The Chia Seed

Yup. Chia Seeds. Like the chia pets you used to have as a kid, only these do not grow out of the top of some terracotta, bald man's head.

Chia seeds are slowly gaining a reputation as a health food but are still somewhat scarce. My main motivation for eating them came from my desire to eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s reduce inflammation in the body and, as a result, have been found to reduce symptoms of depression, joint pain, ADHD, hypertension and heart disease. They have also been linked to improvements in overall cardiovascular health. Omega-3s have also been shown to counteract levels of omega-6s, which have been linked to increased cholesterol levels.

Most people consume their DRI (250-500 mg/day) of omega-3s from seafood, like salmon. I don't eat fish but at the same time did not want to be lacking in this essential nutrient. I started eating a lot of flaxseed and walnuts (both which contain relatively high amounts of omega-3s) but wanted something with a higher omega-3 yield.

That's where chia seeds come in. Gram per gram, they contain 700 percent more omega-3s than salmon, 500 percent more calcium than milk, and 200 percent more iron than spinach. They also contain all nine essential amino acids to form a complete, high-quality protein.

I buy "Ultimate Chialife" brand from Whole Foods. They are usually found in the supplement aisle along with flaxseeds. You do not need to grind them or process them in anyway. Just pour out of the bag and eat! I usually mix my chia seeds with greek yogurt, flaxseeds and raw honey. Absolutely delicious!

The Lima Bean

I recently became obsessed with lima beans. I love them. When I was younger my friend's father would threaten to make us eat lima beans as punishment for poor behavior. The mere thought of a lima bean would make me squirm with dread, and my behavior immediately improved. Ironically, I had never eaten a lima bean until a few months ago at my soon-to-be in-laws' house. On the table was a big bowl of succotash (a mixture of lima beans and corn), and it was delicious. I was not 100 percent sure what I was eating, but I knew I liked whatever those slippery green things were. Then, last month, I was taking a nutrition class when my teacher informed me that lima beans and corn together form a high-quality, complete protein. As a vegetarian I am always looking for new forms of protein, so my interest was piqued. I bought two cans of lima beans from Safeway, some ears of corn and whipped up my first batch of succotash.

It was a disappointment.

The lima beans tasted mostly like the inside of the can, and they were room-temperature. Yuck. If my friend's dad was there, I would have immediately been on my best behavior. However, my first succotash experience had been so delicious that I was determined to make my dish better. Here is what I ended up doing to create a totally delicious, healthy meal:

2 cans lima beans (I keep looking for dried but can never find them)

3 ears fresh corn

1 orange bell pepper

2 tomatoes

extra virgin olive oil

vinegar

sea salt

1. Place lima beans in a colander and rinse throughly with cool water. (I usually put a bowl under the colander to catch the water and let the beans sit for a few minutes. Repeat twice to get off all the "can stink.") Then place lima beans in a large, clean bowl.

2. Boil a pot of water. When boiling, add the corn and cook for five to eight minutes. Remove corn from water and cool.

3. When corn is cool, slice off kernels and add to lima beans.

4. Cut the pepper and tomatoes into small chunks. Add to lima bean/corn mixture and toss.

5. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Right before you are ready to eat, pour some olive oil and vinegar over the mixture. Mix. Then add a few pinches of sea salt, mix again, and serve!

Disclaimer: I have been eating mostly unprocessed foods for about one year. Sometimes it can take your taste buds a while to become used to whole foods. Sometimes you need to add more salt, sauce or whatever until you gradually learn to appreciate the taste of whole, natural, unprocessed meals! Trust me, it's so worth it!