diet matters, food that nourishes you

For those who are invested in offering themselves care in all aspects of life, your diet matters. If you have a yoga practice that is done regularly, you’ll want the food that nourishes you. Sometimes, you might crave foods that don’t fit the profile.

When this happens, you don’t have to fall off the wagon and eat foods that make you feel awful afterward. Foods that are heavy in fat or too much sugar can prevent you from even practicing yoga for the day.

That will make you feel worse the next day and the cycle can continue for days, weeks, or even months. So what can you do when you have a sweet tooth or you’re really craving something salty? Here are some lovely alternatives that you’ll love and your body will too.

1.   Chocolate and Coconut Chia Pudding

Not only is this dessert delicious and nutritious, butit’s also really easy to make. There are healthy fats in it as well as the protein you need to keep energy levels up and fibre. In lieu of cookies or chocolates, this will fill that sweet craving.

  • A can of Coconut Milk
  • 65g Cocoa Powder
  • 30g cup Chia Seeds
  • 3 tsp of Pure Maple Syrup
  • 2 tsp of Vanilla Extract

Put everything in one bowl and mix together. Throw it in the fridge for a few hours and enjoy.

2.  Dates Stuffed with Peanut Butter

If you’re craving a sweet and salty snack, this is a fantastic and quick option. Just grab a date, slice it open and put in some peanut butter. You can top it off with pistachio or almond if you want. It will reduce sugar cravings right away.

3.   Fruit Crisp

Fruit crisps feel like something really bad for you but they don’t have to be. You can add whatever fruit you love. Make it seasonal berries, apples, peaches etc. You can add nuts too. With reduced sugar or the use of coconut sugar, this doesn’t have to be a bad-for-you decadent dessert.

  • 650g of your favourite fruits
  • 100g cup Coconut Sugar
  • 1 tbps Tapioca Flour
  • 100g rice orsorghum flour
  • 100g quick oats
  • 100g flake oats (large)
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 60ml  Coconut Oil
  1. Preheat oven to 190c
  2. Add fruit to your baking dish.
  3. Add the coconut palm sugar and tapioca flour.
  4. Add oat flour, oats, sugar, and cinnamon into a separate bowl and mix. Fold the coconut oil into the mix. Add the crumble on the fruit.
  5. Bake for 30-40 minutes on the middle rack.

4.   Lemon Mousse

This is a dessert people love in hot weather. It’s good for someone craving the likes of a lemon meringue pie. This iffor your sweet yet sour dessert cravings.

  • 60g raw cashews
  • 120g of mashed bananas
  • 60ml lemon juice fresh from the lemon.
  • 2 tsp of vanilla extract
  • 60g agave
  • 1 tbsp raw cane sugar
  • Lime and lemon zest

Mix all the ingredients together and serve chilled.

5.   Nut Butter Balls

In many places where you would do yoga teacher training in India, there will be a version of what we know as a bliss ball. They are easy to make and super good for you. A great on the go snack and also fill whatever cravings you’re having. It tastes so good; you’d swearit can’t be good for you.

  • 250g of whatever nut butter suits your taste. Cashew, Peanut, Almond etc.
  • 60g dried fruit (Yogi’schoice) cup pumpkin seeds
  • 100g mixed seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin etc)
  • 30g chopped nuts
  • 90ml coconut milk
  • 60g semi-sweet chocolate chips (small)
  • A drop of honey for sweetness
  • 60g quick oats
  • Dash of cinnamon

Put all the ingredients together and mix well. Roll them into balls and put into the fridge until they’re hard. Enjoy!

6.   Aubergine Parmesan

Sometimes, you might really want a schnitzel or something that feels like pub food. Cravings are strange but nonetheless, celery won’t replace it. Something that will is a lovely vegetarian option.

  • Aubergine that is peeled and sliced into 8 slices.
  • 130g of plain almond milk
  • 100g rice flour
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Freshly ground black pepper and salt
  • A dash of your favourite herbs (parsley or oregano for example)
  • 260g of ground cashews
  • Pasta sauce
  • Vegan cheese
  1. Sprinkle the 8 pieces of Aubergine with salt. Allow it to stand for a half an hour. The salt brings out the water.
  2. Whisk the almond milk, flour, vinegar, salt, pepper, and seasonings in a bowl.
  3. Preheat the oven to 220c.
  4. Run Aubergine underwater to take off the salt. Pat dry with a towel.
  5. Dip the Aubergine into the batter and then into the cashew crumbs (put crumbs on a plate).
  6. Put on a baking sheet. Bake on one side for 9 minutes. Flip and bake for 9 minutes on the other side. Top with heated pasta sauce and vegan cheese.

When you have a dedicated yoga practice, these foods won’t get in your way. They are kind to your body and can always be altered to use gluten-free,vegan products. Nobody is perfect and the body will crave sweet things from time to time. Instead of choosing unnatural sugars and foods that leave you feeling heavy and bloated, opt for some of these great recipes.