You’ve seen these nutritional powerhouses all over Pinterest boards and fitness Instagrams the past year, but what do you really know about them? Kale isn’t just for the trendy Whole Foods-shopping yogi – it’s for everyone! Find out why health nuts are going crazy for these foods and how you can eat them too!
AKA “the queen of greens”
Taste: Kale is pretty much like spinach except slightly more bitter
Benefits: Super high in fiber, a digestive aid, great source of iron, and packed with powerful antioxidants that help prevent against certain cancers, this anti-inflammatory food with omega 3-fatty acids (AKA “the good fat”), is a great detox veggie that helps rid your body of toxins and keep your liver healthy.
How to eat it: Sautée it with garlic and olive oil, try some kale chips (find them at Whole Foods), or my personal favorite – Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat.
Taste: Taste like nothing!
Benefits: One of the highest plant-based sources for omega- fatty acids with one third of the daily recommended intake of fiber (10 grams) in only 2 tablespoons, these power seeds are rich in antioxidants, protecting the body from aging and cancer. Chia seeds expand in your stomach, which keeping you fuller longer and helping to fight cravings.
How To Eat It: Buy a bag of chia seeds and sprinkle them on top of anything from salad, to greek yogurt, to oatmeal. Mix them in with smoothies or soak them overnight with oatmeal for a healthy grab-and-go breakfast.
Taste: A chewy raisin-like texture with a taste between a cranberry and a cherry.
Benefits: One of the highest antioxidant sources of any fruit, these little berries help protect the liver, boost immune system function, have 15 times more iron than spinach, and improves eyesight!
How To Eat It: Sprinkle goji berries over a cup of yogurt, add to trail mix, bake into organic muffins and homemade energy bars, or eat them by the handful.
Taste: Green juices and smoothies taste like whatever fruit is mixed with them. The “green” part of the drink (spinach, kale, celery, etc.) is masked by yummy fruits like pineapple, apple, or mango.
Benefits: If you keep your juice organic and all natural, you are benefiting from all the fruits and vegetables in the juice. You’re getting all the vitamins, proteins, antioxidants, and enzymes from the apples, cucumber, ginger, and kale in your drink. Drinking your fruits and veggies make it easier for your bloodstream to absorb all the nutrients of the fruits and vegetables and give your digestive organs a rest.
How To Eat It: Pick up fresh squeezed juices at Pressed Juicery on State Street or whip up your own smoothie with any recipe online.
Pronounced “keen-wah” not “que-no-wah”
Taste: Imagine a lighter and fluffier brown rice but with grains half the size.
Benefits: One of the most protein-rich foods out there with all nine essential amino acids, almost twice as much fiber as most other grains like rice, not to mention low in calories (so you can eat a higher volume of quinoa for fewer calories, keeping you fuller longer), the low glycemic index of this complex carb makes it great for weight management or weight loss.
How To Eat It: Substitute rice for quinoa and top it with delicious stir fry, mix it in with your salad for a heartier lunch, add it to your stuffed peppers or tomatoes, or even make quinoa pancakes!