Yup you read the title right… A BURGER!  Not just any burger…the PERFECT BURGER.

Let’s be real here, we are all human and have cravings from time to time. Yours might be Ethiopian/Eritrean food full of amazing butter and spices, or a slice of pizza from your local pizzeria or a bowl full of ice cream for those hot summer days. Mine will forever be a good ol’ fashion American burger- cooked well done with tomatoes, jalapenos, some red onions and of course a Farmhouse wheat bun. I’ll even throw in some avocados.

‍

My love for burgers started during my first pregnancy and it has grown throughout the years. I only eat it at certain places but when I do, it’s a special feast and I enjoy every damn bite. I don’t feel bad or try to hide my cravings anymore because I allow myself to enjoy the sweet pleasures of life from time to time. My wellness journey isn’t being super skinny or only losing weight (although I prefer seeing a certain number on the scale). No, It’s ultimately about feeling great in my own skin and enjoying the body I am creating for myself. This concept took me years to understand though.

I used to cave in to my cravings and then work out excessively to get rid of the extra calories I had just put into my body. I felt horrible about the way I looked in clothes and even worse after eating foods I actually enjoyed. Your wellness/ healthy living journey shouldn’t be like that. It should never become nor feel like a diet because those end and often we tend to gain every pound we lost after the fact.

No, your wellness journey is a decision you’re making to better your life altogether. It’s one where you eat clean food and take care of your body. However, it’s okay to eat your favorite foods from time to time; it’s okay to have some of your old pleasures still as long as you recognize them as just that... old delights that you can live without but choose to savor here and there as a treat to yourself.  

Trust me when I tell you that having that slice of pizza or two or even the whole box from time to time will NOT affect your journey. Making it a habit and going back to your old ways will!

So, in honor of my favorite meal and the fact that summer is finally here and we can grill... I’m adding our family tradition of how to make the perfect healthy burger. We buy our meat from the local butcher or Wegmans. If you don’t have time, try Bubba burger (they come packaged and are delicious).

‍

‍

Ingredients:

• ‍minced beef (try to get lean meat)
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• ¼ red onion minced
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• ½ tsp hamburger seasoning from McCormick
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp berbere or black pepper
• 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil

‍

Instructions:

• ‍Heat pan, grill or oven in the medium-high heat
• Add all burger ingredients to a large bowl and start combining everything together
• Create patties using the combined meat- roughly the size of the palm of your hand. You can make them flat or thick.
• Place in pan/grill or over and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until the inside part of the patties turn brown.
• Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

‍

‍

‍

If you don’t have a grill at home, use the frying pan with very little oil or bake it in the oven. Also the George Foreman small grill works wonders. We used it throughout our college days. For the sides, we always have red onions, tomatoes, jalapeños (because we love a good kick of flavor) and avocados. Also a nice summer salad with fruit goes amazingly with a juicy burger and it’s healthy- best of both worlds. 

‍

‍

If your still feel guilty, and everything I said above doesn’t seem right, take the buns off your burger and enjoy the meat with your sides. It’s fewer carbs, and the beef is protein for your body. Grilling it also means less oils used.

Hope this post helps you or someone you know. Enjoy the summer and remember to enjoy your meals.

Until next week.

Yours,