Tag: healthy holidays

Seasonal Detox Beet Salad

The Best Winter Foods to Eat for Detox

Best Foods to Eat During the Winter for Detox (Seasonal Foods)

Winter is brutal on your body. You need to take extra care of your body during this season of illness and close quarters.  That includes eating seasonal foods that support and promote detoxification and optimal health. The foods with the highest amount of nutrients will be those seasonal foods that are naturally grown during this time of year.  Your body needs these nutritional heavyweights during the process of detoxification.

Best Seasonal Foods to Eat During the Winter for Detox #seasonalfoods #detox #healthyholidays

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Here are the best foods to eat during the winter to detox. They are seasonal, delicious and nutritious, and provide the antioxidants necessary to guard you against free radicals and released toxins.

Collard Greens

These are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, including magnesium and manganese. They are best steamed or sautéed with some garlic and crushed red pepper.

Garlic

The sulfur compounds in garlic are responsible for its pungent odor and taste. They also pack a wide variety of health benefits, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

Almonds

Almonds are high in manganese, magnesium and vitamin E. They are versatile and tasty.  Throw them in a vegetable dish, a casserole, your cereal or a salad.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is beneficial for its anti-cancer properties. It also contains glucosinolates that help activate enzyme detoxification. Cauliflower contains sulfur-containing nutrients and antioxidants that help boost the body’s capacity for detoxification.  Cauliflower mash is a favorite this time of the year.

Pepper, Cumin, Turmeric, Fennel, and Ginger

Talk about a powerhouse!  These spices are essential in the detoxification process. They boast immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties.  When you pair them with detox-enhancing foods, they can get your body’s detoxing engine revving.

Lentils

Lentils provide the insoluble and soluble fibers that are perfect for stabilizing your blood sugar. They also provide support to the intestines, especially during the detoxification process.

Kale

This is one of the truest superfoods with a ton of detox-supporting nutrients. It has anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties and may even help improve your cardiovascular health.  Massaged kale salad is one of my favorites.  It also helps the texture of this powerful green feel less tough.

Beets

Beets are an essential source of phytonutrients known as betalains. They provide detoxification support and anti-inflammatory benefits.  One of my favorite foods this time of the year (and year-round).  I love cooking them in a cast iron skillet with some avocado oil.  The golden ones are my favorite because of their sweetness, but all are wonderful.  They pair well with many salads or just as a side.  Beets pair well with things like arugula, nuts and seeds and goat cheese.

Onions

Do not over-peel onions because you might be tossing out their important flavonoids, which act as phytonutrient powerhouses. The flavonoids are actually concentrated right in the outer layer of the flesh. Moreover, these are high in manganese; vitamins C, B9 and B6; and they are an essential source of potassium.

Limes and Lemons

Limes and lemons are loaded with vitamin C. These citrus fruits also contain flavonoid compounds that provide anti-cancer and anti-oxidant benefits.

Cabbage

Cabbage’s antioxidant properties make it a must to eat for winter detox. It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer food that is also a great source of vitamins A and C. The polyphenol content of cabbage is different and will depend on the varieties that you eat. That’s why you need to mix green, red and Savoy varieties.

These seasonal foods are easy to find, easy to prepare, and easy on your detox. They are delicious by themselves or combine them in a soup.

 

Take your winter comfort food to the next level with some detoxifying powerhouses!

 

Detoxification is really important through the winter season.  Especially during the holidays when we are exposed to more sugars, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, stress, less sleep and environmental toxins.  As we go through the holidays and into the New Year, I recommend adding some (or all) of these powerful foods onto your plate.  Get creative in the kitchen and have fun cooking up some new and exciting dishes.

If you’re feeling the need to release the things that are weighing you down, creating a laundry list of symptoms and making you feel like crap, I welcome you to join me and others for a New Year cleanse.  For more information, check out this page: https://kimwilson.me/nourished-new-year/

Do you feel like you need more one-on-one support?  Investing in your health and happiness is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.  Especially as you make changes and set goals for the New Year.  I welcome you to contact me about one-on-one coaching.  Contact Here

 

Blessings and best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season!

 

XOXO,

Kim

 

 

Brussels

Farm Fresh Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Brussels sprouts are a vegetable that’s often given a bad name.  This topic came up over Thanksgiving dinner after I made this super easy and delicious recipe for my family.  As much as I love seasonal eating and shopping local, this tasty veggie is regularly found on my plate or the plates of those I serve during colder seasons.  Being a cool season crop, this is a great time of the year to enjoy them and try new Brussels recipes.

Whether you’re looking to try something new or make this dish for the holidays, I highly recommend cooking it up for you or your family.  This recipe doesn’t compare to some of the soggy steamed Brussels dishes we were served as kids.  I prefer to roast them in the oven and especially in a cast iron pan.  I love the combination of flavors and the crisp brown appearance from the cast iron pan. If y’all are local, I highly recommend the Pepper Bacon from Hemp’s Meats in Jefferson, MD. Hemp’s Meats

This cruciferous veggie is starting to show up on menus around the country.  Many restaurants are starting to serve them as a crowd pleasing appetizer or side.  Not only are they delicious, but they’re healthy too!  Brussels provide antioxidants, support healthy digestion, alkalizes the body and provide a powerful punch of nutrients.

Farm Fresh Brussels Sprouts with Bacon #healthyholidays #farmtotable #brussels

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farm fresh brussels with bacon

ingredients:

1  1/2 pounds of fresh Brussels Sprouts

3 slices of bacon (I love farm fresh country bacon)

1 shallot, chopped

1 tablespoon avocado oil or ghee

Salt and Pepper to taste

directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut bacon into one-inch pieces and set aside.  Clean and trim Brussels sprouts.  If the outside leaves fall off, that’s fine.  Add them into the dish before baking.  Make sure the tough bottoms are carefully cut and removed.  Depending on the size of the Brussels, cut into halves or quarters.

In a large cast iron skillet or baking dish, combine the shallot, oil (or ghee) and Brussels.  Evenly lay out the Brussels in a single layer.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired.  Next, evenly sprinkle the bacon pieces throughout the dish.

Once your oven is preheated, roast your bussels in the oven for 20-30 minutes, turning throughout the cooking process.  Cook until your desired texture and caramelization. Serve warm.

Note: This dish can be prepared two ways and both work well.  Depending on preference and desired crispness of the bacon, either cook the raw bacon with the raw Brussels or cook the Brussels and bacon separately.  If choosing the latter, add the cooked crumbled bacon to the dish after it’s done thoroughly cooking.  Toss to combine the ingredients.  

Enjoy!

As mentioned, this dish makes for a wonderful appetizer or side at your event or holiday party. Looking for more holiday recipe ideas?

Additional Holiday Health Tips: Eat Your Way Healthy Through the Holiday Season

blessings for a healthy and happy holiday season!

XOXO,

Kim

Eat Your Way Healthy Through the Holiday Season

The holidays are often when everyone begins to worry more about the sweet and savoring indulgences that will no doubt grace every holiday table. It becomes a time where often you give yourself permission to let loose and eat whatever.  Then New Year’s rolls around and you feel like you got hit by a food truck.

1.  Give Yourself the Gift of Balance

What I’m proposing is a complete mindset shift around how you honor your body and your self-care needs during the holiday season. This is a time for giving, so how about you give yourself a gift that’s going to nourish you beyond the 10-minute sugar rush of that wretchedly unhealthy fruit cake your co-worker likes to make.

2.  Set Boundaries with Your Family

Talk to your family and explain that you’ll be doing things differently this year.  Explain that just because it’s the holiday season, it doesn’t mean you’re going to settle for nutritionally deprived foods that take more than they give your body.

Explain that you’ll be creating some healthy delicious options and offer to share with them.  It is the holidays, after all!

For me, I explain to people that it’s not about losing weight for me (or keeping it off).  It’s about feeling better, wanting more energy, not feeling bloated and irritated and enjoying the festivities and connectedness of the holiday season.

3.  Exercise Your Creativity in the Kitchen

Try new and exciting recipes. Splurge and buy expensive superfoods, interesting fresh fruits and vegetables that you don’t always get.  Try dishes with nuts and seeds and truffled extra-virgin olive oil.

For me, I pick and choose which I will spend more on (celebrating and holidays) and which I will find more bargains.  Even though I love splurging on some cooking ingredients, I also like to be frugal. I love buying inexpensive foods, oils and seasonings from Home Goods, Marshall’s and specialty oil & vinegar stores.  The specialty stores often share recipe tips too!

I love getting creative in the kitchen.  Especially if I am cooking (as opposed to baking) because there is room for flexibility and combining of flavors.  Try adding pecans to a brussels sprouts dish.  Maybe add some cranberries to a butternut squash dish.  I love cooking fresh rosemary with different kinds of meats.  Especially steaks (I love bison)!

Healthy food can be totally gourmet and special too. Make your own homemade chocolate with mint leaves and stevia for sweetness. Adorn your salads with pomegranates and walnuts.

Eat Your Way Healthy Through the Holiday Season #healthyholidays #holistichealth

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Here are a few more tips and tricks…

  • Swap white potatoes with roasted sweet potato and butternut squash
  • Thicken the drippings from your turkey for gravy with arrowroot or tapioca starch to stay away from gluten and GMO corn starch.
  • Try making coconut whipped cream instead of dairy and serve with homemade roasted pumpkin with a bit of cinnamon, stevia and crumbled pecans
  • Ditch the bread and stick with extra veggies drizzled with high-quality olive oil
  • Use plain yogurt instead of sour cream
  • Make cauliflower rice instead of white rice

I welcome you to try one of my favorite (and healthy) dishes for the holiday season: Sweet Potato, Apple & Sage Soup

We all know the holiday season can be overwhelming and filled with LOTS of food!  Discover what works for you and your lifestyle.  Try implementing some of these tips or incorporate some of your own.  It’s a new season and a great time to express your creativity and try new things.

What tips have you discovered that work for you?  I welcome you to share below.

Want even more great tips to help you lose weight, improve your digestion and increase your energy?

I welcome you to check out my new Healthy Holiday Survival Guide

Or join me on my social media platforms where I’ll be sharing more information, tips and recipes to help you live a happier, healthier life.  Check out the social links below.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season!

XOXO,

Kim