5-Minute Wellness: Superfood Dip

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As many of us try to eat healthier in the new year, keeping that resolution isn’t always easy with tasty snacks and treats at every turn. Thankfully this easy-to-make superfood dip with keep your cravings at bay with nutrient-dense ingredients like spinach, garlic, beans, red peppers, and avocado. Celebrity nutritionist Keri Glassman knows a thing or two about the power of superfoods; below she chimes in on their disease fighting powers, as well as their health and beauty benefits.

Related: The Hardest Nutrition Advice to Follow

Spinach is a healthy girl (or guy’s) bff; it’s filled with antioxidants, most of its calories come from protein, and it’s one of the best sources of dietary potassium and iron out there. Plus, the vitamins A and C it contains will help boost your immune system in these cold winter months.

Beans are loaded with fiber and plant protein to help keep you full. They’re often an unsung antioxidant hero- protecting your heart, improving your skin and preventing heart disease.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Good Skin

Avocadoscontain over 25 essential nutrients and are one of the tastiest ways to get in some much-needed healthy fat and fiber. They’re loaded with monounsaturated fat, known to improve cholesterol and help you lose belly fat. They also contain the compound glutathione, which blocks the absorption of unhealthy fats.

Garlic needs a PR makeover. Best known as a ploy to ward off vampires, it should be touted for it’s main disease fighting compound, Allicin. Not only does it create healing in the circulatory, digestive and immune systems, it also has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties.

Related: Skin-Perfecting Superfoods from Around the World

Red Peppers contain beta carotene, lycopene, and skin-repairing vitamin A, but their most impressive stat is the amount of the powerful antioxidant, vitamin C, that they contain- twice as much as an orange.

Rosemary has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries; traditionally used to help alleviate muscle pain, improve memory, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth- fresh tastes best.

Glassman teaches her clients that it shouldn’t be a choice between deprivation and all out gluttony. “No matter how healthy a food is, if it doesn’t taste great then we know where you will go next—the fridge for something else to eat! The best part about healthy, whole, real foods is that they are naturally tasty, especially when combined properly. Being satisfied with taste, not just fueling your hunger level is equally important.”

Whip up this 5 minute dip and guests will be equally elated by it’s taste, and the fact that they can now indulge in an extra glass of champagne before the ball drops.

Recipe:

1 15.5 oz can cannellini beans

1 avocado

2 cups fresh spinach leaves, packed

2 large cloves garlic

Juice from 1 fresh lemon

1 tsp fresh rosemary

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

½ red pepper finely diced (reserved)

In a food processor or high-speed blender, puree all ingredients except the red pepper, until smooth. Stir in diced pepper, and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve with crostini or sliced colored peppers and assorted veggies.

Makes 1½ cups or about 8 servings.