Focus On: Nutritional Yeast

Morning friends!

Hope you all had a wonderful evening :)

I walked home from work last night and finally purchased a presto card for the bus. If you're in Ottawa, or any city in general, you will know that a) paying for the bus in change sucks, b) buying tickets is almost just as costly and annoyingly deceiving since you have to use two instead of one per ride (why, Ottawa, why?), and c) the line-ups at the OC Transpo desk at the Rideau Center is always insanely long. Well, at least it is whenever I have attempted to be responsible and purchase a presto card to save a bit of cash.

Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and stood in line last night and finally bought a presto card. And now I feel super legit to be able to just waltz onto the bus without rushing out of the house late and panicking in the line-up at the Mac's corner store before running to catch the bus to work in the morning. I was calm and composed this morning, made my coffee and then walked - yes, walked - to the bus stop and caught the speedy #27 instead of the deathly long #8 to work. Mission, accomplished.

Loves it.

Focus On: Nutritional Yeast

I haven't done a 'Focus On' post in a little while (see previous workout-focused ones here, here and here), so I thought I would do one on a recent find of mine - turns out I am waaaay behind on this discovery, but better late than never, amiright?

I finally broke down and decided to purchase some nutritional yeast to see what all the fuss is about. I went with the Red Mills kind, which is one of my go-to for oats and quinoa as well.

{please ignore the fact that I reeeeally needed to remove my nailpolish}

I sprinkled some on my quiche this morning, and it gave it a nice cheesy flavour, but without the runny texture of melted cheese.

What is nutritional yeast, you ask? According to the Natural Health Magazine, it is: a single-celled organism of fungi called Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. In a controlled environment it is cultured and grown on molasses and then deactivated, harvested, washed and dried. Deactivation prevents it from being used as a leavening agent.

Awesome. So, what does that mean exactly?

Here are some of the benefits of nutritional yeast:

• A complete, bioavailable source of protein
• Contains all 18 amino acids
• Naturally free of dairy, soy, gluten and sugar, and contains no animal products
• Full of the B-complex vitamins (some brands including B12)

B vitamins are awesome because they:

• Balance the myriad systems of the body
• Convert food to energy
• Minimize depression, insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, trembling, loss of appetite, PMS, mood changes and irritability (ladies, take note)
• Can also improve skin, nails and hair and improve memory

Chock full of the B-complex vitamins (some brands including B12), nutritional yeast boasts trace minerals and, being a complete, bioavailable source of protein, contains all 18 amino acids. It is naturally free of dairy, soy, gluten and sugar, and contains no animal products. B vitamins help balance the myriad systems of the body, they help convert food to energy, minimize depression, insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, trembling, loss of appetite, PMS, mood changes and irritability. B vitamins can also improve skin, nails and hair and improve memory. - See more at: http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/blogs/practical-well-being/nutritional-yeast-demystified#sthash.dOV3Vbfr.dpuf

Chock full of the B-complex vitamins (some brands including B12), nutritional yeast boasts trace minerals and, being a complete, bioavailable source of protein, contains all 18 amino acids. It is naturally free of dairy, soy, gluten and sugar, and contains no animal products. B vitamins help balance the myriad systems of the body, they help convert food to energy, minimize depression, insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, trembling, loss of appetite, PMS, mood changes and irritability. B vitamins can also improve skin, nails and hair and improve memory. - See more at: http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/blogs/practical-well-being/nutritional-yeast-demystified#sthash.dOV3Vbfr.dpuf

Some ideas of what kinds of foods to sprinkle it on:

• Salads
• Omelets/scrambled eggs/quiche
• Popcorn
• Kale chips (so good!)
• Cereal
• Add to smoothies
• Soups
• Sandwiches
• Anything and everything that you want ;)

Turns out, it really is kind of amazing. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is addicted to cheese, like myself, but would like to limit dairy intake. It is also a great choice for any vegans out there who misses cheesy goodness but doesn't eat animal products. It isn't exactly the same, but its a great alternative ;)

Question of the Day:

• Have you ever tried nutritional yeast? Love it or leave it?