Festive Indulgences: The Joy of Mindful Eating

Desserts for Wellbeing

Our culinary team works hard to ensure that even our delectable desserts are light, pure and nourishing. Crafted around the Four Pillars of JOALI BEING: Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy, our sweets selection is designed to elevate holistic wellbeing. Each creation brims with beneficial ingredients, carefully chosen to strengthen 1-2 specific Pillars.

Many of our delicious indulgences contain less than 250 calories, such as the chocolate brownie and no-cheese cheesecake. Our nutritionally-oriented approach also factors in food intolerances and preferences: 100% of the dessert menu is gluten-free, and 40% is dairy-free.

A key aspect of our healthy desserts is that they are less sweet than their traditional counterparts. This makes our selection of ingredients even more crucial. In place of refined flour and sugar, we use whole-wheat flour and sugars derived from natural sources like fruits, dates and jaggery. Additionally, 80% of our products are organic, and we make it a point to work with suppliers located nearby in order to reduce our carbon footprint. Finally, the use of different elements – fruit, nuts, seeds and chocolate – adds a wonderful variety to our dessert selection.

Holiday Treats

This festive season, we find inspiration in the theme of “Vitality & Vibrancy”. For us, this translates into bringing fresh and natural elements to the table, with antioxidants and light ingredients as the protagonists.

Fermented foods – already a major part of our cuisine – are set to play a leading role during the festivities. We are shining a light on this technique so guests can learn about and share in its abundant benefits. Fermentation Master Takanori Onishi will be guiding a series of masterclasses over the holidays.

JOALI BEING’s festive menus reflect nutritionally rich and healthy concepts from around the world. Discover exciting culinary experiences like tea & caviar pairings, mood foods inspired by the Modified Mediterranean Diet, and a contemporary take on traditional Maldivian fare.

This season, for the first time, guests will also be able to enjoy our Four Pillars chocolate bars, made in-house from bean to bar. The artisanal process incorporates wholesome ingredients like organic cocoa beans from India, jaggery (instead of sugar), and coconut milk.

Mindful Indulgence

The wellbeing holidays are a tempting time. Even the most disciplined eaters might feel like indulging during celebratory moments. After all, food is wrapped up in emotion – and the festive season is all about togetherness, love and laughter.

Redefine mindful eating during the holidays, with the help of the following three suggestions from our team:

1. Monitor portions, by course. Choose your portion sizes carefully, and divide each meal into courses – soup, salad, main course and dessert. A warm soup boosts digestion as you begin eating, while a well-deserved healthy dessert leaves you satisfied at the end.
2. Include key macro- and micro-nutrients. It’s essential to have enough foods rich in proteins and vitamins, such as meat, seafood, eggs, dairy products, lentils, nuts and seeds. Additionally, fibre is vital for optimum digestion, so make sure to have a wide range of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens like spinach, kale and cilantro. A good thumb rule is to aim for a “rainbow” – the more colours you have on your plate, the more nutrients you get from your meal.
3. Snack wisely. Snacking can present a lot of temptation. Be intentional about snacking by opting for nut-and-seed protein bars, fruit-based smoothies or (best of all) a bright, flavourful bowl of cut fruits.

Weightlessness in Cuisine

The philosophy of weightlessness means finding joy in everything you do – including what you eat. Our culinary team maintains an innate “lightness” across dishes, from breakfast breads and granolas to snacks and desserts.

The simplest, most sustainable way to improve personal wellbeing is to cultivate balance, practice consistency, and create a lifestyle that suits your body and mind. We strongly believe that each guest should have the freedom to choose what works best for them. Our resident nutritionist and Ayurvedic doctor can help you learn more about your body type, dietary needs and which ingredients will elevate your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Designed to cater to all types of individual tastes, our varied culinary offerings delight the palate and satisfy the soul. We do not restrict any food groups in our menus. Rather, we see ourselves as a bridge between nature and our guests, bringing the best gifts of land and sea to your plate.