I recently took a survey on what made me happy.
What was I doing when I was the most happy? The exercise started with: remember a time when you were happy, what were you doing? Everyone of those questions led me to food...well not just food but eating a meal with others. Oh and good food. Connections are made over food. We go to networking lunches, sit down on holidays for family dinners and who can forget the romantic candle light dinner with a loved one. Gathering around the table, with everyone excitedly talking about their day, their hopes for the future and the food.... I just don't feel the same about yakking in a car, or over the phone, or while hanging at a Starbucks...it's just too boring and empty. I want to plate some food! We raised our boys with family meals....very rarely did we eat on the run, even when they were in high school and had schedules jammed packed with stuff. I loved those meals, even though the food, in retrospect was at times not as healthy as I wish it had been. I love to go out to dinner with my sons and their girlfriends and sit around the table and talk. When we go into the city, our day is always planned around where we are going to eat. Without that special meal, I feel like the trip was just not as special. We plan our visits and look to find healthy food that is served in a interesting atmosphere. In 2004, less than 28% of the families out there ate dinner together. If not at dinner, when do you talk? How do you find out about how your kid's school day is going? The latest love interest? The school gossip? Let alone talk about current events? Decide family vacations? My biggest joy is to make food for people that they will enjoy, that will enhance their health and feelings of wellbeing and to sit around a table and talk...... You Deserve to be Healthy!
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Ever feel like there is just not enough time in the day, week, life time?
I feel like that all the time, in just one area. No not work, on weekends or vacations. I love transition and change so I am cool with all of that. Books - there are too many that I want to read...cook from....and study! Ahhhhhh! At present I am totally addicted to vegan and vegetarian cookbooks. Okay so now I don't have enough time to cook as much as I want either. Check out The Urban Vegan. This book is awesome. Super easy recipes that are interesting and delicious. Made the Gobhi Aloo last night and damn that was awesome. Put it on some lavender sticky rice and it was downright gorgeous to look at. I always wanted to open a bookstore (Amazon killed that idea) that also was a yarn/knitting store and now I want to add food. Okay so that is not a thrilling dream but hey gatta admit it would be sweet. Come on down and peruse some books, eat some delicious healthy organic food and knit a pair of socks. Wow!  I have a great memory. When it comes to a "to do" list or "to buy" list I can pretty much wing it! Pretty much! I am not going to lie here, I have gotten into the car after a marathon shop, waiting in line and checking out and found....I forgot the asparagus and I was making asparagus soup for dinner. Hello! Bad language is followed by getting back out of the car and going back into the store. Grrrr! Who has got the time for such nonsense? What a waste of time, not to mention a waste of money as I always find a few more yummy thing I just have to have! So I make a list. Actually I have a list of all the common ingredients I use in my meal preparation, on my ipad and my computer. As I am creating the menus for the week, I check off the stuff that I need to get. Easy! It also helps with a impromptu inventory of what I already have. No more, "yes dear I bought more avocados and we have 4 rotting in the fridge, ouch." They say that for every minute you spend in a grocery store over 30 minutes, you will spend at least $1 per minute. Get out fast! Wonder why they rearrange the store so frequently? It keep you running around in circles looking for the food on your list but passing all kinds of alluring treats. Marion Nestle has written a great book titled " What to Eat" that has a whole section on the psychology used by food stores to get us to buy more food. They are just so tricky. Really interesting and lets you see through the "matrix"! So do a little list building of your own. Once you have the basics down you can add new stuff as you start to add to your diet. Having a list will help you to speed through through the store, save you from buying impulse items, have the food to create complete healthy meals and avoid the need to grab something yucky because there isn't anything in the house to eat. Let me know how you do.  Spring is the time for all those cleansing veggies.
After a long winter of heavy warming foods our bodies welcome the spring vegetables and their ability to lighten us up for the hot summer months to come. One of my favorite vegetables is Asparagus. This spring power-house is not only full of folic acid but is a super digestive support food. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins that helps the body produce and maintain new cells. In particular, red blood cell formation is dependent on adequate levels of this vitamin. It may also help cells resist changes in their DNA associated with the development of cancer. Folic acid plays a very important role in pregnancy by significantly reducing the incidence of birth defects known as neural tube defects (malformations of the spine and brain). Asparagus is also high in fiber and protein. Fiber helps everything move on through the system at a healthy rate. Asparagus also contains significant amounts of the nutrient inulin, which is referred to as a “prebiotic.” Inulin bypasses the first segments of digestion and arrives at the large intestine undigested. Because of this, it is an ideal food source for certain kinds of “good” bacteria in our intestines that are associated with better nutrient absorption. So go out and grab a bunch while it is fresh and in season. Two of my favorite ways to cook it is: Roasted with olive oil, garlic and herbs on a pizza pan in a 400 degree oven until brown or Sauteed in a pan with garlic and when browned add some balsamic...yum and so quick. I must admit I will easily polish off a bunch on the way home from the store! Don't forget to make it organic and local if you can! I love my kids as much as the next mother.
They were wonderful guys, but..... My oldest son was way to much like me, I mean way to much.... Every morning for years, he's ask me what was for dinner. Yeah I had menus and probably could have answered intelligently if I had wanted to but come on it's 6:30 in the morning, who cares? He did! Way to much of a planner! 8-) So what are you having for dinner? You're busy, you'll think about it later, maybe pick something up on the way home. Fast forward through your day and now it is 7pm and you are sitting down to Chinese take-out or sandwiches from the local deli. Sure is easy but how is that food serving you? High in salt, preservatives, sugar, processed foods, fats and oh those chemicals. You know you should eat better, you want to eat better for you and the family, but who has the time? Initially menu planning can take a bit of time but once you have a method in place it is super easy. Start by taking an inventory of your schedule for a typical week. Now you have the parameters of the amount of time you can spend on meal prep. Next take an inventory of your family's/your food preferences. Come up with staple meals that you can make fast or ahead of time for those nights were prep time is non-existent. Fill in with recipes that you want to try on those night when you have more time. We will be talking "list creation" next time. |
AuthorI am a digestive health coach. I help my clients have more energy and a eliminate digestive problems by eating food they love! Archives
September 2013
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