clean products for big appetites

Let me tell you one thing: I had no idea what hunger meant until I started breastfeeding. I always had a big appetite (it’s a family thing). Then came the pregnancy hunger everyone was warning me about. But none of that can compare to breastfeeding hunger. All of a sudden, this mama found herself unable to exercise (you know- exhaustion, sleep deprivation, post-partum issues, name your pick)with a huge hunger. Every growth spurt for the baby was a growth spurt for the mummy, too! Besides, lack of sleep actually completely messes up with your brain and hormones- leptin, the hormone which tells us that we are full, and ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, start to act funny when the circadian rhythm (the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle) is messed up. So this becomes a vicious cycle!

But thank goodness there are healthy and easy options that satisfy cravings. Because, when hunger attacks, we tend to choose the most convenient way to satisfy it, don’t we?

I wanted to add some of my go-to products, in case you are looking for options. Obviously, there is always the option of steamed veggies, stir-fried or air-fried produce and so on. And I have delicious recipes here on the blog, if you feel like it. If you need something printed, I might suggest this one, especially if your aim is weight-loss or weight maintenance. But in this post, I wanted to list what might not be as obvious- especially if you are new to plant-based eating.

Good luck, fellow foodies! Eat to live, and stay healthy and strong! Remember, please: Strong, not skinny! We need to be role models for our kiddos!

***Bonus smoothie recipe at the bottom***

Keto and Co Dry Riced Cauliflower

I totally don’t do keto. I love my fruits a lot. BUT I do love this company’s dry riced cauliflower. No idea why it doesn’t have 5 stars. I think people don’t use spices when they cook it, so it ends up tasteless. But here is how I make it *with no oil* and just in less than three minutes! I don’t follow the recipe on the package. I use the entire package with two cups of water. When boiled, I add either liquid aminos or coconut aminos to taste. Alternatively, you can add Himalayan salt. My people LOVE to have their rice with yogurt. As the plant-based version of my family, I usually have this cauli rice with plant-based yogurt. I like Kite Hill or Forager, but I recently discovered this brand which I am falling in love with. I’m sorry that these are not cheap, but think of it as an investment in your health! That said, one of these days I’m getting something like this so I can make my own yogurt again!

Chosen Foods Oil Spray 

Especially helpful when airfying or stir-frying. I only use this brand, because I think this brand is the healthiest out there.

Cashew Butter

Artisana is my favourite cashew butter. It’s healthy (look at the ingredients. No added oil, no sugar, no salt. Just pure 100% organic cashews), creamy and delicious. My little one loves this one, too!

PBfit Organic peanut butter 

Two tbsp only 70 calories, with 8 gr protein and 2 gr fat. But more importantly, it’s SO easy to add to smoothies or bakes, because it’s in powder form.

Nuzest Protein powder and bars

I’m not going to lie. I love their Kids Good Stuff– and not only to make kid-friendly pancakes but we also use it for us grown ups. It’s so good in smoothies, overnight oats, even as a latte!  BUT I think I especially benefit from the protein powders and the protein bars– and I’m not even a bar person! There are two companies that got me to like protein bars. One is Nuzest, the other is Sakaralife.

Sakara metabolism powder and metabolism bar

I recently shared a chocolate parfait recipe (from the Sakaralife Cookbook) on Instagram, which had this metabolism powder. With L-glutamine, gymnema sylvestre, and piperine (aside from cacao, of course!) this mix supports lipid metabolism, healthy cortisol levels, and healthy blood sugar levels. Honestly, I forget to use this blend every morning, so I don’t want to give a personal testimony, BUT people (my network!) swear by it. 

What I can swear by, easily, is the Metabolism Protein Bar. SO yummy! I have a subscription- I had to get a subscription. It’s delicious, fills me up, gives me energy, and I love the ingredients.

***You can get a 20% discount on any first Sakara purchase with the code XOIVY***

Your Super Mixes for energy, immunity, and anti-oxidants

You might know this by now, especially if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook , but my husband does the Yoursuper detox on a regular basis. He loves it! I look forward to it when I’m done breastfeeding. Currently, I am following (or doing my best to follow) the ayurvedic lifestyle/diet, including not eating for at least 12 hours (which isn’t going so well these days!), eating my last meal early, making lunch the most satisfying meal of the day and so on. If you are interested, I highly recommend this book and this one by the same author.

Anyway, I know what some of you will say: We have our liver for detox, we don’t need additional powders. As someone who has been eating *healthy*, mostly whole foods and plant-based for years, even I fall off the wagon more often than not, and this off-the wagon period might last so long that the body might need a little push. Is it too bad to give our poor organs a break? Besides, you can use these mixes simply to add more nutrition to your diet, without doing any kind of detox.  Either way, the reason why I love this company is that the ingredients are organic, and whole foods. No “natural flavours”, no sweeteners, no gums. You actually taste the ingredients themselves. Even if you don’t do the detox, you might consider investing in the following products I use *every day*:

Forever beautiful, power matcha (I quit coffee, remember?), super green, energy bomb. These I use more sporadically: The delicious chocolate lover, and the plant protein.

Oh, every product has recipes on the container (which is recyclable) and you must try those recipes!

CCF Tea

You know, there are tons of snake oil sales going on when it comes to the wellness sector. But the CCF tea, cumin, coriander, and fennel tea, is known in ayurvedic nutrition for helping the digestive system, reducing bloating and supporting weight management. You can use this on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, it is recommended to have it the first thing in the morning. I am lazy and forgetful, so I only remember to brew a cup when I feel extra bloated. And this brand is more expensive than many others, but their sourcing (of the ingredients) seems more credible.

Coconut wraps 

Now, this, I can’t recommend to everyone. Because you must really like the taste of coconut (and I LOVE it. I have tons of coconut flour recipes on the blog, if you love it, too). And also, it is a little on the pricey side. If you are not too much into wraps, but do want a gluten-free, *much* less processed, healthier version, I say give this a try. Look at the ingredients: Coconut meat, coconut water, coconut oil. That’s it. And they’re soft enough to wrap (if you’ve had raw vegan experience, you will know that most wraps are not soft enough to use as a wrap!).

Meatless meat

Vegan meat is usually not my thing. But my husband likes them, and I do like to have these meatballs (or this brand ) or scallopini once in a blue moon. My husband’s favourites are the crispy chicken and the fish filet. He is the happiest on our vegan fish tacos nights!

Bonus recipe

An incredibly satisfying chocolate protein smoothie (and I’m saying this as someone with a huge appetite).

2 frozen bananas, 2 servings of Cacao magic, 2 cups of plant-based milk, 2 tablespoons of psyllium husk (optional, for extra fiber), 1 cup of frozen spinach, 1 cup of frozen mixed berries, 2 servings of super green, 2 servings of PBfit peanut butter, and a cup of ice.

Blend everything except for cacao magic and the psyllium husk in a high-speed blender. Pour the ingredients in whatever container you like. Add the cacao magic with a dessert spoon. If you’re using the psyllium husk, add it now- the texture will be gooey with the psyllium husk. Mix well. This should satisfy your sweet tooth, and fill you up until the next mealtime!

 

EDITED TO ADD: PORTION CONTROL PLATE

Okay, technically, this is not a “clean product” but I am intrigued by this portion control plate. They have a discount going on (I think 20% if you sign up?) so I might just purchase it to try to see how it works out for me. I LOVE trying new kitchen tools, and these days I want to pay attention to eating enough protein. I have never had a problem with eating my healthy fats (ha!). But I have been wanting to gain more muscle mass (I’m all for the “strong not skinny” thing) and I find myself needing visual reminders/pointers to get my proteins regularly. I would not recommend this to someone with an eating disorder, or disordered eating, but it might be helpful to people who want to have a more diverse and balanced diet. What do you think? Have you used anything like this?

 

 

 

 

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Editor’s note: The information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programme.