Blueberry Kiwi Chia Pudding

Top 5 Superfoods you can’t live without this Winter

What could they be?  Do you know all 5 Superfoods?  Let’s see if you do.  If you don’t know one of the 5 Superfoods, try it out and see if it fits into your lifestyle.  Yass, indulge yourself!  I’m not kidding just look at how delicious these Superfoods look.  Not only do these look gorgeous but they’re really good for you too!  Most are chock full of antioxidants, minerals and other goodies.  Your body will thank you.

For fun, I love trying new food and smoothies.  Yes, it is my job but I love it!  You know, I was drinking green smoothies and making kombucha before it was a thing and everybody thought I was the weirdo.  But now everybody and their grandmother is doing it!  So without further ado…Here are the supers!

The 1st Superfood is my favourite, Matcha Green Tea.

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Matcha Green Tea

Matcha Green Tea

In Japan, we have the world’s longest living people.  The city Okinawa is known as “The Island of Immortals.”  How cool is that?!  I wonder what Canada is called.  Oh yes, of course.  Google says it’s “The Land of Maple Syrup.”  It can’t be anymore Canadian than that.  Anyway, back to Japan and Matcha Green Tea.  Could Matcha Green Tea be helping Okinawans live longer?  Can’t hurt to try, can it?  I’d love to live to the ripe age of 100.  Hello, Okinawa!

The 2nd Superfood is Chia Seeds.

Blueberry Kiwi Chia Pudding

Blueberry Kiwi Chia Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding

How incredible does this pudding look?  Surprisingly, it’s super easy to make the night before and enjoy in the morning.  All you do, is soak chia seeds in coconut milk and they expand 12 times their own size creating a gelatinous consistency perfect for pudding.  They contain many bone supporting minerals and omega 3’s.  What’s not to like?

The 3rd Superfood is Quinoa.

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Quinoa

Quinoa Mason Jar Meal

This plant food in mason jar meals?  How fun and appetizing!  You can use it as a nutrient-rich rice substitute.  Most importantly, this seed is a complete protein with all nine amino acids and it is gluten-free, so everyone can eat it.  It is also known to the Inca’s as the “mother of all grains.”  Doesn’t that sound a-mazing?!  They knew it all along.

The 4th Superfood is Garlic.

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Garlic

Purple Garlic

Mmm, just look at all the possibilities with these purple garlic cloves.  You could whip up some zoodles and throw in a couple of garlic cloves.  How delicious does that sound!  On top of that, garlic is perfect for keeping up your immunity in the cold winter months.

The 5th Superfood is Ginger.

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Ginger

Ginger

What, that pink stuff beside your sushi?  Yasss, that’s what I’m talking about!  It will warm you up, keep your food down, help with digestion and support your immune system.  You can add some ginger to your lemon tea if you are not feeling well and feel the effects of it.  Ginger is an age old traditional Superfood worthy of this title.

Enjoy this coming winter and stay healthy with all these Supers!  Let me know which Super is your favourite?

Winner winner, Quinoa dinner

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Quinoa

Quinoa /KEEN-wah/ is definitely a winner in my book.  It’s an unreal superfood and should be a part of your healthy diet.

Here are some Fun Quinoa Facts:

Fun Fact 1

Quinoa is a complete protein with all the essential amino acids and it’s rich with minerals.

Fun Fact 2

It is full of fiber, iron, magnesium, Vitamin E and B Vitamins.  We could all use more of these nutrients.  Quinoa would be the perfect solution.

Fun Fact 3

It can be used as a rice substitute.  Quinoa is an ancient seed and it’s also gluten free.  A perfect tool to aid weight loss.

Greek Quinoa Salad

Salad & Dressing Ingredients:

1 cup Quinoa Uncooked
 156 Calories per serving
1/2 Sweet Red Peppers 1 Cup
 5 Calories per serving
1/2 Cucumber With Peel, Raw
 6 Calories per serving
1 Tomatoes, Red, Ripe Raw, Year Round Average
 3 Calories per serving
1/4 Onions Raw
 3 Calories per serving
1/4 cup Feta Cheese
 25 Calories per serving
1 bunch Spinach Raw
 20 Calories per serving
3 sprigs Cilantro Leaves Raw
 0 Calories per serving
3 leaves Basil, Fresh
 0 Calories per serving
3 tbsp Olive Oil
 90 Calories per serving
2 tbsp Vinegar, Cider
 2 Calories per serving
2 cloves Garlic Raw 2 Calories per serving

Nutrition Facts Greek Quinoa Salad:

Insane amount of nutrition over here!!! 

  • 20% of yummy fat!  Remember fat does not make you fat!  Sugar does. 
  • 20% of your daily dietary fiber!
  • 13% of your daily calcium!
  • 26% of your daily iron!
  • 19% of your daily potassium!
  • A whopping 10.5 grams of protein!
  • Only 2.9 grams of sugar!
  • Only 311 calories per serving!

I sound like an infomercial but it’s all true!!!  Just take a look below!!!

Instructions:

Step 1

Prepare black eyed peas.  This needs to be done the day before.  Soak them overnight or for 8 hours.  Then boil for an hour in a stock pot of fresh water.  Drain the foamy gray water and rinse with fresh water.  Now, the black eyed peas are ready.  Cool them in the fridge.

(This is the way my Nuni, maternal grandma, did it in India.  She passed on this traditional cooking tip to me.  During my nutrition studies, I was reintroduced to her method of prepping beans.  This long process helps remove gas from the beans so you won’t feel like Gassy Jack!  Prepping beans may sound daunting or time consuming but slow food is the answer.  If you don’t want indigestion, boil the beans.) 

Alternatively, you could also just open a can of beans.

(Some rare companies do prep beans before canning them.  Do your homework.)

Step 2

Boil a cup of quinoa in 2 cups of water.  It should only take 15 minutes to puff up.  Cool it down in the fridge.

Step 3

Chop, slice, spiralize or julienne all the veggies and herbs.  Combine vegetables, herbs and quinoa.

Dressing:

Step 1

Stir olive oil, balsamic vinegar and minced garlic together.

Step 2

Pour the dressing mixture on top of the colourful salad.  Stir it all together and enjoy your nourishing meal.

Warning:

It tastes so good and is so satisfying, your body will thank you.  Sugar cravings may subside and weight loss may occur if it is eaten regularly.