Guys. I’m done with the Whole 30. Where’s the nearest donut shop?? …just kidding! Like I don’t already have that information completely memorized. Hah, no. Actually, I’ve been trying to stick with most of the Whole 30/Paleo food principles – meat, fish, lots and lots of veggies, nuts, good fats, and limited fruits. So, you ask (fine, I’m asking), how’s that working out for me?
Well, besides my week of vacation in Cape Cod – aka No Ice Cream Left Behind – I think it’s going fairly well! This may sound weird, but I feel that as I’ve changed around my diet, my body has really started craving healthy foods. A lot. For example, when my mom asked me what I wanted to eat after coming home from Cape Cod (yes, I’m at home eating my mom’s food right now – NO SHAME), something completely foreign and odd popped out of my mouth: “Lots of veggies.” Like, what??
But don’t worry! Even though I’m generally eating Paleo, I eat anywhere from 3-5 meals a week that aren’t completely Paleo. And usually, I reserve these for dessert. Like, well, as I was typing the last paragraph, I may or may not have stood up, walked to the kitchen, and eaten Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food straight out of the carton. But I’ll leave you to guess on that one.
I’m trying to be a bit more disciplined with my eating, because I don’t want to slide back into my old eating habits. But honestly, when I compare what I ate a year ago to what I’m eating now, I am still totally shocked. I can’t believe that I’ve actually made these changes, and that, as time goes on, my new diet feels more and more like second nature to me. In keeping with these food changes, I’ve been experimenting with tons of new recipes, such as today’s salmon burgers on lettuce! Also, with guacamole. Lots of guacamole. I must admit, getting the lettuce-wrapped-burger technique was a bit difficult at first, but once I mastered it, there was no going back. Enjoy, my friends!
Salmon Burgers
Yield: 4-6 patties, depending on size
Ingredients
Burger
1) 1 can Wild Alaskan Salmon
2) 1 egg, beaten
3) ½ cup almond flour
4) 1/2 cup mango chunks
5) 1 stalk celery, diced
6) ½ bell pepper, diced
7) 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
8) 1 lemon, squeezed
9) ½ teaspoon salt
10) ½ teaspoon pepper
11) ½ teaspoon paprika
12) 4 large pieces of lettuce
Guacamole
1) 2 avocados
2) ½ teaspoon ground cumin
3) ½ teaspoon sea salt
4) 1 medium sized tomato, diced
5) 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
6) ½ a lime, juiced
Instructions
Burger
1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2) Combine all burger ingredients except the lettuce into a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Shape into patties (anywhere from 4-6 of them), and place these on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
3) Bake for 15 minutes, then carefully turn over and bake for another 8 minutes.
4) Remove from oven and let rest a few minutes before serving.
Guacamole
1) Peel, seed, and place avocados into a medium-sized glass bowl. Add in cumin and sea salt, then mash together.
2) Add in tomato, cilantro, and lime juice, and mix all together. Place a generous serving on top of each patty, wrap in lettuce, and nom.
