Brain Food: Thai Fish Chowder (ish!)

YOU GUYS. Yesterday I posted an instagram story about this fish stew I'm currently obsessed with. DON'T WORRY: I'm not planning on turning into a food blogger. There are so many more qualified people out there for that. But I do think nutrition has a strong effect on our mental health, so if I come across a healthy recipe that really blows me away, I'll share it.

Today's is Fresh Tart's "Halibut Coconut Milk Stew with Roasted Butternut Squash."

Or as I like to call it, a sort of Thai Fish Chowder (because "fish stew" doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it?) Holy HEAVEN this tastes incredible. If you like thai-inspired flavors and any kind of fish chowder, this blends the two styles together beautifully. It's also dairy-free, gluten-free, and all sorts of other frees (if you omit the maple syrup it's sugar-free, too!).

Couple of personal edits to the recipe:

+ I doubled the recipe because I cook for two and I love leftovers and this stew is REALLY good as a leftover. The flavors just get better. + I omitted the maple syrup because I'm currently cutting sugar. It was still amazing, so I don't think I'll ever feel the need to add it. + I replaced halibut with cod. Cod is generally cheaper and it's an easy-going white fish. Feel free to experiment with whatever white fish you like best. + I use Red Boat Fish Sauce (you can get it at Trader Joe's now) — it was recommended by one of my favorite food bloggers, Nom Nom Paleo, because it's minimally processed in comparison to other fish sauces. + I cheat and use Trader Joe's pre-minced garlic and ginger. I know it's lazy, but I'm no master chef, so I like shortcuts. ;) + You can get Coconut Aminos at Whole Foods. I am OBSESSED. Soy sauce isn't gluten-free, so I use it as a replacement for all recipes. Tamari is another great gluten-free alternative, but it is still soy based.

Brain-Stimulating Reasons Why This Rocks:

I could actually rave about ALL of the ingredients in this dish, but let's focus on the following: + Coconut Milk: Though slightly divisive (apparently some people think there's such a thing as too much), coconut milk is "rich in fiber, vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6 and minerals including iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous." (according to BBC Good Food) Those are all the good things! Magnesium is a personal favorite of mine that I try to eat often. It's especially good for boosting energy while simultaneously calming nerves and anxiety. + Turmeric: As my dear friend (and ACTUAL Chef) Alia Dalal so aptly points out in this blog post, turmeric is pretty dope. It's being evaluated for its cancer-fighting properties and has long been used as an aid to fight infections and digestive issues. Plus, it turns everything yellow, which I personally think is super fun. + Wild White Fish: Omega-3 levels vary depending on the fish, but you can bet if you're eating fish, you're getting some. Our bodies can't produce Omega-3, so getting it through food is key. It is essential for brain development and growth. This University of Michigan breakdown from their Integrative Medicine department is super informative if you want to look deeper into which fish has the highest Omega-3 content (and which has low levels of Mercury). Also: ALWAYS GO WILD. (pun?) Farm fish tends to have higher levels of unwanted chemical exposure. You don't need none of that up in your system. + Butternut Squash: Lots of fiber, a solid amount of potassium, and a great source of Vitamin B6, which helps regulate our nervous system and may even help to combat depression, heart disease, PMS symptoms, and morning sickness from pregnancy (according to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). Its orange hue indicates the biggest win—high levels of carotenoids and beta-carotene can fend off breast cancer and age-related vision loss. It's high in antioxidants, too. So, get after it.

The moral of the story is that healthy food makes a positive impression on your body, brain, and ultimately your mood.

Final thoughts: I think that when people consider eating "healthier," they visualize healthy habits as a RESTRICTION on the foods they love to eat most—the sugary, high-processed stuff our tastebuds crave. But when you look at healthy eating as selecting foods that ADD something to your body—when we really begin to understand how various vitamins effect us—being "healthy" suddenly becomes a lot more fun. You stop looking at vegetables as "those things I have to eat to be healthy, whatever that means" and you start seeing them as "bringing the specific nutrients that I know can battle depression or PMS or protect my body from heart disease!"

When you see food as working to your ADVANTAGE, you stop worrying so much about what you aren't getting and you start focusing on how to get MORE of what makes your body glow.

And that really changes the game of how we eat. 🍍🍜🍗