Benefits of Flaxseeds

I hope your holidays are feeling warm and festive despite fewer get-togethers this year. We made a 100% plant-based Thanksgiving and my son, the non-vegan, could not tell the difference in the recipes...except for the deviled potatoes instead of deviled eggs. Ha! He still ate about eight of those smoky little devils. Seems like they passed the test. I wanted to share with you what I am up to this week.

Eating

I am making a conscious decision to add more ground flaxseed into my diet. Flaxseeds are a part of Dr. Micheal Greger’s Daily Dozen which are the foods that we should be eating every day for good health. Studies show that adding one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds to your diet each day can improve digestive health, relieve constipation, lower LDL cholesterol, reduce hypertension, and aid weight loss. My plan is to add one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds to WHATEVER I eat for breakfast whether it is breakfast cereal, oatmeal, upma (more on that later), nut butter toast, a smoothie, or homemade muffins. I will even add it to a small glass of juice as a last resort. Get in my belly flaxseeds!!! I will let you know how it is going. By the way, if you start adding flaxseeds like this you may experience some mild digestive issues while your gut bacteria adjusts to its new friend.

Studying

I am reading a book called 1491 about how the information that we received as children about Native Americans is largely false and leaves a lot out of the story. It is opening my eyes to understand more deeply that rich, intricate, and developed cultures were here in North America before the Europeans arrived. In one part, the author Charles Mann explains how the Puritans made it through their first, harsh New England winter. He says, “In his history of Plymouth colony, Governor Bradford himself provides only one answer: robbing Indian houses and graves.” Ouch, sorry Thanksgiving. It is a fascinating read with much information from original sources, and I highly recommend this book if you are looking to decolonize your worldview. For me, part of my yoga off the mat practice is about having a more “all for one and one for all” mentality. I am finding that this is not just a decision, but that I must actually do some digging, reading, and working to get there.

Cooking

This week I am making Vegan Sloppy Joes made with lentils, spices, some diced veggies, tomato sauce, and regular condiments like ketchup, mustard, and maple syrup. This warm and delicious meal takes 30 minutes to make from start to finish. I am using whole wheat buns for the bread, but you can use gluten free if you choose. Cook the lentils on the stove for 20 minutes. In the meantime, slice up and sauté your veggies for a few minutes. Add in the spices and condiments to the vegetables, then add the cooked lentils. You can also serve this on a baked potato if that sounds more delectable to you. Your leftovers will freeze well. Let me know how it tastes if you make it! You can find the recipe from the Nora Cooks site here: https://whi.sk/NAvTD

Saving the planet, showing kindness to animals, and staying healthy one bite at a time.

Warm wishes,

Monique