Living An Exceptional Life #63

By Rhonda jones

Recently, my husband made a trip to the doctor for his annual checkup. When he had his consultation with the doctor, it came up in the conversation that his doctor is plant-based. I was quite thrilled to hear that news and have since come across other doctors in the area who are also plant-based. I am delighted that medical professionals are learning the importance of healthy food in the diet, and I attribute some of the awareness to Dr. Michael Klaper, who has been plant-based for many years. I have taken many classes with Dr. Klaper over the years and find him to be very dedicated to eating a diet of plants both for health and for saving the animals, which has always been his main objective.

I have taken many classes over the course of the last 16 years, but none more interesting than Dr. Klaper’s class on plant-based nutrition for healthcare professionals. He started the class in 2020 during the height of Covid. The class was aimed at doctors, but any healthcare provider can attend, so I was able to secure a spot since I am a Certified International Health Coach. And I am so glad I did because this was one of the most informative courses I have ever taken.

For a year, we met every other Sunday night via Zoom. His curriculum was geared toward doctors, and he would speak to them in their “language,” which, at times, was way over my head. But I was surprised at how much I did understand. Actually, I felt pretty knowledgeable about some of the questions posed by the doctors because I could have answered many of those questions. Doctors receive very little nutritional training, and most learn about nutrition after they are practicing medicine, so Dr. Klaper’s class is a much-needed tool for providers.

At any rate, I think the class is paying off because many more doctors are becoming plant-based and recommending a plant-based diet to their patients, and I could not be happier to see firsthand how doctors are making a difference in their patients’ lives. I think they are beginning to see that drugs alone cannot always alleviate problems, but many times, a long-term solution to illness can be as simple as changing eating habits.

Speaking of eating, I know we are all exposed to a lot of vegan meats and cheeses nowadays as the trend continues to find alternatives to eating meat. These alternatives are not always the healthiest way to eat, but happily, you can make your own great burgers and freeze them to use any time you need to whip up a quick meal. There are hundreds of healthy recipes. Here is one of my favorites.

BEAN BURGERS IN A FLASH

From “Be a Plant-Based Woman Warrior”

1 15 oz. can no salt black beans drained and rinsed

1 medium onion chopped

½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, plus a little more as needed

1 tablespoon chili powder

½ teaspoon turmeric

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

3 tablespoons salsa

1 cup cooked, chopped greens

In a large bowl, place beans, onion, oats, chili powder, turmeric, flaxseed meal, salsa, and cooked greens. Mix and squish up the mixture with your hands or a potato masher but incorporate it well. Mixture should be moist but not wet. Add more salsa if dry or more oats if too wet.

Shape into patties with your hands and let the patties sit for a few minutes then put in a non-stick pan. Cook over medium heat until brown (5 minutes), then gently turn over and cook until firm and brown. Eat them just like any other burger. These will freeze well. Makes five burgers.