Three years ago, we wrote a book called Food Pharmacy – A Guide to Gut Bacteria, Anti-Inflammatory Foods, and Eating for Health.  Astoundingly, it became one of Sweden’s best-selling non-fiction books, ever. A success that no one had counted on, at least not the skeptical journalist who a few days before the launch explained to us that a book with the words “gut bacteria” on the cover could never become a bestseller. Fortunately, he was wrong, and within two years our little book was translated into fifteen languages. We were elated – our message had reached more people than we had ever dared to hope for.  A few years later we received an exciting request to speak about food and the environment. The same second that we started to prepare the speech, we realized that the very food that is beneficial for health is also what’s kindest towards the environment. We felt an inner “EUREKA” moment. The food we eat is a part of the solution to two of our planet’s current greatest challenges: global health and the climate crisis!

And there sparked the idea for our second non-fiction book. This time, we have embarked on an expedition to address the most urgent issues of our time: public health and the planet. What can we ourselves do to make ourselves and the planet feel better, and why has food gone from being simple and joyful to difficult and sometimes even anxiety triggering? The knowledge of how we should eat for better health and less strain on the planet is there, but it hasn’t yet crossed the bridge to expand its outreach to a greater audience. But that’s going to change!

Soon the Näringsjägaren (the Nutrient Hunter) will be released. This time we have written the word “curling” (as in the olympic sport, curling – just what we should be doing for our planet and gut flora) on the cover, but unfortunately we ran out of time to reach out to the doubting journalist before we sent the book to print. But what do you think? Will we be able to add a few hunters to our team again this time? If you’re not already on board then jump on! To achieve better health and a healthier planet is not only simple but fun – shifting our focus to eating a vast array of good things will help to turn the ship around! 

Good things, as in the following recipe. Imagine that you can save the planet and your health by filling a basket with these carrot-dogs, rolling out a picnic blanket in the shade under a tree and munching on a flatbread roll. It really is that simple, everyday choices that add up?

Carrot-Dogs for Nutrient Hunters
(4 wraps)

Flatbread:
800 g (1.75 lbs) of yukon gold potatoes (cooked)
1- 1 ¼ cup chickpea flour (depending on the amount of liquid in the potatoes)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Carrot sausages:
10 carrots (on the skinny side – or else you’ll end up with carrot-wurst)
4 bay leaves
10 whole allspice 
1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika powder
1 red onion
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mashed potatoes:
6-8 potatoes (about 500g)
1/2  – 1 cup plant-based milk
salt and white pepper

Pickled red onion:
1 red onion
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Relish:
1/2  cucumber
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Start with the flatbread. Grate the boiled potatoes and knead together with flour and salt into a dough. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll out on a floured countertop. Fry in a dry, medium frying pan until the bread begin to have color, flip over and fry on the other side. Store wrapped in a clean kitchen towel until serving.

Peel and slice the onion thinly and place in a bowl. Pour water, vinegar and salt over the onion and leave for 30 minutes. Do the same with the cucumber for the relish in a separate bowl.

Peel the carrots and cut off the ends. Boil water with allspice, bay leaf, sliced onion, 1 teaspoon of paprika and salt. Add the carrots when the water is boiling and let them simmer until soft. Drain the carrots.

Wash the potatoes and cook them under a lid in a separate saucepan for 10-25 minutes (depending on size). Pour off the water and whisk together with the milk, salt and white pepper.

Heat oil in a frying pan. Heat the carrots with the rest of the paprika powder, salt and pepper. When the carrots have a browned surface they are ready to serve as a carrot-dog. Add some mashed potatoes and two carrots in the flatbread and top with pickled red onion and cucumber.

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