Nicoya, Costa Rica, Blue Zone Diet Helped Me Feel More Full, Energetic

The first meal I made was a Costa Rican rice and beans dish. gallo pintotraditionally served for breakfast, but I’ve had it with other meals as well.

It was incredibly easy to assemble, just chop the onions and peppers, cook the rice, and mix in the beans and spices. After about an hour of work, I had three Tupperware servings of delicious bass.

This challenged the idea that making healthy, delicious food requires complicated or expensive food.

I customized it with fried eggs (which Nicoyans use as a side dish), avocado, salsa, hot sauce, and whatever else I had in the fridge or whatever I was in the mood for. Breakfast, which I usually munch on out of necessity, actually became an enjoyable experience. Eating flavorful beans was more exciting than my usual blueberry oatmeal.

Most importantly, the gallo pinto was filling. After my morning 10 mile run, I was surprised at how full I felt for the rest of the day after I devoured a hearty plate with all the fixings.

The Netflix series mentioned that Nicoyans eat pumpkins, beans, and corn. They are also known as the “Three Sisters” in indigenous cultures. In addition to these three crops, Nurturing each other by growing togetherBut it also forms a complete protein without the cholesterol found in meat.

The program did not mention specific Costa Rican recipes, so simple stew It consists of butternut squash, pinto beans, and corn. It was easy to make in one pot and could be eaten throughout the week.

At first, I was skeptical that this stew would make me feel full even without rice or couscous. However, just eating it alone for lunch gave me enough energy throughout the day.

Later, when I went to a weightlifting class, I was understandably surprised at how much energy I had, even without drinking any protein powder.

Reducing added sugars is one of the best things you can do to extend your longevity, but for me it’s one of the hardest things to do. Emotionally, I need a little snack after every meal, usually a chocolate chip cookie (main snack), a handful of leftover chocolate chips (secondary snack), and ice cream if we’re going for a walk together (bonus). snacks) may also be available. friend.

At the show, we caught a glimpse of Rosquillas, which can best be described as a cross between a mini donut and a crunchy cookie. There are many variations in Spain and Central America. recipe I followed Made with maseca (corn flour) and cheese.

Sugar was optional so I omitted it completely and opted for a tasty snack instead. I munched on sweets all day and didn’t feel the expected sugar crash or subsequent lightheadedness.

Making these took more work than opening a bag of potato chips, but I didn’t feel the creeping anxiety that often comes with highly processed foods. Plus, when I was already full from my main meal, the voice in my head asking for cupcakes became a little quieter.

The recipe stated that making Roskiyas was a great group activity. Maybe next time I’ll invite friends over and try another one of Nikoyan’s secrets to longevity: creating more space for leisure.