The festive season is usually a time when people overindulge – be it a few too many drinks, eating their weight in roast lamb or gorging on less than healthy desserts.
If you’re guiltily relating to this and want to make healthier choices this Christmas, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve compiled a list of easy, nutritious and healthy swaps you can make so your Christmas lunch is tasty and good for you.
Swap regular sugar for a natural sweetener
Matakana Superfoods have a range of organic, natural, low G.I and low calorie sweeteners that have a wide range of applications. Use them to sweeten baking, raw treats, sauces, marinades, beverages and smoothies.
Each sweetener has its own unique health benefits, characteristics and flavours that will assist you in your healthy eating journey.
Swap your extra virgin olive oil for Organic Chia Seed Oil
Chia Seed oil is around 56 per cent omega 3 ALA fatty acids, which are classed as essential fatty acids as the body cannot produce them and therefore relies solely on the diet to obtain them.
Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to provide an anti-inflammatory effect within the body and may help support brain and heart. Organic Chia Seed Oil is the pure, cold-pressed omega oil extracted from the legendary chia seed.
It is one of the richest natural sources of omega 3 fatty acids which are vital to the proper functioning of the body. It is ideal in dressings, dips and salads or straight off the spoon!
Swap rice for quinoa
Quinoa (keen-wah) has been used as a highly nutritious food in South America for thousands of years. With its slightly nutty flavour, quinoa is extremely versatile and can be substituted for rice and other grains in a multitude of recipes.
The red and black seeds carry more polyphenol antioxidants than regular white quinoa seeds.
Swap eggs for chia seeds
Chia seed, grown in its natural environment in the fertile plains of Central and South America, has an amazingly high nutritional profile and is one of the greatest superfoods known to man.
According to Aztec legend, one mouthful of the mystical seeds could sustain a warrior in battle for 24 hours! Modern science has discovered that chia seeds contain a powerful combination of high grade omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fibre and numerous vitamins and minerals to help nourish your body from within.
To use as an egg replacement in baking simply combine one tablespoon chia seeds with three tablespoons cold water to form a gel.
Bonus swaps:
Swap pasta for zucchini noodles (zoodles)
Swap your smoked salmon blinis for smoked salmon cucumber bites – swap the blini for cucumber
