It is rare for people to actually plan meals in advance. Meals are generally planned on the run; on our way to work, to run errands, or to attend to other responsibilities. Even the best intentions go to the wayside as daily tasks consume all of our time, making it impossible to try to plan meals ahead of time. It’s not that people aren’t interested in nutrition and health. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Many people eat foods they believe to be healthy and try to include foods they know will provide nutritional needs.
It is easy to find foods that are generally considered healthy. Stores are packed with products marked with health emblems and touting nutritional claims. Many of the claims are probably true. But some foods provide a nutritional gold mine. If you could eat foods you know provide you with at least twice the nutritional value for half the fat and calories, which products would you eat? The answer is obvious.
So here are a number of nutrient dense power-house foods you can add to your regular diet.
1. Oats are extremely high in fiber and help keep cholesterol low.
2. Walnuts provide Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin E.
3. Chicken thighs, though higher in calories, will provide much higher doses of iron and zinc. The dark meat also provides myoglobin protein which stores oxygen in muscles.
4. Strawberries are packed with folic acid, vitamin C, and fiber.
5. Asparagus can help prevent heart disease, reduce water weight, and is high in folic acid.
6. Kiwi contains high amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.
7. Collard greens include are loaded with calcium.
8. Lean beef cuts are great sources of iron, magnesium, and are lower in saturated fats than regular beef cuts.