Showing posts with label Eating Well. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eating Well. Show all posts

Thursday, June 28, 2012

from Joan: Some Quick Whole Meal ideas!


Eating Well


  • If you find you are a bit sugar addicted one way to transition is to make great quality sweets to eat! Click here for 4 good cookie recipes.
  • Barbara Hotzman, an ATM regular teacher, wrote a good article on tips for Conscious Eating Click here.
  • Our naturopath Kerri Layton had written this on Healthy Stress Click here.

Some Quick Whole Meal ideas!

Think Rueben! Smoked tofu or pan fried tempeh with some Russian dressing and sauerkraut -grilled with a touch of cheese often hits the spot!
Quesadillas take all of 5 minutes to broil on each side and the possibility for stuffing's are unlimited.
Pasta Pasta everywhere! Remember to use good quality pastas to create a hearty pasta salads- add beans, seafood, or chicken for protein, some tasty hearty greens and a simple dressing. Pasta Primavera is a great way to clean out the fridge- start with lots of garlic and saute all your veggies throw in some fresh or whole canned tomatoes- salt -basil and maybe capers if your feeling brave-wa la! Oriental Pasta cook up some udon or soba noodles while making a simple broth with a piece of kombu and some soy sauce or miso- throw in some cubed tofu and watercress or scallions an serve over noodles- a staple in Japan!
Burritos- you can make them and freeze them- there are the traditional ones- beans and cheese or branch out to the world of Wraps! Wraps can handle it all- grains, beans, cooked or raw veggies -top with dressing or salsa.Fajita Night- this is a favorite at my house- bowls of refried beans, chicken, sautéed onions, chopped veggies and cheese and warm burrito wrappers are put out for everyone to create.
Eat more whole grains! We all need to eat more whole grains- so cook a batch of brown rice, barley, millet….. on Sunday and use it all week in salads, soups, burgers, wraps, you can even cream it for a breakfast cereal. Grain Salads - rice, roasted red peppers, currants, scallions, and roasted chopped almonds with a orange/olive oil dressing (add touch of chili powder!) yum.. and then there is taboolah a middle eastern salad with bulgar, parsley, scallions, tomatoes, mint and lots of lemon- (use the finest bulgar you can find)…be brave- be creative- there is no missing with grain salads and they travel well for lunch on the go.
Grain Burgers - all you have to do is go down to Crazy Burgers in Narragansett to be inspired to create your own burger- (but I do haved some of his recipes for the not so brave. A simple one I make with left over grain is to add roasted sunflower seeds, sautéed minced onion and celery ( if I am in a hurry I don’t even sauté) some soy sauce and make patties- dip them in cornmeal and pan fry. Once you cook the grain burgers you can freeze them and pop them in the toaster oven anytime.
Soup’s On! Soup is the way to go-they are power packed easily digestible. They are a great way to use grains- substitute barley or millet for pasta in any soup. Here is a quickie- put a bag of split peas, cut 2 carrots, 2 stalks of celery, 2 cloves of garlic and a piece of kombu- simmer for 35 minutes and flavor with salt, soy sauce or miso- my kids prefer this blended.I think the trick is to keep inspired- so read through the cookbooks and magazines- especially from other countries- they have this ‘quick and good for you’ thing down. Find friends who enjoy good food- it is important not do this alone. And most of all enjoy every bit!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Green Drinks

The Green Drink  we shared last night had in it:

  • Mango
  • Pear
  • slice of fresh Gnger
  • Banana
  • touch of OJ
  • Water
  • Kale


The watermelon drink was watermelon water and mint. I often add other fruits.

Someone requested some more green drink recipes. Here is a excerpt from visiting teacher Berrnadette Pennotti's email book. On her website she offers recipes and tips that make eating right, losing weight and staying healthy a joyful.lifestyle. http://www.berrnadettepenotti.com

Note: Most of her recipes were made in a Vita Mix...a super strong blender that we sell in our store, if using a standard blender some of the harder fruits and veggies might not breakdown to a really smooth consistency.


 WHAT TO AVOID WHEN CLENSING AND DETOXING, AND FOR OVERALL HEALTH:
The Inflammatory and Acidifying foods/substances to avoid:
Gluten, dairy, *soy, alcohol, caffeine (or greatly reduce), wheat, white flour, white sugar, white salt, white
rice, white potato, hydrogenated fats, fried foods, peanuts.
No chemicals, cigarettes, processed foods, GM foods
*As far as soy goes edamame, soybean sprouts, natto, tempeh and miso are the only soy products that can
be used safely - the rest of them I’d avoid as they are most likely genetically modified.

INTRO TO RAW FOODS and THE GREEN SMOOTHIE DETOX RESOURCES AND RECIPES!
A note from Berrnadette:
There are many healthy weight loss diet books - gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, fat free, low
carbohydrate, but raw lifestyle plans are the easiest and most successful way to lose weight and detox,
because you do not count calories or worry about being free of anything, you simply eat primarily raw
food. (or “high- raw’ as I like to call it- 75% or more of your diet as Live foods).
Raw food weight loss is permanent weight loss, because you are not only losing fat, but you are
detoxifying, purifying, and cleansing the body of old residual toxins- toxins that cause disease, discomfort
and excess weight.
Because of the abundant nutrients, minerals and enzymes, eating raw is beautifying. Raw food will not
only turn back the hands of time, but decrease wrinkles before your very eyes. A raw lifestyle will increase
longevity, making for a lively and energetic old age. Living a raw food lifestyle is alkalizing, naturally
keeping your alkaline/acid balance in check will permanently keep excess weight off. So not only are you
embarking on a healthy weight loss plan but you have just created a raw food detox diet that you can
live on for the rest of your life.

As Emerson said so well, and I concur: "Health is Our First Wealth" So with this in mind here are some
recipes and ideas to get you going on your super "Healthy Wealthy" Path~ Enjoy!
Alkalize and “Reboot” Yourself with…The Green Smoothie Detox and Cleanse!

Tools: A sharp knife, cutting board, and a blender
Foods to Focus:
FRUIT: All Organic if possible. Apples, apricots, bananas, berries (all kinds), cherries,fresh figs, goji
berries,grapefruit, grapes, kiwi’s, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons (all kinds), oranges, papayas, peaches,
pears, persommons, pineapples.
LEAFY GREENS: of all kinds~All Organic if possible.
Romaine and all Lettuces, Spinach,Kale, Parsley, Cilantro, Basil,Arugula, Watercress, Bok Choy, Dandelion,
Chard, Collard Greens, Sprouts (Broccoli and Clover if possible, or a mixed blend) Mint, Cabbage
VEGETABLES: Especially the first four here.*Cucumbers, Celery, Broccoli, Cauliflower
Red or Orange Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Zucchini, Eggplant, Beets, Carrots, Asparagus, Onions,
Parsnips, Radishes,Shallots, Sweet Potatoes, Scallions, Garlic, Ginger
Good Fats:Avocado, Coconut butter and oil, Cold pressed Olive Oil, Coconut. Flax and Hemp Oil (use
all oils sparingly)
Nuts and Seeds: (soak nuts 12 hrs then drain and rinse bf using…grind flax and chia right bf using, hemp
can be used right from the bag) Almond, Walnut, Brazil, Cashew, Macadamia, Chia, Golden Flax, Hemp,
Sesame, Pumpkin, Sunflower
Grains/Legumes: Lentils, Quinoa, Wild Rice, Buckwheat Brown Rice, Gluten-free Oats
Condiments/ Spices/Other: Powdered Dulse or Kelp (can use in place of sea salt), Nori seaweed
(crumble raw nori sheets over salald and soups) ..spices: turmeric, cinnamon, granulated garlic, nutritional
yeast, apple cider vinegar, miso, sauerkraut, vanilla…Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint…coconut
water- especially if you can get it fresh… (Also see “what to stockpile” list for more ideas).


Smoothie Recipes
"The Orange Dream"
• 2 cups freshly squeezed Orange Juice
• 1 ripe Banana
• 1 and 1/2 cups of ice
Combine all in blender and process until smooth.Gloriously delicious!
Try this as is- it’s a winner. For “green smoothie cleanse” can also add a handful of spinach to the mix.
Serves 2

“The Gingered Pear” Smoothie
• 2 pears
• 1 whole lemon (seeds and rind removed)
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 inch nub of ginger
• 3 BIG handfuls of kale, chard or spinach (stems removed)
Blend all and enjoy. This is SO refreshing, spicy-sweet and yummy..give it a try! Serves 2
“The Strawberry Popeye” Smoothie
• 1 pint of strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 small bananas
• large handfuls of spinach
Blend all. Add water if needed. Can add a bit of ice if using fresh strawberries. Revel in deliciousness... and
as easy as “1, 2, 3!” Serves 2

“The Kaleberry” Smoothie
• 1 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
• 1 large ripe fuji apple (or any kind of apple)
• 5 large leaves of kale ( “spines” removed if desired)
• 1 cup filtered water or coconut water
Chop and blend all then enjoy this surprisingly tasty treat! Serves 2

“The Sweet and Green Mango Machine” Smoothie
• 2 ripe mangoes (or 3 large ripe peaches)
• 4 cups spinach
• 1 cup water
• 2-3 T lemon juice
Blend all. Sweet, nutritious and energizing! Serves 2

“Coco Nutty Kale” Smoothie
• 1 1/2 Cup Coconut Water (fresh or “Vita Coca” brand or like)
• 1 Cup Frozen Pineapple Chunks
• 1 Cup Lacinato or Curly Kale ( approx. 4 leaves)
• 1/2 Cup Coconut Milk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert (can get at Whole foods or health food store)
Blend in high speed blender for 60 seconds, and serve immediately!

“The Peachy Almond” Smoothie
• 1 ½ cup almond milk (see “easy almond milk” or “dreamy almond milk” under “ quick snacks and
meals” and ‘resources”)
• 1 large fresh peach, pitted
• 2 medjool dates, pitted
• 1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 cup of ice
Blend all ingredients in high-speed blender for 60 seconds.
*May substitute 1 fresh peach and ice with 1 cup of frozen peaches. Can also mix a handful of fresh spinach
in here to make this a creamy “green smoothie”!

“The Gingered Fig” Smoothie
• 6-7 fresh figs
• 1 large navel orange peeled
• I ½ inch nub of ginger
• 4-6 Leaves of kale, romaine or 1 cup of spinach
• 1 cup of pure water Blend all and enjoy!

“Blueberry Cream Frappe” (not a green smoothie but a healthy satisfying drink!)
• 1cup of water
• 2 cups of frozen Blueberries
• 2 T of raw cashew butter
• 1 T of raw honey
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice Blend and savor!

Zingy Mango “PUDDING!”
• 1 Mango
• ½ cup of frozen Pineapple
• 2 Leaves of Chard
Blend to creamy consistency- so delish! *Can also add a bit of water and have this as a green smoothie.

“ A Tasty and Cleansing Bloody Mary!”
• 2 large tomatoes
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 stalk of celery
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/4 cup parsley
• 2 tablespoons yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup purified water
• 2 T lemon juice, freshly squeezed juice of one lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or salt to taste
• pinch cayenne pepper
Place all ingredients in high-speed blender and blend until smooth. If you like a smoother drink without
the pulp, strain through a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer