My younger sister, who has a (very adorable) penchant for mixing up phrases, once commented to me that she was eating one of the "superhero foods" (quinoa) for lunch. It's actually a fitting description because superfoods are basically like the Batmans and Spidermans of the food world. They're full of awesome nutrition - vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which can minimize the cell damage which leads to things like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's to name a few. They're basically like God-created vitamin and mineral supplements!
Quinoa is just one of the "superhero" foods. Some others include: pumpkin seeds, goji berries, cinnamon, blueberries, dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, hemp seeds, acai, salmon, flax, black beans...
Two superfoods which are new to our family in the last few months are chia seeds and nutritional yeast.
Nutritional yeast (or sometimes called brewer's yeast) is an awesome source of protein and B vitamins and includes all the essential amino acids. You can get it in powder form, flakes and tablets. When we first tried nutritional yeast we got it in powedered form and found the flavour too potent (it sort of has a strange cheesy taste). We've since bought the flakes which dissolve more easily and just seem to taste better overall. I add it to pasta sauces, soups or curries and many people love it sprinkled on popcorn for a cheesy flavour. I'm still learning to like the taste, but Wesley never seems to notice it.
Chia seeds are an easily disgestible source of protein, essential fatty acids and fiber. Unlike flax seeds, they don't have to be ground to provide their full nutritional benefit. You can sprinkle the whole seeds on your cereal or oatmeal, add them to smoothies or yogurt and use ground seeds in baked goods. You can also make lots of yummy chia puddings.
Here are two of our favourites:
Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
(from Skinny Taste)
1/2 cup lite coconut milk
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
3/4 cup fresh ripe champagne mango, diced
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
4-6 drops sweetener (sugar, honey to taste etc)
Combine all ingredients in a large container. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 5-6 hours or overnight.
Chocolate Chia Pudding
(from Oh She Glows)
1 & 1/4 cup to 1 & 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp carob flour/powder
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
Shaved chocolate for garnish (optional)
In a large bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients (starting with 1 & 1/4 cup almond milk) until the clumps are gone. Place in fridge for 1-2 hours, until thick or overnight. Stir well, add more milk if desired to achieve the thickness you desire, and serve chilled. Alternatively you can heat in the microwave and serve it warm. It’s nice with a spoonful of coconut cream mixed in or a mashed banana too.
