There are so many health foods that have been around for hundreds of years, but are just now gaining popularity as producers are finding ways to mass manufacture and distribute them. While these foods are gaining popularity in some circles, many of us are still unaware of their existence or how to use them in the kitchen. The five following nutritious finds are not only relatively inexpensive, they are packed with nutrients that can be hard to find in other foods, and they are simple to use in the kitchen.
1. Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are little soft and chewy seeds with a mild nutty and cheesy flavor. They are so discreet that you can easily add them to smoothies, salads, or yogurt. These little granules have a lot of healthy fats, protein, and a wide variety of micronutrients--not to mention they are a good source of fiber and iron. For a little added texture and crunch, add some hemp seeds to any one of our high-protein soups found here!
2. Nutritional Yeast
It sounds odd but it's pretty tasty! Nutritional yeast is a vegan food and it is an excellent source of B vitamins including B12 which can be tough to find in a plant-based nutrition plan. They come in the form of little light flakes and taste pretty similar to parmesan cheese, so if you're one who wants some cheesy flavor but can't tolerate dairy, this is a great option. Use nutritional yeast as a topper on any one of our delicious low-carb, high-protein pasta entrees found here.
3. Chlorella
Chlorella is a blue-green algae that actually has more protein than steak when measured calorie for calorie. The amazing thing about this marine phytoplankton is that it quadruples itself every 24 hours and this multiplicative property is said to help our own tissues repair and regenerate when we consume the algae. Chlorella comes in powder, liquid, or pill form. It combines well in a juice or fruity drink such as our cran-grape protein drink found here.
4. Kombucha
Kombucha is an ancient drink that has been around for a couple thousand years--it's made from fermented tea and it's a great source of probiotics. Many brands of Kombucha add other flavorings such as ginger, citrus, mint, or berry so the sparkling drink is quite pleasant. What it is missing is protein, so feel free to add our Proteinex Liquid Protein found here.
If you haven't heard of some (or even all) of the above-mentioned items, you are definitely not alone. Most of these can be found in regular grocery stores for under six dollars (except the chlorella may be a little more). Adding these items to your everyday foods can really pack some nutrition punch without too much effort, and some taste great, while others won't even be noticed. Before you do your shopping, definitely google store prices as they can somtimes differ a bit, depending on the grocer!
