These 3 foods could make your diet healthier in the most practical way
I’m always on the lookout for simple and super practical feel-good tips. Here are a few dietary ones that I hope you might like, too!
Drink ginger water.
Ginger is loaded with health benefits. Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, considers it a “universal remedy.”
Among its long list of pros, it’s said to strengthen digestion: helping with nausea, gas, bloating, heartburn, elevated blood sugar, feeling full, and more.
I enjoy ginger water because it reminds me to hydrate, and it’s a practical way to include more of this power root in my diet.
To make some yourself, a good ratio is 1.5 teaspoons of grated ginger per 4 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil. Add the ginger. Reduce to a simmer for about a minute, then turn off the stove. Allow the ginger to steep for about 10 minutes, then strain it out of the water.
I usually make a big batch and keep it in the refrigerator. I drink a glass or two per day. More than that doesn’t sit well for me (but I love infusing water in other ways throughout the day, too — I add mint leaves, lemon, cucumber, and other fun stuff).
Bear in mind that ginger has a strong flavor. If it’s too much, you could add a bit of honey or lemon, or steep it for a shorter period.
Put frozen spinach in your smoothies.
I drink a lot of smoothies. They have way more fiber than juice, and they’re a great way to weave healthy stuff into your day.
I’ve always bought those large plastic containers of spinach, but during COVID-19, I switched to frozen bags. I highly recommend this.
The frozen spinach is cheaper, it lasts longer, and it makes a fabulously frosty drink.
I don’t have an exceptional recipe for you. My goal is always to make something healthy; I generally don’t care so much about how it tastes. But here’s a great base to get you started: 1 banana, 2 cups frozen spinach, 1 cup frozen pineapple, 1 teaspoon ground flax, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk. You will need more liquid, so add water as needed while you blend. Play around with different ingredients and see what you like!
Have plantains for dessert.
I love dessert, but I have a bad habit of overdoing it. Plantains have been a good change of pace. They’re sweet and tasty and, needless to say, lighter than brownies and ice cream.
To give them a try, you could use fresh plantains. Wait for them to get really ripe — like, black — before cooking them on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave. Alternatively, you can buy frozen maduros at the grocery store. Cooking instructions are on the box.
These are no-fuss ways to work more good stuff into your day. I love the sound (and taste) of that!