5 Ingredients I Fell In Love With During Whole 30!
Today is day 30 of Whole 30! I am going to be completely honest, I made it successfully through 24 days. I caved when I went out to eat to Red Lobster and couldn't resist the cheese biscuits. With that being said, I have decided to add a couple days to make up for my cheat days.
Anyways...
While trying out new recipes during Whole 30, I tried 5 ingredients I had never used before that I fell in love with:
1.) Butternut Squash
2.) Canned Coconut Milk
3.) Ghee Butter
4.) Artichoke Hearts
5.) Avocado Oil
Let's talk about each, shall we?
1.) BUTTERNUT SQUASH
According to wholeliving.com, "...butternut squash delivers an ample dose of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It provides significant amounts of potassium, important for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems."
Try this delicious BUTTERNUT SQUASH CHORIZO CHILI
recipe I received from my aunt!
2.) CANNED COCONUT MILK
Dairy absolutely destroys my stomach. It makes me so sad because I truly do love cheese - especially Mac n' Cheese! Thankfully, there's a great alternative to using dairy, and that is coconut milk! I was initially very skeptical of using canned coconut milk in recipes because I am not a huge fan of the flavor of coconut. However... I could not taste the coconut in any of the recipes I used!
Coconut milk also has many health benefits: The Medium-chain Triglycerides are super good for you. According healthyeating.sfgate.com:
The type of saturated fat in canned coconut milk is different from most high-fat foods, and it may offer some health benefits. Half of the saturated fat consists of a medium-chain triglyceride called lauric acid. Unlike other fats, medium-chain triglycerides are digested like carbohydrates. They’re easily absorbed and they're immediately available for energy. Research suggests that medium-chain triglycerides may help you lose weight, or improve your body’s ratio of lean body mass to fat. Any potential benefits must be weighed against the total fat, as well as the 445 calories you'll get from 1 cup of canned coconut milk.
was by far my favorite recipe with this ingredient!
3.) GHEE BUTTER
I have seen this pop up in so many Paleo recipes I have made, yet I never tried it. I always just subbed coconut oil for the ghee. Honestly, I was kind of afraid of the name - it just sounded WEIRD! My mother, of all people, was the first one to introduce me to this butter ingredient.
So Ghee is butter, but it is clarified butter. Clarified butter means certain solids are removed, and only pure butter fat remains. A huge bonus is that it is lactose free! So for a lactose intolerant individual, like myself, this is a great option! It tastes exactly like regular butter, except maybe slightly richer.
Only bummer is the cost...
4.) Artichoke Hearts
The only artichoke thing I have ever had in my life is the classic spinach artichoke dip. Never have I ever used artichokes in any cooking prior to Whole 30. The reason? Unfamiliarity. I never grew up eating artichokes, and had no idea what to do with them.
My first recipe utilizing artichoke hearts was:
It was delicious! I could not believe it!
Here are some of the health benefits of artichokes according to foodfacts.mercola.com:
Artichokes supply 28 percent of the recommended daily value of fiber, which is important for keeping you “regular,” by helping to move material through your system. Fiber can also help lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels, prevent inflammation and protect heart health, and reduce your lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol levels. The cynarin in artichokes (note the botanical name) increases bile production in your liver, which in turn rids cholesterol from your body.
^ NOW ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?
5.) AVOCADO OIL
My new favorite oil to use in cooking! This kicks Olive Oil's butt! There's no weird after taste, and it tastes nice and smooth. Avocado oil is great for frying eggs, sauteeing vegetables and delicious in sauce and dressing recipes. Avocado oil also has a 500 degree smoking point!
TRY WHOLE 30, YALL! IT IS SUCH A CHALLENGE, BUT YOUR BODY WILL DEFINITELY THANK YOU!
I challenge you to try it out! People have experienced inflammation relief, weight loss, clarity, and more!
Until next time,
Lindsay
Comments
Post a Comment