Cannabis Edibles

Cannabis users tend to have a bad reputation for eating junk food, most likely because of widespread misunderstanding about the munchies. A prominent effect of cannabis is increasing one’s appetite, and that coupled with the total relaxation and low impulse control can result in unhealthy eating habits.

However, cannabis use and junk food don’t have to go hand-in-hand. In fact, it is possible to combine healthy eating with getting high by preparing the following delicious and nutritious cannabis edibles at home:

Healthy Canna Cooking Oil

The foundation of all at-home cannabis cooking and baking is cannabis-infused oil or fat. Traditionally, culinary stoners created canna-butter, or infused butter, which is easy to integrate into typical edible recipes like special cookies and magic brownies. Though butter isn’t nearly as unhealthy as was once believed, it still contains a large amount of saturated fats, which can worsen “lousy” LDL cholesterol levels and lead to other negative health outcomes.

Thus, instead of making canna-butter, some health-conscious stoners might be interested in making healthier cannabis-infused oils. Some examples of heart-healthy oils that have many applications in the kitchen include:

  • Olive oil
  • Avocado oil
  • Safflower oil
  • Sunflower oil

Infusing oils with cannabis isn’t difficult, but it can be an involved process. Home stoner cooks need to decarboxylate their flower, and then they need to gently steep the bud in their oil of choice for around an hour before straining out the plant material. Those who anticipate that DIY edibles will be a common practice in their home might invest in an infusion machine, like the LEVO. Users can talk to budtenders at a trusted Illinois dispensary to find flower with the right flavor profile for their home cooking, or they can use trim — smaller buds, leaves and stalks — for a less-potent infused cooking oil.

Once infused oil is made, it can be substituted one-to-one for almost any oil in almost any recipe, to transform regular dishes into edible experiences. The following four recipes can help guide first-time stoner chefs toward healthier, more satisfying edibles:

Infused Salad Dressing

For those eager to reach their daily recommended serving of vegetables, salad is an excellent snack or meal. It is relatively fast and easy to throw a salad together, given that a person has a few leafy greens on hand. Salad mix-ins are up to an individual’s discretion and can take the form of slices of chicken, ground beef, various seeds and nuts, fruits, cooked vegetables, pasta, cheese and more. Even someone stoned out of their mind can put together a simple salad with as much speed and success as they can apply cheese whiz to a cracker.

However, for those who want to get high from their salad, an additional step of preparation is necessary: the dressing. A simple infused salad dressing mixes 3 tablespoons of infused olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or vinegar), 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard and some salt and pepper. Applied liberally to a salad, this dressing should provide a delightful little buzz — alongside the vitamins and nutrients from the vegetables, of course.

Cannabis Edibles

Hemp Energy Balls

In this fast-paced world, people often need a quick and easy source of energy and nutrition. Enter: energy balls. These treats tend to incorporate whole grains, fruits and a bit of sweetness for a homemade, healthy and satisfying snack for stoners on-the-go. Often, energy balls utilize nut butters and a bevy of seeds to increase the protein content, keeping snackers sated for longer. As with salads, mix-ins are optional and to the cook’s preferences; some might crave chocolate chips, while others might prefer shredded coconut or blueberries. There are plenty of no-bake energy ball recipes that don’t use oil, in which case stoners can infuse honey or vanilla extract to use, instead.

Canna-bananas

Perhaps the easiest stoner recipe of all time, canna-bananas involve slicing up a banana, dipping them in some melted chocolate (optionally mixed with infused cannabis oil) and freezing them. The result is a delightful snack full of fiber and micronutrients, which even non-stoners might be tempted to try.

Getting high shouldn’t preclude maintaining a nutrient-dense diet. With the right preparations, stoners can combine their passions for cannabis and healthy food.