Love to Eat: Shareable Snacks and Appetizers
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Earlier this week, we discussed how showing love to those around you can bring about improvements in your physical health, immune system, and brain health. For instance, as Harvard Medical School points out, volunteering and doing acts of kindness and love can actually extend your lifespan. The following recipes aren’t just full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to boost your immunity. They’re also perfect for sharing, whether you’re doing a beach cleanup day or simply inviting your neighbors over for a backyard hangout. Show love to your body, your community, and your health with these delicious meal ideas.
1. Mediterranean Cabbage Soup
Cabbage is in season during the winter, and this soup is ideal for sneaking more veggies into your diet. Plus, it’s warming and comforting, and a perfect dish to pack in a Thermos and share with others when you’re doing acts of love during a frigid morning outdoors (e.g., cleaning up a park, serving meals to the homeless on the street, etc.).
A single 1-cup serving of cabbage has only 22 calories, but impressive levels of nutrients, including more than half of your day’s requirements of vitamin C! The carrots in this soup are rich in beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A, and the beans offer a powerful protein punch along with minerals like zinc. The best part? This immunity soup takes just minutes to whip up.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup fennel, minced
½ cup onion, chopped
2 teaspoons garlic, diced
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon sea salt (optional)
6 cups vegetable broth
1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
1 head green cabbage, chopped
1 15-ounce can unsalted cannellini beans, rinsed
2 teaspoons honey (optional)
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
In a hot skillet, saute the onion, fennel and carrots for five minutes in hot olive oil, then add the salt, coriander and garlic. Let it simmer for a few seconds before pouring in the tomatoes and vegetable broth.
Bring everything to a boil, toss in the cabbage, then reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for 30 minutes or until the cabbage is soft.
Mix in the oregano, beans and honey (if using) let it simmer for a couple more minutes, then enjoy!
2. Blueberry Power Bars
These power bars are simple to make ahead of time, and so easy to pack and share when you’re doing acts of love for your neighborhood. They’re also easy enough to toss into a backpack or a to-go container.
Each bite is full of plant-based protein, which keeps you satisfied all morning. Plus, the healthy fats from the flax, almonds and sunflower seeds help boost energy, reduce inflammation, and enhance cognition so you’re thinking clearly and brilliantly all day long.
1 ¼ cups quick rolled oats
½ cup almonds, sliced
¼ cup flax seeds
¼ cup unsalted sunflower seeds, roasted
¼ cup wheat germ
1 cup dried blueberries
½ cup almond butter or other nut butters
⅓ cup honey
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
Heat and combine the nut butter, oil, vanilla, honey and pinch of salt in a saucepan and simmer for a minute or two. Then, add in the oats, seeds, flax and almonds. Mix well.
Scrape the gooey oat mixture into a lined or greased 8-inch baking pan. Refrigerate for at least 60 minutes, but ideally overnight for perfect firmness. Remove from the pan and cut into bars or convenient squares. Enjoy!
3. Ginger Trailmix
Trailmix is the quintessential shareable snack when you’re on the run. You can even pre-portion this out into little bags and distribute to those who need a snack in your community. Nuts are one of the best sources of healthy fats, while ginger adds powerful compounds like gingerol to reduce inflammation and enhance your immunity.
1 cup raw hazelnuts
1 cup raw pistachios
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/3 cup crystallized ginger, chopped
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, then store in an airtight container.