Do you really want to bring the best out of those sweat sessions? Fuel your body right upon completion of workouts. Even your leggings will be grateful. They will fit seamlessly and all the muscles underneath them will work to your advantage. I like to have at least two cooked meals per day. Namely, those would be lunch and dinner. Plus, it is easy to incorporate the leftovers from one into the other. The other key factor in feeling well is eating at approximately the same time each day and having routines set to when it comes to nutrition.
The construction of a meal would normally start around greens, then I think of a protein and carbohydrate. One of the latest is sweet potato. Did you know that sweet potato is actually not a potato at all? It is called that for its shape. What it is, however, is the best carbohydrate you can find. Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin C. Who would it think? It wards you from viruses but it also plays a big role in bone (alongside vitamin D) and tooth formation and the making of new cells. It even accelerates wound healing. When it comes to looking fresh, vitamin C produces collagen which is responsible for the elasticity of your skin. Moreover, they hold massive amounts of magnesium and potassium which both link to healthier heart rhythm and in turn to relaxation. Additionally, they regulate blood sugar levels and are, therefore, the perfect pick with anyone suffering from hormone-related ailments and diabetes. If you’re not used to their sweet taste, your taste buds will need some time adjusting. But, once they do, sweet potatoes are so versatile to use in cuisine that even that they are more of a savory ingredient, you might want to incorporate them in your sweets.
Here’s one of my favorite ways to prepare sweet potatoes. Paired with curry spice mix.
Sauté half an onion, bake the sweet potato on it, add curry powder, red paprika, a pinch of salt, and some pepper. Let it roast for a while before adding 1/3 of a can of coconut milk. You can add more, depending on how thick or liquid you like your stew. You can also add some water or some vegetable broth to it, but I prefer it plain like that. Cook for about half an hour, depending on the softness of the sweet potato. Then it’s a good timing to add in some red lentils and an equal amount of water as they will absorb it all. Pre-soak the lentils overnight so they lose some of the waste that might make you bloat. Once the curry is done, I like to let it simmer for a while. Just when I turn off the heat, I add a good handful of spinach to the mix.
In the very end, add fresh herbs like parsley. If you want to make it extra creamy and nutty, add either a spoonful of tahini or nut butter.
You can then enjoy it is it is or serve next to some basmati rice. The combination is filling, nutritiously rich and full of goods for your body that will keep moving you around and coming up with brilliant ideas.
Do you still think cooking is an activity that takes much time and effort? Coming from someone who doesn’t attempt meals that take more than 20 minutes to assemble, I would think not. I find it easy, enjoyable, and rewarding when I feel full but still light after meals.
