Fenugreek Seed

Fenugreek seed is really weird.  Grown on the sub-continent, it is known as methi in India and is featured in many south Asian dishes.  While the leaves are also used, this article will focus on the seeds.

They look like toffee but they're disgusting.  I mean that in a good way.  They are hard and bitter.  Apparently, you can roast these to make them less bitter but I confess that I didn't really try that.  They were pretty cheap.  I found them in the "exotic/imported food" section of the grocery store.

You gotta grind them first.  I tried just sprinkling the cursed kernels on my cereal.  Gross.  Don't try it.  Could break a tooth.  Grind them up in a coffee grinder.  Even that takes a while.

Bzzzzz.  Keep grinding.

Mix with protein powder.  I like the cheap whey protein isolate powder that my wife buys me at Walmart.

Sprinkle in the ground fenugreek.  Note that I didn't grind this batch long enough. Fenugreek seed is loaded with fibre and protein.  Holistically, it is thought to boost milk production in lactating women and libido in men.  Good source of iron too.

Pour in some skim milk and shaker-up.  I mixed this combo with skim milk and shook really well.  Legend has it that fenugreek makes your urine smell like maple syrup and its true.  I intend to try fenugreek in other things like greek yogurt.

Tom - trying gross food; so that you don't have to.

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Goats Milk

 

Delicious Alternative to Regular Milk

OK maybe "delicious" is an overstatement but goat milk is really not as vile as people say it is. I picked some up in the exotic food section of the grocery store a few weeks ago to give it a try. It does have a distinctive taste but its actually pretty good.



  

Tasty and Nutritious
Goat milk has all the same nutritious value as cow milk. This food is a good source of protein, riboflavin and phosphorus, though a little high in saturated fats.

Uses
Goat milk is good just by itself as a beverage or mixed with chocolate protein powder in your smoothy. Its a little more expensive than cow milk; so its good for an occasional treat, unless you just like amping-up your grocery bill.

"3 more reps"

Tom

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Kefir

Kefir?

I first heard of kefir in a nutrition class promoted by the military.  Neither the instructor nor any of the students had ever even seen kefir.  All that was known about it was it a dairy product with vaguely middle eastern origins.  Living in the remote prairies at the time, kefir was scarce.  I finally found kefir in New Brunswick.  It was in the "exotic/foreign" food section of the grocery store, near the goats milk and yak butter.  The first product I found came in a container that was sealed with a foil lid (like the one pictured below).  The foil lid was bulged out under pressure.  I thought that it had gone bad but all of them were like that.  Closer inspection of the label revealed that this phenomenon is called "Champansky Effect" and is normal.  It is caused by fermentation gases.

The Taste

Kefir has a very unique taste.  I describe it as "yogurt-flavoured beer".  The plain version tastes the strongest but you can get raspberry and other flavoured kefir also.

Value

Its sold in smaller containers than cow's milk and is more expensive.  Its no good for adding to coffee or tea or cereal.  I use it as a beverage.  Some of my kids like it and some don't.  It seems to last in the fridge for a long time.

Nutrition

Kefir is high in protein and calcium.  Its loaded with healthy probiotic bacteria which is good for your gastrointestinal tract. 

Use

I keep kefir in the fridge and drink a small glass of it once or twice a day.  Its good mixed into a smoothy or protein shake.  Even a tablespoon of kefir taken occassionally can give you much of the probiotic benefits.  I've never tried taking kefir in my lunch and I doubt that it would be very portable.  Cooking with it will kill the healthy bacteria.

Recommendation

Get some kefir.  Start with nice flavoured stuff.  Try it.  You'll either like it or hate it.  At least when someone mentions kefir; you'll know what they're talking about.

Tom

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Eggs - Superfood

The simple egg may be one of the best nutrition sources you can find.  Convenient, economical and nutritious.

Hardboiled, you can choose to eat just the white or the yolk or both.  Prepared this way they can easily be taken to work or school for your lunch or snack.

For even greater convenience you can buy pasturized egg white.  This product can be mixed into smoothies for added protein.  Check the label to make sure that its safe to eat uncooked.


Eggs are a great source of protein.  They are easily digested.  They cook well and blend well.

Tom

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