Passover (or Pesach) doesn’t have to derail your progress, or even interfere. We’re sharing some tips to help support you as you navigate the food pillar during these eight days.
Purging Your Pantry (and Selling Your Chametz)
- Say goodbye to fast-digesting carbohydrates. Most processed chametz are fast-digesting carbohydrates anyway (such as bread, pasta, cakes, or cookies) and have likely already been purged from your pantry because of Calibrate, right? If not, here’s the perfect opportunity to remove them.
- Explore swaps. Chametz also includes some other Calibrate-friendly foods, such as oats, barley, rye, spelt, and flour. If these are a big part of your Calibrate day-to-day, try to find substitutions that work during Passover: Instead of starting your mornings with oatmeal, try a bowl of quinoa sweetened with raisins, fresh berries, and a dollop of Greek yogurt (quinoa is also a great swap for bulgur in tabbouleh, or for rice in general). Spiralize a zucchini for a familiar noodle feel versus serving up whole wheat spaghetti. Or, replicate the crunch of breadcrumbs on oven-baked chicken with chopped nuts or unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Amp up the protein. You may also keep Passover by restricting kitniyot, which includes many green foods such as green beans, corn, peas, legumes (like beans and lentils), peanuts, and seeds (like pumpkin, flax, sesame, and poppy). If you’re vegetarian and use legumes as your main source of protein, try to amp up your intake of other green sources of protein, like yogurt, cottage cheese, and other nuts (beyond peanuts). You can also make sure you’re getting your full servings of milk, cheese, eggs, and protein powder, all of which are considered yellow-green.
During Your Seders
- Snack smart. Whether you’re hosting or attending a traditional Seder (which can be very long), it’s important to have a healthy protein-packed snack beforehand since the meal does not come until later in the evening. It can be as simple as fruit and almond butter, or even some nuts and cheese.
- Take a cue from the karpas. This traditional dipping of vegetables is often the first bite at the Seder, but you can load up on vegetables beforehand too. Try celery or cucumbers with guacamole to help fill your belly so you don’t feel starved during dinner.
- Stretch your legs. After dinner, opening the door for Elijah is a good time to get up and walk around a bit, especially since Seders can feel especially sedentary.
- Follow “mostly good”: Remember: It’s always okay to prioritize meaningful or religious food choices, so go ahead and eat celebratory things, such as wine that’s part of your Seder, matzah, candies, or even charoset (which often includes wine or sugar). Just return to your normal the next morning. Consistency is way more important than perfection.
- Give yourself grace: If you’re hosting, show yourself some kindness. Cooking a big meal with lots of people can be stressful: Know your boundaries and set yourself up for success by planning and prepping what you can ahead of time.
Chag Pesach Sameach!