Supercharge your meals with superfoods

Infruition chats with Teodora, the founder of Thrively Superfood Baking about superfoods, healthy eating and making meals extra nutritious.

Superfoods- so what is all the fuss about?

Let’s start with the question of what are superfoods. We normally think of exotic ingredients when we hear the term superfoods, but in reality superfoods are very common. Eggs are a superfood, so are broccoli, berries, apples.  The technical description for a superfood is anything that has concentrated levels of certain vitamins, minerals or flavonoids. However, the recent superfood trend has more to do with our increased interest in wellness as a society and our curiosity for new ingredients.  Discovering new foods and the exciting options they bring is an integral part of a healthy relationship with food. It is also about going back to what is natural, wholesome and good for us. Luckily, globalisation has done us a favour in this area and now it is easier than ever to enjoy ingredients from all over the world that we previously didn’t know existed.

The exotic superfoods have taken the world by a storm indeed. Is this a trend which is likely to die out?

Many of the superfoods like maca, matcha and baobab have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures which have enjoyed their benefits. They are often part of ancient traditions, so in that sense they are the opposite of a passing trend. For example, maca is a root from South America grown in the high altitudes of the Andes and was used by the Incas for its energising and hormone balancing properties. Matcha has been part of Japanese and Asian cultures dating back to when Buddhist monks first discovered it aids their mediation practise by keeping them focused and calm. In the driest, harshest parts of rural Africa, the Baobab tree fruits have been an invaluable source of fibre and vitamin C for the local communities. We are only now discovering the wealth of super delicious and beneficial foods that have been helping people around the world to stay well for ages.  

How do superfoods benefit a healthy lifestyle?

A healthy lifestyle is a combination of a healthy body and a healthy mind. Ultimately, it’s striving for a balance that doesn’t make you feel deprived in any way. In terms of healthy eating, choosing meals with real nutrients rather than empty calories helps you feel energised and in-tune with your own body. That’s a pretty good feeling. Because superfoods are so nutritiously rich, by adding small quantities to your meals you can feel amplified benefits with minimum effort. What’s more, because these potent exotic superfoods often come in a dried and powdered form, it is very easy to add them to a variety of dishes.

Give us a few examples of how you would supercharge your meals with superfoods.

It’s very easy to incorporate superfoods in different recipes. Here are my suggestions for taking smoothies, salad dressings, meals and even your baking to the next level:

In Fruition water- adding chlorophyll rich spirulina, chlorella or vitamin C- rich baobab to your fruit infused water will give it an extra antioxidant boost. Baobab pairs well with citrus fruits and raspberries, while chlorella and spirulina will be great in combination with lemon, cucumber and mint.

In porridge- Add maca & chia to your porridge breakfast to help you feel fuller for longer and give you extra energy for busy days. Chia is a source of heart-friendly Omega 3 fatty acids and maca is known to increase stamina and energy.

In salads- Add some Baobab to your lemon and olive oil salad dressing. It has a fabulous sweet and citrusy flavour and provides lots of fibre.

In desserts- Add lucuma to your baked goods for some guilt-free natural sweetness.

So you are telling me desserts can be made healthier too?

Yes! Of course, they will never be as healthy as simply eating a fresh apple, but we can make desserts more nutritious with a small bit of creativity. We start by removing refined flours, white sugars and artificial ingredients, so in other words the empty calories. Instead we add wholegrain flours like quinoa and buckwheat to provide higher fibre content. We then swap out the white sugar with lucuma and Low GI (glycaemic index) unrefined coconut sugar. Now add some superfoods like chia seeds, which slow absorption of sugar and some nutrient-dense fruit powders like baobab and you will have a treat that is healthier and kinder to your body. It won’t raise blood sugar levels as much and it will provide some real nutrients. That’s exactly what we do at Thrively when we create our Superfood Baking Mixes.

What made you decide to get into the business of superfoods and create Thrively baking mixes?

Like many people, I have a sweet tooth. However, I had enough of ruining my healthy eating and fitness results due my lack of will power. Over a few years, I arrived at a stage where I had a pretty good diet and felt very good, but every time I was presented with a cupcake or a cake I just couldn’t say no. So I decided I need to find an alternative that complemented by healthy lifestyle, but also allowed me to enjoy a few little indulgences. I started baking at home and through a trial and error process I managed to create a base mix that happened to work for everything- muffins, cupcakes, brownies, cakes etc. It was too good to keep to myself so I decided to create a range of Superfood Baking Mixes and help other people enjoy healthier desserts in a quick and convenient way. I am not a professional baker, but because I know how little spare time people have in their day, it was very important for me to make a product that would offer a solution to a challenge that a lot of people face.  Thrively is a business with a lovely purpose and a mission to make people happier and healthier. That’s what makes all the difference.

Baking scares many people, how easy it is to bake something delicious with the Thrively mixes?

Let’s just say I’ve seen a six year old make amazing cupcakes with the mix, to the point that I greedily took the credit! Ready in less than 30 minutes and in four easy steps. All you have to do is mix 4 eggs, 200ml nut milk and ¼ of a cup coconut oil with the ready-made Thrively mix. Mix well, fill your muffin cases and bake for 25 minutes. The final stage is to add your own creative flair, by choosing your filling, whether that’s a crunch with nuts or your favourite fruits for a soft chew. 

To inspire our customers we even have a catalogue of recipes on our website to help them get started.  

Check out the special recipe Thrively created for the Infruition readers below!

Berrylicious Superfood Muffins

By Thrively

We’ve already taken water to another level, now let’s get desserts upgraded too. Because no one wants to give up sweet treats for good, the team at Thrively Superfood Baking have found a way to make them healthier and more nutritious, by using wholegrain flours, chia seeds, natural coconut sugar and superfoods from around the world. What’s more, by using the Thrively ready-bake mix you can make these muffins in a few easy steps and in less than 30mins! They are delicious, nourishing and bursting with superfoods and fresh berries, perfect as a tasty snack or to end a healthy meal.

Gluten-free | dairy-free | refined sugar-free

Makes: 8-9 muffins

Ready in: 30 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

1 Thrively Coconut & Lucuma Baking mix

4 eggs

200ml almond or coconut milk

60ml coconut oil (melted)

50g blueberries

50g raspberries

2-3 strawberries (diced)

Flaked almonds for decoration

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170C /150C fan /Gas mark 3.  
2. Whisk the eggs, oil, and milk together. Add the contents of the Thrively baking mix and combine carefully. Whisk for a minute until you have a smooth texture then add the berries.
3. Fill 8-9 muffins cases almost to the top.
4. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Ovens vary; some might need a little longer or a little less. 
5. Move to a wire rack and leave to cool. 

Serving suggestions:

Enjoy with a sprinkle of dark chocolate or peanut butter.  They are also delicious topped with coconut yogurt and toasted almond flakes too.