Monday, September 26, 2011

Don't Eat That

I like to focus on the positive so today's title is peculiar for me. But last week there was an article online about 5 groups of food to avoid and today it's about sugar. So, in case you missed them, here goes.

Please avoid: crackers, muffins, cookies, cakes, sodas, sugar, alcohol, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, cream, ice cream, salt, coffee and black tea. They contribute to strokes and cancer.

As for the sugar, it not only raises the possibility of diabetes, cancer and arteriosclerosis, but it is highly addictive. 

Instead, make or find a place to buy healthy crackers and muffins, give up eggs, replace dairy with almond milk or rice milk and cashew, rice or coconut ice creams. Use sea salt, teechino instead of coffee, and herbs over which you have poured hot water for tea.

As for sugar, replace it with stevia. I carry stevia packets wherever I go and if I forget, I do without. Self-inflicted self-control, logical consequences of not planning ahead. Most of the time I remember.

You can also use real maple syrup, Grade B not A, agave syrup and raw, unprocessed honey.

For the "good to eat" list, copy this and save it.

Beverages: freshly extracted vegetable juices, Barley Max, CarrotJuice Max, BeetMax and remineralized distilled water - caffeine free herbal teas and cereal-based coffee-like beverages, bottled organic juices.

Dairy Alternatives:  fresh almond milk, creamy banana milk, frozen banana, strawberry or blueberry fruit creams -non-dairy cheese, almond milk, hemp milk and rice milk, used sparingly

Beans:  green beans, peas, sprouted garbanzos, sprouted lentils, mung beans and other legumes (not peanuts - they are hard to digest and are prone to mold) -Lima, adzuki, black, kidney, navy, pinto, red and white

Fruit: all fresh, as well as unsulphured organic dried fruit -  cooked and unsweetened frozen fruits (limit fruit to no more than 15% of your diet to r educe natural sugar intake)

Grains: soaked oats, raw muesli, dehydrated granola, dehydrated crackers - whole-grain cereals, breads, pasta, brown rice, millet, etc. I use quinoa as a grain because it is high in protein

Meat substitutes:  sprouted beans, chia seed, and hemp seeds are all protein-rich plant foods -  cooked beans, mushrooms, vegetables, grains, etc. can satisfy the "full" feeling you are used to from meat, which rots in your stomach and can cause cancer

Nuts and seeds: sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, raw almond butter, tahini - some nuts (such as cashews and almonds) are required to be pasteurized for retail sale but are suitable if not roasted or salted)

Oils: vegan mayonnaise made from cold-pressed oils, Udo's oil, extra virgin olive oil, walnut oil, flaxseed oil, avocados

Seasonings: fresh or dehydrated herbs, garlic, sweet onions, parsley and salt-free seasonings, sea salt used sparingly

Soups: raw, chilled soups made by blending raw vegetables and/or fruits in a blender and those soups made from scratch without salt, fat or dairy

Sweets: fruit smoothies, raw fruit pies with nut/date crusts, date-nut squares

Vegetables: all raw vegetables, steamed or wok-cooked fresh or frozen vegetables, baked white, yellow or sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, etc.

Ask me questions and I will answer them in future posts.

























Saturday, September 24, 2011

Die At An Old Age, YOUNG!

This morning, my Bible reading says, "...he who dies at a hundred will be thought young..." Isaiah 65:20 (This is from The Complete Jewish Bible translated by David H. Stern.)

That's where I get it from. I say, in my classes, that I want to die at a very old age, healthy and young.

People laugh and say, "How in the world are you going to pull that off?" I answer, "Follow me. Read my blog and try my tips and you will be amazed at how young you will be at any age.

A plant based diet slows down the aging process because you are eating food that nourishes and feeds your body and helps new cells grow. You have discarded the foods that kill the body and cause cells to break down and malfunction. It's really that simple.

So what did you eat today? I had a heaping teaspoon of Barley Max mint in distilled water with some supplements: Vitamins D, B 6 and 12, E, Omega fatty acids 3 and 6, a digestive enzyme, a probiotic, and some biotin. Then I had half an organic cantelope. I almost forgot how delicious they can be. The melons in buffet breakfast bars are so bland.

Then my husband and I went for a 2 mile walk along the beach which was invigorating. We stopped at the Farmer's Market for some fresh mung bean sprouts, baby bok choy, green onions, a pomegranate, and a pinapple and then came home, finished by 8:30 AM.

As I sat typing this blog, I had some fresh mint tea (from my garden) with an orange cranberry living food bar from Hallelujah Acres.

Just take it one meal at a time and you will get closer to dying old, young and healthy!

If you have specific questions, send them to me and I'll be glad to respond.















Friday, September 23, 2011

What to Buy and Have On Hand for Fast Heathy Meals

First, I've been working a lot, so I apologize for abandoning my followers. I'll try to do better.

Second, I am often asked, "How can I do this plant based eating program without spending all my time doing it?

I'll tell you.

Figure out what you current time budget is related to food. How much time do you spend at the grocery store, including travel to and from. Add to that the time you spend going to and from restaurants and you now have a baseline of how much time you are willing to spend feeding yourself.

Then, plan the basics. What do you need to have on hand to make it through the week?
I always have:
  • canned organic beans: pinto beans, black beans, great northern beans, butter beans
  • canned organic tomato paste, sauce, and   puree
  • organic brown rice, basmati or other kind
  • onions
  • garlic
  • bell peppers: red, yellow, orange and green  
  • celery
  • greens: lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, collard, the greener the better
  • organic tomatoes - I like Roma, the most flavorful
  • small packages of guacamole ( no dairy added) - I freeze them and use as needed
  • bananas which I freeze peeled and use for smoothies
  • frozen wild blueberries
  • frozen strawberries
  • frozen blackberries
  • Barley Max (R) which I buy from Hallelujah Acres (HA) (If you buy it, use my health minister #FTP) - I like mint and my husband likes the berry flavor
  • Survival bars and living food bars, also from HA
  • fresh beets
  • Ezekiel bread
  • other whole grain, multi-grain bread
With these basics, I can make 3 meals a day, eat around 85% raw and 15% cooked food.

More to follow.