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The Many Benefits of Eating Local

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Local

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local

Every now and then, on each of my blogs, I will take an old post (or review) and give it new life – bringing it into the present day, when relevant. Since eating healthy and supporting our local communities could not POSSIBLY be more relevant to our present day, I’m revamping a review of a book I was sent a few years ago (It is, of course, still available on Amazon… in fact, the last time I checked the paperback book was under $5!)

Rather than a cookbook, which I typically review on the food blog, this book is more of a live longer, be healthier, help your community, and protect the environment type of book. If that’s your cup of tea (and how could it not be?!), this ambitious and fascinating book is for you.

After reading The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local (Amazon link) my first thought was, “I wish this were required reading for everybody. Everywhere.”  Of course, I  have on idea how one would go about enforcing the reading assignment, but I think someone should give it a try.

Seriously, when is supporting local farmers NOT a wonderful idea?  When is eating healthier foods NOT a wonderful idea?

As I said, I am revisiting some books, recipes, and articles and placing them in the spotlight thanks to the Pandemic. I get as tired as anyone when people try to imply that only unfit people with pre-existing conditions can get COVID or its variants. Poppycock!

Do people who are out of shape, overweight, or have pre-existing conditions have a harder time with the virus than others. Well, obviously. Sorry to be so blunt, but sometimes common sense comes into play. Yes, even fit and otherwise healthy people can be knocked off their feet with this (or any) virus. However, study after study has proven that those who are overweight or have pre-existing conditions tend to be hit harder.

This isn’t just true of the Coronavirus. It’s true for any disease from influenza to cancer. When we stay as healthy and near our ideal weight as possible, we don’t just make ourselves healthier today, we give ourselves more of a fighting chance when something ugly knocks on our door.

If your imagination is as crazy as mine, think of it in terms of a zombie attack. Picture 240 zombies strolling through town with nothing but eating brains on their mind. As if right out of a movie, cars, buses, planes, helicopters. all forms of transpiration no longer work. Heck even all the bicycles have disappeared.

Who are the people who will stand the best chance of getting away and finding someplace to seek refuge?

The healthiest and most fit. Common sense, whether we’re talking about zombies, viruses, or any disease you can think of.

If the pandemic has taught us anything… and I like to think it has… it’s this:

  • We have got to be prepared for anything that comes our way. This means mentally, physically, and (although I fail particularly miserably with this one) financially. Please don’t ask me to start saving money, I’d stand a better chance in a room with the 240 zombies.
  • We need to look out for one another.
  • We should always do our part to keep our community strong.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local (Amazon link) is here to help us check each box.

Product Description

Supporting local farmers has really grown on people-and here’s the guide to doing it right.

There are so many great reasons to shop for and eat locally grown or raised foods, including freshness, taste, energy conservation, and supporting small business owners. That is why tens of thousands have made the switch to local foods. Now families and communities are enthusiastically supporting farmer’s markets, artisan dairy farmers, cheese makers, family farms, local vineyards, and local livestock. Food expert and nutritionist Diane A. Welland explains what local eating is and isn’t and how anyone can move toward a more sustainable way of eating. It covers: Types of foods considered local; what is in season when; Storing foods; Money saving tips.

• A practical approach for a challenging endeavor.

• Includes a complete overview of local eating across all 50 states.

Front to back, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local (Amazon link) is an education in wholesome eating. You’ll learn things you never knew you didn’t even know! (Say that three times fast…. but not in front of you cat. They can be so condescending.)  You’ll find ways to feed your family healthier meals, and yes, to do so on a budget.

From the Back Cover:

You want to eat healthy, fresh foods, and at the same time, be good to the environment.  But it’s a challenge to know what is available, when itis available, and where you can get it locally.

You can find your favorite foods – and discover new favorites – without headaches and a tank of gas.  The next best thing to a personal tour through your local farmers’ market, this helpful guide gives you:

  • A primer on why eating close to the land not only rewards you with incredible food, but also supports your community and your planet.
  • A look at heirloom vegetables, seasonal fruits, fresh meats, and dairy products, and other local food near you.
  • Tips for shopping local at food festivals, CSAs, U-picks, and even supermarkets, plus advice on food foraging.
  • Suggestions for making the most of your harvest, including 25 regional recipes highlighting local specialties.

Favorite Regional Recipes include Wild Blueberry Muffins, Pennsylvania Dutch Chow-Chow, New York State Apple Pie, Maryland Crab Cakes, Southwestern Stuffed Jalapenos, California Avocado-Almond Salad, Texas Chili, and many more.

I’ll leave you with an excerpt from this outstanding book. It’s from a section titled, Fresh Food Tastes Better… which is a delicious fact:

Local foods, because they’re ripened on the plant rather than in storage, develop high levels of aromatic compounds that help give the food its characteristic taste and heightened flavor.  This is most noticeable in fruits, where the intoxicating scent of fresh-picked strawberries or peaches can signal the start of the season even before you pop one into your mouth.

Another reason why local food tastes better has to do with the timing.  The longer a food travels, the more flavor and aroma compounds it loses during transit. Because produce is often brought to market within 24 hours of being picked and is at the peak of freshness and ripeness, this isn’t an issue for local farmers.  It may, however, be a big concern for food traveling from California to New York.

Finally, local produce tastes better because it is better, inherently. Over the years, supermarket produce varieties have been chosen for their ability to be shipped long distances and withstand harvesting equipment, bulk handling, and processing.  They’re bred for sturdiness, stability, and looks, not taste.  As a result, we’ve gained the ability to have peaches in the dead of winter and apples in April, but at what cost?  Bite into any of these off-season fruits, and you’re likely to find a dry, mealy texture with only a hit of its natural flavor.

On the other hand, local foods are just the opposite.  Small farmers care most about taste, quality, and diversity of crops.  Raised according to the natural seasons, local produce is picked at the peak of flavor and ripeness and quickly transported for a quick sale.  -The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local, page 20

The author explains the local food movement, how near or far is considered local, what is and is not organic, how eating local is best for your health, how eating local builds a stronger community, how eating local helps our planet. You’ll get a complete education on produce as well as meats, dairy foods, and eggs.  There’s also a lot of great advice about freezing and preserving fresh local delicacies so you won’t have to even look at the produce in the stores during the winter months.

This is a wonderful and timely book and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Read more about The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Local (Amazon link) and grab your own copy while it’s so uncommonly cheap! (See… I can make good financial decisions. Sometimes. Okay, once a year. Maybe.)

Hamilton Beach Juice Extractor: Arming Your Kitchen for Greater Health!

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While almost everything about the Pandemic has been tragic, hideous, ugly, and negative in every way – a few small benefits can’t be overlooked.

Most of us will never take anyone in our lives for granted ever again – young or old, I truly believe our loved ones will be cherished more than ever before. I also believe we’ll be more apt to be more thankful for the simple joys in life, things we once took for granted, like simply going out for a hamburger with your spouse or shopping at Target with your daughters.

Another benefit, I believe, will be a lot more people getting serious (really SERIOUS) about their health and weight. COVID, like so very many diseases, did not and does not discriminate when it comes to its victims BUT it most certainly does more damage to those who are older, those with pre-existing diseases, and/or those who are overweight.

Many people are realizing that the time is now (past now, if we’re being honest) to get in better shape and lose excess weight where it may lurk.

Fortunately there are a lot of healthy kitchen tools and small appliances that make it easier to eat and live much healthier. Juice extractors, for example, are one of the easiest, fastest, and most efficient ways to make sure we’re getting all the fruits and vegetables we need in our diet.

I am as big a fan of smoothies as anyone in the world, but even I admit that they can tend to be pretty high in calories. When it comes to juicing, you can get the benefits of the vegetables and fruits without all the extras we put in our smoothies.

The beauty pictured here is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor and it is one of the best on the market.

Features

  • Fits whole foods – for less pre-cutting
  • Easy to assemble and store
  • Powerful 800 Watt motor
  • Dishwasher safe parts
  • Includes recipes, tips and juicing cup
  • Extra-large pulp bin lets you juice longer – use pulp in recipes or for composting

Product Description

Tired of those expensive, sugary juices filled with preservatives and questionable additives? Ready to retire your old juicer and upgrade to something better? The Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor can take nutrition to the next level and help you kick-start a healthy lifestyle.

Eating healthier and incorporating fruits and veggies into snacks or meals doesn’t have to be boring, expensive or time-consuming. In no time flat, before you can say “over-priced juice bar,” the Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor extracts the juice from a whole apple. This kitchen staple and secret weapon proves that there’s a fast, easy way to add more produce into your daily diet. What’s more, there is no need for adding sweeteners or preservatives, making juice the ultimate healthy drink.

Rated a “Best Buy” by a leading consumer advocacy publication, the Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor flawlessly performs the task of extracting juice from whole fruits, vegetables, citrus fruits and tomatoes with efficiency and speed. Equipped with a powerful 1.1 horsepower motor, an extra-wide feed chute and a stainless steel cutter/strainer, it quickly processes whole fruits and vegetables — with no pre-cutting — to produce invigorating, healthy juice.

See Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor (Amazon link) for A LOT more information.


15 Best Free Apps for Eating Healthy on a Budget

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Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can definitely be a challenge at times. With fast-food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy’s on nearly every corner, the temptation to stop and get a quick bite to eat is something that everyone has in common. In life, you can’t control everything, but you most definitely can control the food you put into your body.

Of course, it’s okay to splurge every now and then, but if your diet mainly consists of processed foods this can and will be very detrimental to your health. Even though you may not see the effects right away, in the long run you will be more prone to various types of illnesses that can be a great threat to your general health. That being said, there is no better time to take control of your health by finding ways such as downloading healthy food apps to create a more balanced diet.

Due to the fact that the health and fitness lifestyle has become more popular than ever, it only makes sense that the number of health and fitness apps would skyrocket too. It’s 2019, and there seems to be an app for just about everything! So why not download an app that can transform your diet and help you live a healthier lifestyle? These apps can virtually do everything! Some can track your heart rate, the number of calories you eat, provide you with personalized meal plans and so much more. Having these apps is almost like having a personal trainer or nutritionist in your pocket. 

So instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a personal trainer or nutritionist, you can simply download apps that can basically do the same thing. Feel free to utilize or download the various apps that Wikiby has found to help you keep your general or specific diet on track and so that you can crush your fitness goals by the new year. 

15 Best Free Apps For Healthy Eating On A Budget

Infographic Credit: WikiBuy.com

Change Bites: Change Your Plate, Change Your Life (Review)

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I was recently sent a review copy of Change Bites: Change Your Plate Change Your Life in exchange for telling you about this exciting new book. Before I get to the actual book review, itself, I wanted to give a few quick thoughts as well as a brief personal story.

A Few Quick Thoughts

  • I love that the book is relatively short, totally uncomplicated, and very easy and fast to read. Let’s face it, most of us simply don’t have the luxury of sitting and reading for hours each day – especially around Christmas and New Year’s! The fact that this book reads fast is a huge bonus.
  • I love that the book, while using the author’s experiences as examples, focuses on the reader. This is YOUR story about YOUR health and it has the power to help a lot of people.
  • I love that the book is interactive. There are numerous places for you to jot down your symptoms, your goals, your plan of attacks, etc. Books that serve as workbooks keep the reader engaged and the change they seek is infinitely more likely to happen because they are taking an active part.
  • When doing book reviews on my various blogs, I often like to include a “Who Needs this Book” section. I’m not doing it this time simply because everyone needs this book! Whether you’re trying to transition to a vegetarian diet, trying to add more healthy foods into your daily meals, or suspect you may have an intolerance to dairy, gluten, and/or wheat, this book will help you tremendously. What’s more, if you simply want to take a proactive approach to your health and give yourself a good “once over,” this book will prove invaluable. 
  • I have multiple blogs and joyfully do book reviews on each. This year (seems to be a boon on great books!), I allowed myself to become swamped in books. I honestly had to struggle to keep up. Around October, I stopped taking in new books (for the rest of the year). Then the e-mail about this particular book came through. I knew, from the introductory e-mail, alone, that this was a very special book – one that could give people their lives back.. a book that could, in fact, even save lives. As you can see, I made an exception.

I’t a lot easier to take a leap of faith if your current state of “pain” is worse than the pain of changing. – page 21, Change BITES

My Personal Journey

Years ago, I began experiencing a number of health problems that I chalked up to a number of things: allergies, aging (after all, when you get on this side of 40, a lot of interesting things happen!), thyroid, etc. I had digestive issues that, honestly, became so commonplace that they didn’t even register with me. I was taking Benadryl daily – in fact, I averaged two or three a day.

The tiredness, lethargy, and overall feeling that I had to fight to make myself exert energy? That was attributed to the Benadryl – which, I’m certain didn’t help matters.

Worst of all, however, was the fact that I LITERALLY kept at least one mouth sore or mouth ulcer for over a year. That’s right… for over a year, each and every day I had at least one mouth sore. The doctors would prescribe medicines, I’d swish with salt water.. it was a nightmare that I cringe over to this day. Those things are painful!

Around this time, my oldest daughter, Emily, began to have a few health problems. She had to have her gallbladder removed and, just when we thought she was returning to normal, her health seemed to get worse. After reading everything I could get my hands on, I told her that I thought she should do an elimination diet with gluten/wheat because it sounded like she was either Celiac or extremely gluten-intolerant. 

I told her that I’d do it with her – to help her out and give her support. We researched food, restaurants, and armed ourselves with all the information we needed for the journey.  I’m an avid cook, so I knew that I’d be able to come up with gluten-free dishes for us to eat. What could have and maybe should have been frightening and depressing was actually kind of exciting and fun. Having someone with you on the journey, in my experience helps a lot.

We decided we’d give it a month and see if her symptoms improved. Not only did they improve – they improved after just two weeks of totally eliminating gluten/wheat from her diet.

But there’s more. 

My mouth sores and mouth ulcers disappeared and, over the years, have only returned when I’ve accidentally eaten wheat/gluten. My energy returned, I slept better, my digestive issues improved, and I was able to stop buying two boxes of Benadryl each week.

We’ve, needless to say, avoided gluten entirely since doing so put us squarely back in the game of life.

Change Bites: Change Your Plate, Change Your Life

Change Bites was written by Marissa S. Costonis, H.C., who had her own personal journey with her health and the way her body was responding to food.

It makes sense, when you think about. So much so that I’m amazed it takes most of us so long to make the food and body connection.

Imagine if a new experimental drug came onto the market. If you’re like me, there’s no way on earth you’d take even one, let alone a daily dose, if you weren’t certain of the effects it’d have on your body. Yet, we put bite after bite after bite of food into our mouths each day without a second thought.

Some of this food may be doing as much harm to your body as the drug would be.

One of the interactive exercises in this book involves taking a close look at your health. You’re asked questions you probably had not considered before and are given an opportunity to uncover clues your body has been leaving for you – clues that something is wrong. If my daughter and I had had this book years ago, we would have saved ourselves a lot of pain and sickness. What’s more, we’d have been able to STOP eating something that was causing damage to our bodies.

About the Author: Marissa S. Costonis spent over a decade in change management consulting leading a variety of business transformation initiatives around the world. After developing neuropathy and a host of other health problems began to pile up, Marissa decided to break down the change process one bite at a time to transform her health with great success. She became a Certified Health Coach and launched her business, Change Bites, LLC.

Change Bites by Marissa S. Costonis

From the Back Cover:

Finally, a step by step process for how to change your eating habits and transform your health!

  • Are you inspired or even forced to try a new eating strategy, but not sure how to get started?
  • Do you have a good sense of what to eat, but not sure how to to make lasting changes to your eating habits?
  • Want to improve your health, but don’t want to give up all the foods you love today?
  • Have a growing list of health problems, but afraid to admit that food could be the culprit and the cure?

 

New Year, New You?

My husband and I frequently talk about the important role food plays in health. I love how, on the back of Change BITES, the author says food can be the culprit and the cure. Profound and so very true.  Whatever the condition my daughter and I have, I’ve often thought of people in our family and wondered if they, too, had this condition and suffered needlessly. Perhaps, because their problem wasn’t caught early enough, they did lasting damage to their bodies.

I hope you’ll read more about Change Bites: Change Your Plate Change Your Life – if you recognize yourself in any of the following, this could be your first step to making 2019 the year you begin feeling better than you have in years!

  • Do you feel more tired than usual? It is NOT always a sign of the aging process. Your body could be maxed out simply trying to digest food that it’s having difficulty digesting.
  • Are you, for health or other reasons, thinking about becoming a vegetarian or vegan? This book can help you overcome any initial setbacks and help strengthen your mind and resolve.
  • Do you suspect that you have a food intolerance? Does dairy seem to make you bloat or do you feel unusually gassy after something as simple as a sandwich? Food you eat each and every day could be doing more harm than good. This book can help you know for sure.
  • Do you want 2019 to be the year you and your family eat healthier… and not just for the first two weeks of January?! The reason resolutions usually don’t stick is because we don’t have the “glue” to make them stick. This “glue” is how we react to change and the various challenges it presents. Again, this book could prove invaluable.
  • How about your moods? Food intolerances don’t just effect how we feel – they often effect how we behave. If you suspect you’ve been crankier or more emotional than you used to be (undoubtedly loved ones will let you know if this is the case), the cause may be in the kitchen and not the person in front of you. I read an article written by a man with a severe gluten-intolerance. He said that the first (and most profound) symptom he had when he had been accidentally glutened (when gluten or wheat passes your lips without you realizing it) was a severe shift in mood. In fact… and I found this kind of fascinating… his wife and children usually realized it before he did. They’d basically tell him to go to his man cave for a week or two until the symptoms passed! 

Basically, if you aren’t the same person you were a few years ago (or even a few months ago), it may be what you’re putting into your mouth. The self-assessment exercises and golden advice given in this book can help you get back to the person you remember. Again, I really, really, really hope you read more about Change Bites: Change Your Plate Change Your Life and consider grabbing a copy for you and/or anyone in your life who could benefit.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

How to Start Eating Healthy

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Roasted Sweet Potato Pancakes
Healthy eating: we all think about doing it, just not now. Realistically speaking, no one goes from eating fried chicken and tacos one day to broccoli and carrots the following day. Diet is very difficult to change, especially when most of us are addicted to eating certain types of foods. But don’t worry; healthy eating begins gradually. First, you have to make a mental commitment to start eating more healthy foods. Don’t start a crash diet, and don’t suddenly give up your favorite junk food either. The goal is to sustain healthy eating as a long-term habit. With that in mind, here are several suggestions that will help you eat better and avoid diseases:

Replace Chocolate with Dark Chocolate

Most of us love chocolate and eat a chocolate at least once a week. Unfortunately, chocolate is packed with sugar, which is really bad for health overall. If you are a choco lover you cannot live without its addictive sweetness, here’s a solution: eat dark chocolate. Let’s be realistic; you probably won’t be able to give up your chocolate habit overnight. So the next best solution is to make chocolate less unhealthy. Chocolate itself is not unhealthy. It’s the sugar and corn syrup in chocolaty snacks that ruin your health. Dark chocolate contains more cocoa and less sugar, and is thus a better option.

Buy a Smoothie Blender

Do you find yourself hydrating with soda? Soda contains more sugar than you think, so you should try to avoid drinking sodas daily. A healthier alternative is a tall glass of smoothie. You can make fruit smoothies, veggie smoothies, or a combination of the two. Smoothies are packed with vitamins and minerals that are not present in everyday junk food. If making smoothing is easy, you will find yourself depending less on soda drinks. So, go buy yourself a good smoothie maker. You don’t have to spend a lot on a product like Magic Bullet that is easy to use and also clean.

Replace a Junk Food Snack with a Healthy Alternative

Can’t stop munching on Doritos? Next time you watch a movie, munch on a healthy snack like baby carrots or pumpkin seeds. People rarely taste the food when they are eating in front of the TV. So, try this tactic to give your body healthier nutrients and fewer excessive calories.

Eat Out at Healthy Restaurants

Eating out at a good restaurant is one of the most enjoyable experiences in life. Next time you decide to go out for dinner, pick a restaurant that promotes healthy meals, and avoid the local junk food joint. You may have to spend a tad bit more, but your body will thank you for it later.

Include a Veggie with Every Meal

If you are not used to eating vegetables or are averse to it in any way, learn to have your veggies gradually. Include a single vegetable with every meal to get used to the idea. You don’t even have to eat much. If you keep up with this habit, you will be able to include more veggies and less sugary and fatty foods in meals.

Keep in mind that healthy eating doesn’t happen overnight. Train yourself with the above suggestions and you will be able to consume higher quality ingredients that do not contribute to devastating conditions like chronic heart disease.

Pictured at the top: Roasted Sweet Potato Pancakes

An Even HEALTHIER New Focus Coming to Get Cooking

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Salad Bar Salad

New year.. new goals!
New year… new habits!
New year… new life!

Or so it goes, right? And then something crazy happens… it’s called February. Right around the second week of February, we pack up our resolutions the way we packed up our Christmas decorations. Then, like the tinsel, they aren’t thought about until 12 months later.

The sad thing is, when it comes to our health, breaking healthy resolutions is as dangerous as driving without a seat belt or rollerskating on a sheet of ice.

Very often, the average person has to have an “eye-opening experience” – something that causes them to evaluate and re-evaluate how they eat and how they feed their family. My number one goal in this post is to either keep you from having such an experience or to remind you of one you had.

A Personal Eye-Opening Moment

A few years ago, a much-loved (and young!) family member had to have a stent put in. Sitting in the heart hospital’s waiting room was an eye-opening experience in many ways. Naturally, I was scared for my loved on and very distressed that he was going through the very unpleasant experience. I was also very moved by the other families (many with teary eyes and clutched tissues). I was especially caught off guard by the number of patients I saw and heard about who were under 60.

I remember when the phrase “heart patient” immediately conjured up an image of a man or woman who was 70 years old or beyond. Not today. Heart patients are all ages and the whole prospect is horrifying.

As a nation, we eat an unbelievably unhealthy diet and we’re paying for it. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s – some of the worst monsters of our time can be avoided simply by eating healthier.

While raising our three daughters, I always tried to cook as healthy as I thought was possible. Today, when the majority of my cooking is for me, my husband, and our cats (they really fancy my baked cod, let me tell you) – healthy food is in the forefront of my mind.

Even with my food blog, I’ve always tried to provide healthy recipes, food reviews, and tips.

So what you’ll see isn’t so much a huge transition on the blog, but more of a renewed devotion to finding the healthiest foods, drinks, and meals possible.

Below are just a few examples.

  • I am not as big on “avoid this, avoid that” as I am on “eat plenty of vegetables, drink green tea, fall in love with chia seeds…” that sort of thing. HOWEVER, there are absolutely foods that we should all cut back on – some even WAY back on. Sugar is one such food. And it’s not about calories – it’s about the unhealthy things sugar does to our bodies. Am I saying to avoid it completely? Heck, I know I can’t even do that, so I’m not about to tell anyone else to! I’m saying we should all cut way back on it. Read labels. It’ll knock the wind out of you when you see how much sugar is added where it has no business being. Look for foods with little to no sugar added.
  • I am fanatical about vegetables. FANATICAL. They are delicious, beautiful, and the healthiest thing for our bodies and minds imaginable. I’m a huge component of getting as many vegetables in, daily, as possible. I slip them into soups, omelets, cheese quesadillas, tacos, salads (hello, obsession of all obsessions), meatloaf, stews, burgers, and so on. The more the better! I ‘ll be adding recipes and tips that have one thing in mind: getting more vegetables on your plate!
  • I’m trying out lots of healthy foods and drinks and will be reviewing them on the food blog. There are some phenomenal products out there and I can’t wait to tell you about them.
  • I’ve read quite a few wonderful books about eating healthier and will be reviewing them either here or on my Self Help Blog.
  • I’ll be having a Healthy Food of the Week beginning this week actually (which reminds me, I’d better get cracking!). We’ll see why we need to eat more of this particular food, along with some ways to work it into more meals.
  • If you haven’t already made a vow to eat healthier and feed your family the healthiest meals possible, I hope you’ll do so today.

It’s not about wearing a smaller size of jeans, flattening a belly or de-jiggling this, that, or the other. It’s about being healthy, feeling great, living a long life, and keeping your loved ones out of waiting rooms and yourself out of hospital gowns that open in the back.

Monday’s Call To Action!

Ready for a Call to Action before we end? Here goes! THINK about what you DRINK….

  1. If you (as of right this minute) drink soft drinks or diet soft drinks, give them up. If you have a 24 pack in the refrigerator, throw it out! These drinks are absolutely horrible for your health and the sooner you give them up, the better.
  2. If you add sugar to your coffee and/or tea, stop. It’s unnecessary and not even remotely good for you. Did you know that sugar has even been linked to pre-mature aging?! Yikes, right?! See: Ideas for Giving Up Sweet Tea for Unsweet Tea (it’s my own personal account because sweet tea had a hold on me for many, many years).

Bell Peppers

 

Chickpeas, Kale, and Garlic.. Oh My!

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Chickpea and Kale Salad

Chickpeas, Kale, and Red (Purple) Onion Salad

A few days ago, my stomach let me know that it was time for a quick lunch break. Since I work from home, I have the luxury of setting my lunch clock internally. I knew I wanted something fresh, healthy, filling, and (since I had plans for a big supper) light in the calorie department.

I came up with a Chickpea and Kale Salad that was as delicious and filling as it was healthy.  I added a little red onion.  Little secret: when no one else is around, I call them purple onions because… well, they aren’t red anymore than I am. They are, however purple. The fact that this is something I take issue with probably tells you everything you need to ever know about me.

I’m certifiable… I’ve just yet to be certified.

Let your love for each ingredient – and your own personal taste – guide you with the amounts of each ingredient. For that matter, feel free to add to the list.

I chose the following:

  • Fresh Kale, cut into small pieces
  • Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • The juice of one lemon, along with a little lemon zest to keep things pretty
  • A couple of red onion rings
  • Very finely minced garlic
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • A tiny amount of sea salt
  • A splash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

It was darn good, which I pretty much expected because I love each ingredient with a particular passion.  However, I honestly didn’t expect it to be so filling.  I couldn’t even eat my entire salad. I put a lid on the leftovers and saved it for later.

The combination of chickpeas and kale was out of this world. The splash of lemon made it all come together beautifully.

Health Benefits of Chickpeas

Chickpeas are more than just a cute face – although they are pretty darn cute at that.  They’re filling, fun to cook with, and have a great flavor.  But there’s more.  Garbanzo Beans (or Chickpeas) are a great source of fiber and are known to help lower cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels. Just  3/4 cup of chickpeas daily can reduce your risk of heart disease by helping to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Throw chickpeas into tossed, bean, or pasta salads and soups for extra nutritional value, texture, and flavor.  Making hummus is another perfect way to enjoy chickpeas.

I may be an extreme chickpea fanatic, but I enjoy them as a snack all by themselves.  I drain them, rinse them, and pop them in my mouth like popcorn. So good!

Health Benefits of Kale

Kale comes with its own list of health benefits. One cup of kale has zero fat and only about 36 calories, making it a great choice for calorie counters.  Best of all, its high in vitamins and antioxidants.

Kale is something of a super food. Just look at its benefits:

  • The fiber in kale fills you up and lowers cholesterol.
  • The Vitamin C in Kale can help ward off diseases and infections as it strengthens your immune system.
  • The Vitamin C in Kale is also essential for healthy joints.
  • Kale also has Vitamin A which can keep your eyes healthy as you age.
  • Kale actually has more iron than beef!
  • Kale is excellent for healthy skin, hair, and nails – making it a delicious beauty secret.

So, Kale can help you lose weight and/or keep it off, fight off diseases, protect your eyesight and joints, build stronger bones AND make you pretty so pretty?  What’s not to love?

Enjoy Kale in green smoothies, in salads, and soups. One of my favorite ways to prepare kale is a baked kale recipe I found on the Cooking Channel’s website. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s awesome.

Health Benefits of Red Onions

Red.. .ahem… onions (and yellow onions, for that matter) have an impressive list of health benefits, but the one that jumps out at me is their antioxidant power. These onions are some of the best natural sources of quercetin.  All you really need to know about quercetin is that it’s a scavenger when it comes to free radicals.

Red onions also have cancer-fighting properties which is, all by itself, more than reason enough to include them in as many meals as possible.  I love the versatility of red onions, as well as their bright color. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a bad red onion. They’re always just perfect for whatever I ask them to do.

You’re probably already familiar with the heart healthy benefits of olive oil and garlic, so I won’t get into their nutritional value right now. Quite frankly, I could be here all day talking about their health benefits because they seemingly go on forever.

A final word about eating healthy: When you eat healthy foods regularly, you’ll find that your “junk food” cravings will decrease significantly.   I actually find myself craving great salads, soups, vegetables, and fresh fruit these days..  instead of hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, doughnuts, and fries.  It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen.

It just makes good sense to eat healthier, doesn’t it?

Chickpea and Kale Salad

Chickpeas, Kale, and Red (Purple) Onion Salad

Paderno Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer (Review)

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Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer

Like everyone these days, I’m always on the look out for ways to add more vegetables and fruits to my family’s diet. The recommended daily amount is higher than most people realize PLUS most experts recommend we go even higher than the recommended number for optimum health. See the Recommended Daily Fruit and Vegetable Calculator to find your own personal recommendations.

My family also likes to cut back on unnecessary carbs whenever possible, too.  We’ve found a pretty cool way to accomplish both of these goals (while providing me with another fun kitchen gadget in the process).  We bought the Paderno World Cuisine Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer off Amazon a few weeks ago and I love it even more each time I use it.

Zucchini Pasta

The first meal I used this cool slicer for was a Zucchini “Pasta” Salad. I made long, spiral noodles (pictured above) from a couple of zucchinis and combined them with chopped grape tomatoes, diced red onion and chopped red, yellow, and green bell peppers. I mixed up the always delicious dressing recipe on the back of all Hidden Valley Italian Dressing Mixes and covered the vegetables. After about 30 minutes in the fridge, it made an absolutely delicious cold salad. I mean, reallllly delicious.

I’ve also used the Spiral Vegetable Slicer for salads and soups. It’s faster and easier than traditional shredders and slicers. This walking accident-waiting-to-happen has found it to be much safer for the fingers and hands as well.  And, trust me, if it’s safe for this accident prone clutz, it’s safe for just about anyone.

Colorful Tossed Salad

One night, I was craving Italian, so I pulled out the spiral vegetable slicer. I had  read, online, that A LOT of people enjoyed their spiral cut zucchini (raw) with hot spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce over it.  I was anxious to give it a try, so I grabbed a few zucchinis. I had cans of Italian Style Diced Tomatoes on hand, so I simply warmed them up – adding fresh basil, oregano, chopped garlic, and salt. We put the tomato mixture on top of our raw zucchini and were SHOCKED at how great it was. I didn’t peel my zucchini but a lot of people prefer it peeled. Most of the time, I hate to peel veggies because it seems kind of wasteful to me.

Besides, I like the colors. 🙂

About the Paderno Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer:
Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer

  • Make quick work of fancy vegetable peeling with the spiral vegetable slicer – it’s incredibly fast, easy, and even fun to use.
  • Suction cups on the legs hold the slicer in place beautifully while you work your mojo. I read a review once that said the suction cups didn’t work – all I can say is they must have been trying to use them on a wet surface or something because I’ve had less than zero problems getting it to stick.
  • Clean up couldn’t be any easier. I hate, loathe, and despise contraptions that have 101 parts to clean after each use. This spiral slicer is a cinch to clean.
  • Includes 3 sets of blades: 1/8-inch spacing, 1/4-inch spacing, and straight blade for ribbon cuts.
  • This VERY affordable plastic spiral vegetable slicer would make a great gift idea for foodies, vegetarians, and anyone who enjoys good food!
  • Simply place vegetable or fruit on prongs, turn wheel while pushing base toward blade.
  • Made of durable plastic.
  • Backed by a 1-year warranty.

Zucchini Pasta with Shredded Parmesan

Even one of the biggest pasta lovers in the world (that would be me) thought the zucchini noodles, tomatoes, and shredded Parmesan made a delicious meal.  Served with a colorful tossed salad, this meal is an excellent way to get your daily vegetable serving count up.

I haven’t used the slicer for coleslaw yet, but it occurs to me how much it’ll simplify the process – cabbage, peppers, carrots.. all sliced in one place for an especially lovely coleslaw.

Apple Strips

 The spiral slicer isn’t, of course, just limited to vegetables. Just look at the cute apple strips above. You don’t even have to core the apple before using the spiral slicer. Just cut off the top of the apple, place it on the spiral slicer and push it through the blade. In seconds, you have cool little rings for fruit salads, oatmeal, pastries, or snacks.  Honestly, I could sit a bowl of apples on the end of the counter and my bunch will walk right past them 100 times a day. But if I put a dish with spirals or strips out… BAM! They disappear.

Zucchini Pasta Salad Lunch

I’ll be using the spiral slicer regularly and can’t wait to find exciting and cool new ways to get the most out of it. See Paderno World Cuisine A4982799 Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer for more information. I highly, highly recommend this slicer.

Eating Healthier Meals Has Never Been Easier… Or More Important

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Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Roasted Carrots, Red Potatoes, and Sweet Potatoes

I was in a heart care center recently and, even though I wasn’t the patient, I got a real wake up call. In fact, every member of my family got a wake up call.  We were at the heart care center for a family member who was having a procedure done (I’m guessing his beautiful blue eyes got a wake up call, too).  My daughters and I kept looking around the waiting room.  We were blown away by the number of young people (in their 40’s and 50’s) who were patients.  I kept seeing people who I automatically assumed were with a parent or even grandparent, only to look down and see a hospital bracelet on their arm.

I have to tell you, it was alarming!

The American diet – fast food, in particular – isn’t just killing us, it’s roughing us up before it finishes us off.  It’s robbing people of the quality of life they deserve and desire. Granted, when it comes to most health issues, a lot of things are hereditary. But the best shot we have against diseases (hereditary or not) is good old fashioned common sense. As a whole, we just all have to start eating healthier.

Heart disease and high blood pressure runs in my family as well as in my husband’s (which is why I was all the more relieved for my daughters to experience the wake up call as well).  Add the fact that diabetes and a few other undesirables run through our family trees, and you’ll understand why I harp on healthy food so much.

One of the changes I’ve recently made is one that you may or may not feel comfortable doing, yourself.   One”meatless” day a week has been a tradition in our home for a long time now.  Thanks to a lot of great products out there (Morningstar Farms, Boca…) and a personal passion for vegetables, this one day a week often produced the best meals of the week.  Since the one day a week was going so well, I added two more meatless days.

How’s it going?  No one but me seems to have noticed!

Yes, it can be done. No, it’s not overly expensive. Yes, it is as filling. No, you won’t miss the meat.

Roasted Asparagus, Cauliflower, and Corn

Roasted Asparagus, Cauliflower, and Corn on the Cob

A few other healthy changes I’ve made:

  • I’ve  started using healthier choices for butter on and in most dishes and recipes. If you read the labels, you’ll be pretty shocked.
  • I roast vegetables instead of frying them.  Roasted potatoes (red, gold, or sweet potatoes), corn on the cob, cauliflower, asparagus, carrots, and tomatoes are SO delicious you’ll find yourself craving them. Something about the roasting process even takes away the need (or desire) for butter.  Seriously. I had the butter out, ready to use on roasted corn, but after one bite, I thought, “I’m not going to mess this up with butter!” The amazing, fresh, delicious flavor is really something else.
  • When I crave a burger, I make it a Boca burger or Morningstar Farms burger.  Spray Olive Oil in a skillet, fry the Boca buger, add a little garlic salt and pepper for seasoning – then assemble your burger. It fixes the craving and you don’t miss the meat whatsoever.
  • I’ve started keeping healthier, smarter snacks on hand. Veggies with hummus, baked chips (sparingly), fruit, yogurt, and nuts are just as delicious and pack an added nutritional punch.
  • I’ve always been a HUGE fan of cooking magazines and regularly buy Taste of Home, Food Network Magazine, and Rachael Ray’s. I’ve also started grabbing a few “healthy” cooking magazines, such as Cooking Light each month.  The recipes, tips, and ideas are priceless.
  • I browse through the Health Food sections in my favorite stores and grab something new each trip.  I’ve found a few wonderful (and I mean wonderful!) foods I’ll be reviewing over the coming days.  I’m really excited about the different health foods I’ve fallen in love with and look forward to telling you all about them.

If you look at eating healthier – and feeding your family healthier meals – as a challenge, you’ll rise to the occasion. Get creative and have fun with it.  Whether it’s replacing meat with Boca Crumbles in tacos, chili (pictured below), or spaghetti or finding just how many different places you can sneak fruit into meals – it’s more than just doable, it’s deliciously doable.

 Boca Burger Crumbles Chilli

 Chili with Boca Crumbles – delicious and you’ll never miss the meat!

One of the coolest things about eating healthier foods is a really unexpected one: The healthier your diet, the healthier your cravings. Seriously, if you stick with making healthy food choices, you’ll find your cravings switch gears. Whereas I once got the occasional craving for a fast food cheeseburger (intense cravings, at that!) – I find that one of my most frequent cravings these days is for a Veggie Sub from Subway or a Boca Burger (or Morningstar Farms) dressed to the nines with tomatoes, sweet onion, pickles, and mustard.

A Healthy Cookbook You’re Going to Love: My Crazy Sexy Kitchen Review

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Crazy Sexy Kitchen Cookbook Review

A while back my husband ordered me a few cookbooks off of Amazon – just because he’s cool like that. One of these cookbooks was the one you see pictured above, Crazy Sexy Kitchen: 150 Plant-Empowered Recipes to Ignite a Mouthwatering Revolution.

As I’ve mentioned (as in over and over and over..) on the food blog, I’m a firm believer that we should all try to feed our families, and ourselves, the healthiest meals possible.  Author Kris Carr has a great quote on page 28 of Crazy Sexy Kitchen, “… some foods have the power to heal, while others have the power to harm.”  I love that so much, I’m trying to think of an artsy way to put these very words in our kitchen. Near the refrigerator.  But, you know, something short of red markers on a poster board.

I do have a little class, after all.

There are a great number of “Raw Food,” “Vegan,” “Green Smoothie,” “Cruelty-Free Eating,” etc cookbooks on the market.  I’ve even reviewed a few excellent ones right here. It’s a great sign that there’s a proliferation of these cookbooks – it shows that all of us finally GET that we have to break the chain of unhealthy eating. As diabetes and obesity rates soar, we realize that if we’re going to protect ourselves and the ones we love, we have to wage our battle in the kitchen.

Crazy Sexy Kitchen is one of the best Plans of Attack I’ve come across.  Not only are the recipes outstanding (what would you expect when chefs are in charge of recipes?), the sound advice and wonderfully written health information could stand on their own even if there weren’t 150 recipes tagging along.

Book Description

The woman who made prevention hot is now making it delicious! Crazy Sexy Kitchen, the follow-up to Kris Carr’s New York Times bestseller Crazy Sexy Diet, is a

Veggie Manifesto for plant-empowered gourmands and novices alike, and it’s filled with inspiration, education, cooking tips, and over 150 nourishing, nosh-worthy recipes. Infused with her signature humor, style, and personal stories, Crazy Sexy Kitchen redefines the kitchen as headquarters for America’s wellness revolution. The goodness born in the Crazy Sexy Kitchen will reach deep into the rest of your life—enriching your health, your home, your heart, and the planet.

Crazy Sexy Kitchen gives readers all the tools and know-how needed to adopt a joyful and vibrant Crazy Sexy Diet and Lifestyle. What is the Crazy Sexy Diet and Lifestyle, you ask? A nutrient-dense, plant-happy approach to eating and living that harmonizes your beautiful body at the cellular level. It’s a celebratory way of life that’s deeply connected, healthy, awake and engaged. Now that’s SEXY!

Like a long, luxurious meal, Crazy Sexy Kitchen is laid out in courses. You’ll start with a detailed review of the Crazy Sexy Diet. Next you’ll learn how to stock your culinary arsenal. Kris will show you how to find the best kitchen tools and equipment, and prep you with basic culinary skills and lingo. Handy symbols like, gluten-free, soy-free, kid-friendly—and for the time pressed—Crazy Sexy Quickies, help you to easily identify the recipes that are perfect for your dietary needs. Not sure how to put a whole meal together? No problem. Crazy Sexy Kitchen covers that, too—with a hearty dose of menu plans and recipes to inspire and delight.

Joined by Whole Foods chef, Chad Sarno, Crazy Sexy Kitchen offers over 150 delicious, nutrient-dense recipes designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul. From juicing to planning a three-course meal, Crazy Sexy Kitchen has all the essentials to fill your kitchen (and life!) with health, happiness, family, friends, and good times.

While I love the information (including fascinating FAQs with a dietician) and am as excited by the recipes as any foodie would be –  a few of my favorite things about this book are the beautiful photographs and the personal history Kris Carr shares with her readers. Pictures of her lovely grandmother and her stories of growing up in her grandmother’s restaurant are extra special.  I could have read an entire book about the author’s grandmother!

Why Should You Listen to Kris Carr When it Comes to Healthy and Healing Foods?

One look at the cover, and you can tell that the author is a beauty.  Slender, radiant, and sporting a smile that could light up a room. At the risk of judging a book by its cover (see what I did there?), I’d have taken her foodie advice without knowing a thing about her.  However, when I read about the strong woman behind the smile, I was even more committed to hanging on her every word.  In 2003 (ten years ago, if we’re keeping count), Kris was handed the news that she had a “rare and incurable stage IV sarcoma.”

The big C.

Her cancer diagnosis was the worst kind possible – the one that came with a warranty.  Kris wasn’t given long to live, but apparently that arrangement didn’t set well with her.

I knew in my gut that I needed to fully participate in my well-being. That’s when I went back to my roots – food. I discovered I loved being an artist in the kitchen, just like Grandma. Except I added a revolutionary twist to her culinary foundation: cooking consciously and compassionately for the health and happiness of my body and the world around me.

Since that time I’ve not only been surviving, I’ve been thriving – with cancer. In fact, thanks in part to a healthy and active lifestyle, I actually feel better with the disease than I did without it.  If I can feel healthy and happy while living with a life-threatening condition, just imagine how great you can feel! – Kris Carr, Page 15, Crazy Sexy Kitchen

Ten years – way past the “shelf life” her doctors gave her. Now just try and tell me it doesn’t matter what we put into our bodies!

As Kris Carr points out in the book, you don’t have to dive in to the deep end with the changes you make in your diet. You don’t have to swear off all red meat and there’s no need to pinkie swear to drink only green smoothies for breakfast for the rest of your life.  Just make healthy steps in the right direction – the more the better.  I couldn’t possibly recommend Crazy Sexy Kitchen any more than I do. On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s so past 10 it can’t even see it in its rear view mirror.

Some of the recipes in Crazy Sexy Kitchen:

  • Juices such as Iron Machine, The Sicilian, and Morning Glorious…
  • Smoothies that include Crazy Sexy Goddess Smoothie, Chai Latte, and Vanilla Mystic…
  • Tofu Country Scramble
  • French Toast with Amaretto Creme
  • Cornmeal Banana Walnut Pancakes
  • Chickpea Crepe with Mushrooms and Artichokes
  • Mediterranean Wrap with Cashew Cream Cheese
  • Fruit and Almond Sandwiches
  • Hummus Pinwheels
  • Crazy Sexy Veggie Quesadilla
  • Pita Pizzas
  • Crazy Sexy Kale
  • Tomatoes and Herbs
  • Chile Rellenos with Red and Green Sauces
  • Garlicky Mushrooms
  • Sage Polenta with Nana’s Marinara
  • Dijon Vinaigrette
  • Tomato Relish
  • Fiery Pistachios
  • Sea Salt and Pepper Almonds
  • Raw Apple Spiced-Rum Shortcake with Maple Vanilla Glaze
  • Plus MANY, MANY more healthy, creative, and beautiful recipes!

These recipes will allow you to feel really good about the food you’re feeding your family (as well as yourself). They’ll also allow you to show off with great looking and delicious dishes that’ll probably earn you standing ovations.

Seriously, don’t wait another minute. Order Crazy Sexy Kitchen today.