Superfoods

Get more superfoods into your every day diet with our top tips

Everyone loves a good superfood, right? Right! But what’s so special about them? ‘Many nutrients are destroyed during food processing – given most of us eat a mainly processed diet it is therefore important to opt for nutritiously superior foods, like “superfoods”, as often as possible and on a regular basis,’ sayS nutritional therapist Stephanie Ridley (nourishtoflourish.com).

So what exactly are they? And what counts as a superfood? ‘“Superfoods” is a term often used to group together unprocessed foods that boast a good amount of essential nutrients – vitamins, minerals, protein, essential fats – needed by the body to promote optimal health and wellbeing for the short and long-term,’ says Stephanie. And it’s easier than you might think to find a place for them in your diet. ‘There are so many “superfoods” out there, you have little excuse not to be eating them with all meals!’ says Stephanie. Keen to get started? Check out our top tips below.

1. Go green
Super greens powders are an easy peasy way to add superfoods such as wheatgrass, spirulina, chlorella and barley grass to your snacks and meals. Simply mix the powder into smoothies and juices for a hit of the good stuff every day! But beware, their potent green colour will turn everything it touches green. So if green juices aren’t you bag, opt for a tablet or capsule form of these lean and mean green machines instead. We heart Pukka’s Clean Greens Powder, £22.06, amazon.co.uk

2. Just desserts
Superfoods, as a dessert? Yup that’s right, even your after dinner treats can pack a healthy nutritional punch. ‘Avocado can be blended with raw chocolate and berries to make a delicious chocolate mousse,’ suggest Stephanie. Or you could whip up a chia based treat – soak some chia seeds in coconut milk overnight, then top with crushed blueberries for a sweet treat.

3. Salad days
Ok so it’s not often we get excited about a salad, but a bowl of leafy goodness is a great way to pack in those superfoods with very little effort. A handful of spinach and plenty of leafy greens with some beetroot, broccoli and a generous helping of chia seeds makes for a great salad base. ‘Beetroot, leafy green and broccoli can also be juiced easily … just add plenty of fresh lemon if it is too bitter,’ says Stephanie.

4. Berry nice
Blueberries and goji berries have always been top of our superfoods list – and it couldn’t be easier to get your fill. ‘You can easily add berries to your breakfast – on porridge, blended in a smoothie, on top of pancakes, stirred through plain yoghurt, just eaten out the pack for a snack…’ says Stephanie.

5. Chip shop
Have a bag of chips. No, go on, really! ‘Sweet potato chips make eating chips acceptable. Try also making sweet potato crisps by peeling in thin strips, spritzing with a little olive oil and baking in the oven,’ says Stephanie.