Lentils are a vitality powerhouse, full of healthy fiber and
satisfying protein. I love these gems when I am trying to stay satiated
while keeping my meat intake down. I have found ways of eating them for every
meal of the day. Lentils for breakfast are actually one of my favorite ways to
eat them. Their earthy flavor mingles wonderfully with cinnamon and cardamom
for a gentle sweetness that is both satisfying and nutritious.
Health Summary
One of the best things about lentils is their low glycemic
index, especially when compared to rice and wheat. These little guys, slowly
release their energy into your body keeping you full and satisfied far longer
than a big bowl of white flour pasta. Lentils also win out on being a great
source of vegetarian protein. I love eating vegan and vegetarian meals and try
to keep most of my meals in this realm. I do this mostly for the environment,
rather than health considering I feel pretty great both vegetarian and with a
bit of meat in my diet. So if you’re trying to go green, forget the electric
car, instead try choosing lentils over meat and fish a few times a week.
Diabetics…. Lentils will rock your socks off! I find they get absorbed super slowly so I never get blood sugar spikes. = I notice
that because they release slowly, I tend to give myself two shots, one before I
eat and one about thirty minutes later. See what works for you.
MYTH
Lentils have served as an essential food for survival since
the Neolithic peoples of the Middle East. There are references to Lentils in
the Bible, as well as, Egyptian and Celtic Mythology. In general lentils were linked quite
closely to the moon and to the underworld.
Origin: Egypt,
Middle East , Central Asia
Myth: Christianity,
Egypt, Celtic
Symbolic Significance:
protection, moon, resurrection, death, the underworld.
Celtic All Soul’s Day
In Modernity All Souls Day is a Catholic celebration of the
dead. Although currently celebrated by Catholics all around the world, All
Souls Day has roots in ancient Celtic tradition. The Celtic people believed
that All Souls Day was the day when the dead returned to the earth and these
zombies came hungry. And hungry…means HANGRY [ahem..hungry and angry together].
Thus to avoid the Hangriness of the dead, the Celtic people
believed it necessary to feed them. In the Celtic tradition [as in Egypyian mythology]
lentils were symbols of death and of the world that exists below. This is
likely due to the fact that when legumes died and were again buried
underground; they would soon bear new offerings of sustenance. Thus, it seemed
only fitting to offer the souls of the underworld a food source that also
seemingly resurrected.
There are so many ways to cook up and use lentils, it was
quite hard for me to decide which lentil dish to post. But in the end I decided
on a delicious and simple Lentil Hummus, A great snack to keep in the fridge
and easily made into a healthy and affordable lunch with a bunch of sliced up
vegetables. Enjoy your dipping!
Lucious Lazy Lentil Hummus
Ingredients =
1 cup of Lentils [cooked]
1/4 cup of Tahini
Juice of 1 or 2 Lemons
salt to taste
onion [optional]
garlic [ optonal]
Olive oil [optiona]
Parsley for decoration.
1.
Cook Lentils according to the directions on the
bag.
2. Once cooked, allow to cool.
3. Once cool, add tahini, lemon, salt and optional
ingredients.
4. With an immersion blender blend together
until smooth.
5. If
serving now, serve in a bowl and decorate with tomatoes and a lemon.
6. Enjoy!
Citations = Text:
Nectar and Ambrosia by Tamra Andrews