8 New Foods You Should Be Eating (But Probably Aren’t)

In a diet rut? These eight healthy eats will pull you out.

Acai

Benefits: Nicknamed the “beauty berry,” it has so many compounds that make the body both feel and look better from the inside out. Its combination of antioxidants, amino acids and omega fatty acids all help slow the aging process by boosting immune and metabolic function and removing destructive free radicals from our bodies.

How to eat it: Create the ever so popular acai bowl, found everywhere in southern California! An acai smoothie with granola and fruit on top.

Where to find it: Frozen packs of this stuff are in most health food store freezer sections.

Banana Whips

Benefits: This delicious frozen treat to cure your sweet tooth without any artificial ingredients or added sugar, just pure frozen banana! Bananas are one of the best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.

How to eat it: Eat it plain or mix in some unsweetened cocoa powder for a more chocolatey flavor, heck throw some mint extract for a mint chocolate chip flavor!

Where to find it: You can make this yourself—literally, it’s just blended up frozen bananas—using a Champion Juicer or a regular blender. You can also find these at some juice and smoothie places, including HipCityVeg.

Organic Sunflower Seed Butter

Benefits: This is a great addition to all the nut butters we love, like peanut and almond. Sunflower seed butter is great for those who have nut allergies but what the texture of peanut butter. It’s a good source of protein, fiber, vitamin E, zinc and iron.

How to eat it: Eat it by the spoonful, spread it on a sandwich, dip your apples in it … it all tastes good!

Where to find it: Most major grocery stores carry this. Look for organic and non GMO for the best quality.

Liquid Stevia

Benefits: Enhance the sweetness of anything with this all-natural sugar substitute. No side effects and it helps with weight management.

How to eat it: Great to add to coffee, tea, and yogurt and can be used for baking.

Where to find it: Most major grocery stores carry this. Try the liquid, instead of the packets, as it has a much better taste.

Yerba Mate

Benefits: A wonderful alternative to coffee that helps stimulate focus and boost energy. Bonus: It provides more antioxidants than green tea!

How to eat it: Purchase made-to-order teas at a cafe or brew at home yourself.

Where to find it: Most major grocery stores carry this, as well as coffee shops.

Sauerkraut

Benefits: Sauerkraut combines the health benefits offered by all cruciferous vegetables (a category which includes cauliflowers and Brussels sprouts as well as cabbage) with the probiotic advantages derived from the fermentation process.

How to eat it: Delicious in a salad, or pair as a side dish with chicken or pork.

Where to find it: Purchase at any major grocery store or order out at a restaurant. Note: Look for jars that are lower in sodium

Oat Bran

Benefits: Oat bran cereal is a deliciously smooth, high-fiber cereal milled from high-protein oats. It can help create a feeling of fullness and slow down the absorption of fats and sugars.

How to eat it: It makes a wonderful hot cereal, or you can add it to baked goods for increased nutrition.

Where to find it: Purchase at any major grocery store. If you are gluten free, look for certified gluten-free oat bran.

Chia Seed Pudding

Benefits: The word chia comes from the Mayan language and means strength. Chia seeds are a balanced blend of protein, carbohydrates, fats and fiber. They help keep you feeling full with their high-fiber content and create a delicious consistency when turned into a pudding by adding milk and soaking overnight.

How to eat it: Combine 2/3 cup chia seeds with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk or rice milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add one to two droplets of stevia to sweeten.

Where to find it: Chia seeds can be purchased at most major grocery stores and health foods stores. Some restaurants and cafes are starting to include this on their menus.

>> This post originally appeared at unitefitness.com

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Juliet Burgh is the nutrition director at Unite Fitness, which has online programs and local studios offering its trademark group cross-training and personal- and nutrition-coaching. Studios are located in Center City, Philadelphia, Mt. Laurel and Medford, New Jersey. Now franchising.

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