The below table lists common toxic and non-ideal mainstream foods on the left and their higher-quality upgrades on the right. Although the transition foods on the right are not health generators per se, they are less toxic alternatives to make this lifestyle enjoyable and doable, in the long term. Some people use these foods in the beginning of their transition to get them moving in the right direction, and others use these throughout their lifetime. How you decide to utilize these transition foods depends on your current state of health and your long-term health goals.
This is a great resource to print and take with you when you go grocery shopping or out on the town. Refer to it often, and check back regularly for updated items!
MAINSTREAM FOOD |
TRANSITION FOOD |
White bread; white-flour bagels | Whole-wheat or sprouted-grain bread and bagels (Alvarado St. Bakery, Ezekial 4:9, or Food for Life are great options) |
Mainstream cookies | Kashi, Cascadian Farm, or Late July Oreo-style cookies (these are so good they deserve special mention!) or any raw treats you can find at your local health food stores |
Mainstream chips | Guiltless Gourmet, Garden of Eatin’, or Food Should Taste Good baked chips |
Mainstream pretzels | Lundberg Family Farms, or any type of spelt pretzels |
Protein or energy bars | Larabars, Kashi, or Lydia’s |
Peanut butter | Any organic and natural nut butter, except peanut |
Mainstream microwave popcorn | Good Health Half Naked popcorn |
White-flour pancakes with processed syrup | Whole-grain or sprouted-grain pancakes with all-natural maple syrup |
White pasta with butter or marinara | Whole-wheat, spelt, buckwheat, or quinoa pasta with organic butter or organic marinara (Paesana or Seeds of Change are great options) |
Mainstream pizza | Homemade pizza on sprouted grain or whole wheat pizza crust with marinara sauce, any tapenade you can find, and all the veggies you love. Add raw goat cheese if desired! |
Hamburgers | Marinated portobello mushroom burger with sprouted-grain buns, or Sunshine Vegetable Burgers (avoid any soy-based veggie burgers) |
Mainstream ketchup and mustard | Organic ketchup and mustard (Annie’s brand is a good option, but not all of the Annie’s products are high quality so pay attention to the ingredients!) |
Mainstream cooking oils | Small amounts of organic butter, or coconut oil/butter |
Mainstream canned soup | Muir Glen, Dr. McDougall’s, or Taste Adventure soups |
Cow’s milk; soy milk | Goat’s milk, nut milk (Pacific Brand), coconut water, coconut milk |
Mainstream yogurt | Goat’s milk yogurt |
Mainstream ice cream | Goat’s milk ice cream, coconut ice cream |
Pasteurized juice | Unpasteurized natural juice, or pasteurized juice with no added ingredients (such as sugar!) |