Rice can be bought in bulk at very low prices and has a shelf life of more than 10 years if properly stored. Beans have a strong reputation as a survival food because of their complete nutritional profile. Like berries, most beans are highly nutritious. Black (turtle), red (kidney), pinto and soy top the lists of so-called superfoods by many nutritionists.
This is probably the best source of calcium and iron on the island. Beans are also a versatile island food, since once dried, they can be preserved for a long time. And if you're alone on the island, why worry about flatulence? While most leafy greens will suit you, kale is particularly rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. You can boil the stalks to get a simple vegetable broth.
Kale was obtained from wild cabbage and its close cousins include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, collards, rutabaga, mustard and rapini. Like berries, melon is tasty and nutritious. Although it's a little high in sugar, it's too good a source of vitamins A and C and potassium to pass up. Its lack of fat and its lower glycemic load index make melon a slightly better choice than bananas.
Choose if they are available for collection. Few foods match berries in flavor, vitamin content and antioxidant power. Add to this list the kiwi, which was once called Chinese gooseberry, but which was changed for marketing reasons. Kiwis have more vitamin C than oranges and almost as much potassium as a banana.
Beware of poisonous berries, such as holly, frankberry, and bamboo berry. Even the laziest of us can harvest what is washed. Seaweed, alaria and lavender (kombu, wakame and nori in Japanese cuisine) are among the most common. Algae are loaded with vitamins and minerals.
Once dry, it will also last for months. Seaweed is a regular part of the Asian diet, and most Japanese households have four or five types available. Even if you avoid sushi, you've eaten seaweed in ice cream. Irish moss (carrageenan) is a thickening agent.
One thing is certain: the candidates would not include meat or most fruits and vegetables. Meat has no fiber, vitamins, or key nutrients. Fruits and vegetables may contain vitamins, but they don't have anywhere near enough fat or protein, even if they're eaten in large quantities. Your body doesn't need as much as you think to stay alive, but you skip them at your own risk.
If you're like most people who make a New Year's resolution, you want to eat healthier, lose weight, or both. And if you're like most of us, your resolve has already begun to waver. By February 1, most weight-related New Year's resolutions had been defeated by unrealistic expectations, fad diets, the frustration of not seeing results, and many other factors. Excess sugar causes an increase in insulin, and high insulin levels cause the body to store fat instead of burning it.
Refined carbohydrates also cause a shock and burn effect, as blood sugar levels fall below the recommended range, leading to greater appetite, hunger and more cravings. Fat tends to get a bad rap, but the body needs it to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K, not to mention it heals wounds. Fat is also the most slowly digested macronutrient (carbohydrates, proteins and fats in order), so it promotes satiety and adds flavor to foods. Healthy eating and sustainable weight loss are more than just counting calories.
It's also more than just a matter of eating less and moving more. A variety of complex physiological and lifestyle-related factors contribute to how we gain weight and why each of us gains it differently.