Our Journey To Green

Survival Food...for one of "those" days

2012-01-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes as moms, as hard as we try to eat as healthy as possible, we still have those Mac and Cheese (or as I like to call "yellow death") or take-out-pizza-kind-of-days... or our favorite, Ramen noodles night...

we're running late for everything; the laundry is piling up (no one has clean socks or underwear); the car decides to quit on us; the girls have piano lessons...and gymnastics...and homework, plus they want to squeeze in some playtime with their friends; maybe you have a dog that decides to have an "accident" on the carpet; your visiting teachers are coming over for a "quick" visit and on and on and on. Oh, and then you remember that you're supposed to bring a meal over for so-and-so who just had a new baby! Phew!

YOU know...and I know those kind of days, don't we?

We NEED food to survive,

but most of our "quick" fix meals are not going to be healthy and nutritious right?

Right...

As moms, we are always on the GO!

We need food that is nutritious; quick;
something that the whole family will enjoy.

We all know that on "those days" we won't be found chopping up veggies and mixing and measuring 20 different ingredients. Well, well, well... I am so excited to tell you about this gourmet dehydrated food! GOFOODS! Finally, a whole meal that is vegetarian; no MSG; all natural; lasts 25 years; nutritious; some gluten free meals...a meal that all you do is add it to boiling water, and in 20 minutes or less, you have a meal!

I won't go into detail about the MANY uses of this food, but I will tell you that my kids and family (including grandma and grandpas; uncles and aunts; brothers and sister) love everything we have tried so far. Sure, you can also choose to store this food away for 25 years in case of an emergency, but it is also a food that you can eat everyday! You can share it with your friends...heck, you can bring a meal over to "so-and-so" who just had a baby. You can send a box to your missionary. You can save money on your grocery bill! Heck ya. Who ever liked clipping coupons anyway?? ;) Ok, so that was a little bit of detail, sorry...
but you can see that it is literally for EVERYONE. I mean, who doesn't eat?
(well, who doesn't WANT or NEED to eat, right?).

So, order your free samples and try it out...feed it to your family.

You get 2 entrees; 1 soup (that's 12 servings of food);

2 beverages and 1 energy shooter FREE

(well, plus the shipping...of course, lol)

Click HERE to go to my website: WHYGOFOODS

Click on "free sample" on the bottom right

and in a few days you'll be enjoying your own "survival" food...

on one of "those" days.

You know, those "on the GO" days...

Hot Carob Milk (aka Hot Chocolate)

2011-11-16T17:55:00.000-08:00

Finally, a healthier alternative to Hot Chocolate! I can't wait to try this out...
HERE at Affairs of Living Blog

HOT COCOA OR CAROB DRINK (vegan, sugar free, fat free)
serves 1

1 c unsweetened rice milk (or soy, almond, hazelnut, etc)
1-2 Tbsp cocoa powder or carob powder
1 1/2 tsp arrowroot starch or 1 Tbsp sweet rice flour (I prefer arrowroot, it dissolves and thickens better)
stevia to taste (or use agave if you want)
optional: 1/2-1 Tbsp coconut oil (it adds great flavor and body)
optional: dash cardamom, ginger, or cinnamon

1.Dilute the sweet rice flour or arrowroot starch in liquid. If using sweet rice flour, dilute in 1/4 c of rice milk. If using arrowroot, dissolve in 1-2 T of rice milk.

2.In small saucepan, whisk together the remaining rice milk, coconut oil, and cocoa/carob powder. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring a few times to mix in the coconut oil as it melts.

3.Reduce to a simmer, and add diluted flour/starch/milk mixture. Whisk together and let simmer for a few minutes to thicken.

4.Add stevia/agave and optional spices to taste.

5.Pour into a small cup, and let cool to drinking temperature. It will thicken slightly as it cools.

6.Enjoy on its own or with your favorite gluten free cookies or baked goods. Serve with a spoon and savor it slowly.

Raspberry Carob Smoothie

2011-11-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to mix things up with my smoothie ingredients lately...still trying to go easy on the sugary fruits and still include lots of greens. I made this one today that really helped to steer my eyes off the sugary treats sitting on the counter from the girls' activity days yesterday...and it satisified my craving for chocolate!

Raspberry Carob Smoothie

1 small banana (fresh or frozen)
1 handful of spinach
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 T chia seeds
1 T Carob powder
1 cup rice milk (or almond milk)
crushed ice

Blend together!

*Add more carob to your desired taste

Healthy Chef Camp

2011-09-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we feel pretty lucky to live by Robyn Openshaw (aka Green Smoothie Girl).

Her daughters held a 3-day healthy chef camp this summer in Provo.

The girls were so excited and got to bring home their own chef book

full of yummy recipes.

Fortunately, I got to sample almost everything they made.

I have to say that the hummus was the best I have ever had! (Recipe below!)

No more store bought for me after I get my high-powered blender!

We will be whippin' up some of that goodness for sure!

They also got to design their own little aprons...

of course Brooklyn went above and beyond...

"Brooklyn rocks.

Brooklyn is a hero.

Brooklyn is beautiful.

Brooklyn can fly.

Brooklyn will marry a boy."

Enjoying...Bryn has always been open to trying almost anything I make.

I am SO grateful for that...

She makes me want to keep trying...

Words that come to my mind as I reflect on our journey:

Peaceful; fulfilling; energy;

enlightenment; hope; courage;

persistance; patience; love;

kindness; sharing; blessing;

thankful...

HUMMUS

1 Can Garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained well)

1 clove garlic

1/4 Cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed)

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)

Pinch of sea salt

Optional: 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes

Blend lemon juice; salt; olive oil; tahini and garlic in the blender

until there are no more chunks of garlic.

Add beans and mix until smooth.

Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Veggie Chili

2011-08-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me why I'm making chili in 100 degree heat! What am I thinking? Well, with soccer season in full force, and my husband and I coaching the team...plus everything else going on in life, I'm on the lookout for quick and healthy dinners that everyone will eat...(who am I kidding??!, that's the ONLY kind of dinner I like to make! Quick. Easy. Healthy. Delicious.) This is hard to do when everyone has different likes and dislikes. I'm happy to say that we are overcoming some of those dislikes...Addyson figured out that she can actually eat zucchini and not die from it! lol... And we can easily convince her that crushed tomatoes are just ketchup!

THIS recipes is not only easy...but it's delicious and healthy! And we have leftovers to freeze or eat later in the week...I know that it uses a LOT of canned food, but you let me know if you have time to crush up about 25 tomatoes and soak 3 cans worth of pinto beans...that is just NOT for me right now.

Veggie Chili

2-28oz cans crushed tomatoes

2-28oz cans hominy (more about what hominy is below) drained

3-15oz cans pinto beans (drained)

1-4oz can chopped green chilies

2 small zucchinis, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise (you may want to peel them so your kids won't be suspicious of the "green")

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 C water (opt depending on how "hearty" you like it)

1/2 cup shredded montery jack cheese (opt)

Combine all except cheese. Bring to boil. Lower heat; cover and simmer until veggies are soft and chili has thickened (about 35 min). Stir in 1/2 cup cheese.

Now, lets talk about HOMINY. I had NO idea what I was looking for, but finally found it in with the mexican food in a 29 oz can. I searched for info about hominy, but didn't get much. This was the best I could find from an unknown source:

Hominy is corn that's undergone nixtamalization. It means the corn's been mixed with something alkaline (basic), like lime (the mineral lime, not the fruit). Nutritionally, nixtamalization makes the niacin in the corn easier for your body to absorb, and also can add calcium, iron, zinc, and copper.

I LOVE the texture it gives to the chili...you could even use it as a substitute for meat in tacos! YUM!

Mini Pizza Smiles!

2011-08-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

This is one meal I can make that everyone loves and doesn't take a lot of time.

The girls loved designing their own faces on the pizza.

Ezekial's Sprouted Grain English Muffins

Pizza Sauce

Mozzerella

Toppings

(We used spinach; mushroom; tomato; broccoli

and red peppers...they make great lips, lol)

Broil on low for 15-20 min or until the cheese melts

Shopping list

2011-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share a typical shopping list so you would know what kind of things I'm buying on a more regular basis...to give you an idea of how much you would be spending for a weeks worth of food...My shopping list is for 5 people for a week, but it actually goes further because we end up having leftovers on some days or even CEREAL for dinner! Or pancakes! Or french toast! This is a journey by the way, lol...

I usually end up having to go to 2-3 different places for groceries...and I don't have a Costco membership (yet), but when I do it will be glorious! I go to Winco for the bulk of my groceries; Sunflower Market for things like almond butter and sprouted grain tortillas, and Macey's for their fresh pico de gallo...

Shopping List

(This costs me about $220)

We typically end up spending around $500- $600 in groceries every month

Celery
Cilantro
Carrots (whole)
Sweet Potatoes (3-4)
Parsley
Tomatoes (4)
Broccoli (3 stems)
Spinach
Cucumber (3)
Romaine Lettuce
Onion
Leek
Green Onions
Avocados (8)
Roma Tomatoes (8)
Frozen Mixed Veggies
Green Pepper (2)
Ginger Root
Frozen peas
Lemons (3)
Limes (8)
Pineapple
Green grapes
Banana (2 bunches)
Frozen blueberries
Fresh Raspberries
Fresh Strawberries
Green Apple (8)

Pico de gallo
Honey
Cider Vinegar
Veggie Broth
Rice Milk (3)
Coconut Oil
Almond butter
Pizza sauce

Black beans (3 cans)
Pinto beans (2 cans)
Cereal (Kashi brand)
Red lentils

Brown basmati rice
White corn tortillas
Hamburger buns (thin whole wheat)
English muffins (sprouted grain)
Sprouted grain tortillas
Tortilla chips
Wheat bread

Salmon
Turkey (2 lbs)
Mozerella cheese (8 oz pkg)
Kashi snacks
Spring water jugs

Carob vs Cocoa

2011-07-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

"Carob, like cocoa powder, comes from a tropical pod, which is dried, roasted, and ground into the powder that we're familiar with. However, carob is a slightly healthier alternative when comparing the two. With a higher calcium count (three times as much), no caffeine content, nor fat, carob presents your taste buds with a different experience (1). When contemplating substitution, consider that while unsweetened carob powder is slightly sweeter than its cocoa counterpart (containing twice the carbohydrate content), due to the composition and lack of fat, carob is considerably less flavorful. When making the switch, for every one part of cocoa powder, use 2.5 parts carob by weight (1).
Don't forget that both contain properties thought to reduce artery clogging and cancer risks (1), so go ahead and indulge...I mean get healthy!" http://mariyayufest.blogspot.com/2010/04/carob-vs-cocoa-powder.html

**Check out the No-Cook Chocolate Chia Crispies

under "snacks"

in the left upper corner on my blog!

Good stuff!**

Dinner Menu for the week...

2011-07-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dinner menu for the week

in no particular order:

Curried Red Lentil Soup w/ Lemon (http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/)

Pineapple Turkey burgers w/ sweet potato fries

Baked black bean taquitos w/ cafe rio rice (http://www.greenshakesandgiggles.com/)

Broccoli-Rice Bake w/ Coconut curry sauce (http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/)

Curried Quinoa and Salmon

Mini Pizzas

Stir Fry

And don't forget dessert:

Banana Blueberry Whole Grain muffins (http://www.graincrazy.blogspot.com/)

Grapey Green and Strawberry Blackberry

2011-07-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

These shakes are perfect for the summer!

I only wish I had a better blender...someday.

For now, my Walmart special is going to have to do.

Grapey Green Shake

(http://www.greenshakesandgiggles.com/)

2 Handfuls spinach

1 1/2 Cups grapes

1 Banana

1/3 to 1/2 C Coconut Milk

1/4 C hemp seeds

Ice (about 10-12 cubes)

Blend!

Strawberry Blackberry Shake
(http://www.greenshakesandgiggles.com/)

2 handfuls spinach
2 C strawberries (with stem)
3/4 C fresh or frozen blackberries
1 banana
1/3 to 1/2 can coconut milk
1/4 hemp seeds
Juice of one lime (opt)
Ice

Blend!

Healthier No-Bake Cookies

2011-07-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

I don't post any recipes on my blog unless they have been given a thumbs up from most of my family. Not only did my family really enjoy these, but also my good friend and her 2 year old little boy. These turned out delicious and filling and they were super easy to make. You could even double the batch and freeze them for later...a perfect little healthy snack in between mealtime.

No-Cook Chocolate Chia Crispies

(Green Smoothie Girl 12 Steps to Whole Foods)

1 C Almond Butter (or organic peanut butter)

2/3 C raw honey

1/4 C chia seeds

1/4 C raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa, which is less nutritious)

1/3 C coconut oil

1 Tbsp vanilla

1/4 tsp sea salt

6 C crisped brown rice (in a cereal box at the health food store)

Cream together all the wet ingredients in a large bowl by hand. Add the chia seeds, cacao, and salt and then blend well. Add the crisped rice and stir until evenly mixed. Chill the dough for 1-2 hours, then form into balls and refrigerate until serving.

Just a couple of notes:

*Drink water with these, as chia absorbs up to 10 times its own weight in liquid
*I used Carob powder instead of Cacao (found it at Sunflower Market)
*I also found crisped brown rice cereal at Sunflower Market and Walmart...I only added about 5 1/2 cups. The 2nd time I made it, I blended some of the rice cereal in the blender before adding it to the mix.

Baked Black Bean Taquitos

2011-06-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Baked Black Bean Taquitos

Serves: 6 pieces

Prep time: 30 minutes

1/2 medium yellow onion

1 clove garlic

1 small jalapeno (opt)

1/2 tablespoon sunflower oil (or olive oil)

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup black beans

1/4 cup cilantro

6-8 none corn tortillas

1/2 cup Colby Jack Cheese

More Sunflower oil (or olive oil) for brushing

1.Pre-heat oven to 425ish and bring a medium/large pot of water to a simmer.

2.In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and pepper until onion becomes translucent. Stir in garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, and continue to cook for 1-2 more minutes. Add in black beans and cilantro, cooking until beans are heated through- two to three minutes more.

3.Turn off pot of water. Taking one corn tortilla at a time, dip in hot water for 3-4 seconds. Place on a cutting board and scoop one spoonful of black bean filling and a hefty pinch of cheese on top. Roll tight and place seam side down on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Repeat until all the filling is used. Brush each piece with oil.

4.Bake for 12-15 minutes until the corn tortilla is a light brown color. Dip in salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.

Everyone loved these and they were so simple to make.

I didn't have a couple of the ingredients, but they still tasted delicious.

And don't forget the lime. We love a little squeeze on ours...

I made some fresh guacamole which was devoured in minutes.

A must have for the recipe book...

healthy; easy and delicious!

Now if only we can find a good substitute for cheese!

Popsicles and Peppers

2011-06-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

Finally a warm enough day for popsicles!
I found these popsicle molds at Tai Pan for $1.50
(LOVE that store)...I whipped up some green smoothie (and brown for Brooklyn)
and poured them in. The girls could hardly wait until they were frozen to eat them.
I still can't convince Addyson that she likes them...
she only had a few licks before she realized what was happening, lol.
Brynley and Brookly licked theirs clean and asked for more the next day.
It makes me SO happy!

Green Smoothie Popsicles

Handful of spinach (or kale or mixture)

1 Avocado

Juice from 1 Grapefruit

Juice from 1 Lime

1/2 English Cucumber

1/2 Cup (or more) Rice milk/Almond milk/Coconut Milk

1 Tbsp Flaxseed

Blend together and pour into molds and freeze...Walah!

Brown Smoothie Popsicles

(a little more fruit)

Handful Spinach

1/2 Cup Peaches

1/2 Cup Raspberries

1/2 banana

1/2 Lime

1/2 Cup (or more) Rice milk/Almond Milk/Coconut Milk

1 Tbsp flax seed

Blend and pour into molds...Freeze!

and now...for the peppers!

No worries...no pepper in the smoothie...how about:

Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers!

These were delicious! And pretty alkaline too! Everyone really enjoyed them...

well, Brooklyn and Addyson pretended to really like them

and ate a few bites so they could have some "cake"

(well...cornbread...we tell Addyson it's cake because she says she doesn't like corn...

hey, whatever works!)

They were so filling and yummy!

You can find the recipe at BEST BITES..

.(be careful, you'll be hooked...these ladies have some AWESOME recipes!

Everything I've tried has been delish!)

Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers

Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen

4 very large or 6 medium sweet peppers (red, yellow, or orange)
1 Tbs salt
1/2 C white rice (or brown if you want to take the time to cook it), quinoa also works
2 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 – 1 jalapeno, minced (or you could sub a small 3oz can of mild green chilies)
1 14oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 green onions, sliced
1/2-1 tsp chipotle chili powder (you can start with 1/2 and add more to taste)
1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 black pepper, plus more to taste
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably fire roasted
1 1/4 C jack or pepperjack cheese, divided
3-4 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro
tortilla chips, just a handful and more for serving if desired.

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare peppers by washing, slicing tops off, and removing insides. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Boil whole peppers for about 3-4 minutes, until they begin to soften. Remove from water with tongs and place on paper towels to drain.

Add rice to boiling water and cook until tender, about 13 minutes. Drain thoroughly.

Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, and jalapeno (or chilies) and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add corn, beans, green onions, chipotle chili powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Stir until corn and beans are heated through, about 5 minutes. Place peppers in a baking dish. Remove skillet from heat and add rice, tomatoes, 1 cup cheese, and cilantro. Stir to combine well and give it a taste. Add additional salt, pepper, and chipotle powder to your liking. Then evenly divide mixture between peppers.

Top peppers with remaining 1/4 cup cheese (or more if you can fit it on there :) and crushed tortilla chips.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Slowly getting back...

2011-05-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

I am slowly getting back into a routine...it's still hard since we are still in limbo; living in a furnished house; eating off someone else's plates and sleeping in someone else's beds...renting a house that we know will not ever be ours. No painting; no hanging pictures; no tearing out old carpet...planting a garden and knowing that we may never get our whole harvest worth. It's a nice house and it's great to have our own space and a huge backyard with neverending pretend-time for the girls, but it's not ours. In fact, I can't even imagine having our own house. I hope it will happen sooner than later.

That being said...I have also been putting off making green drinks because I have this $20 "chunk-in-your-gunk" blender. I REALLY want a BlendTec, but the budget hasn't allowed that quite yet. SO, I decided a couple days ago, that I need to stop making excuses and just work with what I have right now...PLUS, I've been sick for 2 weeks now...coughing so much that my ribs hurt and blowing my nose so much that it's raw. It's REALLY annoying. And I know that I brought it on myself by the CRAP that I've been consuming lately. It's all my fault. Not fun, but true.

So ya, green drinks all around for the last 3 mornings. Go me! Here's to being healthy! No more Nyquil hangovers or Mucinex stay-up-all-nighters!

Tired; Grumpy; Unmotivated; Headaches and Mood swings...

2011-03-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when I indulge myself in carbs...like Robyn Openshaw from Green Smoothie Girl describes it: "a carb coma." This has been me the last couple of weeks. I guess I've made a lot of excuses: #1 no blender; #2 no husband to be held accountable to; #3 a sister who is an aspiring pastry chef (I NEED to get out of the house! #4 Did I mention I'm still living with my parents??); #5 stress...and more stress; #6 birthday cakes (3 birthdays in the family this month); no exercise (#7 hey, it's COLD out there!); etc, etc, etc.

I'm realizing that I'm experiencing side effects that I don't really like and don't make me a happy camper (or my kids...poor kids dealing with a tired and grumpy mom). I need to get back on track...This week, I plan to start exercising. It seems like when I exercise I am more motivated to eat healthy. My kids have been asking me why I don't make green smoothies anymore?? Huh?? Never thought my kids would be missing those! I NEED to get a better blender! Money going into savings RIGHT NOW. This happens to the best of us, right?...

(not saying I'm ANYWHERE near best...but aspiring!).

Sunwarrior Ormus Greens Powder

2011-03-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

I'm sure we all have those days when we know it's not going to be a green smoothie day...or we know that we just don't have the time or energy to make a delicious green salad or chop up veggies. (Believe me, it's been one of those MONTHS for me)

I recently purchased some greens powder that was recommended by Green Smoothie Girl . (I purchased it on sell for about $45 at Good Earth). She likes it because it has a minty flavor, and it's a little easier to digest and it doesn't have any of the fillers like some of the other green powders out there.

I have to tell you, the first couple of times, the gag reflex was trying it's best to reject, but I kept trying. I added a little less the 3rd time (should have added less the 1st time, lol) and it was MUCH more drinkable. I have to say, now that I am used to it, I can gulp it down pretty quickly.

So my advice, if you do try this product, start small and add more after you get used to the taste. You can also just mix it in with your smoothie or just add it to water like I do. Click HERE for more info. The ingredients include: Oat grass; barley and wheat grass; alfalfa; yucca; parsley; spinach; probiotic culture; peppermint; whole-leaf stevia (sweetener).

"This is the highest vibration greens product in the world, grown organically in a pristine ancient sea bed in a volcanic region of Utah and Arizona. The soil is loaded with platinum, gold, silver and ormus trace minerals that give the greens a magnetic property that increases the vibration and frequency of those who consume it."

FRUCTOSE can trigger CANCER CELLS to grow faster

2011-02-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

"The major sources of fructose in our diet are sucrose (table sugar)
and high fructose corn syrup, sweetener found in soft drinks,
fruit drinks, candy, cookies, ketchup, salad dressings,

cereal bars, frozen dinners and countless other processed foods.

While it's widely known that cancer cells use glucose to fuel their growth,

last week's findings were the first to link fructose to cancer growth."
The Globe and Mail

Grapefruit and Diabetes

2011-01-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning, the girls and I all had a grapefruit for breakfast. We think they're delicious! I did some research on the benefits of grapefruit and found some interesting information that would especially benefit those with diabetes:

"Early results from US researchers suggests that eating ruby red grapefruit really does help people lose acidic weight, and could help reduce the risk of developing the acid condition that causes blood sugar problems."

"When you reduce blood sugars and increase alkalinity in the blood and then tissues you can lose up to 1 pound a day and reduce or even eliminate insulin injections," says Dr. Young.

"Grapefruit can be one of the fruits, including avocado and cucumber, that can help maintain the alkaline design of the blood and tissues and prevent all sickness and dis-ease," states Dr. Young.

"Writing in Chemistry & Industry Magazine, Marina Murphy reports on a pilot study of one hundred obese patients at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego. The group who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost an average of 3.6 lb (1.6kg) over twelve weeks, compared with a placebo group who lost an average 0.5lb (0.2kg). Some patients lost as much as 10lbs. After the meal, the "grapefruit groups" also had reduced levels of insulin, the alkaline buffer which enables the body to neutralize the toxic effect of sugars. The acid glucose levels were also lower, suggesting a more efficient elimination of the sugar."

Read more about this study HERE

Bring on the grapefruit!

SHARE!

2011-01-14T09:09:00.000-08:00

I know there lurkers out there and I would LOVE to hear from you and all of my followers!

*Any tips that help your family to choose healthier foods?

*Healthy snacks that you like?

*Your favorite kitchen appliance?

*Some of the challenges you have faced trying to live a healthier lifestyle?

*What changes you have noticed since eating healthier?

**Please share and become a follower!

I would love to put a face with a dot on the map!

(Plus it motivates me to keep going...)

Quinoa; Sweet Potato Fries and Wild Salmon

2011-01-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

That's what we had for dinner tonight. There was a sale on wild Salmon and I've wanted to make this variation of sweet potato fries for a while now. I'm trying to perfect my skills at making quinoa. It shouldn't be that hard, but it is for me. And I ~~don't~~ didn't know what lime zest is (now I do, lol), so I messed up the dressing and had to rinse the quinoa again after I cooked it, but it all turned out okay. I seem to make things harder than they should be...

Anyway, here is the recipe for the quinoa and the fries:

Southwest Quinoa (courtesy of Green Smoothie Girl)
(I made this for 6 people and should have cut the recipe in half, because it made a TON)

2 C quinoa (soak for a few minutes, then drain in a fine strainer)
4 C water
2 cans black beans (rinsed well)
4 med tomatoes, diced
8 green onions, chopped (including most the green part)
1 C hopped fresh cilantro

Dressing: (Whisk together)
1 heaping Tbsp. grated lime zest
1/4 C fresh lime juice
6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp maple syrup (the real kind)
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Whisk together the dressing. Simmer the quinoa in water uncovered for about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. Strain any excess water. Add the quinoa to dressing and toss well, then stir in the remaining ingredients (beans, tomatoes, scallions, cilantro) Pour dressing on cooked quinoa and toss well; then add other ingredients. You can serve it hot or cold.

Sweet Potato Fries (Courtesy of Green Smoothie Girl)

8 C sweet potatoes (about 3-4 potatoes) Peeled and chopped into sticks (We didn't peel ours)
1/4-1/2 C coconut oil
1 tsp. sea salt or lawry's

Heat oil on medium-high in a large skillet; add sweet potatoes and saute several minutes, stirring frequently with a spatula until tender. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

My 7 and 8 year old ate everything on their plate, but especially LOVED the sweet potato fries...It was very satisfying to me that my hard work paid off! Now if we could just start working on my 4 year old...She seems to be my pickiest eater so far and it drives me crazy sometimes. I try to make it a huge deal when she finally tries something new and different. I think I'm making progress??

Quick and Easy Vegetable Soup

2010-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

1 (14 oz) can Veggie broth
1 (11.5 oz) can V8 juice
1 Cup water
1/2 white onion
Minced garlic to taste (optional)
1 Large potato, diced
2 Carrots, sliced
2 Stalks celery, diced
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh green beans
1 cup fresh corn kernels
Salt and pepper to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste

In a large pot, saute onion, garlic, carrots and celery in olive oil and then add broth, tomato juice (V8), water potatoes, diced tomatoes, green beans and corn. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne seasoning. Bring to boil and simmer for 30 min or until all vegetables are tender.

Butternut Squash Soup! A MUST for NOVEMBER!

2010-11-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

I just made this the other day, and it turned out to be DELICIOUS! I doubled the recipe and we had leftovers for a couple of days...

Butternut Squash Soup

1/2 T olive oil
1 T butter (optional)
1/2 C sliced carrots (abt 1 med carrot or 12 baby ones) this was a little too much carrot for my taste...next time I would use 1/2 carrot
2 stalks celery, diced
1 C diced onion
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 medium butternut squash, (abt 4 cups peeled and diced) (f you don't want to peel and dice the squash, which, believe me, you probably don't...then buy it already diced at Costco)
1 medium potato, diced (about 2 C diced)
32 oz vegetable broth (that's one box/carton)
1 T brown sugar (or agave to taste)
1 1/2 t kosher salt
3/4 t dried sage
1 pinch cayenne pepper or a douse of hot sauce

In a large stock pot, heat olive oil and butter. When butter is melted add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic

Saute for 2-3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add the squash.

Then add potato, sage, salt, red pepper, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Simmer with the lid on for 30-40 minutes or until everything is tender. Check a piece of squash and also a piece of celery and potato to make sure they area fork tender. Stir in 1 T brown sugar.

Use an immersion blender, or transfer soup to a regular blender and puree until smooth.

ENJOY!

If you make it, let me know how you liked it or anything you changed to make it to YOUR liking!

Need your CHOCOLATE fix?

2010-09-30T22:54:00.000-07:00

As the leaves start changing and it gets closer to the holidays,

you may just need that chocolate "fix."

This will satisfy your craving for something chocolatey and crunchy.

Kind of like a candy bar.

So on those "not-so-resistant" days, whip up a batch of these:

No-Cook Chocolate Chia Crispies

(www.greensmoothiegirl.com 12 steps cookbook and guide)
*Drink water with these, as Chia seeds absorb up to 10 times its own weight in liquid

1 C almond butter

2/3 cup raw honey

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/2 cup raw cocoa powder

1/3 cup coconut oil

1 Tbs vanilla

1/4 tsp sea salt

6 C crisped brown rice (in a cereal box at the health food store)

Cream together all the wet ingredients in large bowl by hand. Add the chia seeds, cacao, and salt and then blend well. Add the crisped rice and stir until evenly mixed. Chill the dough for 1-2 hours, then form into balls and refrigerate until serving.

Easy enough!

Cooking with Coconut Oil

2010-08-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

Finally!

Success with dinner!

It has been a challenge to make something that EVERYone will eat. I've got kids that have suddenly decided to be picky. And they are leary of everything I put in front of them because mom might have been sneaky with the veggies, lol. Addyson examines her food VERY closely.

Asking "what's that?" every time she sees something unusual.

This was VERY easy to make, and I was so excited to try cooking with coconut oil. It's very foreign to me, but REALLY good for you (especially for diabetics)...The only thing I REALLY wished I had was fresh mushrooms. They went bad before I could use them. So canned mushrooms had to do. (And they are slimy and just not the same). Next time I may just substitute almond slices for mushrooms. It would be more alkaline anyway... Addyson asked me if the mushrooms were chicken, and I lied (I know, I know) and said it was...I knew if I told her it was a mushroom, she wouldn't eat it, lol...

So...here it is: ( I doubled the recipe. Next time I will make more sauce because it seemed pretty dry by the time I mixed it with the rice, but it was still yummy, especially with the tomatoes and parsley on top)

Broccoli-Rice Bake with Coconut Curry Sauce

(compliments of www.greensmoothiegirl.com)

2 Cups brown rice, rinsed well

4 Cups water

1 Can (14 oz) coconut milk

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 Tbsp. Curry Powder

1/2 C chopped cilantro

1/4 C fresh parsley (or 1 Tbsp. dried)

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

3 stems of broccoli (including most of stalk), cut into bite-sized pieces

8 oz mushrooms, washed well and cut into thirds

2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

Bring the water and rice to a boil, turn down to medium low, cover, and simmer for 45 min. (Or just put rice in the rice cooker like I did) In a large wok or frying pan, lightly saute broccoli on medium high for 5 minutes, then add mushrooms and saute another 2 minutes. In a blender, blend coconut milk, cornstarch, curry powder, and salt. Add the blend to the vegetables and heat on medium high, stirring frequently, gradually reducing to a simmer until sauce is thickened. Toss mixture gently into brown rice, along with the parsley, tomato, and cilantro. Serve hot.

Lunch from home...test run...try, try again...

2010-08-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

K...well...
my kids aren't that excited about bringing a
lunch from home.
Even with their COOL new lunch boxes...

The hamburger and pizza they served today for school lunch
was very tempting to them,

and Brynley even got one of her friends
to share some of her pizza with her.

Today in their lunch box I packed
carrot sticks;
grapes and blueberries;
almond butter and honey sandwich on wheat
and a water...
Yaaa....
Pretty boring...
Most of which they brought back home with them.

According to my 8 year old,
they only have 5 minutes for lunch.
She assured me that she wasn't talking either, lol...
Hmmmm...
I'll have to check the schedule.

So...as far as the great lunch ideas,
I plan on trying a recipe for a nutritious cookie...
some of the ingredients being
ground flax seed and coconut oil...
I will post the recipe after I try it myself
and see if it makes my girl's lunches any more exciting, lol...
TRY, TRY AGAIN...

How can I beat chocolate milk and a cookie though?

NON School Lunch!

2010-08-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for some healthy ideas for lunch made with love...from home!

Green Smoothie Girl

2010-08-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

I just attended a "Green Smoothie Girl" event and class in Orem at Runner's Corner...

taught by Robyn Openshaw, author of "Green Smoothie Girl"

VERY EXCITING STUFF!

Check out her website: GREENSMOOTHIEGIRL.COM

She is a mom of four and her story is amazing! She is not your "crunchy granola" type at all...

just a REGULAR person like you and I. ;)

Along with her book, she also has a "12 Steps" program to help you with the process of adding more veggie and fruits and eliminating soda, coffee, caffeine, dairy and meat...

Can't wait to try out some of her recipes!

Thanks Robyn!

How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

2010-04-29T10:39:00.001-07:00

I can't wait to whip up a batch and try it out...

as you can see, we REALLY need it at our house!

Here's the recipe:

Mix baking soda and the juice from a fresh squeezed lime, you want to use enough lime juice to bring the baking soda to the consistency of a paste. The lime juice whitens your teeth and the baking soda polishes them. I recommend using 1 tablespoon of baking soda, but you can make a larger batch if you like by using more baking soda and lime juice.
Step
2
Apply the paste to your toothbrush as you would with normal toothpaste and brush your teeth front and back as you would normally, massaging in circular motions. You should use this mixture about twice a week for a few weeks, depending on how much you want to whiten your teeth. You should notice a difference after 2-3 uses.
Step
3
After brushing with the baking soda and lime mixture, follow up with your regular toothpaste if you like (this is not necessary).

Rainy Day Banana Bread

2010-04-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

I made this the last night and it turned out SO good! The girls loved it and had it in their snack for school. I had it for breakfast...and a snack.

I got this recipe from the girls over at GREEN SHAKES AND GIGGLES.

Just a tip:

Make sure you (follow the directions, lol) let it cool in the pan for a good 10-15 min. I made the mistake of trying to take it out, and it fell apart on me...it was still SO yummy though!

Rainy Day Banana Bread (and I made it on a rainy day!)

1/2 cup unsweetened milk alternative of choice (I use almond)
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (hmmm...I actually didn't grind this up. Still turned out ok)
1 egg or 1/4 cup egg replacement (optional)
2 cups whole grain spelt flour or whole wheat flour (I used spelt flour)
2 tablespoons finely shredded dried coconut
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1 dropper full vanilla creme stevia, or 1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 medium sized very very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cups nuts, dried fruit, or other add-ins (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl combine the milk alternative and flaxseed and egg and set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Returning to your mixing bowl, blend in the oil, vanilla stevia, and bananas until well mixed. Stir in the dry ingredients being careful not to over-mix; a few lumps are okay. Gently fold in the coconut and nuts and any other dried fruit you want. Spread the batter into prepared pan, and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is browned and resilient to the touch (I always stick a toothpick in to make sure it's done). Cool for 10-15 minutes before removing it from pan and placing on wire rack.

yields 10-12 servings

*I prefer to use 4 full sized bananas. It's more flavorful and moist. But using 3 bananas does allow the bread to rise more.

Why No YEAST??

2010-04-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a little info of why we are trying to stay away from anything with yeast:

"Yeast is never good in the blood. Yeast will grow and eventually form into fungus and into mold. That is not good in the blood. The things that are in our blood when we die should not be there when we are alive.

Yeast steals energy and health. Anyone who has large amounts of yeast in their blood has low energy, is tired, has sugar cravings, etc.

Back in Adam and Eve days they did not have yeast and fungus and mold. They did not have ways of making bread from yeast and processed flour and heating it. They made their bread from sprouted grains and formed those sprouted grains into a ball and placed it in the sun to dry it. That was their bread.

Yeast makes the body acidic.

It is a microbial toxin. Usually yeast gets into the blood because we eat yeast or food has deteriorated before we eat it (leftovers and food that is starting to decompose). In Ayurvedic medicine, they say you are not to eat any food that has sat out for more than 3 hours. In Ayurveda, it is then considered tamasic. Tamasic is anything that is old, dark, heavy, sickly, etc. It is because the food starts to decompose and go bad.

We should try to eat food that is as fresh as we can get it.

Allopathic medicine has been able to prove that yeast and mold is present in over forty percent of all cancerous conditions!" Dr Young www.phmiracleliving.com

So, instead of bread with yeast, we try and buy the sprouted wheat tortillas or the brown rice tortillas and those become our bread for our sandwich.

Here is our typical lunch:

Sprouted wheat tortilla with almond butter/agave

Cucumbers or salad

Green apple

Water with lime or lemon squeeze

Banana Berry WAKE UP SHAKE!

2010-04-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

This was SO delicious! You can even add spinach if you'd like to make it even healthier! I got the recipe from one of my favorite recipe blogs GREEN SHAKES AND GIGGLES ...My girls loved it! Definitely a keeper. No worries if you don't have ALL of the ingredients. We didn't add the chocolate protein powder and it still tasted great!

1/2 - 1 cup frozen mixed berries

1 frozen banana

1 Tablespoon peanut butter (we used almond butter)

1 Tablespoon ground flax seed

1-2 Tablespoons chocolate protein powder

1/4 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup rice milk (we actually used mostly almond milk)

juice of 1/2 lime
1 cup of ice (or so)
add water to desired consistency

Put all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.

Summer IS on it's way...

2010-03-12T14:38:00.001-08:00

Summer is on it's way...I can see it happening. The little white petals from the popcorn trees are blowing in through our door onto the carpet, and the birds are so busy making their nests. The wind is blowing, but it is a warmer wind...

Summer inspires me...I had to whip up this delicious salad today.

Cabbage Almond Salad

This is an all-around favorite. Really refreshing, healthy, tasty and filling...

Salad:

1 Head green cabbage

3-4 Green onions (use the whole onion...white and green part)

1/2 package buckwheat soba noodles (found in the health food section)
or you may be able to use roman noodles

Toasted sesame and almonds

Dressing:

1/2 cup grape seed oil

Juice of 1 lime

Stevia (about 1/2 tsp) this is a natural sweetener that won't raise blood sugar

1/4 tsp Real Salt (or to taste)

Whisk together

Chop cabbage and green onions. Place in a large bowl. Cook noodles and rinse with cold water to cool. Toast almonds and sesame in grape seed oil on medium heat until golden. Let cool...add to cabbage and green onion mix. Then dress and toss.

Getting back...

2010-02-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

Wow...we really fell off the wagon right before Thanksgiving.

It's taken us a few months to get back on the right track.

We definitely haven't given up, but I'm in dire need of some new recipes, especially dinner. I can't wait to get this new cookbook here, and try some of these from my friend's blog.

It's a NEW DAY...a new week...a new month.

Healthy Tip

2009-11-06T16:46:00.000-08:00

Try squeezing a whole lime into a tall glass of water in the morning. It's a good "wake up" drink. Also...if you have heartburn, it will help to relieve it.

Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing

2009-10-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

I had actually already made a salad when I came across this recipe while I was searching for a tasty dressing. I started with a mix of romaine lettuce in a bag (I'm going to try fresh next time), 1 yellow pepper, 1 avocado, 1/2 cup red onion (also leaving the onions out next time because the girls don't like them), and tomatoes. I added the black beans and corn. I didn't have the jicama or radishes. (And I realize that black beans and corn aren't considered totally akaline, but we're slowly adjusting).

For the dressing, I didn't have the cilantro or the pepper, but it turned out really good anyway. I guess instead of honey, you could use stevia because I realize this isn't totally alkaline either, but the girls enjoyed it as well, so I was happy. :)

Mexican chopped salad with honey-lime dressing (serves 3-4)

Ingredients:

Salad:
2 heads chopped romaine lettuce (you may want to add more lettuce if serving 4 people)
1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, rinsed and well drained
3/4 cup chopped seeded tomato
3/4 cup chopped peeled jicama
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels, uncooked (or frozen or canned)
3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
Half a ripe avocado, diced
1 red bell pepper, chopped

Honey-Lime Dressing:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro (or more to taste)
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1 tsp chopped jalapeño pepper (use canned for less heat)

1. Toss all salad ingredients in a large bowl. In separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over mixture and toss again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

At least it's not Captain Crunch or the new Hannah Montana Cereal, which the girls have BEGGED me to get for them...lol

2009-08-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

We still like our cereal in the morning a few days a week...or more... ;)

And Rice Dream...although the girls wonder what happened to our cow milk still...I tell them that milk is for baby cows. :)

More recipes

2009-07-28T22:58:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the recipes I'm going to try this week. I hope they go over well with everyone. The girls have been kind of picky lately. I doubt they will eat the Jerusalem Salad (it's a little spicy), but I'm really hoping they will try the Super Simple Spaghetti and Jerusalem Salad.

Super Simple Spaghetti
Mary Jane Medlock

Serves 2 (I'm going to triple this recipe)

1 medium spaghetti squash
2 medium ripe vine tomatoes chopped
Juice of one small lemon
1 - 2 cloves of fresh garlic minced or chopped
2 - 3 Tbs. of olive oil
Fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon of oregano

Directions: Cut spaghetti squash in half (clean out seeds). In a baking dish put spaghetti squash (facing down) in a 375 degree oven. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until done. Let cool for about 5 minutes. Using fork, scoop out the spaghetti squash into a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss. Eat warm or cold.
YUM YUM!!

Spicy Black Bean Salad
Heidi

2 cans black beans
1/2 red pepper, finely chopped
1/2 yellow, orange or green pepper, finely chopped
1 lime, juiced
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves removed from stems and chopped
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
2 TBSP. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or 2 cloves minced garlic)
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. chile habanero sauce (or Tabasco)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Mix.

A friend of mine has lost 10 pounds in 10 days just by using Greens powder and eating a diet of 80% raw, alkalizing foods and 20% less-alkalizing! She wanted me to share this recipe with everyone.

Jerusalem Salad
Sue Mount

1/3 cup tahini
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
1-2 cloves garlic,
crushed Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 Tbs. parsley Salt/RealSalt to taste
Water
1 cucumber
6 roma tomatoes, or 3 regular tomatoes

Directions: Mix first 6 ingredients in a salad bowl; add water to thin the tahini. Stir thoroughly to make a dressing. Dice cucumber and tomatoes. Toss in dressing. You can let this sit for an hour to allow the flavors to meld.

I have to give credit to www.phmiracleliving.com for these recipes. :)

Compromising...

2009-07-26T12:12:00.001-07:00

Trying to make something that everyone will eat has been a challenge, especially for dinner. Since Brooklyn will not eat potatoes, I decided to try mashed potatoes with garlic, a little rice milk, sea salt and pepper. She ate a few bites, but REALLY wants the brown stuff that goes on top... (gravy). I'll have to try to figure that one out.Asparagas cooked in olive oil, seasoned with sea salt, lemon, stevia (natural sweetener) and toasted sliced almonds. VERY tasty.

Day Trip to Santa Cruz

2009-07-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

I realize this is a really old post and doesn't even have anything to do with eating healthy, but I posted this on the wrong blog, and then later my camera was stolen with all these pics on it. I thought I would post the draft that I have saved. I'm so glad I posted some pics before I lost everything!

The girls first experience in the ocean.

Free concert on the beach: STARSHIP- "We Built This City"
Playing in the sand waiting for the concert to start...

While Ric saved our spot for the concert, I took the girls down to the beach.

We watched a couple street performers; rode on the carousel; played video games and had the famous corn dog and pink cotton candy. I didn't realize how much it cooled off at night, so we were all FREEZING by the time we got back to our car to drive back home.

Next time:
Jackets
Buckets/Shovels
"Magic" soap
Single jogging stroller

It is a JOURNEY

2009-06-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

It's not all going to happen overnight...I started out the day with a green shake. The girls and a couple of their friends even tried it and seemed to like it. They had fun making green mustaches...it was cute.

Lunch for the girls was almond butter and honey sandwich on wheat, grapes and a string cheese. For me, it was a guacamole dip and chips, almonds and grapes.

Dinner was NOT healthy...frozen pizzas and donuts...(I had about 3 donuts). I know it wasn't a good choice, but we are on a journey...and part of the journey is making mistakes and moving on. There are going to be some bumps in the path.

I struggle with what to make for dinner. Brooklyn has become somewhat of a picky eater, and I can't be preparing 4 different dinners every night. And then to try and make it healthy and still edible...that's another bump in the road. We'll smooth it out eventually though...

Raining almonds!

2009-05-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Almonds: packed full of protein, fibre, calcium, magnesium, potassium (yes, 3 of the 4 most alkaline minerals) vitamin E and other antioxidants and phytochemicals - and unsaturated fat.

If possible, remember to soak your almonds overnight in order to increase the potential for the body to digest the nutrients and goodness...

HEALTH BENEFITS:

*Regulates cholesterol: Regular consumption of almonds helps to increase the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and reduce the level of low density lipoproteins (LDL), thereby effectively controlling cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol.

*Good for heart: Mono-saturated fat, protein and potassium contained in almonds are good for the heart. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and reduces the risk of heart diseases. The presence of magnesium in almonds helps to avoid heart attacks.

*Regulates blood pressure: Potassium present in almond helps to regulates blood pressure. Almonds are very low in sodium which also helps in containing blood pressure.

*Good for brain: Almond is a source of many nutrients which helps in brain development. Almond induces high intellectual level.

*Prevention of cancer: Almond improves the movement of food through the colon, thereby preventing colon cancer.

*Protection against diabetes: Almond also helps in reducing the rise in sugar and insulin levels after meals. This offers protection from diabetes.
Good in pregnancy: Almond contains folic acid. Folic acid helps to ensure no birth defects in newborn babies.

*Reduce weight: Unsweetened almond milk helps one to reduce weight. The mono-saturated fat contained in almonds satisfies appetite and prevents over-eating. Studies have revealed that almond rich low calorie diet is good for obese people to assist in shedding their weight.

*Avoids constipation: Almond contains fiber. Fiber rich food help avoid constipation.

*Boosts energy: The presence of Manganese, Copper and Riboflavin helps in energy production.

*Prevent Gallstones: Regular consumption of nuts helps reduce the risk of developing Gallstones by about 25 percent.

One avoids the risk of Alzheimer's disease by consuming almonds. Consumption of almonds is also good for improving complexion and boosting immunity.

So...stock up on those almonds...(unsalted and unroasted)

All about avocados...

2009-05-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Avocados don't ripen until after they are picked.

They are ripe when they yield to a gentle squeeze on the round end.

If you buy them and they are hard, let them sit out on the counter for 3 to 5 days...OR...to help them ripen faster, put them in a paper bag with a banana or apple and let sit at room temperature for 1 to 3 days.

Once your avocado is ripe, you can store it in the fridge for 5 to 7 days. Do not place a hard avocado in the fridge. The skin will turn darker, but it will not ripen.

You can FREEZE avocado! Not whole or in slices, but as a puree. Just empty the avocado into a bowl and mix it with lime juice ( 1 T per two avocados). Put into container with lid, leaving room at the top for expansion during freezing, and freeze up to 5 months! Plan to use the puree within 3 days at most after thawing it, and drain off any water before using it.

To help prevent browning, put plastic wrap directly on the surface so that no air gets at it.

HEALTH BENEFITS:
Did you know that avocados have several health benefits? Scientists have proved that a certain toxin present in avocados is able to kill cancer cells - it is used both in prevention and treatment of prostate and breast cancers. Furthermore, potassium in avocado can regulate pressure of blood, and oleic acid in avocado can be used to lower cholesterol level in the blood.

Now go buy your box of avocados!! :)

Time for DINNER!

2009-05-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm still learning, so I don't know if I'm eating totally alkaline yet, but here is a simple meal for dinner. All of my family enjoyed it, except Addyson wasn't too fond of the fish...

Salmon (fresh is best, but frozen is next best)

Brown Rice with black beans and pico (go light on the rice)

Broccoli (again...fresh is better)

Here is a really yummy recipe for the Salmon:

Ingredients (Makes 3 servings)
1/2 cup cilantro, stems removed, chopped
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil, separated
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 lb salmon fillet (3 small)
Directions
1Grease pan with 1T olive oil.
2Place fillets, skin side down in an 8x8 baking dish.
3Combine cilantro, garlic, lime juice, remaining olive oil, and (if desired) salt in a small bowl.
4Pour mixture over fish.
5Bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes, to desired doneness. (Thicker fillets will require additional time.).

ENJOY!!

A 2 year old who likes carrots and hummus??

2009-04-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Yes...that's right...Addyson pulls out the hummus and bag of carrots and announces that it is "hers..." It is one of her favorite snacks... I'm finding that as I eliminate the sugary snacks, my girls get hungry enough to try the healthy snacks, and find that they actually like them!

How do I start?

2009-03-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

This way of eating does seem overwhelming (that's why it's been 2 years for me to actually do something), but I've just taken things slow because I knew I would get burned out if I did too much all at once. I feel really passionate about it, and I don't feel it's something I'm going to give up on. I don't see myself going back to what I thought was healthy before.

Here are some tips if you want to try to eat more alkaline:

So...WHAT should I do first?

#1 You can start out at your local grocery store, and just spend most of your time in the produce section. If you don't have the money to buy all organic, then NO worries...just get the next best thing... Load up on vegetables to snack on like cucumber, carrots, celery, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce, spinach, green/red/orange peppers, broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, peas, etc. Buy vegetables that you are used to eating, and then a couple new vegetables to try. We buy hummus and almond butter (like peanut butter) for dipping our vegetables. Go easy on the fruit (it's not as alkanizing as vegetables)...we eat bananas, grapes, pears, oranges, cantaloupe, grapefruit and pineapple mostly...You can find a list of alkanizing food HERE.

#2 Switch from white rice to brown rice or quinoa (you can find this in the health food section), and red, new potatoes from bakers...eliminate all meat except fresh water fish, like Salmon and Trout (I have yet to try this...we're still going through the last of the hamburger meat and chicken in our freezer). NO more bread with yeast and flour. We have substituted sprouted wheat tortillas for bread.

#3 Change from cow's milk to rice, almond or soy milk. My girls just have it on their cereal in the morning. Most grocery stores will have this. We like the regular non-sweetened rice milk. Start emptying your fridge of cottage cheese, deli meat, sour cream, ketchup, margarine, butter, mayo, mustard, soy sauce (we use Bragg's instead), fruit juice, and hard cheese...Your fridge will start looking empty, except for the vegetables and fruits. :)

#4 Try 2-3 recipes a week, and keep track of the ones that you like. I have found a lot of recipes in the book "Ph Miracle" but you can google alkaline recipes as well...

#5 Drink lots of water (preferably distilled water or reverse-osmosis water) I buy bottled spring water. I like to squeeze a lime in a glass of water. Try some "green" drinks for breakfast in the morning.

Minty Mock Malt

(serves 2)

1/2 english cucumber or 1 regular cucumber (skinned)

Juice of 1 lime

Juice of 1 grapefruit

1 avocado

1 cup raw spinach

1/2 can coconut milk (opt) or

2-4 sprigs of fresh mint leaves (opt)

14 ice cubes

Mix in blender until smooth...

You can even leave the ice cubes out and freeze the malt into pops for the kids! I'm going to try this when it warms up again...

#6 The KEY is to not get overwhelmed. Do what works for your family. Let them see you eating healthy, and most likely, they will want to try what you're eating eventually. I have been suprised at what my kids have tried and what they like. They all love spinach and avocado. Addyson loves to dip her carrots in hummus (she is 2 1/2...and one of my pickier eaters).

#7 DON'T buy tempting snacks and cookies! Pretty soon, your taste buds will change, and it will be easier...! Don't be hard on yourself if you eat a few cookies either. Just balance it out with healthy eating...tomorrow is a new day... :) Don't go out to eat...try to resist.

All of us know someone who has cancer, diabetes, or other health issues in their lives. I don't believe this is really a cure "ALL" necessarily, but you have to wonder WHY there is so much disease, weight problems, cancer, etc in our day. WHAT is going on? I am starting to realize that what we put into our bodies is much more important than most of us realize.

We need to be careful what we put in our body. Not just obstaining from alcohol, tea, coffee, tobacco, caffeine. I feel like for our body to work how it was intended, we need to feed it "premium" foods...It just makes sense. It's just hard because it seems so foreign and out of the norm for many of us...

I KNOW it will make a difference in your life. It already has in mine... I've noticed SUCH a difference. Especially in my energy...and I haven't been sick in over a year. Now THAT is motivation for me.

Cabbage Almond Salad

2009-03-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

This is an all-around favorite. Really refreshing, healthy, tasty and filling...

Out with the old...in with the new...

2009-03-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

We've been filling our fridge up with lots of veggies and fruits lately...slowly using up the last of the margarine, butter, milk, cheese, sandwich meat, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc. It looks pretty empty right now actually...I've been trying to introduce different foods to the girls. A lot they have already decided that they don't like. Brynley REALLY likes cucumbers, but Brooklyn and Addyson don't. Brooklyn REALLY likes tomatoes, but Brynley and Addyson don't...Addyson will eat carrots, but Brynley and Brooklyn don't really like them. BUT, they all like avocados...So, it's been a little difficult trying out different things, but we'll get there eventually. I was SHOCKED that they all tried the broccoli soup that I made the other day...it was even a little hard for me to swallow...lol. I think I put too much salt in it. I think the secret is in the seasoning, and I kind of messed it up.

I'm not totally eliminating everything the girls are used to eating, but I'm trying to introduce more veggies and fruits. We have already switched from regular 1% milk to Almond Milk...Peanut Butter to Almond Butter...Bread to Sprouted Wheat Tortillas...white rice to Brown rice or Quinoa...Canned veggies to fresh veggies...Soy Sauce to Braggs...So ya...we're working on it. The girls still eat their cereal in the morning with almond milk, and we have some sprouted wheat english muffins that they really like (Which aren't totally alkaline because of the yeast, but it's a step). Brooklyn told her teacher the other day that our family is trying to eat healthier, so I'm glad they notice and they are willing to try out new foods.

Why GREEN? Why NOT?

2009-03-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

This may sound crazy, but we are trying to go healthy in a BIG way...My friend, Ashley, introduced me to the book "PH Miracle for Diabetes," which her dad, Dr Robert Young wrote (along with "PH Miracle" and "PH Miracle for Weight Loss") after years of research and surprising findings about what effect the food we eat has on our bodies. Her mom, Shelley Young, compiled all the recipes found in the books.

I've known about this way of eating for 2 years now, and kept saying that I'd "like" to try eating that way. It's been on my mind constantly, so I knew that I needed to just "jump in" and try...no more procrastinating...all of it just seems to make sense to me.

Another motivation was reading about the success they've had with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We have several people in our family and also friends with type 1. Dr. Young did several studies where those participating were able to completely stop taking insulin, and those who significantly decreased the amount of insulin, just by what they were putting into their body. Most of you know that Ric (my husband) was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 23. His father passed away a few years ago because of complications of diabetes, and his younger brother is also type 1. ALSO, my younger brother was diagnosed at the age of 3 with type 1 diabetes.

I would LOVE for all of them to be a success story...why NOT?

This is not just for those who are diabetic though...it is for EVERYONE! Prevention is the key...and I feel strongly that there is an answer here...so follow us in our journey, or join us!

To read more, go to their website HERE...