Paleo Intro & Roasted Asparagus and Bison Burger

I got a great comment the other day on my previous post on The Zone diet. It was a suggestion to read a book called A Life Unburdened: Getting Over Weight and Getting ON With My Life, by Richard Morris. This gentleman lost over 100 pounds by stopping all dieting methods. I will certainly look into this book and report on it in the future.

It does bring up an interesting concept, however, that ties in nicely to today's post. No dieting. Now, if you remember, several posts ago I made clear my stance on the term "diet". As defined by conventional wisdom of strict limitations of amount and/or types of food for a specific period of time with the intentions of weight/loss or improved health, I hate the term. As defined CORRECTLY, a diet is the sum of all foods consumed. And, when coupled with nutrition, a diet is a huge part of nourishing humans. It should be attainable, sustainable, and enjoyable.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is very undereducated on proper nutrition. We are surrounded with "food look-a-likes", empty calories (I'll get to this in a minute), and unbalanced meals. Please to not misinterpret what I'm saying by thinking I am promoting a specific diet. Quite contrary. I am promoting healthy eating. Proper nutrition. The fuel to strive in this world.

Yes, calories matter. Not in the conventional "calories in-calories out" kind of way. Composition wise, calories count. You could eat a cup of pasta (considered one serving) with 220 calories of 1g fat, 40g carb, and 8g protein; you will be famished for food within two hours. Or, you could eat a 3oz top sirlon steak with 220 calories of 13g fat, 0g carb, and 23g protein. You will not be famished for food for the next few hours, your muscles will rebuild better after that workout/yard work/playing with your kids you did earlier. Add in a nice vegetable side dish sauteed in oil and herbs and forget about that multivitamin you've been taking for years. Get ready for more energy when you wake up and a better mood throughout the day.

Sound good to you? It sounded great to me. So I took the dive. Call it a "diet" if you'd like, but realize that Paleo is simply a promotion of eating the foods that we were designed to process and therefore keep up in the healthiest state possible. Besides, who doesn't enjoy eating a nice hunk of succulent meat with savory roasted vegetables over bland, boring, nutritional deficient pasta...?

Bonus, it's just as easy and quick! I used fresh asparagus in this following recipe, but I suggest always keeping bags of frozen veggies on hand. They are often cheaper than fresh and can be better for you. Vegetables are quick frozen after harvest before processing so they lose less nutrients that the kind we buy at the store. But if you can find just picked farm fresh, that's even better.

Roasted Asparagus and Bison Burger

The Food

1 bunch fresh asparagus

2 cloves garlic, minced

2-3 tbs basting oil with herbs (or olive oil, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp parsley, 1/4 tsp garlic powder)

8oz ground bison

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp parsley

1/2 small onion, chopped

Salt and pepper

The Prep

Wash asparagus, break off tough ends, and cut in half

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare selected grilling method- will cook on medium-high

The Method

ASPARAGUS

Toss asparagus, garlic, and basting oil

Spread on foiled lined baking sheet

Cook for 30 minutes (or until desired tenderness), turning at about 15 minutes

BISON BURGER

Mix meat, thyme, parsley, onion, and salt and pepper to taste

Split into two patties, slightly thinner in the middle

Grill until desired doneness, about 6-7 minutes per side for medium (bison cooks a little faster than regular ground beef because it is leaner)

Serve burger with asparagus on the side

Enjoy :)

**If desired, slice remaining onion to top burger, along with some sliced avocado, tomato, and wrap in lettuce in place of a bun.