Sesame Ginger Green Lentils With Edamame & Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients:

• (4) H.E.B. Italian Style Fully Cooked Frozen Turkey Meatballs *(This is what I had when I made this meal. A much healthier option would be to buy all natural, farm-raised, extra-lean ground turkey and prepare your own meatballs <--of which I am no expert.)
• 1/4 cup Shelled Edamame Beans, preferably organic
• 2 Tbsp First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup Arrowhead Mills (or other brand) Organic Green Lentils (Use more for larger meal or if storing for later.)
• 4 Tbsp Lite Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing (or other organic dressing)

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Boil 1/4 cup of lentils with 1/2 cup of water in a small pot.
• Set timer for 25 minutes, and let lentils simmer.
• After about 7 minutes, place 4 meatballs on a plate or rack in the oven.
• Once timer goes off, drain excess water from lentils and put them in a bowl. Take meatballs out of the oven.
• Refill pot with about 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup or more of edamame, let boil.
• After about 5 minutes, drain excess water from pot and add edamame to lentils.
• Add olive oil and sesame ginger dressing to mixture and stir.
• Place meatballs on top and enjoy!
• (You could also experiment with adding cheese, or cut your calories by excluding the oil. But olive oil is extremely healthy & should be included if your calorie budget allows.)

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 610 (with oil) 370 (without oil)
• Fat: 33.5 (with oil) 5.5(without oil)
• Carbohydrates: 42.5
• Cholesterol: 35mg (only in these specific meatballs)
• Sodium: 833mg (approx. 33% daily intake)
• Fiber: 9g 
• Sugar: 0g
• Protein: 20.5g

Additional Nutrient Information:

In addition to the high protein, fiber, and healthy fat content, the turkey provides you with all essential amino acids (complete protein) for rebuilding muscle and burning fat, the olive oil provides you with anti-inflammatory phytonutrients/(polyphenols), antioxidants and hydroxytyrosol which protect and help strengthen the cell walls of our blood vessels, not to mention the specific heart-healthy fats it contains and it's cancer prevention properties. Edamame is soy beans, which is of great concern to the health community and research lately as studies are suggesting that soy products are potentially harmful to the female reproductive system and proper hormone function. But edamame is the most natural type of soy you can consume, it's a great source of fiber and protein, and contains 10% daily intake of Vitamin A, 10% Vitamin C, and 8% Iron. It also contains 35 milligrams of isoflavones, (found only in soy) and the jury is still out on whether this ingredient is healthy or not. (I will try to do my own research and formulate a post on this topic.) But moving on, Lentils are by far one of the best foods you can consume as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Besides the 10g of protein and 7g of fiber in one serving, their low in fat content, and a great source of Iron, providing 15% daily intake in a serving. Iron carries oxygen from the lungs to muscles and other organs. A deficiency in iron causes irritability, headaches, and fatigue. Women need to be especially aware of their iron intake because of the monthly blood loss during menstruation, which is why dark, leafy greens, red meats, and other poultry are important.

So as you can see, this recipe is hearty, and takes a while to make, forcing you to save your appetite for the course instead of mindlessly snacking. Refer to the Nighttime Eating post to learn why this recipe and others like it are so helpful to a healthy lifestyle.