Teriyaki Turkey Burgers

Last night I was in the mood for something kind of tropical and exotic.  I read a few recipes for Teriyaki Turkey Burgers and I picked out the best ideas from each one.   I made this for 8, so for simplicity sake ill try to cut everything in half to make for 4, but i apologize if the proportions done come out quite right.

Teriyaki Turkey Burgers
Yeilds: 4

1 lb Lean Ground Turkey
4-5 Scallions, chopped
1-2 tsp Cilantro (to taste)
Teriyaki Marinade (low sodium)
1 Egg, lightly beaten
1/2 Pineapple, sliced
4 Whole Wheat Buns

In a bowl, put ground meat, egg scallions cilantro and Teriyaki sauce.  Mix well.  Divide evenly into 4 patties.  Grill the patties and pineapple and serve with pineapple slice on top of the patty.  If desired can serve with other condiments, but i found this had so much flavor nothing more was needed.
I served mine with Spicy Sweet potato Fries.  :-)

Buttermilk Flax Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I was experimenting around with an old pancake recipe and decided to switch it up a bit.  The result was delicious!  So I’m sharing it with you all. :-)

Elyse’s Buttermilk Pancakes

1 C Flour

¼ C Ground Flax Seeds

1 Tbs Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 C Light Buttermilk

1 Egg

1 tbs Oil

1Tbs Agave Nectar

½ C Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl, add in everything except the chocolate chips and mix until just combined.  Then add in chocolate chips and stir a few more times.  Pour desired amount onto a nonstick pan over medium high heat.  Enjoy!

Natural Antidepressants

·         Water

o   Although it seems so simple, most people do not get enough hydration throughout the day.  Keeping hydrated and drinking proper amounts of water helps you body stay refreshed and energized.  When your body is up to par then everything it produces will maintain normalized and be produced/recycled at normal rates.  Sometimes this slow down can cause waste back up which can make us feel sluggish and depressed.

·         Leafy Greens

o   Spinach and kale especially.  That whole fad with the green smoothies now, well, although they don’t look so appetizing they are actually great for your body and also your brain.  The folic acid and iron in kale and spinach help to power your brain to keep everything up to speed.

·         Wheat breads and Pastas

o   The brain loves carbs, which is partly why when you feel sad you want sugar.  But you have to be careful with this one.  White breads and pasta have refined bleached wheat which get digested rapidly by the body creating a good feeling but then it quickly crashes leaving you right back or even worse than before.  Whole grains and whole wheat bread products are best because it takes the body longer to digest them leaving you with a longer feeling of satisfaction.  With that said.  Carbs are probably the quickest food antidepressant because carbohydrates drive serotonin production.

·         Fish

o   Especially oily fish.  The omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil is sooo good for your brain cells.  . Dietary fats and cholesterol can clog up cell membranes causing them to block the flow of fluids and chemicals in and out of the cell.   Omega-3s help to unclog this junk and allow the cells to function properly. 

There are so many products out there with pills to take or something, but just try to keep it natural.  Usually if you are feeling blue or depressed its most likely because something in your body is out of sync.  Just try to eat right and exercise and unless it’s a clinical diagnosis, you will probably start feeling better sooner than you think!