(While definitely not most people's favorite dish, it has its benefits, I promise. Read on!)⠀
As baby comes down the birth canal, he'll pick up beneficial bacteria which will help him establish a healthy microbiome. So later in your pregnancy, it's great to give your inner ecosystem a little boost. The easiest (and cheapest) way to support gut health is to eat fermented foods. Unfortunately, most aren't fermented naturally so they don't offer much in the way of beneficial probiotics. Thankfully, you can make your own!⠀
Ingredients:⠀
1 small head organic green cabbage ⠀
1 Tablespoon fine-grain sea salt⠀
1 Tablespoon caraway seeds⠀
Water⠀
⠀
How-to:⠀
Finely chop the cabbage, wash & allow to dry for an hour or so. Place in large bowl. Add salt & caraway & mix. Let marinate for 10-15 min. Next, use your hands or a potato masher to smash cabbage, releasing as much liquid as possible (if you're having trouble getting enough liquid, add 1/4 water to the mix). ⠀
Transport the contents to a large mason jar, the brine (liquid) should cover the cabbage, but leave at least an inch of space at the top for expansion. Cover loosely w/ a plastic lid or cloth, let sit at room temp for at least 3 days. ⠀
Keeps for about a month in the fridge!⠀