Almond Flaxseed Burger from Thrive

I've been struggling to find a diet that is perfect for me, living quite a stressful life with a family with three kids and being a business owner for a +110 award-winning, high-prestige, video-games developer (Avalanche Studios). I've read many books and I shouldn't say my transition to a plant-based diet has been easy. I travel +100 days a year and it's very tempting, not going back to meat (never been a big fish or chicken guy anyways) necessary, but to eat vegan junk-food which is super-tasty but not very healthy. Also, I'm not getting younger and I need to get my lazy ass down in my basement gym and hit the weights and start riding my bike to work.

Anyways, long intro... I've read Brendan Braziers awesome book Thrive for the third time and the 1st of May will be the start of an attempt not only to get back into shape, but also to follow Brendan's 12-week meal plan - strictly.

Tonight we did this awesome raw Almond Flaxseed Burger with Sweet Pepper Hemp Pesto as I was trying out some recipes for next week. It's super tasty and by far one of the best raw food burgers I've tasted to date.

Ingredients - Burgers

2 Garlic Cloves

2.5 dl Almonds (I use Saltå Qvarn's as they are organic and great)

1.25 dl ground Flaxseeds (grind the seeds in a coffee grinder)

2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

2 tbsp Hemp Oil

Sea salt

Mix everything in a food processor and make two patties. Done!

Ingredients - Pesto

1 Garlic Clove

1 Red Bell Pepper (cored and seeded)

1.25 dl Fresh Basil

3 tbsp Nutritional Yeast and Sesame Seeds

2 tbsp Hemp Seeds (I use Renee Voltaires)

2 tbsp Hemp Oil

Sea salt

Mix everything in a food processor.

Serve with mixed greens.

Forks Over Knives - Warning! This movie could save your life

Documentaries like Forks Over Knives are rarely shown in the movie theatres in Sweden unfortunately, but this one should not be missed and it will come out on DVD shortly. Forks Over Knives examines the topic about diseases being controlled and reversed by changing our diets. The movie follows two researchers; Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn as they present facts how a bad diet and how animal-based foods affect our health. I find it quite funny that some non-believers just dismiss the documentary as "vegan propaganda" and I don't think you'll see a single pair of Birkenstocks in this movie, just a lot of facts that speak for themselves.



For most of you, there's no secret that fast-food and a all-out bad diet affect our health. In the US, this generation is the first to be stand a chance of being outlived by its parents. Scary, right? Obviously for the "sickness industry" this is great as "good health makes a lot of sense, but not a lot of $$$".

Yes, there are as always two sides of the story but as my plant-based diet completely changed my health, stress tolerance level, temper (I had a very short fuse before changing diets) and made me an even happier person I let the results of change speak for itself.

I can't wait for this movie to get available on DVD as I am confident it will knock most people of their feets. At least those with an open mind to change their lives to the better.

Flaxseed - Awesome source of Omega 3 and Omega 6

My mother is by far no healthy person, even though she many times think she is, but she's been a huge fan of Flaxseeds (Linfrön in Swedish) since I was a kid. She's never explained the great effects of Flaxseeds any deeper, more than "it's good for you", but she was right. Flaxseeds is the one of the greatest sources of Omega 3 (fatty acid), Omega 6 and are also great source of Potassium (regulates the body's fluid balance).

Ground Flaxseeds are easily and quicker absorbed in the body, so always chose ground Flaxseeds. The seeds have a hard shell and are small so they usually goes straight through the body if not grounded.

Another great effect of just a small dose as one or two tablespoons per day of Flaxseeds will help you burn fat. I make raw crackers out of Flaxseeds and they gives me a sense of fullness and keep me energized. I also use Flaxseeds to make raw pizza crusts and much more. They are also cheap, so no excuse not to buy a big bag today.

Maca - Stress enemy #1

I've been on vacation on Tenerife for a week and got back home last night. This sounds super-nerdy but I've actually missed my Maca powder and the local juice-joint hadn't even heard of Maca, which is strange considering that the Conquistadors discovered this awesome superfood 500 years ago as their livestock had problems adapting to their new environment in Peru.

For those of you who already consume superfoods or have started this post will be nothing new to you. However, this awesome root is something I consume every day and it's one of the best superfoods for someone that lives a stressful life with a career, kids etc. The Maca powder helps preventing stress and helps restoring hormone balance. By consuming a daily dose of Maca you will help your body in it's battle with stress and eliminate sugar-cravings, which I have been struggling with for years.

Fennel Whole Wheat Penne with Tomatoes and Swiss Chard

I really need to start to come up with better names than just what's in the actual dish. My Italian themed Fridays continues with this awesome Penne with Fennel and fresh tomatoes.

Ingredients

• 2 Fennel Bulbs in half and sliced
• 2 Fresh tomatoes in 2 cm pieces (scald and peeled)
• 1 onion (in small pieces but not minced)
• 5 dl of Swiss Chard (Mangold in Swedish - chopped in larger pieces)
• 4 Garlic Cloves (minced)
• 1,5 dl Vegetable Stock (I use Renee Voltaires vegetable stock)
• 1,5 dl White Wine
• 1 dl fresh Lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Chopped Olives
• 1 tbsp fresh Thyme
• 1 tbsp fresh Parsley
• Whole Wheat Pasta

This recipe makes 4 servings

This is how it's done

1. Prepare the pasta
2. Heat up salt and oil in a large sauté pan
3. Cook the Fennel and Onion for about three minutes while stirring frequently.
4. Add the Tomatoes, Garlic, Chard, Wine and Vegetable Stock. Heat up and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add the lemon juice and olives and simmer for 3 minutes.
6. Add the Thyme and Parsley.
7. Serve over hot pasta and garnish with Thyme.

Tropical Superfood Smoothie

Some mornings I don't just feel like anything for breakfast than a smoothie - a Superfood smoothie. This Tropical Superfood Smoothie is loaded with four different superfoods and kicks some serious punch - energy wise. This includes Bee Pollen as I wrote about earlier and it gives this smoothie a sweet flavor.

Ingredients:

1. 1 Mango (peeled, in pieces)


2. 1 Banana (in pieces)


3. 3 Oranges (juiced)


4. 1 Carrot (juiced)


5. 2 cm piece fresh Ginger


6. 2 tbsp Vegan Protein Powder (I used Sun Warrior Raw Vegan Protein this morning)


7. 1 tsp Maca


8. 1 tsp Lucuma


9. 1 tsp Mesquite


10. 1 tbsp Bee Pollen


11. 1 dl Water or more depending on how thick you like it

Mix everything and drink SLOWLY on an EMPTY stomach.

Bee Pollen - Don't let it vanish

Vanishing Of The Bees is the title of a 2010 documentary by George Langworthy and Maryam Henain. Until I saw the movie, I was unaware how big importance the Bees have to us all, regardless if you are on a plant-based diet or not. The DVD can be purchased through the website and is worth every penny.

Bee Pollen is an absolutely amazing Superfood and is a great source of vitamin B12. "Wait a minute! Did you say vitamin B12? Isn't that only available in meat?" No, it's not. It's available in Bee Pollen, Spirulina and other great superfoods. In fact, Bee Pollen has five to seven times more protein than beef. It is also a natural antidote for fighting allergies such as hayfever which is very common in Sweden during the spring and also sinusitus, which I get quite often. On top of that, it also works anti-aging and increases mental and physical capabilities.

By protecting our Bees, which are in great danger of being extinct, we can grow and get this awesome superfood. I order mine through Raw Food Shop in Sweden.