Grocery Shopping, Eating Whole Foods & Quinoa Salad with Chef Elizabeth Mehditach

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Chef Elizabeth Mehditach, whose mission is to unite people through food. With a specialty in the fusion of California, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisine, Mehditach is all for eating healthy, as long as you remember that it’s okay to make exceptions.   “If you have a cheat day, just get back on [the wagon],” Mehditach says. “And the next meal you have, make it a healthy one.”    Studies show that most people ditch their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January. Regardless of the time of year, there are certain things you can do to incorporate healthier foods into your routine. One of the best ways to do that is alter your grocery shopping habits. Stay on the outer rims of the supermarket, buy whole foods - items in their natural state with nothing added to it - and try to avoid processed foods.    “A tomato off the vine with a little salt and olive oil [is] a great snack,” she expalins. “We've convinced our palates that just raw tomato doesn't taste as good as a potato chip.”   Mehditach talks about her background and what the Mediterranean lifestyle means. She also shares tips for shopping and eating healthy, along with her recipe for quinoa salad, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.    “It's all about those textures and hitting those different notes of salty, savory and sweet, crunchy and smooth, cool and hot,” she says. “That keeps your tongue, your mouth, and your brain entertained; you think you're eating something exciting that's actually really good for you too.”    Learn more at LizaMichelleLifestyle.com and follow @Chef.Leza on Instagram. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.