Saturday Morning Fruit Haul: Benefits Of Mono Meals + Buying In Bulk
Simplify
What if your next meal was a recipe that only required one ingredient?
This is a brief introduction to eating mono meals and saving money at the grocery store. A mono meal is a meal consisting of just one food, typically a fruit or vegetable, in its raw, natural state. Mono meals are popular among raw foodists and vegans, but are also a fantastic way for anyone to re-train the brain to have a healthier relationship with food. When we eat only one food, our sensory organs are not overloaded with varying tastes, textures, and smells, and we are therefore, better able to determine when we're still hungry, and when we're completely satisfied. This can be a helpful tool for overcoming eating disorders and emotional eating.
Think to yourself, If I'm not hungry enough to eat an apple, then I'm not really hungry. If you're hungry enough to eat an apple, chances are, you're hungry enough to eat more than one apple--so why not?
Mother Nature
Looking back to the way things used to be, imagine you're all alone, wandering and starving. All of a sudden, you come upon a big peach tree. You pluck a juicy, ripe peach from the tree, and savor every perfect bite--no condiments, no cooking, no processing, just enjoying the fruit as Mother Nature intended. Chances are, you'd still be hungry after one, and go for another. Being that you might not know when or where you'd find food again, I'd venture to guess that you would eat as many peaches as you cared for until you felt satiated! That's all there is to mono meals--it's that simple!
But regardless of any theory of how things "used to be," mono meals can benefit our bodies and minds in a number of ways.
Fruit As Fuel
Our bodies require carbohydrates in order to stay energized--the important part is which type of carbs we're consuming. Fruit is an unrefined carbohydrate that's chock-full of fiber, which helps to slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream and avoid spikes and crashes.
Not only is fruit a great source of carbohydrate energy, it is also packed with vital nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes that help our bodies to thrive. Grab a banana or grab an orange (or any fruit of your choice for that matter!), enjoy each and every sweet, juicy bite, and eat until you feel completely satiated!
*Disclaimer: I am not 100% raw vegan, but I am a total raw food lover and eat about 90% raw foods. I am simply sharing my experience with you because I love how I feel and wish the same for you!
7 Reasons To Try A Mono Meal:
No recipes required.
It's natural.
Eliminates decision fatigue.
Re-trains your brain to know when you're full.
Allows you to enjoy the simplicity of just one food--the taste, texture, smell, etc.
Easier on your digestion and requires less energy.
Can be applied for an extended period of time as a detox or cleanse.
Try It Out
Eat as much melon as you care for, for breakfast.
Make a banana smoothie.
Eat only mangos for lunch.
Drink fresh-squeezed orange juice for an entire day.
* Check out: The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Douglas Graham for more on the benefits of raw foods and mono meals!
A Saturday Morning Plus 105 Valencia Oranges Means It's Time For Fresh-Squeezed OJ
On a recent trip to our local co-op, Open Harvest, Dusty and I decided we would place an order for an entire case of organic bananas and Valencia oranges, (which we got a 15% discount on for buying in bulk)! You might be asking, why would anyone buy 80lbs of fruit?!
We Love Fruit! We eat a lot, so we need a lot!
After counting out a little over 100 Valencia oranges and 100 bananas, we laid out of bananas so they could get ripe and speckled for smoothies and Banana Nice Cream. Bananas are easy to buy in bulk because they can be easily frozen and stored for months in the freezer, and make the perfect base for any smoothie. Citrus is in season, so oranges were a good bet, as well. Especially during cold and flu season, nothing beats a tall glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice! Oranges keep for quite some time in the refrigerator, so they're also easy to buy in bulk.
It has now been about 2 weeks since we got our bananas and oranges, and it feels amazing to be able to enjoy them in abundance! Our frozen bananas are stored away, and we're nearing the end of our orange supply--no fruit has rotted or gone to waste!
Don't stress about depriving yourself, simply crowd out the bad foods with more of the good!
After using my good, old-fashioned citrus juicer for about 10 oranges, I decided it was time to upgrade! I found this awesome, Cuisinart electric citrus juicer at Bed Bath & Beyond for only $29.95 and I can't recommend it enough if you do a lot of citrus-juicing! #lifesaver!
As Seen On YouTube:
Check out our Saturday Morning Fruit Haul on the EatMoveRest YouTube channel and be sure to Subscribe, give it a Thumbs Up, leave a Comment, and Share with friends and family!
Cheers to A Simpler Way Of Life
Don't be afraid to experiment with food--especially fruits and veggies! There are so many complex and restrictive diets, too many processed junk foods, difficult recipes, and time-consuming cooked meals to bother with, and sometimes, our bodies and minds just need something simple!
Go grab your favorite fruit and enjoy each and every juice bite!
