Nutrition need not be a chore, nor should cooking be a bore!
Culinary culture constantly sources inspiring ingredients to enhance nutritional value and create innovative food trends that delight the palate—you can too!
Ancient traditions have found a forum with foodies and spawned countless cookbooks, and recipe incarnations that are more adventurous with ingredients and open to experiment. Recipes deeply rooted in wild, whole-food and ancient or heirloom harvests, often referred to as Paleo or Primal introduce the palate to forgotten or foreign flavours, natural and uncomplicated fresh foods—these inspiring ingredients are the impetus for their passion in the kitchen.
If cooking has become routine and foods no-longer satisfy or stimulate, try adding an inspiring ingredient.
Botanical Breakfast Booster: Chia Bran
Salvia hispanica, commonly known as chia, this is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. The 16th-century Codex Mendoza provides evidence that it was cultivated by the Aztec in pre-Columbian times; economic historians have suggested it was as important as maize as a food crop. Ground or whole chia seeds are still used in Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico and Guatemala for nutritious drinks and as a food source. (Source: Wikipedia)
The Chia Co. have utilised this ancient crop in a creative way beyond extracting the oil and harvesting the seeds. They process the husks of the seed to create ‘Chia Bran’ which tastes simply delicious, is equally nutritious (55% dietary fibre and 26.1% protein) and takes seconds to prepare. Add a spoonful to enrich your yogurt, cereal and smoothies or combine into baking recipes.
My favourite way to start the day is with…
‘Chia Bran Porridge’
2 tablespoons of Chia Bran (2.61g protein, 5.6g fibre)
1 tablespoon of wild blueberries (frozen or fresh)
1 tablespoon of hemp protein powder*
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of kale powder
1 teaspoon of maca root powder
1 teaspoon of antioxidant-rich superfood powder**
Place all ingredients into medium-sized bowl and stir in boiling water (until well combined). Optional: blitz with a hand blender, add a splash of coconut milk, and sprinkle with dried fruit and nuts.
* Hemp Foods Australia organic hemp protein blends well and adds a rich nutty flavour.
** Suggestions: Rose-Hip Vital fruit powder or Amazonia Raw Immune powder—both are high in Vitamin C.
