Healing Foods (for after the holidays)

Holiday celebrations — or even stressful times or strings of meals eaten away from at home — can be hard on our bodies. Eating foods prepared in other kitchens often means we’re consuming ingredients that are not necessarily nourishing and can even be harmful to our health.

My family chooses to stay flexible during these times, making the best choices we can under the circumstances.

Translation –> Yes, we eat foods that aren’t so great for us in order to honor our relationships with loved ones.

However, after the holidays, I notice that my energy is low and my stomach is quite upset from all the indulging. We start craving simple and healing foods. These foods get us back on track and feeling better quickly!

Have you found yourself in the same boat year after year? Give these three recovery tips a try (and see below them for two quick, simple, and nourishing back-on-track main dish recipes).

1. Drink (A Lot Of) Extra Water

In the midst of fellowship and conversing with family and friends, or just during a busy season, we often forget to drink enough water. So, increase your water intake significantly for a few days. This will help you rehydrate as well as flush out toxins.

2. Get Those Probiotics In!

Gut healing beneficial bacteria helps restore digestive upset quickly. Wardee’s Kefir Parfaits are a terrific and tasty choice! Often I notice a difference in how I feel after just one meal that centers around beneficial bacteria.

You could add a scoop of sauerkraut or another fermented veggie atop a salad. Or sip fermented coconut water or Kombucha throughout the day. (See our fermenting category for lots more choices, but keep in mind the baked items lose probiotics.)

3. Enjoy Simple Recipes With Wholesome Ingredients

When you’re just plain tired of heavy, rich, sweet, salty foods… turn to nourishing salads and light soups. They’ll heal and nourish without leaving you bloated or heavy-feeling. Below I’ll include two of our favorite go-to after holiday main dishes.

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Quinoa-Chickpea Salad with Roasted Apricots and Veggies

When you're just plain tired of heavy, rich, sweet, salty foods… turn to this nourishing salad.

Course Salad

Author Jenny Cutler

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa rinsed and soaked *
• 1-1/2 cups pure water
• 1 cup dried apricots sliced
• 1/2 pound asparagus cut into bite sized pieces (or other vegetables from your pantry)
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt to taste
• pepper
• 1 cup chickpeas soaked and rinsed**
• 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
• 1 handful walnuts chopped
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• 1 teaspoon mustard

Instructions

1. Simmer the soaked quinoa in the water until the water is absorbed, about 10 to 20 minutes.
2. Toss the apricots and asparagus in the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.
3. Roast the apricots and asparagus in a preheated 400 degree Fahrenheit oven until caramelized, about 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Mix the juices left in the roasting pan with the garlic, honey, and mustard in a small bowl.
5. Pour the dressing on the salad and toss to coat.
6. Serve.

Recipe Notes

*Learn how to soak grains.

 

**Learn how to soak beans.

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Quick Healing Chicken Soup with Homemade Croutons

When you're just plain tired of heavy, rich, sweet, salty foods… turn to this light soup.

Course Soup

Author Jenny Cutler

Ingredients

• whole pastured chicken previously cooked, meat only*
• 4 cups chicken stock **
• 2 carrots peeled and sliced
• 2 ribs celery with leaves, sliced
• 1 onion diced
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 slices sourdough bread ***
• grass-fed butter

Instructions

1. In a soup pot, sauté all veggies in the olive oil until tender.
2. Add chicken stock, cooked chicken, and spices.
3. Simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Taste and adjust seasonings.
5. Meanwhile, slice bread into cubes and pan fry in butter until crunchy, about 6 minutes.
6. Flip part way through the sauté. These are the croutons.
7. Serve soup with croutons on top.

Recipe Notes

*Learn how to cook a chicken in the crockpot.

 

**Learn how to make chicken stock.

 

***Make your own sourdough bread! Recipe here or here.

What quick and nourishing recipes help you get back on track after the holidays? Feel free to share links!

This post was featured in 82 Ways To Heal Your Gut.