SMALL TOWN YOGINI

Turmeric is everywhere lately. Curious about including it in your diet? Read on for five sneaky ways to add it to your food, as well as a few super easy and healthy recipes.

First off: What is it?
Turmeric is a spice mostly found in parts of Asia. It is bright yellow in color and famously used in curries. It has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda, the ancient holistic lifestyle practice in India, as a spice with medicinal benefits.Next question: Why use it?
Turmeric contains curcumin. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory substance and a powerful antioxidant. Many people claim its health benefits as an effective treatment for a multitude of things from arthritis to depression, and even use it preventatively to ward off heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's. There are LOTS of studies going on right now about this. If you're interested, here's an article about the benefits of turmeric and curcumin and one from CNN explaining aspects of using curcumin for treatment versus simply adding turmeric spice into your food (there's a big difference). If you're interested in the treatment route, that's probably a conversation for your doctor, not a blogger. 🙂 In this post, I'm just helping you spice up your life a little with this yellow powder that hopefully does your body some good.

5 Easy Ways To Sneak Turmeric In Your Diet:
All five of these ideas are easily done and disguise the flavor as well as the strong yellow color for any picky eaters out there.

1. Sprinkle it in scrambled eggs or any scrambled egg dish (frittata, quiche, etc.).
Whisk it in before you cook the eggs so that it stirs in well.

2. Add a little to soups.
Add a little to chicken or vegetable broth based soups. Here's a recipe for a Southwest Vegetarian Tortilla Soup I recently posted that is a perfect example. Just sprinkle a little turmeric while it's simmering.

3. Add a tiny bit to green smoothies.
Sprinkle a little in before blending a fruit juice and kale smoothie, and you won't even taste the turmeric. My usual recipe is:
• 1/2 apple
• 1/2 pear
• 1/2 banana
• 1-2 handfuls kale
• 1/2 cup ice
• Splash of orange juice or apple juice
* option: add a tiny sprinkle of turmeric

4. Add a small amount to sautéed greens. 
A quick and easy way I make sautéed greens (fresh kale, fresh spinach, fresh mustard greens, etc.) is to heat the pan over medium heat, then add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil and let the oil heat up. Then add 1 minced garlic clove to cook briefly (about 1 minute), stirring so it doesn't burn. Then add the greens, tossing constantly for a couple minutes until they are wilted or cooked to your preference. I also like to add 1-2 teaspoons of chicken or vegetable broth, a sprinkle of turmeric, black pepper and crushed red pepper (omit that last one if you don't want a little kick). Done. Fast, easy, and healthy.

5. Toss with roasted root veggies. 
Think potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, etc. It's even good with broccoli and cauliflower. I cut these veggies into same-size chunky pieces, toss with approximately 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil, 1 minced garlic clove, salt, pepper, and a pinch of turmeric. Roast at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Stir after 15 minutes, then every 10 minutes until they are done, evenly cooked, and a little browned on the edges. Done. Another easy and healthy side.

Love & Light.