite healthy treats.
Do you have any tips on healthy eating, maybe some gross stuff that is actually good?! Please share in the comments below — XOXO, Jennifer
I generally take out the yolks because I don’t like the smell (I’ve gone over this before) but I do like a runny yolk. But otherwise, it has to go. I know, I’m weird. But all of the rest of these, you betcha I do!
How funny, the smell? I NEVER noticed a difference . . but also my sense of smell sucks. I’m gonna as my hubby who is a bloodhound
Isn’t it funny how a bad rumor never goes away? I hear that egg yolk myth almost every day at work (I’m a nurse practitioner). Sigh.
First it’s bad, then it’s good, then it’s horrific and will kill you and then a week later the best food known to mankind! haha
Great post! And so interesting to learn that the best nutrients can be found in parts of food we consider to be gross. I always stir the separated liquid back into my greek yogurt so I’m doing that right, but I would definitely scrape the gunky stuff off the bottom of salmon. I’ll think twice before doing that again!
It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I found out about the yogurt “water” is actually whey . . . and the gray stuff on salmon, I eat it . .. but don’t look! haha
YES to yolks! Nothing makes me sadder than an egg white scramble.
but the string thing on the yolk, how do you feel about that ?!!!
I just saw something this morning about watermelon seeds and I am intrigued!
The whole watermelon is edible, even the rind . . .Southerners like to pickle it!
I have lots to say about this: Salmon, yes please all of it! Even the gross part I love Salmon! I had no idea about the Whey being on greek yogurt either, very interesting! Do you mean to tell me if I eat seeds sprouts won’t come out of my ears? Dang, my mother was wrong all along…. I actually don’t peel things like carrots or potatoes and the reason is I’m lazy! Lastly I have chickens and more times than not I’ll go out to the coop and get enough eggs to make my omelet. Did you know it takes about 6 banny eggs to make a good sized one!! 🙂
I bet those are cute little eggs!
I didn’t know that about the liquid on the yogurt! I totally throw it away! DOH! thanks for the tip.
I made this mistake for years!!!
Not gross at all! I always mix in the whey to my greek yogurt, and just today learned how healthy watermelon seeds are. Egg yolks are the bomb. And I need to stop peeling so much produce. Chia pudding and the like took a while for me to get used to, but love it now!
Sometimes I still have to close my eyes when I eat the gray salmon fat . . . it doesn’t taste bad, just the look 😉
im guilty of not eating that brown stuff from salmon…missing out on the good stuff 🙁
Just close your eyes 🙂
Don’t eat it if you hate it just because it is “good for you”. There is no reason to be miserable!
AGree!
Great info! Now I won’t mind eating the entire piece of salmon and the occasional stray watermelon seed!
still the salmon fat offends me (not the taste but the look), so I just close my eyes -lol