Hey Pebble People,
You may have seen the New York Times story reporting a huge spike in convenience food sales – even among healthy eaters!
No judgment here. When times get tough, it’s easy to rely on comforting convenience food in a pinch.
Unfortunately, it’s not doing your immune system any favors. So we thought we’d share some simple tricks for healthier eating with you guys!
Cut the Dairy!
This is hard to hear after a bowl of mac and cheese, but hear us out! Dairy can increase your body’s mucous production, thus increasing your chances of a sinus infection and exacerbating your allergies.
As if that weren’t enough, dairy can be a real downer: studies have shown that it takes a toll on your body and may negatively affect your mood. A London-based study showed that people who consumed high-fat dairy products, along with processed meat and refined sugar, had a 58% higher risk of depression.
If you’re still not convinced to make the switch to non-dairy milk, soy and almond milk have really long shelf-lives! That’ll come in handy if you’re limiting your trips to the grocery store.
Go Green
Think of green vegetables as the anti-dairy: they boost your immune response and improve your mood.
Leafy greens are high in a compound called folate, which aid your body in producing mood boosting chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. Some research suggests that eating greens everyday can protect your memory as you age, too! Just make sure you get 8 servings a day for full benefits.
Frozen greens can last for a while, so grab a couple extra bags next time you visit the grocery store.
Garlic & Onion: Hey, We’re Social Distancing Anyway ??♀️
Pebble’s Founder, Patrick, saw first-hand how indigenous communities harnessed raw garlic’s antiviral properties to combat the flu. It makes sense: garlic and onion are both high in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and zinc, among other nutritious compounds.
Scientists have confirmed this ancient remedy really works against viruses: studies have found that onion and garlic contain compounds called allicin and quercetin, both of which have proven antiviral effects.
To get the most bang for your buck, allow chopped garlic to sit for at least ten minutes before cooking with it. Those compounds we mentioned earlier get more potent with time!
Onions and garlic can last longer if you stick them in the vegetable crisper in your fridge, so don’t worry if you pick up a whole bag (or two) of each at the grocery store.
Want to fit some of these foods into your diet? Here are some of our favorite stay-at-home recipes:
Beans on Toast
If you’ve got some greens-averse members of your household, this hearty recipe sneaks in some spinach. We prefer subbing the traditional sausage for a vegetarian option, like Beyond Meat, but you do you!
3 Ingredient Sauteed Kale
3 Ingredient Sauteed KaleThis garlicky side dish can easily be prepared from a frozen bag of kale! We love this with some baked chicken, tofu, or eggs.
Polenta Bowls with Chard, Leeks, and Poached Eggs
Polenta Bowls with Chard, Leeks, and Poached EggsAlright, alright… This recipe calls for parmesan. We find that the leeks add a pleasant, sweet flavor to the greens, making cheese obsolete! If you’re still feeling an itch for some dairy, just sub in some delicious vegan cheese.
Vegan Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto
Vegan Creamy Avocado Basil PestoThis crowd-pleaser couldn’t be any easier to make! Don’t be shy with the garlic, either- we like to add a couple extra cloves to this recipe.
Chicken-Lentil Soup With Jammy Onions
Chicken-Lentil Soup With Jammy OnionsThis dish will make even an amateur cook feel like a pro. It tastes like it took hours to make, but you don’t have to tell anyone this soup took less than an hour. Once you try it, it’ll become a staple in your household!
