Today we’re talking about one of my FAVORITE topics… FOOD!
Yes, food is my love language. I’m a person who lives (or loves) to eat. Not eat to live.
And we are going to talk specifically, about SUPER foods.
Superfoods are foods – usually plant based – which are PACKED full of healthy nutrients.
Some of which are thought to ward off diseases – such as cancer – because they’ve got tons of nutritional power… I’m talking MAJOR doses of vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals.
All the good stuff your body needs to keep tickin’ at optimal performance. And, because it’s the holiday season, we ALL need that, right? 😂
Many people forget that food is fuel… so the key to energy, focus, and feeling good in your body is to fuel up with the best options possible.
I’ve put together my top three superfoods (+ pairings) that can slide right into your holiday menus.
3 Superfoods for the Holidays
#1: Cacao
Hot tip: Cacao is not cocoa.
That’s cacao’s overly-processed twin sister… 😂
Here’s the main difference: Both cacao and cocoa come from the same bean – the cacao bean – but it’s during processing that the difference is made.
Cocoa is roasted at super high temperatures and often packaged with additives like sugar and dairy...
Cacao, on the other hand, is fermented and NOT roasted. Which means those amazing superfood properties remain in the bean.
You know what’s also interesting? If you’re not used to something like cacao, it may seem bitter to you at first.
But if you like the idea of it, and you can sweeten it up with a little stevia, you may train yourself to love it.
Your palette can actually change.
Here are two ways to work cacao into your holiday season menu:
Use it to make a yummy latte. Add a splash of holiday cheer with a few drops of peppermint essential oil – it’s Christmas in a cup!
Try out cacao in your holiday baking – everything from muffins to cookies to yogurt bark.
Fun fact: cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron. It has more iron than meat. 🎤 drop.
#2: Fermented Foods
There are loads of fermented foods that are great for gut-health.
The list includes:
Yogurt.
Kombucha.
Sauerkraut.
Tempeh.
Miso.
Now that you know what examples of fermented foods are, let’s talk about why I consider them to be superfoods.
Gut health is important because your gut has essential bacteria in it.
Now, before you say ewwwww 🤢, bacteria in your gut is essential.
Those good bacteria help with digestion and nutrient absorption. Without those bacteria, you would actually be super sick!
When food is fermented, it goes through a process that retains all of that good bacteria.
So when you eat fermented food, you infuse your gut with the good microbes (aka “probiotics”) it needs.
Here’s a few ways to use fermented foods into your holiday feasting:
Enjoy a delicious bottle of kombucha on the regular. (There are even holiday flavors like pumpkin spice and cinnamon apple!)
Try milk kefir. Replace a traditionally dairy based ingredient (like sour cream or heavy whipping cream) with milk kefir – a fermented food!
Get in on the 2020 sourdough trend. You could do a sourdough pie crust or even BAKE with sourdough in things like cookies and brownies.
Side note: Early in the quarantine days, there was a big phenomenon about learning how to make sourdough. I have no idea why it was "a thing" – did you do this? If so, drop me a comment and let me know what that was all about! 🤔
#3: Complex Carbs + Protein
This combo is a perfect macronutrient balance for energy.
Not all carbs are bad!
Complex carbs are high in fiber and starches, and digest more slowly, which means you stay full for longer.
Simple carbs are the ones to watch out for; things like sugar, soda, and high fructose corn syrup.
Those burn through energy quickly and give you that crashed feeling because of how it affects your blood sugar.
So when you combine a complex carb with an energy-boosting protein, your energy will stay with you much longer… and at a nice solid burn rate.
Here are some holiday options that pair healthy proteins with complex carbs:
Veggies and hummus. It’s a great way to use up any leftover veggies from your holiday meal prep or feast. Garlic and red pepper are two yummy ones to try out next time you want a healthier snack that still packs in the flavor AND the crunch.
Veggie chili. Throw in some beans, lentils, and corn and you’ve got yourself a nice pairing perfect for the colder months.
Trail mix. Add some nuts, seeds, and dried fruit like coconut and cranberries for a healthy grab-and-go snack that will help keep you full longer (toss in some whiite cacao nibs to up the holiday spirit in your snack mix!)
Having energy for everything on their to-do list is probably the biggest desire I hear from the women I work with. With these three superfood tricks, long-lasting NATURAL energy will become your norm.
When combo’ed with other natural energy boosters, like getting enough restful sleep and exercising regularly, you’re set up for daily energy and mood-balancing magic.
Want More Food-related Content?
Habit Hackers might be just the thing for you.
But here’s the thing… it’s not available yet. I want to get it on your radar since we’re ALL thinking about holiday food this time of year.
Earlier this year I opened up my brand new community group: Habit Hackers.
It’s for busy women with amazing lives who are looking for tools to really integrate healthy habits into their daily routine. And one of the most popular aspects of this group is nutrition (AKA recipes!)
In Habit Hackers, I share some of my favorite healthy – and delish – recipes each month, all based around a particular theme.
The December theme is nutrition, so that’s what we’re talking about right now. Today’s article is a little sneak peek of the type of content we cover in the group… but we go into this way more detail inside Habit Hackers.
January’s theme is REST.
Now, rest doesn’t just mean sleep (although we’re certainly covering that). Rest means how to lower your stress and help your body relax even when things feel overwhelming.
And honestly, after this year, I think we’re ALL ready for some dang rest, right?
Now, I mention all this because while Habit Hackers isn’t open for new members at the moment, there is a waitlist to join.
This means you’ll be the first to know when the community is accepting new members.
No commitment… just an early bird heads-up when you can check out what the group is all about and decide if it’s something you’d like to try out.
I hope you enjoyed learning about my FAV topic today… FOOD!
Now I’ve made myself hungry, so I think it’s time for a snack. 🤣🥕🥜🍫
Thanks for being here, and I’ll see ya online!