Wattlecino + 5 Foods For A Better Boost Than Coffee
Jo Hughes
Tue, Aug 16, 2016
The jury may be out on whether or not coffee is generally beneficial to health, but there’s plenty of good reasons you might be looking to cut back, not least the accompanying sugar and fats that so-often come with it.
Thankfully there’s plenty of interesting alternatives that can provide just as much of a springboard as that double caramel spiced latte when you need it. All with an absent guilt factor - and the inevitable excitement that comes with trying something new.
Wattleseed
Wattleseed - from Australian native acacia plants - have a remarkable list of benefits associated, including a host of alluring aromas and flavours that are released once roasted and ground. Readily available as a home-grown and harvested product of Australia, wattleseed has a long shelf life and can easily be purchased online and stored for a while.
If you’re not ready to contemplate departing too far from your hard-earned coffee and chocolate hit just yet, here’s one to gently ease you into new ways…
Wattlecino recipe
- 1 heaped teaspoons roasted ground wattleseed
- 0.5 cup boiling water
- Frothed milk
Add boiling water to the ground wattleseed and bring back to the boil for 30 seconds (microwave is fine). Warm your milk. Use a strainer to strain the wattleseed* liquid into a wide cappuccino style cup. Top with the heated, frothed milk and a pinch of finely ground wattleseed or cinnamon.
Almonds
With a healthy homegrown industry, almonds are readily available and an ideal snack food to keep on hand in case of mid-afternoon snack attacks. Credited with a host of health benefits, almonds are packed full of energy (the healthy unsaturated kind), fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals.
Grab a handful fresh, dry roasted or try a Almond & Chia Clusters.
Plain Yoghurt
Enough good things can’t be said about probiotic plain or greek yoghurt. As well as the excellent protein, ‘good’ fats and calcium benefits, there’s mounting evidence that maintaining a healthy population of gut flora has a whole host of energy-boosting-benefits, including strengthening your immune system and helping you get a better night’s sleep.
Spoon it plain, or try spiced bircher muesli, or a tzatziki dip.
Ginger
Ginger is thought to rejuvenate by boosting your metabolism and improving blood circulation. Its thermogenic properties can also help reduce feelings of nausea as well as make you feel more satisfied after eating - hence reducing the overall amount you need to eat to feel recharged.
Try raw gingerbread bites or a simple fresh ginger tea.
Bananas
In our fast-paced world, slow food is good. Slow release energy is the key to avoiding spikes in blood sugar levels and maintaining good energy levels over the course of the day. The complex carbohydrates in bananas are excellent for doing this, as well as a full package of potassium and other goodies your flailing and lethargic body might need to get it past snack-oclock.
Try a buckwheat banana bread or simply smash one skinless and whole.
Chickpeas
Another slow release food, chickpeas are well-rounded bundles of protein, carbohydrate and fibre all in one. While not the most convenient snack food you might think to reach for, chickpeas can be incorporated into a range of baked goods, with many low-carb or gluten-free choosing chickpea - or besan - flour as a wheat-flour substitute.
Try a trusty hummus or some almond honey & sesame bites.
And there you have it…I’m impressed you made it this far on your energy-boosting quest. With stamina like that, who needs caffeine?