Oatmeal Flavour Variations

Cold days like this that make me crave heavy foods. Often times, these heavy foods tend to be quite unhealthy.

That being said, I try to fill that craving with different variations of oatmeal. Oatmeal is a warm, heavy food that can be nutritious, satisfying and easy to digest.

For those of you who like a creamy texture in their foods, try oatmeal with coconut cream and bananas.

For people craving a spicy warmth, try oatmeal made with a dash of turmeric powder and a drizzle of honey.

For added protein, top your oatmeal with an all-natural nut butter like almond butter, cashew butter or peanut butter.

You can even make oatmeal into lunch or dinner by mixing it with a curry base and adding some pre-cooked chicken or turkey.

Eat well and stay warm!

Green Tomato Curry

Raw fruit and veg, generally, tend to be very difficult to digest. An easy solution, to help with digestion, is to cook the vegetables. To further aid in the process, currying the vegetables can provide digestive support.

Green tomatoes might just be one of my favourite kitchen ingredients. That being said, green tomato curry might also be one of my most favourite curries to make.

Green tomatoes cook very easily and quickly. So, you can add it to any curry base.

The recipe for my quick curry base can be found by clicking here. Just substitute the okra and carrots for some chopped green tomatoes. You can also reduce the cooking (simmering) time to approximately 10 minutes.

Aloe Relief

Digestive ups and downs can lead to painful burning sensations to one's gastro-intestinal system. To find relief, often times I would rely on a product called Aloe Vera Gel (inner fillet) by Lily of the Desert.

Unlike commercially produced aloe drinks, this gel has no other ingredients other than the aloe vera gel itself. So, it has no added sugars. This is good to know, as refined sugars, in my opinion, tend to have inflammatory properties (not good when you're trying to reduce inflammation).

Think of this aloe gel like the kind you would use on your external body after a burn. The same type of cooling sensation and healing can be experienced internally.

The dosage I would use was 1-3 oz in a glass of water. I would drink up twice per day, on an empty stomach, until my symptoms subsided

You can find this product in local health food stores.

Chicory Coffee

Sadly, constipation can be another major issue with those who suffer with digestive issues. I have found that a combination of coffee and chicory can provide relief in a natural way.

Traditionally, the two ingredients were mixed together as a cost saving measure, as chicory was a commonly found plant root versus the expensive coffee bean.

If you can find it, Café Du Monde is an awesome product, not to mention that it's great-tasting. It comes all the way from New Orleans. However, if you live in Toronto, here's a tip...You can find it easily in Vietnamese tuck shops.

Alternatively, if you're an instant coffee drinker, BRU Instant is for you. It's a product from India, but it can be easily found in Asian markets throughout Toronto.

Pomegranate Peel Tea

People with digestive issues often suffer from chronic or intermittent diarrhea.

Instead of loading up on pharmaceutical drugs, try drinking a tea made by steeping the peel of a pomegranate in hot water.

This infusion can be used to ease diarrhea.

Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brewed coffee produces a product with up to 70% less acid. For some, this coffee may be easier to digest. 

To make it, soak ground coffee beans in cold water for 12 to 14 hours. Strain, heat and enjoy.

For a stronger brew, soak the ground coffee for 24 hours. You'll end up with cold brewed espresso.