When I first read the above title in the July (2012) issue of Glamour Magazine I totally loved it. So I borrowed the title and tweaked it to reflect the top 5 best foods on my list that “delivers massive nutrients and can boost our energy and control our weight” (Glamour, 2012).
Kale: Full of vitamins A, C, K and fiber. Here is one of the easiest ways to consume kale: make an avocado and kale salad. Take a head of curly kale and remove leaves from the stems then chop the leaves. Sprinkle some Himalayan salt and olive oil and let stand for 15 min. Chop an avocado into the kale and rub with your hands until all kale leaves are coated with the avocado.
Quinoa: Pronounced (kee-no-a) not (quan-o-a), it is one of the best gluten free “grains,” has a high protein profile, and is great for vegetarians, vegans, and meat-eaters alike. Cook it as porridge or toss it in with your salad.
Seaweed: Low in fat, sea vegetables such as nori, dulse, wakame, and kelp are loaded with chlorophyll, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The protein content of sea vegetables ranges from 16% to 28%. Make your own nori rolls as they are simple and fun to prepare. You can add wakame to soups and sprinkle dulse or kelp flakes on your salad. Sea vegetables can add fun and diversity to your daily culinary repertoire.
Chia Seeds: Yup, chia as in chia pet. Go out and buy some now! Soak them in water for 15 minutes and eat them just like that. Yes, just like that! If you want something fancier, then make a pudding: try this recipe. These little guys are a great source of omega 3 and protein, and help to regulate your blood sugar. Chia gel can be added to smoothies and green juices
Powdered Greens: Powdered greens are a great way to get concentrated greens into your diet. They can be added to smoothies or protein powder shakes on-the-go. Find one that you like. Here are some recommendations: Spirulina, Chlorella, wheatgrass powder, and, my favorite, Supergreens from Sunwarrior. You can find most of these available at a local health food store.
A Note about Green Juices and Green Smoothies
All the above ingredients can be added to green juices and green smoothies. Yup, that’s right, green, green, green!! We don’t get enough of this color in our daily diet. Unless you are eating at least a pound a day—yes, that’s a pound a day—then you are not consuming enough GREENS! What’s a pound look like? Take a 500 gram box (the one that contains mixed greens or spinach) and fill it with as many different varieties of leafy greens as possible; consume it either as a smoothie, green juice, or salad. So, if there is a food you should definitely start to incorporate daily, this would be it. Give it a try and start to feel the difference.
