Anyone who knows me knows that I will try and live off popcorn. Sweet popcorn, savory popcorn, popcorn on my pizza, in my salad, on my soup, you name it.
The best thing about popcorn: it is the ultimate vessel for any toppings.
When I am preparing for a birth, I like to make a batch of popcorn to bring as a labor snack. (talk to any doula—we all have our favorite snack recipes hiding somewhere and trust me, they’re all good)
Mine is crunchy chocolate super food popcorn! What makes it super?
A little bit of:
Maca: for mood support, energy enhancement and sexual function (if you find you experience bloating/cramps during births)
Chia Seeds: high in fiber and protein, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids
Coconut oil and coconut: full of medium chain triglycerides that increase energy and stabilize blood sugar
Nut Butter: packed with proteins and fats to provide nutritional density
Honey: for a natural sugar source that immediately enters the blood stream
Cacao Nibs: a gentle stimulant that is full of flavonoids and packs a wonderful chocolaty crunch
And a handful other other delicious ingredients as well.
Let’s just say some sugar spice and everything nice to keep me alert and moving without inheriting bad breath or having my food go mushy or cold.
During labor, it is important for the birthing mother to keep her calories up but birth partners need to be aware of their intake as well. We may only have minutes or seconds before a contraction comes and we need to react– just like the mother, but it is important for all of us to try and keep hydrated and aware of our caloric intake.
The nice thing about this popcorn is you can use it for any event. Have a movie night, relax with your partner. Take it to a picnic or make popcorn balls with it. This recipe isn’t just for labor but it most definitely keeps me fueled.
Give it a try, make some tweaks to suit your palette and enjoy!
Crunchy Chocolate Super Food Popcorn
4 ish cups popped popcorn
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons nut butter
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 tablespoons cocoa/cacao powder
1 tablespoon maca powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
1) In a medium sized pot over medium heat, add coconut oil, nut butter and honey. Whisk and cook together until coconut oil is melted and honey is beginning to bubble.
2) When the liquid ingredients are melted, add in coconut, cacao nibs and chia seeds. Mix with popped popcorn and sprinkle powders and spices on top.
3) Continue to mix all ingredients together until fully coated and no contents are sticking to the bottom of the pot.
4) Pour into bowl and try to share.
With Love, from Ficus.
http://www.ficusdoula.com
