Health Coach Tip - Cut the Carbs, Improve Your Immune Response
In these stressful times, comfort eating is a soothing treat that many of us look forward to. But it’s also an extremely important time to manage what is in our control. Sugars and processed foods negatively affect the immune system and need to be kept to a minimum to help support our natural defenses against the Coronavirus.
So what is one to do when the comfort/stress eating urge hits? Get creative. With extra time at home, it’s a perfect opportunity to find delicious alternatives, new recipes, and improve your health at the same time.
Try one of these grain-free alternatives:
- Make a cauliflower crust pizza
- Use Pinterest to find Paleo or Keto baking recipes (and cut the sugar recommendation in half - or just use banana with no other sweeteners)
- Make some cauliflower mac & cheese
- Try Paleo cookie dough bites
- Have some whole fruit, just don’t overdo it
Swaps you might already have in the kitchen:
- Chips – Cut cucumbers and carrots into rounds for dipping
- Pasta – Spiralize zucchini or sweet potatoes and top them with your favorite sauces
- Sandwiches – Use collard greens/lettuce/Swiss chard or other greens to make a surprisingly delicious wrap for any sandwich filling
- Lasagna noodles – Make long, thin slices of zucchini with a mandoline to create lasagna “noodles”
- Rice – Grate cauliflower to create a rice or couscous like replacement
If these aren’t hitting the spot, a small occasional treat is fine. But, if your cravings continue, think about what else is contributing to them. Are you sleeping enough? Do you have other ways to manage your stress? And always be sure to add more nutrient dense veggies to your meals - they will help boost your immune system and balance out any treats you do enjoy.
