April 29th 2011 Lifestyle vs. Diet and Fun Burgers that are actually Fun!

Quick question to anyone out there reading.....What is your definition of "diet"?  I'm tellin ya, if I hear one more person ask me why I have my children on a diet, I'm going to scream!!!!  I don't know how many times I've been asked, "so why are you and your children dieting?"  IT IS NOT A DIET!!! To me a diet is altering your eating habits to help you lose weight. To me a diet is not something you are willing to do the rest of your life, its a short term thing so that you can lose 15lbs to fit into that lil' summery dress thing you picked out for your awkward and slightly uncomfortable class reunion and more times than not they are usually unhealthy for you.  They cause short term quick weight loss but your usually (not always) sacrificing your health.  Sorry people but I don't wish that for my children.  Now I know that not everyone out there looks at the paleolithic lifestyle (notice it does not day diet) the same way I do but for my family that's exactly how we look at it.  A lifestyle.  We are not doing "the paleo thing" to lose weight,  we are not trying to and could actually care less about the lil summer dress for our class reunion and we certainly have no interest in being unhealthy.  My family and I have adopted the paleolithic lifestyle because we want a better quality of life, and not just  for the short term, we want to live long happy lives that do not consist of  itchy eczema(my older daughter used to have this before we ate paleo) heart disease, obesity, cancer or any arthritis due to the food we ate.  Please do not assume that you are invincible just because you eat paleo but you are by far way healthier and most people who have experienced the paleo experience are happier.  So just F.Y.I.....my children are not dieting!!!  

Now, on a lighter note, I have come up with my own fun burgers that are actually fun and do not make you cry at the end of the night. YAY!

Fun Cilantro Burgers that are Actually Fun
   
Ingredients:

• 3lbs of ground meat ( we like to use 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground turkey)
• seasonings of your choice...(whatever you normally use to season your burgers )
• 1 bunch of cilantro finely chopped
• 1/2 a green pepper
• 1/2 a red pepper
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 carrot
• a few slices of bacon  ( a few for each burger your making)
• coconut oil ( just enough to oil your pans)
• a few sliced avocados/ guacamole is good too
• 1 small onion sliced
• 1 or 2 large sweet potatoes 
• pickles ?
• condiments of your choice( again, whatever you normally out on your burger)

Fun instructions for your Fun Burgers

grate your zuccinni and carrot into a fairly large bowl.  Finely chop up your peppers and cilantro and add to your bowl.  Add your meat to the bowl and mix well.  Next add seasonings of your choice ( i usually add a lil garlic and onion power, chili power and salt and pepper). 
Peel sweet potatos and thinly slice into what is going to be something like chips.  A mandolin is perfect for this (as long as you don't get the cheap one from Target, almost lost my whole hand once.  It didn't have an actual blade on it but more of just a jagged edge....cheapos) if, like myself you have a hard time slicing things evenly.  Put some coconut oil  in a frying pan and turn on to med-high.  Once the pan is hot place your sweet potato slices  in the pan and turn down slightly.  You have to watch these closely.  When they start browning on the one side then you need to turn them over.  Do the same on the opposite side.  remove from pan once they reach your desired "chip-like" chippyness and place on a paper towel so some of the oil will drip off. Now cook your bacon.  Next go back to your hamburger mixture and make your pattys as you normally would.  Grill or pan fry just like you used to before you came across the paleo amazingness.  While those are cooking slice up your onion and avocado.  Once burgers are done we place them on a large leaf of lettuce(takes place of the bun) and add all the yummy fixins...you know, the onions avocado, bacon, condiments, pickles and the chips.( I usually put my chips on the side) Make it as tall or small as you like, remember they are fun burgers....so have fun.