A year ago, a blender full of raw collard greens and bananas would have made me vomit. In fact, I still think the consumable I demonstrate above is pretty gross.

I don’t drink it because it’s tasty. I drink it because I have drunk it before and I like how it makes me feel. My body knows exactly what to do with raw fruits and vegetables and it doesn’t take long for the energy kick to set in.

But this isn’t about whether or not we should all be eating more raw fruits and vegetables. This, for me at least, is about discovering the different ways we relate to food and how those relationships affect our daily lives.

I began drinking green smoothies because my sister suggested them as a way to feel full and add nutrients to my diet without a lot of calories. The first green smoothie I tried was made with baby spinach, frozen bananas, and fresh pineapple. It was sweet, smooth, went down cold, and gave a lasting energy kick that knocked the socks off the energy drinks I was used to guzzling.

That first green smoothie started me on a search for other foods that made me feel nourished, healthy, and satisfied.

What foods do you associate with feeling nourished, healthy, and satisfied?

What’s in it?

The Roll:

• Whole wheat flour
• Water
• Yeast
• Ground flax seeds
• Salt
• Gluten (I’m not allergic so it just adds protein & helps dough rise)

The Burger:

• Kidney beans
• Oats
• Garlic
• Onion
• Cumin
• Pepper
• Salt

The Fixings:

• Baby kale (from the patio!)
• Pickle (crunch!)
• Ketchup (Heaven forbid I use sugary store-bought ketchup… I did.)

What does it taste like? Substantial. There’s crunch, warmth, steamy spiciness, and a rich medley of flavors that come together in a way that doesn’t seem at all wretched or “too healthy.”

The big win for this burger comes with the fact that it’s not trying to be a cheeseburger. You’re not going to ever find a substitute for the soft white bun and dripping aromatic animal fats of a cheeseburger. But you can space out the cheeseburgers with things that are delicious, fulfilling, and don’t leave you feeling tired after eating.

I can pack away four or five of these bad boys without feeling guilty about it because I know I’ve given my body something it knows what to do with. It’s real food that will keep me feeling good as I work to burn off the 650 cheeseburgers worth of mistakes I’ve forced my frame to carry for so long.

I’ve learned that healthy food doesn’t taste bad. Badly prepared healthy food nearly always has a sprinkling of horrid on it though.

Would you be willing to try such a burger? I’d be interested to know!

Next up is my letter to #361, Alexandra. She wasn’t an easy pound to get rid of but I won out in the end. If you’d like to be notified of future letters or just support me in my journey, please subscribe to 100 pounds by RSS or email (it’s free). Thank you!