One of the biggest problems with America’s state of health is that we all want to have our cake and eat it, too. We say we want to be healthy, but we lack the discipline required to get us there.  

It’s much easier for us to sit around watching TV and eating hoagies and pizza than it is to actually cook every night. And we’d much rather drive to the store than walk, even though the supermarket may just be right around the corner. 

First Lady Michelle Obama is absolutely on point when she talks about parents being so stressed out that it’s easier not to have to cook every night. But it’s really quite simple to join in her quest to fight childhood obesity, which requires some discipline and planning on our part. By making simple lifestyle changes in our daily routines, we can automatically lead healthier lives. 

Nine Daily Steps to Better Health 

1. Prayer
2. Breath
3. Water
4. Nourishment
5. Exercise
6. Positivity
7. Love
8. Work
9. Charity

Many factors contribute to the fact that as a nation, Americans just aren’t healthy. In general, we are too fat, too sedentary and too lacking in basic health regimes like drinking enough water. We also eat too much and should learn to eat less as we get older. 

We eat too much meat, especially in communities with people of color where meat – especially pork – plays a prominent role in the diet. My family’s southern roots meant their merciless lambasting of me when I decided to quit eating pork back in 1974.I think the pig is one of the filthiest animals on the planet and will never eat it again. 

In addition, animals actually aren’t  the most efficient way to get protein anyway because  meat usually includes a fair amount of  fat – not to mention hormones if they aren’t grain-fed. We eat some meat in my family, particularly lamb and chickens, that are fed on the ground, but we never eat meat every day. 

Not even twice a week. In between meat days, we eat fish, tofu and beans. The wonderful thing about the latter two is that they are also much cheaper than meat. 

Many people think that if you don’t eat meat then you won’t have a good source of protein, which is absolutely false. There are many other higher-quality sources of protein such as soy, beans or legumes. There’s nothing more nourishing on a cold winter day than a good cup of hot bean soup, which  is full of both fiber and protein. Soup is also a good place to use leftovers like vegetables. 

The other day I was looking for something to do with my leftover (homemade) salsa, sweet potatoes and collard greens, and decided to make a delicious bean soup that was simple to put together. 

Navy Bean Soup  

Ingredients 

3 cups dried navy beans, soaked for at least three hours and rinsed well 

5 cups filtered or spring water 

1 large cooked sweet potato 

3 cups fresh leftover salsa 

1  tsp salt 

1 tsp black pepper 

3  tbs Virgin olive oil 

3  cloves of fresh garlic, chopped 

1 cup baby carrots 

Leftover collard greens and the pot liquor 

1 cup Yukon potatoes, skinned and diced 

Directions 

Bring water to a rolling boil. 

Add beans, reduce heat to low-medium and cover 

Cook for 2 ½  hours, stirring occasionally 

Add both potatoes 

Heat olive oil (be careful not to burn) and saute garlic until lightly browned 

Add seasonings, salsa, greens and carrots 

Pour entire mixture into beans and stir. 

Simmer on low until all ingredients have softened and assimilated 

Allow soup to rest covered for five minutes before serving with a side of seven-grain toast or cornbread

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3. The mysteries of soy and tofu
4. Michelle Obama’s fat fight
5. A soup to heal colds