I've really enjoyed the opportunity to share the things I've learned on my healthy eating journey with the LIVESTRONG.COM readership. As some of you know, I've gone almost completely gluten-free and primarily clean since last October. I lost some weight eating this way -- but more importantly have a new found energy and vibrancy I was deeply missing when I relied on processed food.
I want to take the opportunity to share some of my favorite food staples for those who are interested in my diet and want to know more. I am by no means perfect with my diet -- in fact I do have cheat meals (even full days) on occasion. I feel I've finally mastered the art of flexibility by being both gentle and disciplined with myself.
My biggest roadblock or challenge on my healthy eating journey is time. I work full-time like most of you and maintain a fairly busy schedule outside of work as well. I'm often traveling to visit family or friends or engaging in some sort of social activity. The mantra I've come to embrace in light of my time constraints and my ongoing desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle is "organization is the key to happiness."
When I'm organized (that is, hit the grocery store on Sundays and prepare food for the week that night) I'm able to make smart food choices throughout the week. Making those great choices makes me literally feel better (than if I were to eat processed food) but also empowers me with the knowledge that I'm taking care of myself. I also save money!
This week, I'm going to let you in on 3 foods I just couldn't do it without. I'm not a registrered nutritionist or dietitian, but I do encourage you to learn more about these foods and potentially incorporate them into your healthy lifestyle (after talking to your nutritionist or dietitian if need be). I hope you find these suggestions as helpful as I have.
1.) Shirataki Tofu Noodles
These things are pretty magical. I first discovered these power noodles after reading the book that changed the game for me, Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution. This alternative to tradition pasta is made from Konnyaku root and tofu. These noodles pack only 3 grams of carbs per serving, 20 calories per 4 oz serving and are sugar and gluten-free. I sort of didn't believe these mystical noodles would taste anything like real pasta -- but I was wrong. In fact, some of the girls in my office joke that these noodles are the best kept secret we know!
My favorite way to eat these is with a simple, low sugar marinara sauce and a small pinch of shaved parmesian. The prep instructions on the package are key -- the noodles must be drained properly to avoid any funky smell. Don't be detered -- you'll get the hang of prep quickly and I'm pretty sure you'll be as wowed as me.
These noodles are very inexpensive and can be purchased at most health food stores.
2.) Eggs, eggs, eggs & more eggs
Time isn't the only thing I consider when developing my healthy eating strategy for the week. Cost is huge. I want something I can prepare different ways quickly without breaking the bank. Enter eggs. As you all know, you can buy 'em in bulk just about anywhere you buy groceries. I prefer to buy my eggs organic, but we can tackle that discussion at a seperate time.
Eggs provide such a great source of protein and can be incorporated into a variety of dishes throughout my day. I love having hardboiled eggs in the morning or throwing them on a salad for lunch. I'm also a big fan of preparing a fritatta packed with spinach and veggies -- cooking that on Sundays and divying up for morning breakfasts can get me through the majority of the week. 
3.) Kale made crunchy
I know, I know, kale can seem kind of scary if you're not farmiliar with the super dark, leafy veggie. I'm confident most will grow to actually enjoy the taste of kale after giving it a go; and the health benefits are worth the try. Kale is extremely rich in nutrients and the recent research on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits are really fascinating. I've grown to like kale in salads, steamed or raw but a great way to experiment with kale is to cook it and enjoy as a crunchy snack.
A brand I've tried and really enjoy hails from Lydia's Organics. Lydia Organics Kale Krunchies come in a variety of flavors, I like Mega Green the best. Lots of health concious foodies have taken to making crunchy kale snacks at home. You can prepare kale crunchies of your own with an oven, some olive oil and seasoning of your choice -- chili flakes are an awesome choice!
That's it for my 3 favorite go-to foods this week. As always, feel free to ask me questions or share your thoughts in the comments field. I look forward to talking healthy, happiness-inducing food picks with you.
-- Sarah Metzger, @SarahKMetz
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