We've definitely gone green - blended all things green in our soups, snacks, drinks, and even desserts.
This is the year of kale's competitiors - Swiss Chard, kelp, watercress, broccoleaf, and microgreens are the new vegetables on the block. This is the year of kale's competitiors - Swiss Chard, kelp, watercress, broccoleaf, and microgreens are the new vegetables on the block.
By Disha Dadlani, Eva Prabhakar & Rachel Dawson
Published: Sun 3 Dec 2017, 9:24 AM
Last updated: Sun 3 Dec 2017, 12:24 PM
As kids, we were coaxed, cajoled, and creatively convinced by cartoons (think: Popeye) and our parents to eat 'green' to the point greens being hidden in our favourite foods. Many years later, we're all voluntarily going green - not just by recycling actively - we're eating and drinking green, too.
2014 was the year of kale - a leaf cabbage that even made it to the sweatshirts worn by Beyoncé, Bella Thorne, and Lena Dunham. Apart from baked chips, salads, soups, and burgers, the superfood also featured across accessories and Halloween costumes. Soon after proving its health benefits, the vegetable was declared red carpet ready and was listed among Pantone's top ten colours for the 2017 spring fashion season.
In 2017, new entries have competed to crawl onto a shelf near you. Kale's identical twin, Swiss chard, is a cruciferous vegetable with alleged cancer-fighting qualities. Watercress is rich in calcium and Vitamin C, and is said to help in fighting breast cancer. High in mineral content and natural fiber (alginate), kelp is a seaweed that blocks fat and prevents diabetes. Add kelp to your diet to ensure healthy bones, hair, and skin. Short for broccoli leaves, the broccoleaf is a hybrid that grows on the broccoli stem. The new vegetables on the block in the nutrition industry, microgreens are smaller versions of vegetables - any vegetable you relish can also be enjoyed in its micro version.
We've definitely gone green - blended all things green in our soups, snacks, drinks, and even desserts. A fresh-pressed green juice or smoothie may just be the perfect post-workout drink your body needs. However, it's important to understand that everything should be consumed in moderation. While we're still figuring out how much green is 'too green', we do know that this is a trend that's got everyone talking, eating and drinking.
These celebrities are eating green - are you?
A sweet deal just for you
It's almost sinful to leave out the green in sweet treats. Dig into the goodness of a waffle stick drizzled with Italian pistachio sauce with the Pistachio Waffle at Ice Lab, Al Quoz. Craving an Indian dessert? Try the Paan Mousse accompanied by some liquid nitrogen magic from SpiceKlub, Al Mankhool. At Kanpai, Downtown Dubai, you can enjoy your dose of sugar with the Green Tea Tiramisu - ladyfingers soaked in green tea and sprinkled with mascarpone and berries. Another green tea dessert option is the Matcha Custard from Hibachi, Roda Al Bustan, Al Garhoud. Relish the combined tastes of mint and chocolate with Baskin Robbins' popular offering - mint chocolate chip ice cream. Indulge in a royal treat with Kulfilicious' Pista-E-Azam kulfi stick from any of its outlets across Dubai.
Hummus Avocado - Bite into a great fusion snack
Ingredients
250g boiled chickpeas
100g tahina (sesame paste)
100g fresh peeled avocado
5g salt
5ml lemon juice
100ml cold water
1) Put the chickpeas in a mixer and mash them very well.
2) Add the tahina with water and salt. Mix.
3) Add the avocado and the lemon juice.
4) Mix all the ingredients together until you get a smooth paste.
Recipe Courtesy: Chef Ghassan Mortada, Hala Organic Café
Green munchies: A fun fork and knife situation
Go beyond green grapes and green apples. Since bingeing on munchies remains a favourite pastime for many of us, it's also a big hurdle standing in the way of reaching our fitness goals. For the sake of those cravings, here's a list of green snacks that are win-win.
To enjoy the taste of fresh produce, first head to Besh, Barsha 1 for zucchini fritters. Prepare for a great fork and knife situation with green slaw at Lafayette Gourmet, The Dubai Mall. Then, treat yourself with a helping of crunchy zucchini crisps at Chez Amy's, Emirates Hills. Feast on a buttered spinach appetiser at DXB Grill, Al Garhoud. Don't miss the opportunity to dive into green dumplings at Little Bangkok, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Chinese broccoli at Busaba Eathai, Jumeirah Beach Resort (JBR) for comfort eats that won't compromise on health. Treat your taste buds to some avocado hummus at Andalusia, Al Safa if nothing else suffices.
"There is no one food I always have on my plate because that would deprive me of a variety of nutrients that the others offer. If I had to choose, it would be a delicious fat loaded avocado. The fat in the avocado will help absorb all those micro and macro nutrients more efficiently."
- Rashi Chowdhari, Founder & Chief Nutritionist Protein Bakeshop
Eat green to focus on your yoga routine
What role does eating green vegetables play in the practice of yoga?
Regardless of what form of fitness you practice, eating greens should be a large part of your diet. Greens provide essential vitamins and minerals to help you feel energized and focused on your mat.
How does eating junk food affect the mind and body?
Excess junk food will make you feel tired which means you may want to skip your yoga practice. This could cause your mind to feel foggy and depressed. Providing your body with nutritious food allows you to have enough energy for a regular yoga practice helping you feel your best.
What are the ingredients of your go-to green smoothie?
I combine five simple ingredients for a delicious energizing smoothie: Green apple, avocado, spinach, coconut water, a hint of lemon.
Tell us about your journey of eating clean as a yoga expert.
I personally don't believe in restrictive dieting. I balance my meals with protein, fruits and vegetable. I've found that I feel better when I eat less meat and dairy. I listen to my body and make sure I give it what it requires!
Stefani Bertoncini, Instructor, DEFINE body & mind
Green soup for the soul: As the temperature drops
Sometimes you just need a bowl of warm soup to unwind - soups usually just come with a side of that familiar home-cooked vibe. The Cream of Broccoli at Ottimo Ristorante, Oud Metha is made with basil pesto. Another way to sneak in some green comes with the unassuming Edamame soup at Zuma, DIFC. Walk over to Roberto's Ristorante, DIFC to give Asparagi a try or drive a little further to venture the blended Green Peas and Asparagus soup at The Hamptons Café, Umm Suqeim. As the temperatures start to drop, the Chilli Palak Soup at SpiceKlub, Al Mankhool can soothe the throat with its warm mix of green chillies and spinach. There's a soup for any mood around town - what's in your bowl?
When green becomes way too green
Sometimes too much of a good thing can be trouble. An intense focus on eating 'just the right food' to the point of obsession and at the expense of social relationships has been termed 'orthorexia nervosa'. This eating disorder usually affects people in their 30s, who are health conscious and well educated.
From spending a lot of the day planning, researching, and obsessing over meal plans to withdrawing from social invites because of the food served, the obsession to eat healthy can spiral out of control.
"Only eating green may, in fact, go against you," observes Rashi Chowdhari, Founder & Chief Nutritionist, Protein Bakeshop. "Such a diet would provide very little carbs, minimal protein, and zero fat. This is the sort of diet you want to completely stay off. At best, it's foolish, and at worst, dangerous. It crashes your metabolism, causes your TSH, T3, and T4 (thyroid hormones) to plummet, and increases your chances of dealing with hormonal imbalances. Most of our hormones are steroid hormones, which means they are made from cholestrol or fat, so going low on fat with guarantee hormonal havoc," she says.
A further irony is that "people who are obsessed with special types of diets do not necessarily have a healthy and fit body. These diets usually don't meet nutritional recommendations, and can lead to mental stress and emotional imbalance," says Sushma Ghag, Dietician, Aster Hospital Al Mankhool.
Hormonal imbalance affects physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and in turn, the resulting social interactions. Consider that a lot of learning and cultural awareness comes from sharing a meal with those who do not have the same meal preference. Strike the right shade of green.
A drink to go beyond the leaf
A green drink doesn't have to only mean picking your favourite leaves for the blender. You can also have some green fun on the go with already prepared concoctions that will refresh you.
The Matchamatics Smoothie presents a blend of banana, peach, coconut milk, honey, and of course, Matcha.
Sip away at: Soulfull Restaurant, DIFC
Transport yourself straight to China with the mille et une nuits. This green tea has a hint of rose, ginger, and orange blossom mint.
Sip away at: Ladurée, JBR
All the shades of green you could possibly want are regularly churned here. Take your pick from the Green Kiwinaide, Green Apple Mojito or Pistachio Milkshake among others.
Sip away at: Ice Lab, Al Quoz
Set down your shopping bags for a refreshing Matcha & Mint Iced Tea, and perk up for a stroll down yet another store-lined corridor.
Sip away at: Yamanote Atelier, The Dubai Mall
With cucumber, jasmine, lemon, and Wakame lemongrass soda, the Zi-Ran is good for any hour of the day.
Sip away at: Wakame, Sofitel Dubai Downtown
Hummus Avocado, Chef Ghassan Mortada, Hala Organic Cafe
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