Monday, May 10, 2010

Organic Foods


Here is why you should eat organic foods:
1. Keep chemicals off yout plate ~ Pesticiddes are poisons designed to kill living organisma, and thus are harmful to humans.

2. Protect future generations ~ Children are four-times more sensitive to exposure to cancer-causing pesticides in foods than adults.

3. Protect water quality ~ The EPA estimates that pesticides pollute the public's primary source of drinking water for more than half the country's population.

4. Organic farmers work in harmony eith nature ~ Three billion tons of topsoil is eroded from croplands in the U.S. each year, and much of it is due to conventional farming practices, which often ignore the health of the soil.

5. Save energy ~ More energy is now used to produe synthetic fertilizers than to till, culivate and harvest all the crops in the U.S.

6. Help small farmers ~ Although more and more large-scale farms aer making the conversion to organic practices, most organic farms are small, independently owned and operated family farms.

7. Support a true economy ~ Organic foods might seem expensive at first. However, your tax dollars pay for hazardous waste clean-up and enviromental damage caused by conventional farming.

8. Promote biodiversity ~ Planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year tripled farm production between 1950 and 1970, but the lack of matural diversity of plant life has negatively affected soil quality.

9. Nourishment ~ Organic farming starts with the nourishment of the soil, in turn producing nourishing plants. Well-balanced soil produces strong, healthy plants thathave more nutrients that conventionally grown produce.

10. Flavor ` Organic produce simply tastes better.

(2006 Intergative Nutrition)

Salty or Crunchy


Here are some healthy foods that are crunchy:
~apples
~frozen grapes
~rice cakes
~light popcorn
~carrots
~crunchy crudites of vegetables with dip (hummus, tabouli, vinaigrette)
~celery adn peanut butter (use non-hydrogenated peanut butter)
~hummus with whole grain toast, baby carrots, rice crackers
~nuts

But if you prefer something salty:
~pickles
~tabouli, hummus
~oysters or sardines
~steamed vegetables
~tortilla chips and salse or guacamole
~saurkraut
~fresh lime/lemon juice
~salted edamame

(2006 Intergative Nutrition)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Ways To Increase Your Energy

1. Reduce or eliminate caffeine ~ the ups and downs of caffeine include dehydration and blood sugar swings, making mood swings more frequent.

2. Drink water ~ Most Americans are chronically dehydrated. Before you turn to sugar or caffeine, have a glass of water and wait a few minutes to see what happens.

3. Eat more vegetables ~ They are full of vitamins and nutrients and great for improving circulation, lifting the spirit, purifying the blood and strengthening the immune system. Try broccoli, carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, peppers, kale, and collard greens.

4. Use gentle sweets ~ Avoid sugar and chemicalized, artificial sweeteners. Use gentle sweeteners like maple sugar, raw honey, brown rice syrup, agave nectar, and stevia.

5. Get physical activities ~ Start with simple activities, like walking or yoga - start with 10 minutes a day and increase.

6. Get more sleep, take breaks ~ When you are tired or stressed, your body will crave energy. These cravings are often a result of being sleep deprived, going to bed late, waking up early, for months and years to end. You allow your body to rejuvenate and work efficiently the rest of the day when you take breaks.

7. Evaluate the amount of animal food you eat ~ Eating too much meat, dairy, chicken, and eggs can lead to low energy. So can eating too little.

8. Take time for rejuvenation ~ Find activities that restore your energy, such as a walk, a bath, a museum, a movie or whatever you enjoy, and schedule a weekly date with yourself to do these things!

9. Get in touch with yourself ~ Find ways to get in touch wit who you are, and find ways to feel more grounded and add some stability to your busy life.

10. Spend time with friends and loved ones ~ People are important, spend time with people who support, inspire, and energize you.

(2006 Intergative Nutrition)

Sweets

Since I can not eat any kinds of sweets like chocolate or candy here is a list of foods that are "sweet:"
~wheatgrass
~fresh, whole fruits
~apples and almond butter
~sprouted date bread with jam
~dried fruit
~sweet porridge
~smoothies
~fruit "ice cream"
~freshly squeeze fruit juice
~sweet vegetables: yams, sweet potatoes, squashes (acorn, butternut, kabocha) sprinkle with cinnamon and bake
~organic dark chocolate or carod chips

(2006 Intergative Nutrition)

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Having IBS


IBS is not fun to have. If I had a choice I would not chose to have this. I have to watch what I eat all the time. No white flour, white bread, chocolate, caffine, coffee, sugar, pasta, anything with sodium, yogurt, and a munch more. My life is now very much restricted to only organic food. I get to shop at Trader Joe's because they have the most foods that are organic, lucky me. This is not going to go away anytime soon, most likely I will be on this diet for the rest of my life. Try finding a boyfriend or girlfriend that doesn't mind eatting the kind of things that I will have to eat. Such things like whole wheat pasta, tofu, polenta, soy milk, or anything raw like almonds.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Soft Corn Tortillas


Corn Tortillas

3 Cups Fresh Corn Kernels
1 1/2 Cups Chopped Yellow or Red Bell Pepper
3/4 Cup Golden Flaxseed, Finely Ground
1 Tablespoon Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon Ground Chili Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Sea Salt
2 teaspoons Ground Cumin

Spicy "Beans"

1 1/2 Cups Sunflower Seeds
1 Cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Miso
2 teaspoons Ground Cumin
2 teaspoons Ancho Chili Powder
1 Tablespoon Ground Coriander
1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Agave Nectar
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
6 Tablespoons Filtered Water
1/2 to 1 Whole Jalapeno cored but with seeds chopped
3 Whole Green Onions
1 Small Handful Fresh Cilantro

Tomato Sauce

2 Cups Sun Dried Tomatoes
1 Small Tomato
1/4 Medium Onion
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
Pinch Of Hot Pepper Flakes
Avocado-Corn Guacamole

3 ripe avocados, pitted
1 cup fresh corn kernels, cut from 1 ear (or use thawed frozen corn or simply omit)
1 large handful cilantro leaves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
Tomato-lime Salsa

3 cups finely chopped, seeded tomatoes
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 handful cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1/2 small jalapeƱo, seeded and finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
Tart Sour Cream

1 cup coconut meat
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon white miso paste
1 cup filtered water
1/2 cup cashew nuts, soaked for 1 to 2 hours
1 teaspoon sea salt
Assembly

3 Whole Limes
Preparation
Make this dish as spicy as you like. Don’t cut too deep into the corncobs or you’ll end up with those hard little pieces that get stuck in your teeth. When making the “beans,” keep in mind that they will be tossed with a mild tomato sauce, so the spiciness will be mellowed out. If you want to make them ahead of time, keep all the components separate and assemble at the last minute, as the tortillas will get soggy if left to sit too long. The flaxseed can be ground in a coffee or spice grinder or Vita-Mix with dry blade (it will yield about 1 cup ground flaxseed).

“We sometimes get large, skeptical men in the restaurant who may have been dragged in by a girlfriend or family member and who proudly insist ‘I’m a meat and potatoes guy!’ For them, I always recommend this particular dish. It’s very filling and hearty. Then I smile graciously as the same guys later inevitably tell me something like, ‘I thought I was going to have to go for a burger after this, but I’m really full!’ I’ve had so many variations of this conversation, and it’s always the tortillas that get the best response from the self-proclaimed ‘carnivores.” - SM

For the corn tortillas:

1 In a food processor, chop the corn and bell pepper. Add the remaining ingredients and process until almost smooth.

2 Divide the dough onto two Teflex-lined dehydrator trays and spread to the edges using an offset spatula. Dehydrate at 115 F for 3 to 4 hours. Flip the Teflex sheets over onto the tray and carefully peel away the Teflex. Place back in the dehydrator for about 2 hours.

3 When the tortilla is completely dry on both sides but still pliable, remove it from the dehydrator and place on a flat surface. Use a round cutter or small plate about 4 inches in diameter and trace around it with a knife to cut round tortillas. You should have about 9 tortillas per 14-inch tray. Keep the scraps to add to a salad or just eat them plain as a snack.

For the spicy “beans”:

1 In a food processor, grind the sunflower seeds, tomatoes, miso, cumin, chile powder, coriander, cayenne, olive oil, agave nectar, and sea salt until thoroughly combined. Add the water a few tablespoons at a time and process further for a wet dough-like consistency. Taste for seasoning. Add the jalapeno, green onions, and cilantro and pulse a few times to combine, but leave small bits of herbs.

2 Spoon the mixture onto 1 or 2 Teflex-lined dehydrator trays. You don’t need to smooth it out; leave it chunky on the tray but flat enough to fit under another tray. Dehydrate at 115 F overnight, or about 10 hours. If possible, about halfway through, flip the “bean” mix over so the undersides can dry -- this step is not totally necessary, as the mix will be combined with the wet tomato sauce anyhow. The mix should be dry on the outside and not too mushy, so it can be broken up into pieces.

For the tomato sauce:

1 Place all the sauce ingredients in a food processor and grind well to a thick sauce consistency.

2 Place the “bean” mix in a medium bowl and break up any larger pieces. Add the tomato sauce and toss to combine well. It should be thick and somewhat spreadable. If not using right away, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few days, if necessary.

For the avocado-corn guacamole:

In a medium bowl, mash the avocados well with a fork. Add the corn, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, and salt and stir well to combine, If not using immediately, cover the surface of the guacamole with plastic wrap and refrigerate. This will only keep well for about a day or so.

For the tomato-lime salsa:

In a medium bowl, combine the salsa ingredients and taste for seasoning.

For the tart sour cream

In a blender, blend the coconut meat with the lemon juice, cider vinegar, miso, and 1/2 cup of the water until smooth. Add the soaked cashews and more water, 1 tablespoon at a time and blend until completely smooth (you may need more then 1 cup of water). Season with salt and blend further. Transfer to a squeeze bottle or covered container and refrigerate until ready to use. Can be kept for up to 2 or 3 days.

For the assembly:

3 limes for garnish
1 cup Tart Sour Cram

1 Lay the tortillas on a flat surface. Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of the spicy “beans” and tomato sauce mixture on each tortilla, leaving a very thin rim at the edges. Top with a heaping tablespoon of guacamole. Fold the sides up to form a taco shape. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

2 Cut each lime in half lengthwise (if you cut just on either side of the core of each lime, the sections are much easier to squeeze). Place a lime slice on each plate. Lay three filled tortillas against the lime and each other on the plates.

3 Top each tortilla with a heaping tablespoon of tomato-lime salsa and a drizzle of “sour cream.” As you eat them, squeeze a bit of the lime garnish on each one.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Mango Avocado Salad


Ingredients

2 Ripe Mangoes, peeled, pitted and chopped
1 Large Avocado, peeled, pitted and chopped
1 Tablespoon Lime Juiced
2 Teaspoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Cilantro Leaves
1 Tablespoon Black Sesame Seeds
Instructions:
Hand mix all of the ingredients together and serve.


(Welikeitraw.com)