Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it’s superfood!

If you’re still reading after that intro, allow me to jump right into the article. The cold weather has overstayed its welcome through the beginning of this April, but I am still settled into a spring state-of-mind. One thing I’ve been thinking about recently as spring and summer approach, of course, is the yummy fresh fruit I will be able to eat! As I was munching on some strawberries the other day, I began thinking about the so-called “superfoods” that I always hear about, I and decided to take to the Internet to see what exactly they were and what the hype is all about.

I found that superfoods are foods that are strong sources of fiber and nutrients and that although you can find some very specific lists of them on the internet, there are really tons of them. Superfoods also give your body the tools necessary to help you age gracefully (which I know is the primary concern of most Zen N’ M’s readers, who are between the ancient ages of fourteen and eighteen) and to fight off illness and chronic disease.

I also found that a lot of my favorite foods are superfoods. An article on WebMD gave a really informative list that described exactly what each food on the list offered to benefit you. I’m going to summarize my favorites here, but I highly recommend you check out the full list for some ideas of your own.

Probably my favorite pre-workout, post-workout and off-day snack is yogurt, which was highlighted first on this particular superfood list. Yogurt contains lots of nutrients including protein and potassium. Also, it can be used as a substitute while cooking and baking. I wish I could give you more information about how it can be used as a substitute, but I’m still exploring that myself. I’ve been meaning for the past month to try baking cupcakes with yogurt.

Eggs were also included on this list. Eggs have lots of protein, and eating them for breakfast actually keeps your eating on the right track for the rest of the day (hmm, where have I heard that before?). I eat two eggs during my breakfast every day, and I think my body might biologically need them to feel complete and happy at this point. You do not want to be in my house mornings when I discover we’re out of eggs.

Another snack I love eating at any time of day are nuts, which contain a lot of protein and help keep you full. Sometimes people like to give them a bad name because they’re high in fat, but remember that you do in fact need fat in your diet in the right proportions — moderation, not deprivation! Which reminds me: As with any food, you need to maintain a healthy portion size with all superfoods.

I know from firsthand experience that eating healthy can be intimidating and seem daunting. So don’t consider this list of superfoods a list of requirements you need to put into your diet NOW. In fact, it’s best to combine a variety of these foods in a variety of ways. Have fun with your food and eat what will make you feel the best. And you can try to set little goals for yourself to make healthy eating seem more manageable. For instance, this week try incorporating 100 calorie almond packs (or any kind of nut) into your snacks, and next week, experiment with eggs for breakfast, so on and so forth.

And, because exercise and diet go hand in hand, don’t forget to get outside and enjoy the weather while burning some calories along the way!