Go GREEN America!

Go Green America!

I few weeks ago I spoke at the Go Green America Expo in Washington DC.  My presentation was entitled, 3 Easy ways to green your diet, get healthy and save money!” Here are some of the key points in my seminar:

The first way to green your diet and get healthy is to Buy Local Foods.  Did you know that the average carrot travels over 1500 miles to get to your kitchen?  Not only is all that transport bad for the environment, produce loses vitamin and mineral content as soon as it is picked.  By choosing foods grown close to you, you are getting more nutrition and doing a good thing for the earth.

The second way is to Plan Your Meals!  This is good for the environment because you use less gas driving to the store every time you need some item you forgot on your last trip. You also spend less on take out because you have healthy food in the house.  Plus, foods you cook at home are healthier than eating convenience or processed foods.

And, last but certainly not least, the third way is to reduce meat in your diet and replace it with unprocessed plant proteins.  The website www.eatlowcarbon.org lets you see the CO2 Output of your favorite food item.  The output for one 4 oz hamburger patty is 1462 units of CO2, while the output for 4 oz of dry beans is 24 units CO2.  Plus, beans are low in fat and high in fiber making them a better choice for health.  And, beans are really inexpensive!

I have posted this veggie burger recipe before, but I am including an updated version here.  Eat one of these instead of your usual hamburger and it will be a healthier choice for you, the planet and your wallet!

Enjoy~
Jennifer

Black Eyed Pea Burgers
Serves 6
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

These low fat, high fiber burgers are SO tasty!  Enjoy them on a spouted whole grain bun with green salad.  They are also wonderful with a side of cooked leafy greens.

FREEZE RIGHT THERE!  You can freeze these burgers: wrap in wax paper, plastic or foil and freeze individually.  Then you can grab one for an easy lunch.

1 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 scallions, chopped
1 15-oz can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed (rinsing makes them taste less beany) OR 2 cups cooked black eyed peas
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 Tablespoon ketchup
1 Tablespoon tamari
2 Tablespoons flaxseed, ground mixed with 2 Tablespoons water
salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup cornmeal mixed with salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil, for brushing

Blend sunflower seeds in a food processor until ground.  Remove half of them and set aside.  Add garlic and scallions and pulse until ground.  Add rinsed peas, thyme, smoked paprika, ketchup and tamari and blend well, stopping to scrape the sides as needed. Remove mixture to a bowl and stir in flaxseed mixture and reserved sunflower seeds.   Season to taste with salt and pepper and chill mixture for 30 minutes (or longer).

Preheat oven to 400F.  Take out mixture and form into small balls and roll in cornmeal mixture, flatten into burger shapes and place on baking sheet lightly greased with olive oil.  Brush burgers with olive oil and bake for 10 minutes.  Remove cookie sheet, turn burgers over, brush again with olive oil, return to oven and bake another 10 minutes until firm and brown.  Burgers will firm up more as they cool.  Enjoy!

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