Foodie Friday: Tricks and Treats

Analiese is a writer, yogini, holistic health counselor-in-training, and aspiring whole foods chef based in the Washington, DC area. As a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she is passionate about helping others make natural and sustainable food choices. She writes about food, health, wellness, and creativity on her blog, Tulips & Tea.

Happy (Almost) Halloween and Some News!
Happy Halloween tranquilistas!  I hope you have some frightfully fun plans for this spookiest of holidays.  I'm excited to be back with another Foodie Friday post this month, and am especially excited to share something new and good happening in my life!  As some of you may already know, I recently made the decision to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to earn my certification in Holistic Health Counseling.  Throughout the past year, I have made changes to my own health, and have seen first-hand the difference that nutritious food plays in transforming our quality of life.  I am so excited to help others make holistic lifestyle changes, and I look forward to sharing what I learn here in my monthly Foodie Friday posts.

Tricks and Treats
Recently, I've heard several friends and acquaintances remark that, as the days become shorter and the weather turns cool, they have begun to crave rich and decadent foods.  Perhaps it's that we associate sumptuous foods with the upcoming holiday festivities, or perhaps we're naturally inclined to reward ourselves with comforting fare during the cold (and often dreary) winter months.  Whatever the reason, these cravings can lead us to make some not-so-healthy choices.  One trick I've discovered is that mindfully indulging in moderate servings of high-quality treats can help us to feel fulfilled - and therefore less likely to overindulge in the other stuff.  

Here are some of my favorite seasonal treats!

-Toasted whole grain bread with almond butter and a drizzle of honey

-A perfectly ripe apple from the farmers' market

-A DIY healthy pumpkin spice latte

-A homemade chai

-A couple squares of organic fair-trade dark chocolate

-A plate of figs or Medjool dates

-Homemade pumpkin spice muffins with pumpkin butter

-Baked sweet potato or butternut squash, sprinkled with cinnamon, nutmeg, and agave

-A handful of roasted pumpkin seeds

-Oatmeal topped with maple syrup and chopped walnuts

-Maple-baked pears (you could substitute apples if you prefer)

-A bowl of roasted butternut squash soup

-Sweet potato hummus with raw veggies or whole grain pita chips

-Whole grain pancakes or waffles with maple syrup

-Stuffed patty pan squash

-Apple crisp (made with organic farmers' market apples)

-Carrot cake cupcakes (made with organic farmers' market carrots) with vegan cream cheese frosting

-Roasted fennel and root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, beets) brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt

-Spaghetti squash tossed with zucchini, bell pepper, tomato, and Italian spices

-A bowl of organic applesauce

-Almond milk steamed with a few drops of vanilla extract and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice

-Freshly baked pumpkin gingerbread with spiced buttercream

-Spinach salad tossed with diced butternut squash, pine nuts, and dried cranberries

What would you add to the list?

Image via Pink Sherbet.