You know that saying: “Beauty comes from the inside”? I used to call it “the ugly people’s favorite phrase” and dismissed it immediately as an empty cliché saying. Well, turns out I was wrong.
Glowing skin, shiny hair, and strong nails depend on what we eat. Certain foods contain lots of nutrients that can make you prettier and these foods have been used by people for thousands of years.
Think of Cleopatra and her beauty rituals that involved foods:
Well, you don’t have to swim in milk to be pretty (I know you want to, though). It is more efficient to eat these ingredients.
How about incorporating beauty ingredients into your favorite delight? Which sweet treat incorporates all these ingredients? Pancakes. A few simple changes in the batter will turn them into a healthy snack. What good would glossy hair be if you gain extra pounds in the process, right? A great cooking app is very important for this purpose.
Pancake Base Upgraded
To prepare healthy pancakes you need to change the easy pancake recipe base first. Just follow these easy steps:
– Replace regular flour with whole wheat, oatmeal, coconut flour, almond flour or soy flour;
– Replace regular refined sugar with honey, pure maple syrup, molasses, agave syrup or stevia;
– Replace regular milk with non-dairy milk, like almond, soy, rice or coconut milk;
– Use healthier vegetable oil alternatives, like olive, coconut, castor or sesame oil.
Here are some suggestions to add some beauty ingredients in pancakes.
Protein Pancakes
Skin, hair, and nails are mostly protein, i.e. keratin, collagen, and elastin. They reduce wrinkles and provide strength and elasticity. You can include protein in your pancake recipe through legumes, eggs, and dairy.
Idea: Pancake recipes usually call for one or two eggs, so that’s a good start. Add 1 ½ cup milk or yogurt for extra fluffiness and softness and a cup of unsalted peanuts (legumes) plus a cup of chocolate chips.
Beta-Carotene Pancakes
Beta-carotene can be found in all colorful fruits and vegetables, like carrots, pumpkin, and spinach. They are very good for our skin, as are egg yolks.
Idea: Add a cup of pumpkin puree or diced carrot to the batter. Add cinnamon and ginger and some nuts. For a real sweet delight prepare some cream cheese frosting to pour on top. Sprinkle some chopped pecans too.
Vitamin C Pancakes
Vitamin C is essential to make collagen. As we age, the skin loses collagen. Vitamin C acts as antioxidant and slows aging and skin damage.
Add at least one cup diced kiwifruit to the batter. Chop a few more to place on top. Or choose ¼ cup orange juice and orange zest.
Omega-3 Pancakes
The body needs essential omega-3 and omega-6 fats. If you have a dry, itchy scalp or skin, you may have a deficiency of these fats. Our bodies can’t make them, so we need to eat them.
Idea: Add a tablespoon or two of flaxseed into every pancake recipe you make. Flaxseed oil is also an option that can be used both in the batter and for frying.
Well, I’m off to my bathroom, my coconut milk bath awaits!