NOT SURE WHERE TO START? CHECK OUT MY SIDEBAR ON THE RIGHT FOR SOME TIPS...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

How do I start?

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.



Sunday, March 22, 2009

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.

Enjoy!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

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

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.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Why GREEN? Why NOT?

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.

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...