No. 3: Eat More Whole Foods

Since my 30 in 30 list posted, I have had a lot of responses about the 'five ingredient rule.' Mainly snide-ish comments reminding me that a lot of my own recipes have more than five ingredients.

Dudes. I know.

I want to clarify my 'five ingredient rule.'

Say for some reason I buy pico de gallo at the market. And it has seven ingredients and they are all whole foods. Would I still buy it? Yes! Of course. However, I would most likely just buy the tomato, peppers, and onions and make my own version at home.

Often, if a food product has more than five ingredients, the ingredient list includes things likes Potassium Sorbate, Maltodextrin, Fructose, Tocopherols and other ingredients equally hard to pronounce.

The five ingredient rule is more of a guideline and a reminder to eat more whole foods and less foods that have been processed in some way.

For instance, these are the ingredients in my favorite hummus:

• Chickpeas
• Water
• Tahini
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Lemon Juice
• Flax Oil
• Sea Salt
• White Vinegar
• Garlic Juice

That has more than five ingredients, but they are all whole ingredients, whereas another brand of hummus has these ingredients added

• Potassium Sorbate
• Natural Flavors
• Citric Acid

I'm always confused at what natural flavors actually are. If they are natural, why list them? So, the choice is clear on which one to purchase.

There are some foods that I will still purchase that have more than five not-not-so-healthy-or-whole ingredients. Those foods are almond milk (I'm toying with making my own), Fage Greek yogurt with the little sidekick of fruit (yes, it's high in sugar, but it's so convenient!), and protein powder (I'm looking for a more whole powder than the one I'm currently using - suggestions welcome!). I'm sure there will be more as I go along, but those are the ones I have purchased since the 30 in 30 challenge began and that I plan to continue to purchase.

How is the rest of the challenge going? Good so far! Nothing crazy as far as progress. I have kept up with yoga/barre. I've been bad at running. And my tres leches cake was amaze-balls.