There is something you should know about me that will put this subject into some better context.
I love food.
I live for food, I really do. And it’s been a struggle for most of my life, trying to maintain a healthy weight and trying to develop healthy eating habits. And I’ve done it all – Atkins, fat-free everything, South Beach, special metabolism diets, and even the Master Cleanse (that was a ROUGH week, let me tell you…)
But it wasn’t until moving to California that I discovered the “secret” to healthy, clean eating – and this is taking it to old school: Eating more fruits and vegetables!
I could almost hear my mom and dad smugly muttering “told ya so” as I wrote that!
And when it comes to fruits, there’s nothing quite like coconuts.
I’m not treading new waters here by celebrating the wonders of the coconut. It just might be the king of the superfoods! But it bears repeating not only just how great it is, but all the wonderful things you can substitute coconut products with.
I hope you already know the wonders of coconut oil, but how about coconut aminos?
Coconut aminos is a sauce derived from coconut sap which serves as a substitute for sodium-rich, overly processed soy sauce. Naturally sweet and enriched with only sea salt, coconut aminos has over 70% less sodium per serving than soy sauce, and boasts health benefits like reducing the risk of diabetes and certain cancers, and promoting digestive and mental health.
Or how about coconut vinegar? Like apple cider vinegar, coconut vinegar is rich in amino acids (building block of protein!) and nutrients, but it bests apple cider vinegar in the nutrient count and digestive benefits, among other things.
And of course there’s coconut milk, a good dairy replacement (make sure to get unsweetened!); coconut sugar which has nutrients and no processing (just make sure to use in moderation!); and the protein and fiber-rich coconut flour – just to name a few!
So, here’s an exercise for you: Identify the kinds of meals you tend to have on any given week, and then find places to add a little coconut in them!
So for breakfast – if you’re a smoothie person, why not sub coconut milk for dairy milk? Or add some raw, shredded coconut into that smoothie? Or if you’re a coffee drinker, add a little coconut milk or coconut sugar instead of what you normally use to sweeten your coffee fix?
Or if you’re a salad person, why not make a vinaigrette with coconut vinegar as a base? Or if you like adding soy sauce to certain meals, why not sub in some delicious coconut aminos?
And if you have that sweet tooth, why not look into dessert recipes that use coconut flour or coconut sugar. Here’s one to get you started! Or look for coconut milk-based ice creams.
Healthy eating habits is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s all about incremental changes to your diet. Every little bit helps to rewire your brain to crave these healthy foods. So any chance you get to make a substitute here or there, take it! Your body will thank you.
