What are the Mealtime Myths and Modern Life? We are told as children that certain foods are ‘good for us’.

We’re often told as children that certain foods—like green vegetables, carrots, salads, and fruit—are “good for us.” The promise was compelling: these foods would make us healthier as kids, give us curly hair, and make us stronger and more beautiful as adults. All thanks to a mysterious quality called “goodness.”

But once we grow up and make our own choices, those “good for us” foods often take a backseat to “bad for us” indulgences. Without someone telling us what to eat, we develop a taste for less nutritious options—sometimes accompanied by other habits that aren’t exactly health-conscious.

Youthful Resilience, Adult Realities

Young bodies have an incredible ability to extract nutrition from nearly anything and bounce back from bad habits like alcohol, nicotine, or poor diet. But as we age, the cracks begin to show. Hangovers hit harder, extra pounds are tougher to shed, and our bodies don’t recover quite as quickly.

Your body is naturally designed to offset harmful substances with nutrients that help it heal. But if these nutrients are missing from your diet, your body can’t do its job. Over time, this nutritional imbalance allows damage to accumulate.

It’s not just about what you eat—it’s also about what you don’t.

Are “Good for Us” Foods Really That Good?

Vegetables, fruits, and salads are touted for their vitamins and minerals, which help the body repair itself and combat the negative effects of less healthy choices. But even if you’re eating these foods, you might not be getting the benefits you expect. Here’s why:

1. Depleted Soil
   Modern fertilizers enable crops to grow in nutrient-poor soil, but the plants can only absorb minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc if they’re present in the soil. This means today’s spinach might contain only 25% of the iron it did 50 years ago.
2. Time Lags
   From harvest to your plate, food loses nutrients over time. Ironically, frozen vegetables—when frozen quickly after harvest—can retain more nutrients than “fresh” produce that’s travelled long distances.
3. Preparation Losses
   Peeling, overcooking, or improper storage can strip away even more of the remaining nutrients.

Maximizing Your Nutritional Intake

Despite these challenges, there are ways to get the most from your meals:

• Buy Local and Organic: Locally grown produce travels less, so it’s fresher and retains more nutrients.
• Opt for Frozen: Quick-frozen veggies often preserve more vitamins and minerals.
• Keep the Peel On: Many nutrients are in or just under the skin.
• Eat Raw or Lightly Cooked: Raw foods or gentle cooking methods like steaming minimize nutrient loss.
• Consider Supplements: A quality vitamin supplement can help bridge nutritional gaps.

By rethinking how we source and prepare our food, we can counteract the mealtime myths and make the most of what we eat. It’s not just about “goodness” but understanding how to truly nourish our bodies in a modern world.

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You may want to read more of our blog post for our Six Areas while waiting for the second part of this series, Health & Wellness, Confidence & Image, Money & Wealth, Family & Friends, Love & Intimacy and Passion & Purpose