Green Lemonade

These Thyme Pesto Toasts are detox-diet friendly and terrific for an afternoon snack. In my version of this “Grilled Bread with Thyme Pesto and Preserved Lemon Cream” recipe, I switched out the spinach and snuck in some kale (a great way to get in a little raw kale if you are averse to this leafy green currently). I also used walnuts and garbanzo beans and switched out the Italian country bread choosing to use sprouted grain toasts instead.

As many of you know my goal with my recipes is to use ingredients that are easily recognizable, utilizable and easily digestible by your body. Feeding your body these types of foods then gives your body more time to focus on its housecleaning, healing and repair work. This “housework” is good for your mood, your happiness and your figure. Consider also checking out these detox-diet friendly meals.

Thyme Pesto Toasts

Makes 1 cup Pesto * (16 tablespoons)
I find 1 tablespoon per serving (~90 calories ) is a lovely portion size

Better-for-you ingredients

Learn more about the better-for-you ingredients in this recipe:

• Kale is full of cholorphyll, a detox agent. Chlorophyll removes heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body. Learn more about kale.
• Sprouted grain bread is made with easier-to-digest grains which allows more of your bod’s time to be spent on rejuvenation and slimming work as opposed to digestion all the time. I recommend the Food for Life brand. Check your grocer’s freezer.

Directions

In a food processor, combine the kale, thyme, olive oil, gabanzo beans, walnuts and lemon juice. Combine until the pesto mixture is smooth and creamy. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

Take your sprouted grain bread, toast it and then add 1 tablespoon of the Thyme Pesto onto each toast. I find a little dash of sea salt on top is also delicious. Enjoy as is! Or slice up the toasts into quarters and enjoy as an appetizer. Your friends will LOVE them.

Notes *
My goal here at Green Lemonade is to move away from calorie counting. But I recognize that many of you will need some time to adjust to this change. As always though, portion control is always in vogue and serving size is the secret to not packing on the pounds. Introduce the concept of the “Buddha Bowl” into your life. A Buddha bowl is roughly the size of your cupped hands. While it may seem small at first, give your body and mind time to adjust. Practice eating mindfully and then go for a short walk after you finish eating to set the end of the meal in your mind. If in the beginning after eating this portion of food you find that you are still hungry, add another half of a Buddha bowl portion. Some of you might appreciate a little more direction here – so consider this buddha bowl in your daily routine.