The Best Foods To Help You Eat Healthier During Coronavirus Lockdown
Brad JapheContributor
Spirits
In a new study funded by Nutrisystem, 2000 Americans were surveyed on eating habits and weight fluctuation during the pandemic. A staggering 76% of those questioned reported gaining up to 16 pounds during lockdown. It was shocking enough to grab headlines, even though a commercial weight loss company obviously has financial incentive to overreport such numbers. But even if you take them with a grain of salt, the fact remains: Interruptions in daily routine, along with increased stress, and impeded access to the gym has combined to form a perfect storm of diet derailment.
If you’ve found yourself losing your way during these daunting times, remember that you’re not alone. And there are some relatively easy solutions to help you get back on track. One of the best ways is by stocking your kitchen with healthier ingredients. That shouldn’t mean sacrificing taste, either. Need proof? Find it in the examples listed below; fantastic and flavorful additions to carry you through the challenging months ahead.
Flora — Manuka Honey 100+MGO ($29) Manuka from a 100% Maori-owned honey operation in New Zealand FLORA HEALTHThis is the real deal. Because counterfeit manuka is becoming an increasingly popular form of fraud, Flora Health helped pioneer a traceable technology that let’s you know everything about the honey you’re holding in your hand. Scan a code on the label and you’ll learn exactly what part of New Zealand it came from, its lab tests results and its UMF—a rating that reflects the purported therapeutic benefits of the antibacterial sweetener. Keetz — Turmeric Plant Bites ($24) Raw vegan snack food KEETZ PLANT BITESFormer Michelin-starred pastry chef Katy Peetz is behind this unique brand of snack food, now available online in three separate flavors. All of the ingredients are organic and plant-based. Rich in protein and built upon superfoods such as spirulina and turmeric, the bite-sized sweets were designed to be as satiating as they are nourishing. Proper Good — The Souperhero Pack ($30) Souperhero sampler pack PROPER GOODBrimming with essential amino acids and umami-laden proteins, these full-flavored meals are ready to eat in mere minutes. Innovative shelf-stable packaging means that you don’t even need to refrigerate them. Just pour the liquid out into a pot and they’ll be pipping hot in 90 seconds. Yet the deep, savory notes of offerings such as the meatball minestrone, and chicken and mushroom certainly sip as if they were just assembled by a professional chef. Country Archer Provisions — Zero Sugar Beef Jerky ($6) Zero Sugar Grass-Fed Beef Jerky COUNTRY ARCHER PROVISIONSBeef jerky is an excellent source of on-the-go protein. Unfortunately, most brands on the market today also load it up with alarming amounts of added sugar. Country Archer Provisions proves that you don’t need sweet to make a good dried meat. This classic variety is flavored primarily by rosemary and oregano, driving an herbal profile mid-chew. But prepare yourself for the satisfying emergence of garlic and umami in the finish. Aqua Star — Smart Seafood Sautes ($7) Smart Seafood Sautes AQUA STARThis seafood purveyor based out of the Pacific Northwest offers the highest quality frozen meals for the price. Rip open a $7 package and pour it onto the skillet and within 20 minutes you’ll have a restaurant quality dish ready to serve. In addition to the shrimp, you get peppers, onions and a stir fry size to mix it all up under. What you won’t get are added preservatives and multisyllabic chemical ingredients. Both portions together hold only 1 gram of fat and just under 300 calories. Contessa Cutting Board — Moroccan-Style Wild Salmon Frozen chef-designed meals CONTESSA CUTTING BOARDAnother masterful preparation from the folks behind Smart Seafood Sautes, these ones require a touch more prep work in the kitchen. Which is intended as a feature rather than a flaw. Meant as a more sustainable alternative to Blue Apron—with all portions being meticulously measured to avoid food waste—it’s a fun way to take an active hand in creating flavorful food at home, without having to go through the trouble of following an elaborate recipe from scratch. A wide stable of options ranging from Pork Carnitas Street Tacos to Lemon Oregano Wild Alaskan Cod are all super simple to slap together. But the wild salmon offering is perhaps the healthiest, served with cauliflower rice and seasoned with harissa. Three Wishes — Honey Flavored Grain Free Cereal ($10) Honey flavored grain free cereal THREE WISHESThis health-food startup was founded by a family who loved cereal, but didn’t love the fact that most of it is ‘dessert masquerading as breakfast.’ So they decided to craft one with nutrient dense ingredients, eschewing wheat, rice, and corn, opting instead for chickpea, tapioca, and pea protein. Then it’s sweetened with organic cane sugar and monk fruit, imparting honey flavor while still keeping the vegans happy. It doesn’t taste that much different from the O-shaped cereal you grew up with. It’s just a whole let better for you.
KRACKLIN' KAMUT - Ancient grains are all the rave these days. And Kamut is a great example of why. The special style of wheat likely traces its roots back to Mesopotamia and was actually found buried in Egyptian tombs. Rich in polyphenols—strong antioxidants with anti-inflammatory characteristics—the food doesn’t seem to affect many with gluten sensitivities. And scientists still don’t understand why. What is known is that these crunchy snacks are a delicious alternative to nuts and go great on salads, soup, and yogurt.
Baseline — Immunity Boost ($23) Immunity Boost BASELINEThis isn’t exactly a food, per se. But it will make your food a lot healthier, and even tastier. Each vial contains a 24-day supply of immunity boosting vitamin C and vitamin D3. The proprietary formula developed by the popular CBD purveyor is intended to optimize absorption rates. So you can start feeling the benefits right away. Brad Japhe Brad Japhe is a freelance journalist specializing in food, beverage, and travel. He moonlights as a beer and spirits consultant, hosting monthly craft …