Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Enter To Win A Raw Food Recipe Book!
I dont know about you, but I looooooove a good recipe book. Pretty pictures of delicious dishes? All the better! And Ive amassed quite a nice collection since entering Raw Food Land. Some are old standbys that I go to again and again. Others, I reference for information or inspiration.
Someone recently asked the experts at Snubbr: What are the best raw food cookbooks?
Pretty good picks, if you ask me.
Whether you’re in the market for a new digital camera or the best vegan cookies, all you have to do is ask the experts at Snubbr, and they’ll search for the right product for you. Pretty cool, huh? Kinda like Yahoo Answers for shopping advice.
The lovely folks at Snubbr have generously offered to gift a lucky reader with his/her choice of one of the best raw food cookbooks. Score!
You have until Midnight EST, March 7th to get your entries in. Ill then call on Mr. Random Number Generator to pick a winner. While I would love to hear from readers all over the globe, at the request of Snubbr, I must limit entries to folks who live in the continental US only.
To enter, just answer this question in the Comments below this post:
- What are your 3 favorite books of all time?
Extra Entries: If youd like to increase your chances of winning, please leave a separate comment for each extra entry.
- Head over to Snubbr to ask a question of their experts (takes 5 seconds). Post a link to the question you asked in your comment.
- Tweet the giveaway with a link to this post (please include your Twitter ID in the comment).
- Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, please leave the link to your blog post in the comment.
So there you go, up to four chances to win one of those fab recipe books.
Confession: I happen to own all five books and each one is terrific. Id be hard pressed to choose just one.
See ya back here on Monday, when Ill announce the lucky winner and the book theyve chosen.
Good luck everyone!
UPDATED 3-8-10: This giveaway is now closed.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Learning Food Photography with White on Rice Couple and Things Im Thinking About on Tuesday 10 14 2014
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| Todd and Diane's huge collection of cutting boards, captured by iPhone! |
If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you might have noticed that a few weekends ago I was enthusiastically sharing about a food photography workshop hosted by my good friends and amazing photographers, Todd Porter and Diane Cu of White on Rice Couple. I've heard Todd and Diane talk about food photography at several blogging conferences, so I knew the workshop held in their fabulous food photography studio outside Los Angeles would be informative, but I never imagined how life-changing it would end up being for me. Two days of listening to the experts, watching demonstrations, and practicing new shooting methods really got me thinking outside the box on my personal food photography journey.
Plus Todd and Diane had visited my house on the tour for their gorgeous cookbook, so they could help me with one of my biggest photography challenges, which is too many big windows in the rooms where I normally shoot. When I got home, I bought black foam core boards and clamps the very next day! A few food bloggers have been asking me about the workshop, so I thought I'd share some highlights and a few of my photos.
Plus Todd and Diane had visited my house on the tour for their gorgeous cookbook, so they could help me with one of my biggest photography challenges, which is too many big windows in the rooms where I normally shoot. When I got home, I bought black foam core boards and clamps the very next day! A few food bloggers have been asking me about the workshop, so I thought I'd share some highlights and a few of my photos.
Click to continue reading
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Are You Going To Eat Real Food Again
Alright, show of hands. Anyone else feel like the holiday season has lasted inordinately long this year? They start decking the halls the second the Halloween decorations are put away, and the local radio stations been playing holiday music 24/7 since Thanksgiving. All the to-ing and fro-ing, the endless parties, the hype and hoopla. Its just over the top.And Good Lord, the food! The Hungarians gathered, not once but twice, over the course of a four-day period to celebrate (read: feast and drink themselves into a stupor). Funny thing – when were doing the imbibing, we rarely notice the gluttony. I never noticed the vast amount of alcohol my family members consume until I took my last drink in 1990.
To not drink or not eat is seen as a personal affront. My not-drinking created more of a ruckus than my drinking ever did (and trust me, I created plenty a ruckus back in the day). A chorus of "Oh cmon, you can have just one" was heard at every family event for years thereafter. The words addict, alcoholic, disease, and no thank you just didnt register.
I have a life-threatening allergy to alcohol and cannot safely drink finally did the trick, and the Hungarians never bothered me again. Now, its just common knowledge that I dont consume alcohol. A non-issue, really.
...now that youve lost all this weight, are you going to start eating real food again?
I was able to placate and make them verrrrry happy in other ways. I ate. A lot. Yup, ever since I was a baby theyd coo, "Oh shes such a good eater." So, you might imagine the hubbub Ive created the last six months of choosing to eat – gasp! – raw, living food. The horror of it all. The ongoing litany of "Oh, its just some crazy diet shes on" is the only saving grace thats kept them from bursting a collective blood vessel.
Just as were about to sit down to eat on Christmas Eve, my eldest brother asks, "Hey, now that youve lost all this weight, are you going to start eating real food again?" Everyone stops mid-motion and it becomes absolutely quiet as 17 pairs of eyes are now on me, waiting for that resounding "Why yes! Please pass the chicken paprikash" (and all will be right with the world, amen).
Isnt it funny? Real food: injected with growth hormones, antibiotics and preservatives; smothered in sugar, flour or fat; depleted of any and all vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
Yes well, even though I chose not to eat any of that "real food" (*smirk*) over the holidays, I know I consumed more nuts – almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts – in the last four weeks than I have in the past four years. Somehow, I managed not to gain any weight. Didnt lose any either. So, this is the first month since July that the scale has not moved down. Thats okay. Im still going to bid adieu to 2008, 73 pounds lighter. Yup, gonna keep eating that "crazy" stuff that comes right from the earth and is filled with life force energy.
Wanna join me?
I know a fabulous place where a whole community of folks hang out, offering support, encouragement, recipes, tips, stories, laughter...youll be welcomed with open arms and fit right in. Promise. So, cmon and join me in Raw Food Rehab.
Just as were about to sit down to eat on Christmas Eve, my eldest brother asks, "Hey, now that youve lost all this weight, are you going to start eating real food again?" Everyone stops mid-motion and it becomes absolutely quiet as 17 pairs of eyes are now on me, waiting for that resounding "Why yes! Please pass the chicken paprikash" (and all will be right with the world, amen).
Isnt it funny? Real food: injected with growth hormones, antibiotics and preservatives; smothered in sugar, flour or fat; depleted of any and all vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
Yes well, even though I chose not to eat any of that "real food" (*smirk*) over the holidays, I know I consumed more nuts – almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts – in the last four weeks than I have in the past four years. Somehow, I managed not to gain any weight. Didnt lose any either. So, this is the first month since July that the scale has not moved down. Thats okay. Im still going to bid adieu to 2008, 73 pounds lighter. Yup, gonna keep eating that "crazy" stuff that comes right from the earth and is filled with life force energy.
Wanna join me?
I know a fabulous place where a whole community of folks hang out, offering support, encouragement, recipes, tips, stories, laughter...youll be welcomed with open arms and fit right in. Promise. So, cmon and join me in Raw Food Rehab.
Now Entering Raw Food Land
Its been four weeks since I landed in this Garden of Eatin and holy guacamole, the changes! No more fire-breathing dragon heartburn. No more debilitating headaches. No more aches and pains. No more popping Ibuprofen like M&Ms. No more constant fatigue or mid-afternoon-I-have-to-take-a-nap-right-now syndrome.
Oh, and did I mention, Ive released 27 pounds? Adios. Goodbye. See ya! Twenty-seven pounds without counting points, calories, fat grams, or carbs. No weighing and measuring my food. In fact, I eat waaaaaaaay more now than I did when I was consuming a "normal" diet.
So what convinced me to make the transition from a Standard American Diet (SAD) to a primarily RAW diet of fresh fruits and veggies? Well, besides feeling crummy from all the aforementioned symptoms and a host of others, I happily stumbled upon a wonderful book at my local library.
Kris Carrs Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips tells the inspirational and insightful story of a young woman diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and her journey to living a fully-awake, vibrant, healthy life. A significant part of that journey has been her exploration and transition into a raw vegan lifestyle. The back of Kris book is loaded with helpful resources and heres where my own exploration began.
I scoured dozens of websites and started reading anything I could get my hands on, either at the library or the neighborhood Borders Books. It was when I read The Raw Food Detox Diet by nutritionist Natalia Rose that I thought I can do this.
Natalia, whos eaten a 100% raw diet for over seven years, took about six years to get there. She outlines a simple program that anyone, regardless of their present state of health or what they typically eat, can follow to safely and gently transition to raw foods (plant foods not heated above 118 degrees).
I say safely, because raw foods contain an abundance of live enzymes that pull waste matter out of cells. The more raw foods you incorporate into your diet, the more nasty stuff pulled from your cells thats now occupying space elsewhere in your body – the bloodstream, kidneys, liver, colon. Garbage in, garbage out as the saying goes.
If your over-burdened system is not strong enough to push those toxins out of the body, youll basically just poison yourself all over again, recycling those bad boys into the bloodstream. Kinda defeats the purpose of choosing to eat healthier, you know?
Which brings up a really important point: its not what we put into our bodies that makes us healthy, but the removal of waste matter that brings us into a state of glowing health.
I was an overweight vegetarian for years. I know plenty of vegans who look anything but glowing, with their sallow complexions and dark under-eye circles. But if were eating whole, live foods AND eliminating toxic waste from our body, our skin tone improves, chronic health problems disappear, excess weight is released, our energy levels increase, we gain greater mental clarity and become more centered emotionally. I can certainly attest to that, after only four weeks.
Okay, heres the scoop...Ive basically embraced a diet of 85 to 90 percent raw foods, essentially eating "raw till dinner" every day. Before noon, I only consume fresh fruit. I pay attention to proper food combining (more on that in another post). If I am going to consume meat, poultry or fish, I do it at dinner so my digestive system has a whole night to deal with it and I always eat my raw veggies first.
So far, so good. I know lots of folks just pass through looking for a quick fix, but I have a feeling I may be taking up residence in Raw Food Land.
Oh, and did I mention, Ive released 27 pounds? Adios. Goodbye. See ya! Twenty-seven pounds without counting points, calories, fat grams, or carbs. No weighing and measuring my food. In fact, I eat waaaaaaaay more now than I did when I was consuming a "normal" diet.
So what convinced me to make the transition from a Standard American Diet (SAD) to a primarily RAW diet of fresh fruits and veggies? Well, besides feeling crummy from all the aforementioned symptoms and a host of others, I happily stumbled upon a wonderful book at my local library.
Kris Carrs Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips tells the inspirational and insightful story of a young woman diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and her journey to living a fully-awake, vibrant, healthy life. A significant part of that journey has been her exploration and transition into a raw vegan lifestyle. The back of Kris book is loaded with helpful resources and heres where my own exploration began.
I scoured dozens of websites and started reading anything I could get my hands on, either at the library or the neighborhood Borders Books. It was when I read The Raw Food Detox Diet by nutritionist Natalia Rose that I thought I can do this.
Natalia, whos eaten a 100% raw diet for over seven years, took about six years to get there. She outlines a simple program that anyone, regardless of their present state of health or what they typically eat, can follow to safely and gently transition to raw foods (plant foods not heated above 118 degrees).
I say safely, because raw foods contain an abundance of live enzymes that pull waste matter out of cells. The more raw foods you incorporate into your diet, the more nasty stuff pulled from your cells thats now occupying space elsewhere in your body – the bloodstream, kidneys, liver, colon. Garbage in, garbage out as the saying goes.
If your over-burdened system is not strong enough to push those toxins out of the body, youll basically just poison yourself all over again, recycling those bad boys into the bloodstream. Kinda defeats the purpose of choosing to eat healthier, you know?
Which brings up a really important point: its not what we put into our bodies that makes us healthy, but the removal of waste matter that brings us into a state of glowing health.
I was an overweight vegetarian for years. I know plenty of vegans who look anything but glowing, with their sallow complexions and dark under-eye circles. But if were eating whole, live foods AND eliminating toxic waste from our body, our skin tone improves, chronic health problems disappear, excess weight is released, our energy levels increase, we gain greater mental clarity and become more centered emotionally. I can certainly attest to that, after only four weeks.
Okay, heres the scoop...Ive basically embraced a diet of 85 to 90 percent raw foods, essentially eating "raw till dinner" every day. Before noon, I only consume fresh fruit. I pay attention to proper food combining (more on that in another post). If I am going to consume meat, poultry or fish, I do it at dinner so my digestive system has a whole night to deal with it and I always eat my raw veggies first.
So far, so good. I know lots of folks just pass through looking for a quick fix, but I have a feeling I may be taking up residence in Raw Food Land.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Rachels Powerballs A Healthful Raw Food Vegan Dessert Or Lunchbox Snack
Use large, unsweetened coconut ribbons or flakes, not shredded
Process dates, cashews and coconut until mixture sticks together
Rachels company Jonny Sport makes high-quality vegan bags
About This Recipe
While dinning at a Portland restaurant, (See my Review of Portlands Blossoming Lotus), I met a very lovely woman named Rachel Elizabeth who was sitting at the next table. Since I wanted to take as many pictures of their dishes as possible without ordering everything on the menu, I asked Rachel if I could photograph her food also. We ended up having a very nice visit during our lunch. We shared raw food and other vegan recipes and talked about my blog and her company. She runs a local business in Portland that makes very high quality vegan bags. The name of her company is Jonny Sport and everything they make is manufactured in Portland. It is refreshing to see someone creating local jobs while providing an alternative high end bag for people who avoid using any animal products.
Long story short, this is one of the recipes that Rachel shared with me. Its a little dessert ball made from raw cashews, Medjool dates and dried flakes of coconut. What gives them a burst of flavor is a sprinkling of course salt on top of each ball. Rachel calls them "Powerballs". They make a great dessert or mid-day snack for the whole family. They are delicious and so easy to make.
Thank you Rachel for this wonderful recipe!
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Raw Vegan Powerballs
[makes 2 dozen]
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and quartered (about 15)
1 cup raw cashew nuts
1 cup dried, unsweetened coconut ribbons or flakes
1/2 teaspoon brown rice syrup or agave nectar
Some course salt for topping
Place dates in a food processor with an S blade. Process dates briefly until they are chopped. Add cashews, coconut flakes and brown rice syrup or agave nectar. Process until the mixture sticks together. Roll the mixture into 24 balls. Put some course salt in a bowl and push the top of each ball into the salt until a little sticks on top (you dont need much). The salt really brings out the flavor so dont omit it. Refrigerate the balls for several hours before serving.
Per serving: 84.2 calories, 3.7 g fat, 1.8 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 13.5 g carbohydrates and 1.8 g of fiber.
The Guide To Healthier Fast Food In Toronto Health Infographics
Source: http://www.designinfographics.com/health-infographics/the-guide-to-healthier-fast-food-in-toronto
Raw Spring Vegetable SoupLess Than 150 CaloriesLose Weight With A Raw Food Cleanse
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| Raw Spring Vegetable Soup - Vegan and Gluten Free! Follow Foods For Long Life on Facebook and Pinterest. |
Eating for Spring Time
With warmer weather comes access to more fruits and vegetables, allowing us to lighten up our diet. In Spring, I try to eat at least half of my food raw. And to lose a few pounds, get more energy, and detox from a winter of way too much fun, I do a raw food cleanse.
Todays recipe is a simple raw soup that blends garden peas and kale with a creamy avocado and is topped with shredded carrots. Fresh garlic, lemon juice and cayenne provide the main seasoning.
Eating raw soups is the perfect way to lighten up your spring diet and they are suitable for a raw food cleanse.
There are numerous posts on how to optimize the amount of raw food you eat throughout the seasons and how to do a Raw Food Cleanse on this site. But If you would like a more comprehensive summary of this information and more than 150 tested and optimized recipes, download my eBook, Health Begins in the Kitchen: Delicious and Easy Vegan Recipes and Seasonal Food Plan PLUS Raw Food Cleanse. Its only $9.99 and is available on Amazon and iTunes.
You Dont Need a Kindle or iPad to Read an eBook!
Some of you have written saying that you would like my ebook but dont have a Kindle or iPad. You can now download my eBook onto your computer with this free Kindle for PC reading AP.
Enjoy todays recipe - its becoming one of my favorite ways to enjoy my garden kale. And its perfect for the warm weather and for your Raw Food Cleanse. Best of all, its less than 150 calories per serving!
* * *
Raw Spring Vegetable Soup
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 4 servings]
Requires a High Speed Blender
2 cups fresh peas, or frozen (thawed)
2 packed cups kale (cleaned with stems removed)
2 cups chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and seed removed
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 dashes cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 small carrot, peeled and shredded
Place all ingredients, except the carrot, in a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix or Blendtec. Blend until smooth. Adjust for salt and pepper if needed.
Pour into 4 bowls. Top with shredded carrot and serve.
Per serving: 145 calories, 6 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 121 mg omega-3 and 777 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 6 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 7 g dietary fiber and 720 mg sodium.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
HEALTHY FOOD ALTERNATIVES TO SUPERCHARGE WEIGHT LOSS INFOGRAPHIC
Source: http://www.shape-able.com/healthy-food-alternatives-to-supercharge-weight-loss-infographic-1.html
How Big Corporations Target Toddlers To Teens 2013 Yale Rudd Center Study On Fast Food
The Elephant in the Room
Whatever side of the healthcare debate you are on, everyone can agree that we have a health crisis in this country. Obesity and all of its related diseases continue to rise. And while we focus on peoples access to doctors and medication, we ignore the elephant in the room. And that is that lots of people, from the time they are toddlers until the day they call 911, eat unhealthy fast food that eventually makes them sick. The money spent by fast food companies to develop these addictive products and the marketing dollars spent to get your family to demand them is staggering. Jennifer Harris and her team at the Rudd Center continue to study and report on this phenomenon.
Update by Yale Rudd Center
Three years ago I reported on a study by Yale Universitys Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. I wasnt surprised how little fast food restaurants were concerned about providing adequate nutrition to their young customers but I was absolutely astounded when I saw the facts and figures on how these children are being targeted by fast food marketing. Have there been any improvements? The 2013 Fast Food FACTS analyzes 18 fast food restaurants - here are their findings.
Less than 1% of all Kids Meals Meet Nutritional Standards
Many fast food restaurants have added some token "healthy kids meal options" but most are in name only. McDonalds idea of increasing the nutritional value of their Happy Meals was to cut the order of fries in half and include a few apple slices. But we all realize that these restaurants are not a place to go for real food. The problem is that Americas children continue to beg to visit these establishments. Heres why!
Outrageous Amounts of Marketing Dollars Target Toddlers to Teens
The fast food industry spent $4.6 billion on all advertising in 2012, up 8% since 2009. Much of this advertising targets preschoolers, older children and teens and features the most unhealthy regular menu items.
This latest study revealed:
* Preschoolers saw almost 3 fast food ads per day.
* McDonalds advertised its Happy Meals 31 million times per month. Most of these ads appeared on CartoonNetwork.com, Nick.com, Roblox.com, and other kids websites.
* Teens are heavily targeted by fast food restaurants like Taco Bell, Sonic, and Startbucks.
* KFC, Subway, and Starbucks more than doubled display advertising on youth websites.
* Black and Hispanic youths, who are at higher risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes, are more heavily targeted.
Using Social Media to Poison our Children
Six billion fast food ads appeared on Facebook. They are so effective that this industry has exponentially grown their advertising on mobile devices, using things like smartphone apps to offer special deals. And they are effective.I just facebooked McDonalds and they had over 29 million FB likes and Taco Bells YouTube videos were viewed nearly 14 million times!
The Big Players
According to Nielsen (2012), 70% of all ads viewed by preschoolers, children, and teens were from six big players.They are:
McDonalds (largest number of ads viewed by children 2 to 5 and 6 to 11)
Yum!Brands, owner of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell (the largest number of ads viewed by teens)
Subway
Burger King
Dominos
Wendys
Rudd Centers Conclusion and Recommendation
In three years, since their last study, they concluded that there were a few minor improvements made by the fast food industry but nothing significant enough to change the eating habits of our young children who tend to over-consume high-calorie, nutritionally poor fast food.
Jennifer Harris, the lead author of the report and the Rudd Centers director of marketing initiatives feels that these marketing efforts "often take advantage of young peoples vulnerability to marketing, making it even tougher for parents to raise healthy children."
The authors would like to see fast food restaurants significantly improve the nutritional value of the menu items offered to children. For example, healthy sides and beverages should automatically come with kids meals. Healthier menu items should be offered at a reasonable price.
Numerous specific recommendations are presented on how fast food restaurants should be restricted from their aggressive activities to market their unhealthy menu items to children of all ages.
Should More Be Done?
The fast food restaurants have done little to self regulate the marketing activities that are contributing to childhood obesity and the illnesses that will likely follow. So its really up to us to encourage this change. Three methods that come to mind are
* Stop frequenting these establishments or, when you do, purchase the healthier choices so the companies are encouraged to offer these items.
* Congress could pass legislation outlawing the advertising of junk food to children. This is very similar to the ban on cigarette advertising which had a direct impact on reducing the incidence of lung cancer.
* Educate people on the health issues associated with heavy consumption of fast food. This is also similar to when the surgeon general educated the public on the link between smoking and cancer. Should there be a warning label on each Happy Meal bag of fries?
Yes, everyone should have access to affordable health insurance but people should also have access to affordable healthy food. The idea that a company would spend billions of dollars targeting preschool children, older children, and teens, to eat food that can cause them a lifetime of illness is disgraceful. As the title of my book suggests, Health Begins in the Kitchen, not at the doctors office, not at your local pharmacy, and certainly not at your nearest fast food restaurant.
To read this important study by the Yale Rudd Center in its entirety, go to FastFoodMarketing.org.
Friday, March 6, 2015
MyPlate gov Replaces The Food Pyramid And Harvard Recommends Improvements Did They Go Far Enough
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| Im sure you can suggest improvements in just a quick glance! Follow Foods For Long Life on FACEBOOK ! |
Where can we go for Nutritional Advice?
When advice on healthful eating is needed, many people ask their doctors. Unfortunately our medical schools spend precious little time teaching nutrition. I remember my gastrointestinal specialist bragging about a New York deli that made the best pastrami sandwich he had ever eaten after hearing I was originally from that part of the country. This was back when I was suffering from reflux! Im sure he wasnt recommending pastrami for my reflux but I did think it was odd for him to even admit he ate food like that being a GI doctor and all.
Next stop might be the United States Department of Agriculture. Really? The same USDA that has numerous ties to the meat and dairy industries? With all the dairy they continue to push on the American people, I find it hard to believe that their hearts are in the right place. But they do have some newly published information which you can get at ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Ive been asked a number of times what I think of their new dietary recommendations. After much thought on how to frame my opinion, I finally decided to write a little something on the subject. I was actually inspired to do so after seeing that Harvard has come forward with their own recommendation, the Healthy Eating Plate. Although I felt the Harvard version made some good improvements, Id like to add a few finishing touches.
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| Harvards improvements to ChooseMyPlate.gov |
How they Differ
First of all, Id like to give a standing O to Harvard for visually removing the glass of dairy from the plate and replacing it with water! Harvard also suggests coffee or tea (with little sugar). They recommend limiting milk and dairy to one or two servings a day stating that "high intakes are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer". The USDA recommends everyone over 8 to drink 3 cups of milk per day. They are so wedded to dairy that they even recommend it to those who are lactose intolerant. Seriously, you cant make this stuff up! They say, "For those who are lactose intolerant, smaller portions (such as 4 fluid ounces of milk) may be well tolerated". I cant imagine recommending milk, in any amount, to someone who is allergic to milk!
Other key differences are:
* Although both show half the plate with colorful fruits and veggies, Harvard recommends eating more veggies than fruits. This makes sense since fruits can contain lots of natural sugar.
* Harvard doesnt count French fries or potatoes toward the daily vegetable requirement.
* Harvard encourages the consumption of whole grains and recommends limiting white rice and white bread. The USDA plate just says, "grains" although, in the fine print, they say to make at least half of them whole grains. Not really a big difference here.
* The USDAs MyPlate doesnt mention good fats at all. Harvard mentions using olive and canola oil on salads and for cooking and say to limit butter and avoid trans fat completely.
* For protein, the USDA points out the need for omega-3 rich fish and recommends eating at least 8 ounces per week of cooked seafood, such as salmon, trout, sardines, anchovies, herring, Pacific oysters and Atlantic and Pacific mackerel. Being sensitive to vegetarians, they state that this recommendation did not apply to them although they did not guide vegetarians on what to do for this important nutrient. They also recommend lean meats, poultry, beans and peas, eggs, nuts and seeds.
Harvard uses the term "Healthy Protein" and recommends fish, poultry, beans or nuts. They specifically say to limit read meat and avoid processed meat completely since "eating even small quantities of these foods on a regular basis raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and weight gain".
* Harvard has a running figure at the bottom of the placemat to encourage people to exercise, reminding us that a healthy diet is just half of the equation!
My Personal Opinion
As a nutritionist (not someone who writes a vegan blog), heres my opinion:
* My favorite, healthful beverage is slightly alkaline water. After all, the body is around 60% water and our blood is over 80%! I also enjoy good green tea as a beverage. Instead of dairy milk, I use home-made, or ready-made, fortified soy or nut milks on my cereal or in my smoothies. Although Im occasionally tempted by fresh mozzarella and aged parmesan (like most Italians are), dairy is simply not required in the diet and can be down right harmful. Although a $165M ad campaign would have you think milk is the best source of calcium, it is not. Dairy causes the body to actually draw calcium from your bones in order to neutralize its acidity. Its also mucous forming and will contribute to your child getting ear infections and other respiratory problems. Its consumption is now associated with diseases like arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and others. Learn more about milk by checking out the Got the facts on Milk Documentary.
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| We drink alkaline water but any fresh, filtered water will do. Water is far superior, as a beverage, than dairy milk. |
* With respect to removing the potato from the veggie column, I certainly agree that French fries shouldnt count but Ill allow a nice, baked sweet potato or yam any day! Just make sure there are lots of green veggies along with it!
* I agree with the emphasis on whole grains, of course. I would even go further and encourage people to frequently include gluten free grains and pastas.
* With regard to fats, there is a big movement afoot that would eliminate concentrated oils from our diet. Unless you are trying to reverse cardiovascular disease or are on a calorie restricted diet, I do not think you need to do this. I would, however, limit oil consumption to a modest amount of unrefined oils such as extra virgin olive oil and cold pressed flax seed oil. I dont usually recommend canola oil because its difficult to find one that is non-GMO. But if you can find canola that is non-GMO and made from low erucic acid rapeseed, it has a good omega-3/omega-6 profile. Of course the best source of good fats is from avocados, nuts and seeds focusing on the omega-3 power seeds: Chia, Hemp and Flax.
* From a strictly nutritional point of view, you can get adequate protein from non-meat sources like tofu, beans, nuts, grains, etc. I do think, however, it gets nutritionally challenging for a vegan or a raw food vegan to get sufficient EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acid. Most people do not convert much of the ALA omega-3 obtained from flax, chia and hemp seeds to the much needed EPA and DHA. Vegans can and should take algae based omega 3 supplements, especially when pregnant or breast feeding. For those of you who eat fish, the best source is wild caught salmon and the other low mercury fish (see my post on Best fish and vegetarian sources of omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids). Although canned anchovies are a good source of omega-3, I do not usually recommend them to fish eaters due to their high sodium content.
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| Sprouted or regular tofu is an excellent source of protein. |
* Another comment on protein - both the USDA and Harvard show one quarter of the plate filled with protein. If your source of protein is tofu or beans, this is appropriate. But if your source is animal food, especially if you are adding a few glasses of milk with it, the amount of protein can be excessive. A monumental piece of research, done by T. Colin Campbell, is documented in the book, "The China Study". When comparing the diets of 6,500 adults across 65 counties in rural China, he found that those participants who consumed only 9-10% of their calories as protein, with only 10% of that coming from animal protein sources, had cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL! Common degenerative disorders like heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and other western diseases were significantly lower in this group than in the U.S. Much of this research is described in the excellent movie, "Forks over Knives". So if you consume dairy or meat, protein should be a very small percentage of the plate.
To Sum it Up
* At least half of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables (more veggies than fruits).
* Drink clean water and avoid soda and high calorie beverages. Avoid dairy milk after infancy.
* Fill the other half of your plate with whole grains and plant-based proteins such as tofu and beans.
* Avoid cheese and other dairy products.
* If you eat animal products - stick to low mercury, high omega-3 fish like wild, line-caught salmon.
* Vegans should supplement with algae-based DHA and EPA, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
* Eat a modest amount of good fats.
* Most of all, take time to sit down with loved ones and appreciate and enjoy your meals!
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
A Review Of Minneapolis Ecopolitan Raw Food Restaurant
Raw cashew "cheese" log rolled in sun dried tomatoes.
A variety of juices.
Root vegetable "rawioli" with cashew cheese filling.
Macadamia Alfredo pasta on zucchini noodles.
Lasagna plate with sun dried tomato sauce and veggies.
Eco-sausage pizza (front) and red avocado pizza (back).
Flaxseed tostada with lentil "taco meat".
Raw vegan coconut cream pie
Ecopolitan, More than a Raw Food Restaurant
I got to visit Ecopolitan raw food restaurant last week while visiting my daughter in Minneapolis. Thinking it was just a restaurant, I was quite surprised to find that it is more of a "wellness" center. They also offer spa treatments, have an oxygen bar, a natural home and body goods shop and an Eco-healing center. In fact, I was a little bit put off by a giant sign offering colonic hydrotherapy while on my way to eat lunch! That aside, my daughter and her boyfriend joined me and my husband for a giant meal that spanned the menu.
The Menu
The menu is pretty typical for a raw food restaurant with appetizers, raw soups and salads and many heavier entrées centered around raw nut cheeses and sprouted grain crusts. What is a bit different is that they offer raw breakfasts. Here are some of the dishes we ordered:
* The "Raw cashew cheese log" ($8) is a great appetizer. The log is rolled in sun-dried tomatoes, olives and fresh basil and covered with balsamic onions and served with flax crackers.
* The juices are good but unremarkable. We ordered a 12 ounce ginger lemonade, cool cucumber and sweet beet, each for $6.50. The smaller 8 ounce glasses are $4.75.
* The "Ravioli" is my favorite dish ($11.75). The ravioli is made from very thinly sliced raw beets and filled with cashew cheese. The tomato sauce is made with fresh ginger which gives it a delightful spicy flavor. The dish is served on fresh greens.
* The "Macadamia Alfredo pasta" ($14.50) is pricey but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Unlike traditional Alfredo sauce, this one is very light. Besides zucchini noodles, it also contains bell peppers, marinated mushrooms, pine nuts and fresh herbs.
* The "Lasagna plate" ($13.50) is my least favorite dish. It contains layers of sun-dried tomato sauce and cashew cheese layered with some veggies. Although the flavors are good, I did not enjoy the dish because the layers were mushy and have absolutely no texture.
* We ordered two different pizzas. The "Eco-sausage pizza" ($14/ $8 half order) is made of walnut sausage, bell pepper, marinated mushrooms, onions and ginger marinara sauce on a buckwheat-herb crust. This is a good raw pizza but it doesnt compare to my favorite raw sausage pizza from Quintessence in New York City. The "Raw Avocado pizza" ($13/ $7.50 half order) has the same crust with olive tapenade, avocado, zucchini, marinated mushrooms, pine nuts and cilantro. Everyone enjoyed the pizzas!
* The "Flaxseed Tostada" ($13) has a sunflower shell filled with lentil taco meat, fresh veggies, sunflower seeds, sprouts and hot sauce and is covered with cashew sour cream. It is a tasty dish but not as good as the others.
* Dessert was a "Coconut Cream pie" ($6). This is a delicious pie with a crust made from coconut flakes and dates and a filling of coconut flesh, coconut oil and more coconut flakes. Even though this dessert must be extremely high in fat, it tastes remarkably light.
All in all, we enjoyed the meal. It was a nice restaurant with friendly service and a good selection of food items. I think the dishes were a bit pricey but as anyone who prepares raw food knows, the ingredients to make these dishes can be very expensive.
Lose weight with Adam Richman and Man V Food Departure
When Adam Richman, the stout host of Travel Channels former food challenge series "Man v. Food," announced his retirement in early 2012, the world heaved a hefty sigh. Who now would power through five-pound burgers in greasy diners so we didnt have to?
But our loss has proved Richmans gain. And loss. Richman, now the host of the NBC game show "Food Fighters" and Travel Channels "Adam Richmans Fandemonium," has shed 60 pounds since the "Man v. Food" cameras stopped rolling.
"People expect me to order the biggest, richest dish, but its nice saying no," Richman told People magazine. "Im no human Dyson."
Richman, who has previously hinted that health was a factor in his decision to leave the world of food challenges, told the magazine that his appearance in old episodes alarmed him. “It was unflattering. It sent me into depression," he said.
Richman dropped the weight by cutting back on white flour and dairy and revving up his exercise routine. We imagine that quitting "Man v. Food" helped, too.
Below, check out Richmans amazing transformation. Its incredible what he accomplished in such a short period of time:
Dec. 14, 2011
About a month before announcing his "Man v. Food" retirement, Richman looks much like were used to seeing him.
Oct. 11, 2012
Nearly a year later, Richman is still rocking a large frame. But he looks like hes dropped a few pounds.
May 13, 2013
A few months of Richmans hard work clearly shows, and hes looking sharp.
July 11, 2013
Bam! Richman shows some serious progress here. We dig this slimming suit.
Aug. 15, 2013
Excuse us, has anyone seen Adam Richma... OMG ITS HIM. Richman looks like half of his former self in the below photo, and we couldnt be happier for him. Congrats on your new figure, Adam, and keep up the good work!
And just because, heres Richmans transformation in GIF form.
GIF credit: Joe Satran
But our loss has proved Richmans gain. And loss. Richman, now the host of the NBC game show "Food Fighters" and Travel Channels "Adam Richmans Fandemonium," has shed 60 pounds since the "Man v. Food" cameras stopped rolling.
"People expect me to order the biggest, richest dish, but its nice saying no," Richman told People magazine. "Im no human Dyson."
Richman, who has previously hinted that health was a factor in his decision to leave the world of food challenges, told the magazine that his appearance in old episodes alarmed him. “It was unflattering. It sent me into depression," he said.
Richman dropped the weight by cutting back on white flour and dairy and revving up his exercise routine. We imagine that quitting "Man v. Food" helped, too.
Below, check out Richmans amazing transformation. Its incredible what he accomplished in such a short period of time:
Dec. 14, 2011
About a month before announcing his "Man v. Food" retirement, Richman looks much like were used to seeing him.
Oct. 11, 2012
Nearly a year later, Richman is still rocking a large frame. But he looks like hes dropped a few pounds.
May 13, 2013
A few months of Richmans hard work clearly shows, and hes looking sharp.
July 11, 2013
Bam! Richman shows some serious progress here. We dig this slimming suit.
Aug. 15, 2013
Excuse us, has anyone seen Adam Richma... OMG ITS HIM. Richman looks like half of his former self in the below photo, and we couldnt be happier for him. Congrats on your new figure, Adam, and keep up the good work!
And just because, heres Richmans transformation in GIF form.
GIF credit: Joe Satran
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