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Showing posts with label to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label to. 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.
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Saturday, April 18, 2015

Diet How to spend the holidays without damage

It is impossible to escape the "big food" season. In fact, why are we deprive these friendly fun, family and food, even if you are in battle with his or her cholesterol pounds?

Better wake up and manage without festive lunches "upset stomach", "Hangover", 3 kg or more.

The "must have" products are not so terrible that it


As of December 15 and 31 between Christmas for example, Eat less fat as possible.
Do you provide what is particularly rich in fat: meats, fermented cheese, pastries, too rich butter sauces but also in oil, such as mayonnaise, remoulade, etc.

Make your salad yourself.
Accommodate your salad with a little oil, even if it is olive, because it is as fat as the others, even if it is good for the arteries.

If you do not usually drink plenty of water between and during meals.

Fiesta Christmas office
Participate without much thought. So to have a clear conscience:

before, drink lots of water;
after, compensate. Vegetable soup, yogurt, apple and mandarin restore equilibrium;
and water, always water!

Review of essential
Lobster, crayfish and other crustaceans
They are rich in protein and do not contain lipids (fats). However, the sauces are well equipped, especially the traditional mayonnaise. You can replace it with a sauce of cream (less fat than oil), lemon juice and herbs. Delicious and more original.

Oysters and shellfish
They are quite recommended because of their beneficial richness in minerals and vitamins. But also their lack of fat and few calories they contain. Drink, then, without a second thought:

many with lemon juice (vitamin C);
with bread. Much work because you need carbohydrates;
with the least amount of butter on the bread, of course! Take it out of the fridge well in advance so that it is soft: so, it puts less on toast.
And Happy Holidays!


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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Best Ways to Lose Extra Pounds

Many of us have had weight problems at least once in the life. When the extra pounds become a problem, each of us is trying to get rid of them and we search for the best weight loss program. We all know very well that the extra pounds influences our lives, make us lose confidence in ourselves, be ashamed of the way we look.


Nowadays there are many methods of weight loss, from food diets to slimming exercises and pills that promise to do wonders for your body. In many commercials companies promote their products as the best solution to get rid of extra pounds in no time. The temptation is great and many people get to use all sorts of products and keep all sorts of very severe food diets hoping for miraculous results. Some of these methods indeed give the desired result, making people happy at the moment because they have managed to lose weight, but after giving up the product they are amazed to notice that as quickly as they got off those pounds, they start again taking weight, sometimes more than the loss weight.

Before you decide which method you will follow to get rid of extra pounds you must be informed about that method, and nowadays information became easily accessible through the internet, with a few clicks you can find information about the results of each method and even opinions of those who used that method. It is true that every body is different and not all react the same way, but if a product is really good you will surely find more positive opinions than negative ones.

Besides the fact that you may regain the pounds that you struggled to get rid of, many of the products available on the market contain chemicals harmful to the body, so that in time may appear different diseases caused by them, or in the worst case, they can contain addictive substances. Therefore you must be very well informed about the product you want to use.

Besides this, before starting a weight loss program, you should first check which is the cause that led to weight gain because it can be a health issue and then you first have to solve this problem and then have to worry about losing weight. In addition, you can spend money on all sorts of products that should help get rid of extra pounds, but that have no effect because of the disturbance you suffer . Weight disorders may have more health-related causes such as stress or hormonal disorder caused by thyroid disease, so be wise to do some analysis before you start any weight loss program.


If you have done this, and you have no health problem, then you can search for a weight loss program that is suitable. Do not be impressed by the methods that are supposed to wonder would you get rid of a lot of pounds in a little while because as I said is not always so. The safest and surest way to get rid of extra pounds remains changing your diet and lifestyle, and of course the exercises play a very important role in this process, so if possible try to do some exercise every day, regardless if you go jog in the park or prefer to go to the gym.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

An Evolving Journey Back To Health

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin

On the last summer solstice, I set an intention to change my relationship to food and to regain my health. Funny how the Universe conspires to support us. Through a seemingly chance encounter, I was introduced to the idea of a raw, living foods diet and thats been the road Ive chosen to follow. Its been an interesting journey for sure. And, one that continues to evolve.

Theres a wonderful website I often frequent called Evolving Wellness™ that focuses on holistic health and natural living. Evita shares informative, well-researched articles, product reviews and recipes. Today, Im the feature of her monthly Evolving Wellness In Action series.
So, if youd like to read an article about a morbidly obese woman whos evolved into a vibrantly alive one, then check out EarthMother: A Raw Food Journey From Sickness To Health.

Read more »

Thursday, March 19, 2015

HOW TO FIND SAFE DIET PLAN AND NOT SCAM


Every year women are fooled by fad diets advertised in the media: "before putting your swimsuit, lose 5 kg in 10 days." Women are not gullible but say "what if it worked?". The pressure of the thin ideal is so strong that it generates real suffering behind irrational impulses. Thus scams regimes bloom ??

It weighs on women such pressure that they suffer a lot. They are thus vulnerable to the regime of merchants and buy drugs irrational impulses, thinking "what if it worked?". Dr. David Elia analyzes the different mistakes to avoid to help women stay rational and find a safe and reliable solution.

Type diet express

Any significant change in eating habits makes you lose weight and lose muscle. If you eat pineapples all week for example, we will inevitably slim. The problem is that weight loss is mostly at the expense of muscle mass. Or muscle mass is very important and very difficult to find. This is the first common mistake. So do not choose a plan that burns muscle mass: the pounds lost is resumed at full speed and this by "Version fat" and not muscles. Another mistake to avoid, if we managed to lose excess weight, is the resumption of pounds to stop the scheme: at the end of the regime, it starts eating as before, we take his eating habits, precisely those that were originally of the initial weight. If the output of the system, there is no identification of dietary errors and an attempt to change the recovery of lost pounds is inevitable, regardless of the type of plan used, was it the smartest.

"A week to lose 10 pounds"

Obviously, plans announcing "a week to lose 10 pounds," combine the two errors. They lose muscle mass and as stationary regime there is no change in eating habits, lost fat is taken pronto. This is the case of all the techniques like "lose 10 pounds before the holidays," which are prevalent each year in the mainstream media.

Diuretics, appetite suppressants and thyroid extracts: public danger!

There are also medicated processes that are thyroid extracts, diuretics and appetite suppressants, also called appetite suppressants. These are not mistakes here but real public danger! Appetite suppressants: side effects too dangerous The appetite suppressants were all removed from the market one after another since the 2000s, as and when the highlight of their dangerous side effects (including hypertension pulmonary that regularly kills). However, in the low-calorie diet accompanied by a nutritionist, appetite suppressants could help. Indeed, one of the problems of this type of diet is that it takes several months before reaching the target and that during this period there was very hungry. In these specific, medically supervised conditions, appetite suppressants could thus provide valuable assistance. But the side effects and risks of accidents have condemned them for now. The thyroid extracts disturb the rhythm cardiac The thyroid extracts are only intended for women with thyroid deficiency. This hormonal disorder is the cause of many symptoms: weight gain, nervousness, hair loss, dry skin, etc. The fact to compensate for their lack of thyroid hormone allows them to regain a normal life. But if we give thyroid extracts to a person whose thyroid is functioning normally, it causes an overdose of thyroid hormones. Obviously, this excess makes you lose weight. But the problem is that we burn all the fat and muscle mass. In addition, excess thyroid hormone causes cardiac arrhythmias, sometimes fatal. The thyroid extracts must be strictly reserved for people with an underactive thyroid. The problem is that women with normal thyroid unfortunately still have access to these products ... Diuretics lose water, not the grease So Much women like to diuretics, especially late in the cycle. These drugs are forcing the kidneys to produce more urine and thus eliminate more water. The problem is twofold: 1) diuretics disrupt kidney function; 2) the balance displays many pounds lighter, but it is pounds of water, not fat! Weight loss is an illusion which then again, is transient. Upon discontinuation of the diuretic, kidney restores the situation and taken from the water. But in the end, the renal system can become misaligned completely, and now makes systematic use of diuretics to restore the body water regulation system. This is the "disease diuretics

Board: seasonal scams miracles preparations

Every year, at certain times, we see bloom offers all as farfetched as each other and moreover, are sometimes dangerous. We do not know the exact composition of these miracles preparations. Wish be it more often than placebo, and less often the negative effects of substances, as it happened a few years ago with the case "Chinese herbs" at the origin of major renal failure and death. The fact is that the ideal slimming exercises such pressure that women eventually crack and are then ready to try anything. In the example above, with the popular belief stating that herbal medicine does not hurt, these herbs were very tempting ... So no, there is no miracle plants that lose weight. We do not lose weight either by accelerating the intestinal transit, increasing water loss, taking drugs or consuming less salt! Lose involves losing fat too, retain muscle mass and not to lose of water. A from there, everything is mathematical and takes place in two stages. If one wants to lose 5 pounds of fat, you have to spend in a way or another 5 X 9000 = 45,000 calories stored. And as soon reached the goal, you must eat better. 
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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Kalyns Kitchen Gets a Makeover with a New Easier Way to Find Recipes for Every Kind of Diet

past designs collage for Kalyn's Kitchen
Kalyn's Kitchen has changed a bit through the years, and repeat after me, "Change is Good!"

For a few months now I've been working with my brother Rand (the design guy) and the fabulous Jennette (web designer and coder extraordinaire) to create a new look for Kalyn's Kitchen. (Thanks guys!)  Rand and Jennette are two of the smartest and most talented people I know, and I'm excited to reveal the new design and explain how the new features can help you find the kind of recipes you're looking for on the site.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

How to Make Gremolata and Recipe Ideas for Using Gremolata

Gremolata
Gremolata can bring the fresh-herb flavors of summer to your food all year round!

Anyone who's been following my blog for a while already knows that I'm a fresh herb enthusiast!  If you're a cook who's discovered the wonderful way that cooking with fresh herbs can enhance the flavor of foods without adding fat or calories, then it won't be hard to understand why I think everyone should learn how to make Gremolata.  This simple but profound combination of finely minced fresh lemon peel, minced fresh garlic, and minced fresh parsley adds freshness and a little zing to any food you sprinkle it on.  I used it recently to add that extra something to a pasta dish (recipe coming!) and I wasn't sure if Gremolata needed a post of its own, but when I mentioned it to several friends and family members, I discovered that this simple herb combination is not something everyone knows about!  So this post is my Gremolata Public Service Announcement for everyone who hasn't discovered it yet.  And best of all, in the dead of winter when fresh herbs are expensive and hard to come by, you can always get lemons, garlic, and fresh parsley to make this and bring a touch of summer to your cooking. 

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The smell of olive oil helps to lose weight


Olive oil helps to stay slim because brings a feeling of satiety. Conclusion employees Munich Technical University of Vienna and is based on the observation of volunteers who daily for three months had consumed 500 grams of yogurt , as well as to supplement your diet with one of four kinds of fats : lard, olive , canola or butter , writes The Daily Mail.According to study author Peter Shiberle , those who consumed olive oil, received fewer calories and not gain weight . A blood test showed that they also have high levels of serotonin - the hormone that gives a feeling of satiety . Such an effect is associated with aromatic components of olive oil. Volunteers felt full , and the number of daily calorie intake decreased by 176." Participants in the study reported that yogurt with olive oil very subjectively satisfying . Within three years, none of them gained weight ," - commented P.Shiberle . According to his confession , the results surprised him work as rapeseed oil contains a similar set of fatty acids. It was then that he decided to spend an additional experiment and found that the whole thing in the aromatics." We have discovered a new way to healthy weight loss. Investigation proved that the aromatic compound regulates the feeling of satiety. We hope that the results contribute to the development of a line of new products designed to feel satiated and promote weight loss ," - says P.Shiberle .
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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.
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An Evolving Journey Back To Health

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin

On the last summer solstice, I set an intention to change my relationship to food and to regain my health. Funny how the Universe conspires to support us. Through a seemingly chance encounter, I was introduced to the idea of a raw, living foods diet and thats been the road Ive chosen to follow. Its been an interesting journey for sure. And, one that continues to evolve.

Theres a wonderful website I often frequent called Evolving Wellness™ that focuses on holistic health and natural living. Evita shares informative, well-researched articles, product reviews and recipes. Today, Im the feature of her monthly Evolving Wellness In Action series.
So, if youd like to read an article about a morbidly obese woman whos evolved into a vibrantly alive one, then check out EarthMother: A Raw Food Journey From Sickness To Health.

Read more »

Monday, March 9, 2015

Recovery foods What to choose Review of the research

Often people wonder if buying a commercially engineered sports food (drinks, gels, bars, etc) is better for you when compared to regular food to aid in muscle recovery from exercise. If it is packaged to say so, it must be right? 

Well some of those products do work, but they are not necessarily better. They may be convenient, but they do not contain any magic ingredients that cannot be found in foods you regularly purchase. A study was done comparing a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage (sports drink) and a bowl of cereal with nonfat milk. The objective of the study was to determine what, if any, difference the two foods had on muscle recovery from exercise. 


This study recruited eight male and four female cyclists or triathletes. The athletes rode a bike for two hours. Immediately after the ride, a muscle biopsy was done on the subjects (ouch!). Then the subjects were given either the sports drink or the cereal with nonfat milk. They waited an hour and another muscle biopsy was done. The researchers found that both increased glycogen in the muscle, but only the cereal significantly increased muscle proteins. 

Whole foods, like the cereal and milk, are a great option for muscle recovery and are often less expensive. 

Reference:
Cereal and nonfat milk supports muscle recovery following exercise by Lynne Kammer, Zhenping Ding, Bei Wang, Daiske Hara, Yi-Hung Liao, and John L. Ivy
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Tips to get better sleep


Here are several tips to get better sleep

- Do not watch TV or a computer screen justbefore bedtime.
- Do not have too many thoughts or ideas before going to bed, write down any      important things to do, for example, to clear the mind.
- A bath or shower can help to get better sleep.
- Playing sports in the morning, it helps to get better sleep evening.
- To fall asleep easily, body temperature is lowered slightly, and brain first.
Remember to refresh the mind rather than the body. The ideal temperature of a room is 19-20C, when wearing light clothing and that it fits into a bed, covered without excess (or single duvet cover). We also know that to put socks in winter helps to promote heat exchange.
- Read a book
- Do not do stressful activity
- Drink a tea of chamomile or lemon verbena
- Read a book
- Make different relaxation exercises to relax.
- Eat light at night, try not to ruminateworries, relax and think about the things that make us happy, not easy when you have to stressbut its possible.
- Before going to bed do not make too harshor tiring activities such as cleaning, for example.

Here are the tricks Stephanie to get better sleep at night


- Eat an apple before 2hours, it often works for me.
- Drink a cup of warm milk (it allows me to get a good night)
- Do not go hungry or thirsty before bedtime
So those tips will help you to have a better sleep every night.
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Sunday, March 8, 2015

How to get a good night’s sleep



Insomnia, sleepless night , fatigue is part of everyday life? To discard the problems of sleep , here are some essential steps.

10 to 30% of the population suffers from insomnia and many are unable to sleep because they sleep too late!, so they can’t get a good night’s sleeping . However, sleep is essential to recover and fight against aggression and daily fatigue . Respect biological cycles, proper nutrition and gestures are essential for relaxing sleep. So if irritability, fatigue, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and memory ... settle, 1001 good actions must be applied.

A healthy lifestyle

1. To avoid the regular use of sleeping pills , and properly adjust its clock must be first and foremost a balanced diet, so you have a good night’s sleep .

    Expected to eat 2 hours before bedtime and avoid foods that are too fatty and too sweet.
    It is recommended vegetable proteins (wheat, lentils, peas ...), starchy vegetables and complete. Through the secretion of two hormones that are sleep melatonin and serotonin, sleep will be promoted.
    We finish the dinner with a glass of milk with honey, herbal tea or herbal tea with verbena, chamomile or lime. Obviously, we think the ban consumption of stimulants after 17 h. Addicted to coffee, tea and nicotine should wait until morning! So this will help too much to have a good night’s sleep .

2. To enjoy a good night’s sleep , you need sports, of course, but not at any time.

    We do not train in the evening: the coming of sleep is delayed if you practice a sport in the evening. Physical activity increases the temperature of our body and affects the quality of our sleep. Our biological clock is so wanton.
    You relax with yoga. Minutes before bedtime, a little yoga will help us find the necessary calm to dive into a deep sleep.
3.Get a good nights sleep by folowing the body

Yawning, tingling eyes, heavy eyelids, decreased attention ... It is time to go to sleep! The body sends us signals of weakness that we go to full power.

    Too early  ? No worries. We choose the time corresponding to our lifestyle. The sandman by 1h revert to 3 h.
    In the meantime, why not take a good warm bath? it will go down the body temperature and thus facilitate the coming of sleep.
    The body needs ritual to automatically start button "sleep." Before going to bed, do we think the same things we brush our teeth, hair, puts on her pajamas ...
    We let go: bedtime should be fun. The bed should be comfortable, soft and draped in colors that soothe us, and make us having a good night’s sleep

    It completely disconnects all negative thoughts that might distract us. It puts the brain off for a night without constraint.
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ONE WEEK RAW AND GLUTEN FREE Day 7 Learn To Make Raw Meatballs On Zucchini Ribbon Pasta!

Raw walnut meatballs on ribbons of zucchini with tomato sauce

Follow Foods For Long Life on FACEBOOK !

DAY 7 OF "ONE WEEK RAW AND GLUTEN FREE"


Today is the 7th and last day of our "One Week Raw and Gluten Free" mini cleanse. But it doesnt have to be the end. If you want to extend it a few more weeks, just repeat the recipes you enjoyed during the week. In case you missed any of them, check out DAY 1, DAY 2, DAY 3, DAY 4, DAY 5 and DAY 6.


Todays menu includes:
Breakfast: Strawberry, pear and spinach smoothie
Snack: Leftover pear and apple crisp from last nights dessert
Lunch: Monster salad
Dinner: Raw meatballs on zucchini ribbon pasta
Dessert: Mango and mixed berries


Breakfast:
Strawberry, pear and spinach "green smoothie"
(New Recipe)
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 2 servings - enjoy both throughout the morning]
1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries or strawberry tops *
1 large or 2 medium organic pears, cored
2 cups organic, baby spinach
1 tablespoon unrefined flaxseed oil
1 1/2 cups filtered water


Place all ingredients in a VitaMix blender and process until smooth.


Per serving: 190.8 calories, 7.0 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 3.7 g omega 3 and 1.0 g omega 6 fatty acid, 0 mg cholesterol, 2.3 g protein, 35 g carbohydrates and 8.3 g dietary fiber. 


This green smoothie is high in fiber and omega 3 fatty acid.
Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin which may decrease the risk of age related macular degeneration.
* When I clean organic strawberries, I cut off the tops (which include a 1/2 inch of strawberry), freeze them and use them for smoothies.
Todays snack is leftover pear and apple crisp.
That is, if you didnt eat it all last night! Its sooo good!!


Lunch
One of the best things you can do for your health is to eat some sort of salad every day of your life. Im not talking iceberg lettuce and thousand islands dressing. Im talking about a HUGE MONSTER salad with as many veggies you can stuff in a bowl topped with more healthful goodies like nuts, seeds and fruit. Todays salad contains many of the leftover ingredients from the recipes we made this week:
red leaf lettuce,torn
baby spinach
daikon, thinly sliced 
carrots, thinly sliced 
cucumber, thinly sliced
orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
red onion, sliced
broccoli florets
avocado, sliced
raisins
hemp seeds
sunflower seeds
sesame seeds


For the dressing, I had leftover ginger tahini dipping sauce from DAY 6 which I thinned with some freshly squeezed lime juice and a little water. If you ran out, make a little more!
So fill your refrigerator with veggies and experiment with combinations for lunch or dinner each day!


Todays lunch is a MONSTER salad with many of the leftover veggies from this weeks menus.


Dinner
Today were going to make little raw meatballs. My poor Italian grandparents, were they alive, would think I was absolutely nuts! But these little guys, made from walnuts and other goodies, really taste meaty! 
Were also going to make a raw tomato sauce for our zucchini pasta.  When not on a raw cleanse, you can serve this delicious and healthy raw sauce mixed with hot pasta and the raw meatballs (at room temp) on top. They are too delicate to mix in or cook. 
Ive posted this on the blog before (in fact it is one of the most "googled" recipes) but its improved and changed a bit to make it gluten free. 


Raw Zucchini Ribbons with Walnut Meatballs and Tomato sauce
Old Blog Favorite - modified
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 4 servings]
For the zucchini pasta
4 medium zucchini
Freshly ground black pepper
For the raw tomato sauce
1 clove garlic, peeled
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, soaked in filtered water for 1 hour, or until soft, and drained
1 Medjool date, pitted and soaked in filtered water for 1 hour and drained
1 cup ripe tomatoes, diced
4 kalamata olives
2 packed tablespoons fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the meatballs [makes 12 small meatballs, 3 per serving]
1 clove garlic
1 1/3 cup raw English walnuts soaked for several hours and rinsed
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons Bragg liquid aminos
1 teaspoon thinly sliced green onion, white part only
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced, plus extra for garnish


Make the zucchini ribbons by peeling the zucchini with a potato peeler, gradually rotating with each peel.
To make a thinner spaghetti, use a vegetable slicer. My favorite is Benriner. Wrap the ribbons or spaghetti in a paper towel until ready to use otherwise they will get watery when combined with the sauce.


Making the zucchini ribbons with a vegetable peeler.


You can make zucchini spaghetti by using a Benriner spiral vegetable slicer. Peel the zucchini first so it really looks like spaghetti!


To make the sauce, drop a clove of garlic in the chute of a food processor with an S blade while its running. After it is minced, add the drained sun dried tomatoes and date along with the fresh tomatoes, olives, and the rest of the tomato sauce ingredients. Process until smooth, place in a small bowl and set aside.


Top with extra parsley and freshly ground black pepper and serve!


Wash and dry the food processor. 
To make the meatballs, drop a clove of garlic in the chute of the food processor while its running.
After it is minced, add the walnuts, nutritional yeast, olive oil, lemon juice and Bragg liquid aminos and process until smooth, scraping down the sides when necessary. 
Place in a bowl and mix in green onion and parsley.
Form 12 small balls from the mixture, dip each one in tomato sauce to coat and set aside.
Mix the zucchini pasta in the desired amount of sauce. Serve onto 4 plates and top each with 3 sauce covered meatballs.
Garnish with parsley and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.


Tonights dessert is diced mango and an assortment of fresh berries

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Healthy Quick Diet Meal Plan DIY Meal Ideas to Get In Shape for 2015!

 Healthy & Quick Diet Meal Plan: DIY Meal 

  Ideas to Get In Shape for 2015!

diet2015

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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
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How To Take a Healthy Cruise Have Fun Without the Weight Gain

Azamara Journey 16 day cruise through the Panama Canal.

A healthy custom egg white and veggie omelette for breakfast.

Or have oatmeal with optional ground flax, raisins and seeds.

A blueberry smoothie from the custom smoothie station.

A combo of different veggie and seafood salad offerings.

Or make your own salad from a salad bar available all day.

Fresh fruit and cottage cheese makes a nice, light lunch.

You could order "steamed" veggies in any of the dining rooms.

There was always a nice selection of baked fish.

They offered custom stir-fries every night with fresh ingredients.

Start the day with an exercise class or work out in the gym.

Dancing in the New Year while burning more calories!


Its Easy to Lose Control on an "All You Can Eat" Vacation
When Doug suggested we take a 16 day cruise for our 20th wedding anniversary I was both delighted and terrified. The last time we went on a cruise or an "all-inclusive" land vacation, I put on pounds that took a long time to remove. These vacations all start out the same way. For a day or so we examine every little morsel that goes in our mouth, avoid the heavy desserts and check out the gym. After a few days we stumble into a margarita tasting or an ice cream social and by the end of the vacation we are ordering multiple entrees and eating a dessert at every meal. We hear ourselves saying, "what the heck, were on vacation" and "its paid for". We manage to squeeze into our largest outfit and fly home avoiding the scale for weeks and hating ourselves for losing our will power. If we take a 16 day cruise (almost twice our longest trip), well have to have a better plan.

How To Take a 16 Day Cruise Without Gaining Weight
First of all, you need to develop a plan that includes "Your Goal", the "Plan to Meet the Goal" along with "Rules for Avoiding Calories" and "Rules to Burn Calories". Dont forget, youve got to write it all down. Heres what I did:
My Goal
To take a 16 day cruise through Christmas and New Years to the Panama Canal WITHOUT gaining a single pound. My pre-cruise weight was 115.5.
The Plan
(1) Keep a journal and write down every calorie eaten and every calorie burned.
(2) "Net" 1386 calories a day. (To maintain weight, you need around 12 to 15 calories for every pound of body weight. To be conservative I used 12 X 115.5 calories or 1386). Net calories is all calories consumed minus all calories burned.
Rules for Avoiding Calories
(1) Skip the bread. I told the waiter to NEVER bring bread and butter to the table. Once that beautiful basket of assorted hot bread is sitting there in front of me, its almost impossible to resist.
(2) Limit alcohol to one glass of wine or Champagne a day and try to skip some days all together (not an easy task given this cruise was over the Christmas and New Years holiday). Avoid high calories mixed drinks completely.
(3) Be VERY specific about food preparation. I asked for "steamed" vegetables, "plain" baked potatoes, salad dressing "on the side", "hold the sauce", "grilled or poached" fish.
(4) Avoid events that give away alcohol or fattening food like martini tastings or ice cream socials.
(5) When eating buffet style, make one visit for the salad/appetizer and one visit for the main meal. Use a smaller plate.
(6) Limit dessert to one small and relatively healthy one per day like fresh fruit, low fat frozen yogurt or a mini fruit tart.
(7) Keep a food journal and WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. Count all calories consumed (I brought the "Biggest Loser Complete Calorie Counter book with me).
Rules to Burn Calories
(1) NEVER take the elevator on a cruise ship. Walking up and down steps burns lots of calories.
(2) Use the gym every day.
(3) Sign up for exercise and self improvement classes. Azamara offered stretch and exercise classes and gave lectures on acupuncture and detox and tested for body composition. You could even hire a personal trainer.
(4) Walk around the track.
(5) Take the most "strenuous" excursions. Walk, hike or swim and avoid "site seeing bus tours".
(6) Dance
(7) Reward yourself with a massage
(8) WRITE ALL ACTIVITIES DOWN and record calories burned.
Smart Meal Choices if Available
Breakfast
Oatmeal with ground flax, cinnamon, raisins and sunflower seeds
Raw fruit smoothie
Cold cereal like Cheerios or All Bran with soy or skim milk
Egg white omelette with veggies and smoked salmon
Poached egg on an English muffin with Spinach
Yogurt and fruit
Lunch
Salads with lots of raw veggies, garbanzo beans, beets, etc. with a light dressing
Fresh fruit platter with low fat cottage cheese
Tuna or lean turkey sandwich with veggies and mustard.
Plain baked potato with steamed veggies
Grilled kabobs and veggies
Dinner
Custom stir fry with lots of veggies, shrimp and white meat chicken on rice or rice noodles
Miso soup and sushi
Grilled or poached fish with steamed veggies and plain rice
Grilled chicken or lean meat with steamed veggies and a plain baked potato
Light, non-cream based soups
Entree sized salads with shrimp, scallops, lobster, chicken breast or flank steak
Desserts
Small piece of chocolate
Low fat frozen yogurt
Sherbet or sugar free ice cream
Small fruit tart
Results
Even though I passed on the richer meals, the food was still amazing. With the beautiful fresh salads and fruit and the delicious selection of seafood, I didnt feel like I was missing out on anything. I ate three wonderful meals a day and a few healthy snacks in between.
I didnt really know how much I weighed on the cruise. The scale in the gym varied with each wave so I had to wait until I got home to see the results. I stuck to my calorie goal and worked out every day. I felt really great. Even without weighing myself, I felt like I was in better shape than when I got on the boat. After getting home I waited a day for the "salty" food to get through my system since I knew that would hold some "water weight". But the moment of truth came the next morning when I stepped on the scale and weighed 115.5 - EXACTLY what I weighed the morning I left for vacation. Doug, who ate and drank a bit more than I did,(but also worked out more) managed to actually lose one pound.
It was the best vacation we ever took. We saw the Panama canal, walked through the cloud forest in Costa Rica and released baby sea turtles to the ocean in Acapulco. We also visited Jamaica, Columbia, Nicaragua, Huatulco and Cabo San Lucas. Best of all, we didnt go home feeling badly about our loss of self control. My hats off to Azamara Cruises for offering all those delicious healthy choices. My "fear of cruises" is gone forever!
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