The “Bikini” on Taro Root
Taro is a root vegetable found in areas of West Africa, Central and South America among many other areas of the world. Although similar to a potato, taro root contains a host of essential vitamins and minerals that promote good circulation, help regulate blood pressure and boost the immune system. Taro is high in fiber which keeps digestion flowing smoothly and helps keep blood sugar regulated thereby staving off food cravings. Taro root is lower glycemic that potato chips making them more metabolism friendly.
Cooking Methods
The taro root, like the potato, makes great chips and most of us love a good, crispy chip. There’s quite a bit of controversy over what is considered to be a “healthy” chip these days. Many producers of “all natural”, “all vegetable” chips can legally say their products are such, but the approach and ingredients in preparing them are often misleading. Many common snack chips are made with ingredients like various types and blends of vegetable oils which are high in Omega-6 fatty acids which can interfere with healthy fat cells. And, these “all natural” vegetable chips are commonly fried – one of the worst cooking methods for good health. In my research, I have found that most common vegetable snack chips are made with starches that lead to blood sugar imbalance and cause more cravings for unhealthy, diet-busting foods.
Over-snacking
While sometimes grabbing a bag of chips at the store is the easiest option, I encourage taking a “fresh is best” approach. Time is of concern? By the time the car is parked, you’ve made your way to the chip aisle and waited in line at the grocery store, you could have easily made these delicious taro root chips at home.
With a little pre-planning, it’s easy to make healthy snack chips at home. And, keep other fresh snacks handy at all times to feel energized, positive, empowered, and on track with your health goals.
Pre-planning tips:
- Allow 10 to 15 minutes on Saturday and Tuesday to think about the snacks and meals for the week
- Make a grocery list based on the selected recipes and needed ingredients, foods
- Shop on Saturday for Sunday prep (or shop early Sunday for Sunday prep)
- Shop on Tuesday for Wednesday prep (or shop early Wednesday for Wednesday prep)
- Sundays, portion out your snacks through Wednesday; post a simple list of the menus through Wednesday
- Sunday, make the smoothie energy drink for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Freeze portions, if desired, for the remaining days
- Wednesday, prep the remaining week’s snacks; make the remaining week’s smoothie energy drinks, if they were not frozen
- Remember to take snacks with you during the day
- Remember to take the frozen smoothie energy drinks out of the freezer and place in the refrigerator the night before
Quick, Easy, Energizing Snack ideas:
- Celery sticks (they are really not boring)
- Fennel sticks
- Raw asparagus tips
- 1/2 slice of sprouted bread with tahini or almond butter and black sesame seeds
- Raw walnuts or almonds
- Lightly roasted chickpeas
- Raw bell pepper strips
- Lightly steamed broccoli florets
- Lightly roasted cauliflower
- 16 to 20 ounces of homemade smoothie energy drink, such as Beet, Kale or Citrus (recipes in The Bikini Chef® Diet)
- Homemade Taro Root Chips (recipe below)
