The Herbalist Went Cooking

The Nutritionist's Instinct

I have been contemplating on the importance of carbohydrates lately and eating too much carbohydrates seems to have more detrimental effect than good. Subsequently, this good ol' herbalist went into the kitchen and whip himself a nice meal, complete with good carbs, a generous helping of proteins, and a dollop of beneficial fats.

The result? It is more than what we have imagined. It is a rather hearty meal and suitable for diabetics too. You should be the judge.

Portobello "Bun" Chicken Patties Burger

As seen on the left is our family's great creation, consisting of Portobello Mushroom as the "bun" and a generous helping of chicken breast patties (seasoned with rosemary, onion and garlic) while topped by leafy greens (romaine). Sides includes stir-fried mushrooms and capsicum as well as broiled-fried organic baby sweet potatoes.

As some of our family members could not tolerate milk, we have added a twist to the traditional cream of mushroom by substituting the dairy part with soy milk. With added protein as the thickener, this low-fat-dairy-free

Chicken Breast Patties

cream is a haven for those who like some good ol' creams but could not stomach the dairies.

Substituting the buns with portobello mushrooms might cause others to frown. In no way I am advocating those high protein and low carbohydrates diet to everyone. Everyone's body is unique and approach towards healthy diet should be customised towards an individual and not a catch-all.

However, this herbalist firmly believe that, though carbohydrates are important, partaking too much of carbohydrates are disastrous, not just for the waistline, but your cardiovascular health as well. This is especially true for those who have metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, etc. Moreover, fibre intake among more 'affluent' populations tend to be minimal if not absent. Encouraging more people to partake fungi and greens would definitely increase the much-needed roughage our body sorely needs.

Wholegrain is filled with various B vitamins and E but those are carbohydrates nevertheless. Take them in moderation and specially true for diabetics (not more than 2 servings of carbohydrates per day). Then a meal should consist of more substantial vegetables such as leafy greens, cabbages, asparagus, cauliflower, broccolli, and capsicum.

Conclusion

Eating healthy is an important part of a wholistic living. However, it is also important to understand which diet is proper and which is not. Each and every individual should know their body better and let yourself be the teacher to your own food, instead of letting a stranger decides them for you. Nutritionists, such as myself, are only there to guide and not lead. Listen to your own body and you shall know better.

Interested to know your own body better? Drop us a line and start your journey of self-discovery.