Ella Woodward, the writer behind hit blog Deliciously Ella, has one mission in life – to show you how to cook healthy veggie gluten-free dishes that taste amazing. She knows food and nutrition like the back of her hand – and what foods to eat that will boost your health and wellbeing. And, she says, even though Christmas is a time of indulgence you can you still eat well. Just add these three super-foods to your Christmas lunch.
1.Brussel sprouts
‘Sprouts don’t have the best reputation as far as veggies go, but trust me these roasted sproutsare just incredible! They taste so completely different cooked like this, and the texture is just divine as the thin outer leafy layers go deliciously crispy. Believe it or not sprouts are quite the super-food too. They’re bursting with vitamins K and C, which are so important for keeping your blood and immune systems healthy, as well as a whole host of other vitamins and minerals from iron and potassium to folate and vitamins A and E, and lots of fibre. Plus they’re linked to cancer protection and have been shown to help lower cholesterol, boost healthy thyroid function (so important for a healthy metabolism) and enhance the body’s ability to detox. So they really are an amazing, and totally delicious, addition to any Christmas dinner.’
2.Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are the best super-food switch from normal potatoes as they are so much richer in flavor, especially when baked with cinnamon, paprika and rosemary, and they’re so incredibly good for you! They’re packed with an amazing amount of vitamin A, which is so important for building your immune system as well as for helping to create beautiful, glowing skin. They’re also rich in antioxidants and have wonderful anti-inflammatory properties which together work to keep your body perfectly healthy.'
3.Pomegranates
'I love adding pomegranates to my Christmas dishes as they add the most beautiful colour to everything, making each dish look brighter and more delicious, while adding a sweet, juicy touch. They’re particular amazing mixed with brussel sprouts, as together they create the perfect sweet, savory contrast, as well as the ultimate Christmas green and red colour combo! Pomegranates are one of the best things to eat at this time of the year too as they’re one of the world’s best sources of anti-oxidants. All these antioxidants work wonders for strengthening and protecting our bodies, which is especially beneficial now as we get swept up into the Christmas spirit and so put our bodies through lots of parties, drinks and not so nutritious food, eating pomegranates will give you a wonderful boost to see you safely through this time!'
If you’re stuck for ideas Ella has created a vegetarian Christmas dinner with a modern twist (no nut roasts here!). The main course consists of four dishes - Cinnamon, Paprika and Rosemary-infused sweet potato wedges and carrots; Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Sweet Juicy Pomegranates; Baked Portobello mushrooms stuffed with Coriander, Basil, Pine Nuts and Quinoa and a Creamy Pea Puree. This is then followed by a Chocolate cake with Whipped Coconut Icing and Pomegranates. Yum, yum, YUM! Watch Ella make it here, or click here for the recipe.
