Oh baby - You're eating what???

It's January.  I am reading all the magazines and blog posts about clean eating.  No dairy.  No meat.  No gluten.  No sugar.  Ugh!!!  So what can you eat????

Research is increasing emerging to convince us that our gut flora is deeply influential to our health.   Here are a few examples:

1.  Depression:  Research from McMaster University earlier this year determined that levels of gut bacteria in babies and younger children reflect propensity towards depression and anxiety in adulthood.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150728110734.htm

2.  Immune Function:  A new understanding of the essential role of gut microbes in the immune system may hold the key to dealing with some of the more significant health problems facing people in the world today, researchers say in a new analysis.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23426535

3.  Obesity:  New research connects not only weight gain, but diabetes and other inflammatory conditions like cardiac disease and cancer to gut bacteria.  http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-help-make-us-fat-and-thin/

I feel compelled to work on my diet.  In the second half of my century on earth, I have joint pain, a tendency toward melancholy and hormonal craziness.  Don't we all?  But what if being a little more mindful could increase my energy and boost my concentration?  What if I could finally shed a few pounds????

With this inspiration bright in my soul, I scoured my recipe book.  I love recipes.  I copy them from facebook, pull them from magazines and share them with friends.  The treasure trove is extensive.  

Tonight's dinner is vegan, plant based and follows our clean eating guidelines.  Honestly,  it was yummy and filling.  A square of dark chocolate for dessert completed my bliss.

Chickpea & Lentil Curry

Mild and flavourful.  Easy to prepare.

Saute one chopped onion in coconut oil or ghee (clarified butter used extensively in Indian cooking).  Add two cloves minced garlic and 1 tsp chopped fresh ginger.  Stir in 1/2 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of ground cloves, 1/2 tsp cardamom and 1 tsp cumin.  Enjoy the spicy aroma as you add 1 Tablespoon curry powder.  Once well browned, add 2 cups water, 1 cup stewed tomatoes, 1/2 cup canned coconut milk and 1 cup red lentils.  Season generously with salt.  Simmer for about 30 minutes until thickened and lentils are tender.  Add one drained and rinsed can of chick peas.  

In the meantime, cook basmati rice.  I never owned a rice maker until my brother in law passed away several years ago.  With such limited storage space in my kitchen, I thought these fancy appliances were out of my reach.  I have totally reconsidered!  The secret to great basmati rice, so it tastes like the Indian restaurants, is to let it sit in the rice maker for 30 - 60 minutes post.  It is fluffy and dry then.  To make this dish really sing, add some flaked coconut as you cook the rice.

Serve with chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice squeezed on top.

Spinach Salad

The dressing here is a raw sunflower seed puree that is reminiscent of Ceasar salad.  Adds protein and fibre to your meal.

Soak 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds in 1/2 cup almost boiled water for one hour.  Blend mixture with 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tablespoon raw honey, 1 tsp tamari and 1 garlic clove in a food processor until smooth.  Toss with baby spinach, chopped veggies and raw sprouts.  Awesome!

Total protein for this meal: 24 grams plus tons of iron, fibre, vitamins and minerals.  So if you would like to experiment with clean eating, this menu covers the bases and provides the nutrients you need to build gorgeous gut bacteria.