The most famous Passover food is matzah, known for its not-so favorable impact on our digestive tract. But Passover doesn’t have to be all that bad nutritionally. Since chametz (one of five types of grain that has come into contact with water and has been left to ferment and rise) is not allowed in the diet for eight days, Passover is a great time to focus on eating whole foods. One can’t just grab a granola bar on the go during this time, so it forces us to plan ahead and be more intentional about what we eat.
In the past 10 years or so, there has been a vast expansion of the Kosher for Passover processed foods available, such as pizza dough and cereals that taste far better than those stars I ate as a kid. Nevertheless, it is important not to overindulge in these innovative luxuries and continue to focus on the meat and potatoes of it all—that is, meat and potatoes, and of course eating a variety of veggies and fruits. Along with beef, there are many other (healthier) protein options to eat: chicken, turkey, fish, eggs (scrambled or hard-boiled), cottage cheese, yogurt, and cheese. Dice up some peppers and onions in your omelets and add some chopped melon or pear to your cottage cheese, and you got a great, wholesome fiber-rich meal/snack. And of course, throughout the day, you can snack on whatever fruits or veggies you like.
