I saw these quotes and thought they were perfect for the tip of the month...
 
"Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can cure the patient with food." -Hippocrates
 
"One quarter of what you eat keeps you alive.  The other three quarters keep your doctor alive." -Egyptian Proverb
 
You all know I've been trying to eat a "plant-strong" diet most of the time.  I realize now more than ever how important it is to eat as much "real" food as possible.  In fact, I've made a huge shift (maybe because I'm over 40) with how I feel about food.  I used to watch what I ate because I wanted a "good" physique.  Now I eat food to keep my body healthy.  I look at food differently.  When I make my kale smoothie, a salad with ingredients from the farmer's market, or one of the lengthy Engine 2 recipes, I know that I'm feeding my cells and they are happy.  I feel it's my responsibility to fuel my body with food that is full of awesome nutrients.
 
There are so many stories out there about what to eat or not eat...and it can get confusing.  Do I eat soy?  wheat? coco water? protein powder...what kind?  veggies or fruit that isn't organic?  chicken?  ahhhh!  It can make you crazy to keep up.
 
Let's keep it simple...you know what to do.  THINK about what you put in your mouth.
 
 If it's a frozen meal, in a bag, can, box, has a strange color, looks "fake", has a ton of ingredients, can stay in your pantry for over a year and still look the same (like girl scout cookies)...it's probably not going to be that healthy for you. 
 
If it's from the farmer's market (you know where it came from because you can talk to the person who made it or grew it), in the veggie section at the store (and is organic...meaning not sprayed with pesticides), needs to be washed, cut up, cooked in some way (without butter or sauce)...it's probably healthy for you.
 
Don't make it harder than it is.  You know if something is good for you or if it isn't.  Take a moment to examine it...and you'll know.  So if you want to feel good...eat "good" food. 
 
...And you are worth taking the time to cook healthy meals...so you can't use that excuse.