Tender Grass-fed Beef Meatballs and Life

Tender Grass-fed Meatballs over
avocado slaw. Would have been
great with fresh pico de gallo.

In my mind, meatballs are a comfort food. I love the heartiness of them when served with roasted vegetables. Serve these up with predominantly low carbohydrate vegetables to promote a healthy digestion. There are many low carbohydrate vegetables, including: asparagus, bell pepper, broccoli, garlic, green beens, mushrooms, okra, onion, zucchini, and yellow squash. 

Contrary to popular belief, red meat and fat are not the evil artery cloggers they are depicted to be. If you look deeply into nutrition research without bias, you will find that healthy fats and animals proteins do not lead to heart disease, diabetes, or depression.  Yet, a diet high in carbohydrates has been linked to all of the diseases above and many others. Also, eating a diet high in animal protein and saturated fats does not elevate your blood cholesterol levels. Eating fat does not elevate your blood sugar or insulin levels leading to increased blood triglycerides and therefore cholesterol. Carbohydrates, however, due to their effect on blood sugar and triglycerides do increase your cholesterol levels. 

So quit depriving your body of meat if you're craving it. I felt guilty for a couple of years because I was a meat eating yoga teacher. When in reality, meat is a natural and healthy part of the diet. Over the years, I've experimented with many different types of eating. I've discovered a diet abundant in healthy sources of fat and protein with a moderate-to-low carbohydrate intake (less than 150g) suits my body the best. Food is nourishment which sustains life. If the food we eat is doing us harm... why suffer? Better to make food choices that honor the body you have been given and create the least suffering. 

This past January, I attended a Bhakti Yoga workshop in Asheville.  The teacher, Michael, taught us about the Buddhist four noble truths and views on suffering. I love how straight forward and matter of fact this information was. I think it relates to our entire experience of life with our relationships, bodies, and food. 

Types of Suffering:

1 Piece of Red Velvet Cake
contains 57g or 14.25
 teaspoons of sugar. As little
as 2-3 teaspoons will elevate
your blood sugar for hours.
Leading to elevated blood
triglycerides, fatigue, and
possibly fat storage.

1.  Suffering of Suffering: it's difficult in the beginning, difficult in the middle, but okay when it ends. May relate to pain, fear, or mental distress. For example: Going through a breakup. It's hard when it first happens, painful when you're finding your way, and brings happiness once you've healed. 
2. Suffering of Change: comes from when the pleasure ends. For example: Drinking a sugar filled beverage. It's all great while you have that tasty beverage in your hands but when you've finished it off your body suffers. You feel thirsty, tired, groggy and may experience unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms for a few hours after. 
3. All Pervasive Suffering: more complicated because it refers the fact that throughout our lives there is always a potential for us to experience some kind of suffering. This type of suffering is not of your conscious mind. On your journey towards enlightenment, you'll have to do some soul searching along the way to clear this kind of suffering. 
May you live and eat in a way that honors your highest good.

Okay, back to the meatballs. Here is a quick and delicious recipe:

Candida Diet, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo

Ingredients:
1 lb. 100% grass-fed ground beef

Cumin is in the top 20
of the healthiest spices.

2 cloves garlic, minced
3 slices nitrite and nitrate free bacon
1/2 yellow onion, minced
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cumin
dash cayenne pepper
1 tsp. dried salt-free herb blend
sea salt and black pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease baking sheet with coconut oil.  

2. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a bowl. Form into medium sized meatballs and place on baking sheet. Should form 12 meatballs.
3. Bake for 25 minutes until thoroughly cooked.  Let rest for 3-4 minutes before serving. 
*Photos and recipe by Keri Rogers.

Keri is an internationally Registered Yoga Teacher, Creator of Yoga Props, and Nutrition/Wellness Educator.  She owns and operates BAYA Wellness, LLC offering Yoga and Nutrition Education Services.  Keri teachers both privately and publicly around the Greenville area offering on-going classes and special events.  Her path as a nutritionist is all about making healthy living approachable... she teaches the components of healthy cooking, eating, and thinking while also offering specialized services like menu planning.  Healthy living is about the whole pictures of wellness... find your path to living well.

BAYA... Be As You Are!
Contact for details: Website  BAYAWellness@gmail.com or 864-430-1275