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3/5/2010
Ah, to be a kid again. Remember when you were a child and you got so wrapped up in playing, imagining or creating that you didn’t want to stop when it was time to eat? Do you remember leaving your meal half-finished to run off and continue playing? Children innately understand that food is secondary to what is most nutritious and primary in life: fun and play.
Fast forward to NOW. As we settle into January, the play of the holidays is behind us, and we are already settling into the ‘daily grind’ of life. But why? Why does is always seem to be feast or famine in our culture?
As adults we seem to have lost our instinct to prioritize play. In our busy world, with its emphasis on work and responsibility, to be healthy and balanced we must work on more than just our bodies; we must feed our hearts, minds and spirits.
I know, I know. This isn’t easy to do. But hear me out, because your body needs you to have more fun!
Have you noticed that when your body, mind and spirit are engaged in a creative project or happy relationship, your reliance on food ...
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3/5/2010
Sea Vegetables
In traditional Chinese healing, sea vegetables correspond to the winter season and to the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder and reproductive organs. The strengthening, balancing and cleansing properties of sea vegetables are known to help these organs as well as the hair, skin and nails. Sea vegetables (or seaweeds) provide a variety of minerals and vitamins, including calcium, iron and iodine, and can help balance hormone and thyroid levels in the body. Eating too many processed foods or foods grown in mineral-depleted soil can result in a lack of minerals in the body, leading to cravings for salty or sugary foods. Adding sea vegetables to your diet can help balance your energy levels and alleviate cravings.
Mighty Miso Soup
Serves: 4-5
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Total Time: 10-15
Ingredients:
4-5 cups spring water
1-2 inch strip of wakame, rinsed and soaked 5 minutes in 1 cup of water until softened
1-2 cups thinly sliced vegetables of your choice (see notes)
2-3 teaspoons barley miso
2 scallions, finely chopped
Instructions:
Chop soaked wakame.
Discard soaking water or use on houseplants for a boost of minerals.
Place water and wakame in a soup pot and bring to a boil.
Add root and ground ...
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1/13/2010
Happy Holidays!
As I contemplated what to write about this week, I decided to forgo the usual, humdrum article on 'Surviving the Holidays'. You know-the stock article of well meaning tips like 'eating before the party, staying hydrated, being choosy with food at parties, bringing your own healthy snacks'...yadda yadda yadda.
Let's face it. We've all heard these recommendations hundreds of times before, and YES, in theory they can work. But the reality is that most of us-either at the office Christmas party, or like me on a random Sunday (two Sundays ago, to be exact)-are going to have a setback during the holidays.
We all know the feeling-that dreaded 'food hangover'. UGH. Bloated, irritable, lethargic, and as hungry as a horse (even though you just ate like a cow!). I can definitely relate given my total food meltdown a few weeks ago.
Here's the kicker.
The night before my food fest, I attended a party with more food and sweet treats than Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory-and I didn't touch a thing. I followed all the practices that I 'preach' and I managed to escape unscathed. VICTORY!
Yeah right.
Something came over me the next morning. I woke up STARVING. Hey, I'm ...
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1/13/2010
Root Vegetables
Root vegetables may not sound appetizing, but I assure you they are sweet, succulent, and perfect for the cold winter months. Root vegetables are a rich source of nutritious complex carbohydrates, providing a steady source of necessary sugars to the body. Instead of upsetting blood sugar levels like refined sweet foods, they regulate them. Since they absorb, assimilate and supply plants with vital nutrients, roots likewise increase absorption and assimilation in our digestive tracts.
Long roots include carrots, parsnips, burdock and daikon radish. Round roots include turnips, radishes, beets and rutabagas. Long roots like burdock and daikon are excellent blood purifiers and can help improve circulation in the body and increase mental clarity. Round roots are nourishing to the stomach, spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and can help regulate blood sugar and moods, and alleviate cravings.
If some of these root vegetables sound a bit too foreign to you right now, then start out with one of my favorite sweet vegetables--SWEET potatoes. Check out the recipe below--I made this on thanksgiving and it was DELISH!
Maple Sweet Potatoes with Almonds and Raisins
Serves: 12 at 1/2 cup each
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients:
2 ...
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12/18/2009
Continued From: Recovering from Setbacks this Holiday Season
Examine where you slipped.
In the words of Zig Ziglar (motivational speaker/author etc): It's not the situation, but whether we react (negative) or respond (positive) to the situation that's important.
How do you react to your failures? Do you condemn yourself for every slip-up? Figure one bad meal means eating yourself sick the rest of the day? Whatever your issue, if you take a negative spin to the setback you are WASTING YOUR ENERGY.
Try this instead...Figure out what the heck brought you to the point of eating Aunt Betty's entire chocolate fudge tray, or single-handedly finishing a bottle of wine. Not in a judging or critical way, but a loving and serious look at where you were in that moment. Maybe it just felt good, and ya know what--more power to you! But if you felt like crap, it might be a good idea to figure out what caused your food meltdown. When you channel your energy in this positive way, you can take steps towards making the situation better.
When I personally started looking at my mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow, I was finally able to succeed in my health and healing. I rarely have ...
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12/18/2009
FOOD CREATES YOU. EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU--YOUR BODY, YOUR FEELINGS, YOUR MOOD, YOUR EMOTIONS, AND EVEN YOUR HABITS.
Dear Friends,
The Holidays are officially here! And you know what that means—all the fun, festivities, and FOOD you can handle for the next two months. But before you eat your way through November and December, remember one important thing:
FOOD CREATES YOU. EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU--YOUR BODY, YOUR FEELINGS, YOUR MOOD, YOUR EMOTIONS, AND EVEN YOUR HABITS.
Don’t believe me? Read a story…my story, below. You just might change your mind.
PART 1: POISON
My story actually starts about four years ago.
It was back then that I realized sugar was poison for my body. After living with insomnia, terrible anxiety, debilitating stomach and bladder problems and multiple health conditions for years, a beautiful turn of events led me to changing my diet as means of influencing my health.
When I did-eliminating sugar and yeast (and much later gluten/wheat and soy)--my entire life took a drastic new path.
My body healed. Slowly at first. But still, I healed-- from everything.
I slept like a baby. I literally ditched my anxiety overnight. I even healed from a condition doctors told me was 'chronic and debilitating'. I even said adios to the NINE prescription medications I was taking to control my pain, ...
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12/18/2009
A Focus on Pumpkin
A staple around the holidays, let's explore the nutritional powerhouse that is pumpkin. A member of the Cucurbita family, including squash and cucumbers, pumpkin its name from the Greek word "pepon" for large melon. Seeds (pepitas) from related plants have been found in Mexico, dating back over 7000 years to 5500 B.C.
Pumpkins are chock full of beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant. Research shows that people who eat a diet rich in beta-carotene are less likely to develop certain cancers. Pumpkins are also loaded with potassium, zinc and are high in fiber.
Pumpkin seeds are nutritional powerhouses as well, and can be beneficial for people with kidney, prostate and gallbladder problems. They also help remove parasites from the intestines, and are a natural anti-inflammatory. Pumpkin seeds are high in protein, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper and essential fatty acids.
This Thanksgiving you can have your pumpkin pie and eat it too! Check out the sweet recipe below...
Guilt Free Pumpkin Pie
From "Get The Sugar Out" by Ann Louise Gittleman
Serves: 8-10
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
1 ½ c pumpkin puree
1 cup ...
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12/3/2009
This time of year it's hard to stay healthy. If you do feel you are coming down with something you can still stay green. Look for organic, herbal lozenges instead of drops with synthetic ingredients. Try to stay away from cough drops with artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1 and with dyes found in regular lozenges that are made with petroleum by-products, a limited resource, and banned in many countries outside the United States. Organic lozenges ease aches with plant-based extracts, such as throat-soother marshmallow root and anti-inflammatory pine extract, as well as naturally derived menthol.
We know some cough drops taste like candy and are loaded with nutrient-depleted refined sugar. Many organic drops use natural sweeteners like cane juice, honey, and cocoa that are healthier for you and your kids.
Here are a few brands that are organic that you might want to look into trying the next time you get snuffly.
Bee M.D. Organic Throat Drops - honey lemon drops made with cooling menthol and bee pollen, an immune system booster ($4/21).
Organix Throat Drops - drops with herbs like hyssop and marshmallow root to ease respiratory pain in yummy Dark Chocolate Mint and Orchard Cherry flavors ...
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11/27/2009
Can't commit? How about committing to a better snack? Have you tried organic popcorn?
This holiday weekend is a big weekend for the movies so smuggle in your own organic popcorn. If 10,000 St. Louisans had a bag of organic popcorn over the regular stuff, we'll keep the weight of 73 brides in pesticide-tainted snack food away from kids.
Organic farming steers clear of pesticides and herbicides for cleaner soil, air, and water ever after.
The artificial butter flavor in many microwave popcorns contains diacetyl, a chem linked to lung disease. Buttering up plain kernels (which are full of fiber) with the real stuff is plain healthier.
There are a few good organic popcorns out there including Arrowhead Mills Organic Popcorn which are yellow kernels for pan poppin' (about $3/28 ounces).
Or try Eden Foods Organic Popcorn which are yellow kernels (about $3/20 ounces). And Newman's Own Organic Popcorn in plain or milk-based is diacetyl-free natural butter flavor (about $3).
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11/20/2009
Using the Changing Seasons to Renew Your Energy
Fall is officially here! This is my absolute favorite season--beautiful, magical, fall. I love the changing leaves, the brisk night air, and the approach of the holidays. There’s just so much to look forward to…like the pumpkin pie concrete at Ted Drewes (YOU DID NOT HEAR THAT FROM ME).
For me, the change of seasons brings a renewed energy that inspires me to make changes. This is a perfect time to engage or re-engage in your healthy habits so that you're in tip top shape for the fall and winter months.
Yep, you really are what you eat. So, do you want to be a walking cheeseburger? Or perhaps transition into a luscious garden of fruits and vegetables?
So, what would you like to focus on? Perhaps you would like to create healthier meals for yourself and family, or maybe you want to hit the gym on a more consistent basis.
To help inspire you to set a goal, I have three tips to help you spring into fall.
1) Fridge/Pantry/Drawer at Work inspection: Is your pantry the picture of whole foods health? Or, is your desk drawer bursting with Butterfingers? Is your favorite food pineapple of Pop Tarts? Uh-huh, ...
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11/20/2009
Brown Rice
Brown rice is the perfect fall-day companion. Use it in soups, with almond or rice milk as a morning treat, accompany with a sweet squash, or just eat it alone!
Brown rice is packed with nutrients—and has many healing properties, including its ability to reduce appetite, lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease, and reduce metabolic syndrome.
For those of you carb-weary, please rethink your stance. Carbs are nutrient-poor in the form of super processed bread, cookies, crackers, chips, etc. But when you eat a whole grain, nutrient packed food such as brown rice, it can add so much to your healthy diet.
So, yep, brown rice is a super healthy staple of most diets around the world, and given its nutrient-density, should be a staple in your kitchen as well. So STOCK UP, your pantry will love you for it.
Easy Brown Rice Stir Fry
For this recipe, feel free to simply throw together frozen vegetables, frozen brown rice, and whatever sounds good. I usually just open my freezer and pull out whatever looks good that night. These ingredients are simply guidelines (and it is great), but get creative and don't stress if you don't have every ingredient on this ...
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10/21/2009
Everybody loves a makeover, right? And as we settle into Fall, your pantry should be no exception. Can't you hear it begging you? "Fill me with healthy, delicious foods! Please, please, please!"
Let's give your pantry what it's asking for. Here are some simple guidelines for what to keep, and what to toss, in your pantry.
What to Keep
Here's the simple rule: Eat foods with ingredients you can pronounce. Eat food that looks like real food.
To make it easy, here are some healthy suggestions for your pantry...
Whole Grains: brown rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, oats
Beans: lentils, pinto, black, chick pea, adzuki
Snacks: Lara Bars, Go Raw Trek Mex from Trader Joe's, Mary's Gone Crackers Flax Crackers, dried goji berries, Garden of Eatin' Blue Corn Chips, organic dark chocolate
Soups: Shelton's Turkey Chili, Amy's Butternut Squash
Condiments: Wheat-free Tamari, extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, dried spices, coconut oil, Amy's Green Garlic dressing, Bragg's Amino Acids (tastes like soy sauce), or Ume Plum Vinegar (YUM).
Just an FYI, in my pantry, I fill Mason jars with bulk beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, grains, and spices. It's awesome because I always have exactly what I need on hand, and ...
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10/21/2009
Avacados
I LOVE avocados.
Mix it up into a guacamole dip, throw in a salad or burrito, or shake it up in your morning smoothie, and this green delight will give you the energy and stamina you need to stay at the top of your game.
I've heard dirty little rumors in the past that avocado's aren't for dieters or anyone watching their weight. Okay, so if you want to shed some lbs., I don't recommend eating three avocados a day, but even the most avid dieter should indulge in about a half of this fruit on most days.
What's so healthy about an avocado?
Avocados are a clean, healthy source of fatty acids. They are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols (which are heart healthy) and high in the powerful anti-oxidant glutathione. Avocados are also a healthy anti-cancer food. Use this creamy delight in place of butter, mash it with bananas for your young children, and use it in lots of avocado-based dressings and dips.
When you buy an avocado, it will likely be very hard. To ripen, place in a paper bag for a few days. It's ready to eat when it's slightly soft to the touch (it should be easy ...
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10/21/2009
Food Changes Everything.
It can make you happy, sad, irritable, anxious, light and airy, or wound up and cranky. It can contribute to toxicity and illness, or health and balance. It can create happy hormones, or a raging 'brat' to put it nicely. It can create a lifetime of happiness, or decades of doom and gloom.
I should know. I've been there, done that. I used to eat like crap, and after several years, my body finally had enough. It started to break down. And nothing I tried - nothing - healed my body the way that food did. Today, I'm healthier than I've ever been in my life, thanks to changing what I put in my mouth.
Yep, you really are what you eat. So, do you want to be a walking cheeseburger? Or perhaps transition into a luscious garden of fruits and vegetables?
Unfortunately, when it comes to our food, most Americans get a failing grade. What I have found is that many people have a food addiction or hang up of some kind. Pick your poison; sugar (like the old me), fast food, choc-o-holic, soda like water... or maybe you're addicted to diets, snack attacks, self-sabotage, or the awesome outlets ...
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