20 Healthy Foods to Try This Month

Running out of ideas for healthy snacks, or getting sick of baked chicken and steamed veggies? How about challenging yourself to keep things interesting this month by fitting in one (or more) of these super-healthy foods each day?

1. Legumes: Cheap and easy to prepare, legumes are high in protein and fiber.

2. Kale: Kale fights cancer, promotes cell growth, and tastes great in salads.

3. Salmon: Salmon’s impressive stores of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids protect your heart.

4. Walnuts: Nuts are full of antioxidants and are great for your heart – just limit portion sizes because of their high calorie content.

5. Pumpkin: Low in calories and high in fiber and vitamin A, pumpkin helps you prevent heart disease and has a surprising number of potential uses in cooking.

6. Apples: Apples contain lots of fiber and are known to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Plus, nothing is more portable or convenient.

7. Blueberries: High in carotenoids and flavonoids, blueberries promote heart and urinary tract health.

8. Bananas: The potassium in bananas is good for your blood pressure and digestive system. They are also sweet and filling – the perfect snack.

9. Broccoli: This cruciferous vegetable has awesome cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory, and immune system boosting properties.

10. Spinach: Don’t miss the health benefits of iron- and calcium-rich spinach, which include enhanced eye and skin health. The folate in spinach also makes it a must for pregnant women.

11. Sweet potatoes: These contain lots of potassium, help lower blood pressure, and reduce your risk of stroke.

12. Kidney beans: The potassium, magnesium, and fiber in kidney beans are great for your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and for preventing heart disease. Their protein makes them a great meat stand-in for vegetarians.

13. Beets: Their folate is important for pregnant women and the pigments that give them their red colour also fight cancer and heart disease.

14. Eggplant: Eggplant is surprisingly tasty and full of B vitamins and powerful antioxidants.

15. Quinoa: Both a whole grain and a complete protein, quinoa offers great muscle-building and metabolism-boosting amino acids.

16. Oatmeal: As a whole grain, oatmeal is good for your heart; it also contains unique antioxidants found only in oats.

17. Almonds: Like other nuts, these are a great source of protein and also contain plenty of calcium and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

18. Greek yogurt: Contains lots of protein and tastes wonderful.

19. Dark chocolate: The high concentration of cocoa in dark chocolate means it’s full of antioxidants; it also contains less sugar than milk chocolate.

20. Red wine: Red wine is a delicious treat that’s also good for you, lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Stick to one glass a day or less, and be sure to count it towards your calorie intake.