This festive season pack your XMAS menu full of superfoods and experience a healthier XMAS break. These low GI foods packed with fibre, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and omega-3 will help you with sustained energy, a stronger immune system and ensure that you fill up and not over indulge on the high calorie XMAS treats.
Listed below are 5 examples.
Fruit
Packed with soluble fibre, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, folate and antioxidants. Fruit is the number 1 choice for platters, desserts and breakfasts. Try some fruit smoothie’s as a cocktail option and fill your platters with cherries and stone fruits. Add mango to salads and serve up frozen watermelon balls for the kids. Recipe suggestion: Stewed apple and rhubarb in filo pastry for dessert.
Lazy legumes
Legumes are packed with fibre, iron and protein. They can be added into your diet by throwing some baked beans on toast. Or combining them with eggs for Spanish eggs. Alternatively, simply throw some chickpeas or lentils on your salads, or add some kidney beans in your taco mince. Recipe suggestion:Chargrilled squid and lentil salad.
Nuts
Nuts are filling and packed with fibre, protein and unsaturated fats. Add walnuts to your salads, pecans in your desserts, sunflower and peptitas in your cereals and almonds, cashews and macadamias to your platters. Recipe suggestion: Nut and cranberry muesli slice.
Fresh fish and seafood
Fish and seafood are an essential part of any XMAS meal providing a great source of omega-3 and protein. Place your order in advance for your prawns and oysters or enjoy some fresh snapper or salmon. Recipe suggestion Paella, marinara pasta or fish pie.
Vegetables
Much like fruit, vegetables provide us with many vitamins and minerals and soluble fibre. Salads or baked vegetables will do the trick. For those XMAS lunches provide a variety of salads to meet everyone’s tastes. Recipe suggestion: Spinach, roasted pumpkin and walnut salad.
Low fat Dairy
Low fat dairy is a low GI food that is a great source of calcium, while providing us with energy and protein. Using yoghurts and milk in your breakfasts, desserts and smoothies. Recipe suggestion: Homemade Mango and yoghurt frozen paddle pops.