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Superfoods For Lazy Folks
Posted by Su Avasthi on July 7, 2008 - 12:41am.

I was starting to think that I may be a bit too lazy for superfoods.

I mean, I love the concept of a food that packs a whopping nutritional punch, but the truth is that it's not always convenient to go in search of the latest exotic new superfood.

Especially if it involves tracking down antioxidant-loaded berries that are native to the jungles of the Amazon or southeast Asia.

So it was very refreshing to read the New York Times article 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating and realize that I've got a lot of uncelebrated superfoods in my kitchen right now.

To be honest, some of these are more Clark Kent than superfood. But they're inexpensive, readily available and, for reasons that aren't entirely clear, very underappreciated.

Here's what I mean:

  • Canned pumpkin. I've always a can or two stashed in my pantry, but it never occured to me to open a can, top with a little butter and cinnamon for a quick, healthy treat. It's loaded with fiber and immune-boosting vitamin A.
  • Cinnamon. Not only a great topping for canned pumpkin, but it turns out that cinnamon may help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
  • Frozen blueberries. Granted, I'm more likely to buy a pint of fresh berries this time year, but it seems that the frozen cousins are *almost* as healthy.
  • Sardines. Unlike salmon and tuna, sardines are low on the food chain (less mercury to worry about) and they aren't over-fished. They are also loaded with omega-3s, minerals and vitamin B.
  • Cabbage. Who knew that coleslaw could be so much more than a classic sidedish? New research suggests that it might contain cancer-fighting compounds.
The next time I come across goji berries, I'll snap them up. Until then, I'll fall back on frozen blueberries and coleslaw.

 



<em>JessicaHarlan</em>'s picture
Canned Pumpkin + Oatmeal
by JessicaHarlan on July 8, 2008 - 1:39pm
I stir a little canned pumpkin into the milk that I cook my oatmeal in-- it's delicious and makes my breakfast that much healthier. About 1/4 cup pumpkin, plus a cup of milk, plus a cup of rolled oats should do it. You can sweeten it with brown sugar and cinnamon.
<em>ElizaT</em>'s picture
pumkin oatmeal = yum!
by ElizaT on July 8, 2008 - 5:37pm
Great idea Jessica! I will definitely give that a try. And awesome post, Su! I caught that NYT article the first time and haven't done a big enough food shop since... but when I do, I think I am going to toss some sardines in my cart. I am a little wigged out by them, but determined to be a sardine-eater since I know they are so good for me.
<em>wahm922</em>'s picture
Pumpkin
by wahm922 on August 6, 2008 - 2:12pm

  Adding some to whole wheat pankcakes is also very yummy.  Will try the oatmeal for sure!

~Danielle

New Earth Minerals

http://newearthminerals.com/


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Interests: Living life as an intiatic experience, uniting with like minds and hearts to build a better, cleaner, more peaceful world, listening to the wisdom of the inner voice, communing with the elemental forces of Nature, the arts, media and communications, personal growth and development, the natural healing arts, interesting cuisines, cinema, all that expands the consciousness, betters the Self, and links me with THAT from Which I come.
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