Compost...

As hard as I "try" sometimes, things slip by and I loose and waste a whole batch of greens. So I give myself the space to allow that to happen and know that all is not lost because it will go into my compost pile and begin again.

So the moral of the story is "stuff happens" and it's okay. We just pick up were we left off and keep going. And with the awareness we can be more mindful to maybe freeze or prepare it sooner then later next time.

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Power of Suggestion...

Good and Plenty...

Someone gave me these garden grown cucumbers because they felt like the had plenty to share, and I was overjoyed! So as I was making this salad http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/tomato-onion-and-cucumber-salad-recipe.html ( I left off the olive oil) I got to thinking about the power of suggestion. What if those who had a garden or even if you go to the farmers market and bought a few extra things, and gave that extra to someone you know that maybe doesn't cook much or could just use something nutritious to eat?. You never know what that might spark, through the power of suggestion.  It could inspire them to want more healthy choices, they might ask you about the food, and it doesn't need to be delivered with a speech. When something is given with love from one heart to another ~ "it's all good."
If you watch TV or read a magazine, you know the power of suggestion that lingers there. So why not try and offer a healthy suggestion and see what power it has.

You can follow me on https://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodLiving

and visit http://wholefood-living.com/index.html to see how I can help you on your way to a healthier you!

Smoothie... with a warning!

Almond Joy Smoothie...

WARNING!

This too could happen to you... After you make one you can't stop thinking about the next one!

My daughter is working at a place that makes smoothies and juices and so I get try a lot of different ones. But I have to say the one I am slightly obsessed with is called, Almond Joy. Here is a link from one that is similar http://www.edibleperspective.com/home/2013/3/28/almond-joy-smoothie-milkshake.html. One of my favorite combinations of sweet favors is peanut butter and chocolate. Oh how I've missed my Resses since going dairy free. There are times when I just grab a spoon of peanut butter and put a pile of chocolate chips ( dairy free ) on top and eat! So this smoothie works wonders for me. It has become my go to breakfast smoothie. I use sugar free almond butter in so it's full of protein and it keeps me full still lunch. Smoothies are great, because you can add in all kinds of stuff. Sometime I add in flaxseed and/or avocado for extra filling. Here is my version of Almond Joy smoothie ...

1 cup unsweetened almond milk or 1/2 cup almond milk and 1/2 cup coconut milk

1 Tb of cocoa powder

1 frozen banana pieces - really ripe ( keep cut up in freezer )

2 Tb of unsweetened almond butter

2 Tb cacao nibs

1 Tb chocolate chips

( makes one serving)

* you can add: 

toasted coconut

avocado 

more chocolate chips

Peanut Butter chips ( if not dairy free)

flaxseed/chia seed

Peanut butter

any other kind of non dairy milk

Chocolate non dairy milk

dairy milk ( if not dairy free)

The ingredients in my Almond Joy, keeps the sugar very low - The only sugar I have is one tablespoon of chocolate chips and natural sweetness from the banana. My measurements are not exact, so use your best judgement and taste before you pour incase you think it needs more of something.

Building Healthy Food Habits...

Habit - an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.

We as humans build habits. Some are better then others, but the good news is, we can change them! But what often happens when we evaluate our habits and the ones we would like to change, we try to tackle to much at one time and become overwhelmed and quit ( along with feeling like a failure). So how do we change our eating and have success? One small habit (step) at a time. Just pick ONE thing for your health you would like to do different. Here are a few ideas:

~ Eat a Fruit or Vegetable at every meal

~ Walk one day a week 

~ Replace one drink with flavored water

~ Sprinkle a little less salt and instead sprinkle an herb on your food

~ Get to bed 15-30 minutes earlier once a week

~ Plan a couple sweet treats for the week

After you have decided what it is in your life you would like to change, focus only on that one thing and see how you feel. It takes time to retrain our brain through repetitive behavior so when you feel you have established a routine that feels successful, then move on and incorporate a new habit you want to change. Or if you feel like you could handle more then one, try it and do what feels right to you and your body. Most important "be patient and kind" to yourself when your in the middle of change. We will slip and fall but that's okay. Just pick yourself up and keep going.

If you would like help evaluating where to start and what steps to take, I can assist you in your success.

You can follow me on https://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodLiving

and visit http://wholefood-living.com/index.html to see how I can help you on your way to a healthier you!

Tuesday "Try"... Conscious Eating

Try and pick one meal in your day that is not distracted by, TV, cell phones, phone calls, emails, reading, or even conversations and try to consciously eat that meal. Pause ~ take a moment to really look at the colors, smell the aroma that rises up from your plate, feel the work and care that was put into preparing it ( even if it was yourself). Bring your awareness to each small bite and consciously chew and taste your food. Feel the appreciation for the abundance that this meal is on your table and take a breath before the next bite.

Just give it a "try" ~ One meal ~ one try...

Tuesday "Try"... Nurturing Yourself

Do you need permission to take a little time in your day, week or month for "nurturing yourself?" 

     Eating healthy is one component to keeping our bodies nourished, but nurturing our spirit, that part of us that feels overworked, forgotten, unappreciated, needs a little TLC as well. There are times in my life when I forget to give myself permission to do that little extra, "just for me." But when I forget, I am reminded through, something I read in a book, a friend who inspires me with her actions or words, a show I saw on TV, a recording I was listening too, a conversation with my children, music I hear, or a walk in nature. But there was a time in my life when I actually needed a friend to say "I give you permission to take care of yourself. And when you allow that time, you unknowingly offer that same gift to those around you - So if you need that permission in your life today...  

Then I'm here to give you that... Go and be nourished! 

( it doesn't have to be a weekend away ( of course that would be awesome if you can), but it's like when your trying to eat healthy - start small, pick an idea that you know can be accomplished. Here are a few of my favorites:

~Taking that extra moment in the bathroom

~Having a special treat that you wouldn't normal do ( I like to stop in our local bakery for a Gluten/Dairy free treat that I don't have to make and when it's gone it's gone and I don't have the leftovers lingering around)

~Take an epsom salt bath ( the package says only to stay in for 20 min. so you don't have to feel guilty, plus it sooths tired muscles etc), and light some candles even if it's in the middle of the day.

~ Go out in your back yard and take your shoes off and connect with mother nature.

~Make something really easy for dinner, leave the dishes until later or the next day and take the extra time to read or just relax

Find what works for you with your time and schedule, but the most important thing with whatever you choose, do it with LOVE ( and remember you have my permission)!

GO AND BE NOURISHED

You can follow me on https://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodLiving

and visit http://wholefood-living.com/index.html to see how I can help you on your way to a healthier you!

Thursday "Tip"... Cheese - Cellulose?

What to do with a block of cheese?

It's so easy to pick up that bag of shredded cheese ( I'm guilty of it too), but buying a block of cheese is cheaper per pound and healthier because the packaged cheese contains cellulose, http://www.foodrenegade.com/would-like-some-wood-pulp-your-shredded-cheese/ that is used as a food stabilizer ( read more about it in the attached link). You can shred the whole block at one time and put it in a container (it will keep) and it's ready just like if you bought it pre-packaged or make cubes or cheese sticks for snacking with crackers. It's the little changes that add up to saving money and your health!

You can follow me on https://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodLiving

and visit http://wholefood-living.com/index.html to see how I can help you on your way to a healthier you!