Adopt-A-Turkey

This year, our family joined Farm Sanctuary in adopting a turkey for Thanksgiving! Among the many animals at the organization's two sanctuary locations are turkeys that otherwise were living miserable existences at factory farms. Every Thanksgiving, Farm Sanctuary provides people with the opportunity to adopt a turkey, providing them with resources to care for these and other animals. This year we adopted Payton, a turkey who lives at their California shelter. Christopher was the official adopter and received the certificate he is holding above. The certificate tells about Payton, his personality and favorite foods, and provides a picture too. Chris is very proud of his turkey and we read about Payton every morning at breakfast. If you are interested in adopting a turkey through Farm Sanctuary, visit www.adoptaturkey.org.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Just wanted to let everyone know about The Well Blog on the New York Times website that is currently posting a series of vegetarian and vegan recipes for the upcoming holiday. I am very thankful for these recipes and super excited that veggie dishes are becoming so much more mainstream for this gluttonous holiday! You can be gluttonous and vegan too! Here is the link...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/vegetarian-thanksgiving/

Let Food (and Yoga!) Be Thy Medicine

I have my first cold of the season. Actually, it's the first cold I've had in a long time and I don't like it! Obviously, no one likes being sick but because I try to take good care of myself with diet and exercise, I can sometimes feel like I'm immune to all the bugs going around. This cold hasn't been too bad, but it is here nonetheless.

The thing I do like about getting sick is that it makes me realize that something is out of balance and it forces me to attend to that. In looking at this particular cold, I realize that I've been a bit stressed of late and also worked out a little too hard the past two weeks, stressing my immune system. My diet also hasn't been the best, really since Halloween. I mean, overall it's pretty good but I've definitely had too much sugar for my own good and I know that contributes to lowering immune function.

So now comes the time to reevaluate. When I got this cold, I started to go into healing mode, doing things that make myself feel better. This week, I've kicked up the green juice (I swear it clears up my sinuses for a couple hours when I do this), eaten immune-boosting foods like mushrooms, onions, and garlic (literally that's what I had for dinner last night) and big salads, and relaxed with some gentle yoga and meditation. All of these things are contributing to my kicking this cold in the butt!

Next time you come down with something, take the time to step back and look at the aspects of your life that could be contributing to how you feel. If it is simply a bug that you caught from being around a lot of germy people, think about how you can nurture your body with life-giving foods and practices and then make those things a part of your everyday life!

Wow

Wow, Whole Foods, you have outdone yourselves.

The cookie pictured above is a vegan chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven in their bakery section. I'm all for vegan foods but I have to say that I am sometimes disappointed by the vegan treats and desserts I've had. But not with this cookie! This cookie is as good as it looks, and then some. As I'm devouring it, I keep saying to myself, "This is almost too good to be true!"

Thank you Whole Foods for such a pleasant end to my dinner tonight!

Blue Koi

So we went to Blue Koi (Mission Farms location) tonight for dinner. It was recommended to us by a friend of ours whose family is also vegetarian. Blue Koi is an Asian fusion restaurant that specializes in noodles and dumplings. I thought the food was really good and there were tons of vegetarian and vegan options! In fact, after we placed our orders, the waiter asked us if we were vegetarian and then told us they could basically make any of their dishes with tofu instead of chicken, beef or shrimp. We ordered their eggplant dumplings, vegetable dumplings, and scallion pancakes to share and I ordered tofu and shitake mushrooms over noodles and we all shared the feast. Here is my tofu dish...

I thought this dish was good but my favorite was definitely the scallion pancakes. It was fun to go to a restaurant where we had so many options! I think we will definitely be back.

Vegetarian=Normal

I went to visit a potential school for my son today and was pleased by what I heard when I asked about their food options. At this particular school, food is provided for the children in the elementary school. They talked about the fact that the school has chosen a food provider that does not use any preservatives and they don't serve french fries (yay!) or desserts. And here was the thing I was really happy about; when I asked if there are vegetarian options for the children, the woman giving me the tour said, "Yes, of course" as if it was the obvious thing to provide veggie options for children.

I would bet that ten, even five, years ago, a vegetarian diet may not have been as mainstream as it is today. The way my tour guide answered my question made me feel like being vegetarian is no longer thought of as weird or on the fringe. I think now it is so much more common to have entire families, including children, eating vegetarian and it is becoming more frequent in certain schools. Even my son's current school is milk free which, as you can imagine, makes me very happy!

On the menu this weekend

My in-laws were visiting us this weekend and I have to say that they are good sports and are willing to try my vegan dishes every time they are here. Here are some of the home cooked vegan meals I made while they were here...

• banana waffles and vegan sausage
• potato-leek soup (from the Candle Cafe cookbook--this recipe continues to amaze me because all it consists of is vegetables and a little salt and pepper and it is so tasty!)
• vegetable lasagne with tofu ricotta 
• vegan pumpkin muffins
• chocolate-chocolate chip cookies (from Veganomicon--always delicious!)
• Purely Decadent Turtle Trails ice cream 

In addition to the homemade food, we went out to eat a couple times, including to BRGR, a burger place in Prairie Village which also happens to have a killer veggie burger and sweet potato fries. We also had lunch at one of our staples, Noodles and Company. This place is great because you can order your noodles with whatever protein you choose and one of their choices is tofu. Yay! It was a yummy weekend of eating vegan!

Powerful thought of the day...

"It is easier to perpetrate violence and harm when we see neither the faces of our victims nor the painful effects of our actions." (from Farm Sanctuary by Gene Baur in reference to the mechanized factory farms and processing plants that are hidden from our view so that all we see is the "finished product" of a neatly packaged filet or chicken breast).

Cream Cheese

So I grew up in New Jersey, eating some of the best bagels in the world and topping them with some of the most delicious cream cheese you could get. But now I'm looking for alternative bagel toppings (I'm also looking for good bagels but alas, I now live in Kansas) that are not derived from cow's milk. After trying a couple different brands, I have settled on Tofutti which really is smooth and quite tasty. Since I've eliminated cheese products from my diet, any time I get even the slightest taste of cheese in something I'm eating my taste buds are very sensitive and the cheesiness can sometimes seem tangy to me. Tofutti cream cheese does not have that tanginess and it is a great way to top off your bagel in the morning!

World Vegetarian Day

Tomorrow, October 1st, is World Vegetarian Day! Try to go the whole day without eating meat. And if you really want to go one step further, try getting rid of dairy and eggs for the day. You can do it! For more info, go to http://www.worldvegetarianday.org .

You Can Make a Difference

I know this blog is about food and health and veganism, but I have to share a link to an amazing editorial I read in the Times this morning by Nicholas Kristof. Kristof's columns are frequently about the plight of women in third world countries and the stories he shares can be compelling and disturbing but he brings attention to situations that would otherwise remain in the shadows. Please read this hopeful editorial today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/opinion/kristof-just-look-at-what-you-did.html?ref=opinion

Whether we are talking about making a difference for people in Africa, kids in the inner city, or animals on a factory farm, it is so important to show compassion by taking action. This story shows that you can make a difference by supporting a worthy cause. If you look at the big picture of global poverty, violence against women, or violence toward animals it can seem overwhelming. But just look at the difference these two young people, one Kenyan, one American, are making for the young girls in this Kenyan slum! It's amazing and I hope we can all find some way to take action that can impact individuals who need a little hope in their lives. 

Slow Food, Real Food

Mark Bittman scores again...

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/shared-meals-shared-knowledge/?ref=opinion

Sometimes when I'm buying my food (whether it's at Whole Foods or Price Chopper) I start thinking about how much it all costs and at times I have to take a deep breath at the check out counter. Buying food to prepare at home can seem expensive but in actuality it is not. I don't have exact numbers but I typically pay between $100 and $150 a week for groceries for our family of three. We usually eat at home (with the exception of my husband's lunches at work) most of the week and eat out once or twice at the most. Now, depending on where we go to eat out (say Spin Pizza or Ingredient) our meal ends up costing almost $30. If we ate out every night of the week, that would be about $210 and that is just for dinner. Plus when I cook at home we will eat the leftovers for lunch or I'll freeze them for a later date. 

The take home message: cooking at home as much as possible is healthier, cheaper, and more effiecient!

Mmmmm, burgers....

Two vegetarians walk into a burger joint...

Last night, Brian and I had dinner at Blanc Burger, a restaurant that specializes in burgers and "bottles," as they like to say because of their extensive collection of soda and beer. Blanc Burger is a relatively midwest establishment with two locations in the Kansas City metro area and one in Omaha, Nebraska.

So what exactly was there for us at this place? Brian had been their before and ordered a lentil burger, which he said was pretty good. Last night, we both had the vegan black bean burger, which I thought was one of the best veggie burgers I've had in the area. On their menu, they describe the burger as "mushroom and grilled corn, salsa verde, avocado, pico de gallo, baby spinach, boulevard unfiltered wheat bun" (if you're not from KC, Boulevard is a fantastic local brewery and this wheat bun made the bean burger that much more fabulous). This burger was terrific and I told the waitress so. I let her know that we are always looking for good veggie burgers and in my opinion, this one is near the top of my list. On the side I ordered sweet potato fries which were delivered in a mini shopping cart, definitely a cute touch.

Some vegans might want to deter other vegans from supporting burger places, but I think it's important to go to these places, order their vegan fare and then let them know how much you enjoyed it if it's good. It was great to see the word "vegan" actually placed in front of the black bean burger listing on the menu because it shows that it's not such a scary word to people anymore. If you are a KC resident or happen to be in town, drop by Blanc Burger and show your veggie love by trying out this fantastic burger!

Quote of the Day

"If one person is unkind to an animal, it is considered to be cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once sums of money are at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people."
--Ruth Harrison (from Animal Machines)

The majority of people in this world do not want to contribute to animal cruelty, but that is exactly what we do when we buy that sirloin that's on sale or the generic dozen eggs for 79 cents. People just want to eat, to live their lives, and to survive as we always have. But let's face it, if we have internet access, if we have time to spend on Facebook, if we can afford to shop at any of the grocery stores in our neighborhoods, then we are able to devote some time and effort to thinking about what we eat and where it comes from.

Just take a minute to really think about the food choices you make, the buying choices you make. Find one way, just one way, that you can choose to contribute to a more compassionate diet. Perhaps it's as simple as leaving the bacon off your egg sandwich in the morning or even participating in meat-free Mondays. Or perhaps you're ready to take it one step further and go to a vegetarian or vegan diet. Whatever you choose, I urge you to think rather than to just go with the flow. Only good will come of it.

Veganize it!

I don't know about you, but I love a little milk and sugar in my coffee. For years, I would make my daily stop at Dunkin' Donuts for a medium coffee with skim milk and sugar. As I started this whole vegan quest, I cut out drinking glasses of milk but had a little dilemma when it came to what to put in my coffee. I tried soy milk at first. It wasn't my favorite and I'll put a little in with sugar if I have nothing else (and I do like the Starbucks espresso drinks with soy), but I needed something else. Enter the "So Delicious" brand. They make dairy free products using coconut milk instead. You can't taste any coconut flavor and it is thick enough to give you the feeling of dairy milk without the moo factor. I personally love their french vanilla creamer (I don't even add sugar) but they also have plain and hazelnut. They make a ton of other products too including, drum roll, ice cream. So if you're looking for a way to veganize your coffee, try coconut milk or some other non-dairy milk to see what you think!

Junk Food is Not Cheaper

Yet another great opinion piece by Mark Bittman in the Sunday Times today...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/opinion/sunday/is-junk-food-really-cheaper.html?ref=opinion

On the menu

There's nothing like pancakes to start your Saturday off right! If you're like me, you probably grew up eating pancakes made with batter that you add eggs and milk to. But yummy pancakes don't have to have those ingredients to taste delicious! Here is how I made vegan blueberry pancakes for my family this morning...

2 cups unbleached flour
3 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups vanilla soy milk
3 tbsp. canola oil
blueberries

Simply mix the dry ingredients, then add the soy milk and canola oil. Ladle the batter onto the grill and put in as many blueberries as you want. If blueberries aren't your thing, substitute blackberries, raspberries, banana slices or, my personal favorite, vegan chocolate chips. Yum!

We had some other tasty vegan dishes today when we stopped at Eden Alley Cafe in Kansas City for lunch. I enjoyed the sweet potato burrito which was fabulous as usual. Brian had their veggie burger which he said was okay but not one of the better ones he's had. (We are continually sampling veggie burgers everywhere we go!). I had a Pumpkin Spice Latte with soy milk and no whip cream as an AM snack and later we'll be having some leftover vegan lasagna (recipe from The 30-Day Vegan Challenge).

It can be easier than you think to eat a vegan diet. Believe it or not, your favorite veggie sandwich can still taste good without cheese. You can ask for avocado or guacamole instead of cheese on a burrito. Most coffee shops have soy milk to replace the dairy and soy milk can also replace cow's milk in many recipes, especially for baked goods. Next time you cook or eat out, think about what you are having and give it a try without the animal products.

The Glass is Half Full

Hello again! So sorry for the absence, but now this blog is back in business.

Last night, I went to see Gene Baur speak at a local college. If you are not familiar with him, Mr. Baur is the founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, an organization that rescues injured and abused animals from factory farms and allows them to live a peaceful, natural life in the rolling hills of Watkins Glen, New York. The group also does a ton of policy and legal work for the rights of animals.

Listening to Mr. Baur speak confirmed so much of what I've learned over the past two years about compassionate eating and the power we have every time we pick up our forks and dig in to eat. We have to power to choose foods that will not only make us healthier but will also save the lives of millions of living beings that currently live in squalid, heinous conditions. Gene Baur has devoted much of his adult life to documenting factory farm conditions and trying to change policy. He shared photos and experiences he has had, much of it painful to look at and overwhelming to comprehend. As my eyes were tearing up, I listened to this man speak with such equanimity and I thought, how does he find the strength to continue fighting for this cause he believes in when the odds for change are so overwhelming? 


So, I asked him just that question. "How do you not become completely overwhelmed when you can only make small changes while the problem is so huge and systemic?" And of course his answer made complete sense to me, as I often try to see the glass half full rather than empty. Mr. Baur, the optimist, said, "You have to focus on the positive changes." He went on to tell us that he knows he is making a difference when he looks into the eyes of an animal at Farm Sanctuary that he saved from a certain and unnecessary death and sees that creature living a peaceful and natural life. He said that when things seem so overwhelming, you have to focus on the victories and the progress that you have made. This is so valid, both in his struggle as well as all of our own.

I am so incredibly happy that I went to hear Gene Baur's lecture last night and I highly recommend that you check out the Farm Sanctuary website (listed in my blog list) to read more about the group's work. I want to take the lessons from last night and apply them to this blog. Sure I may include an uncomfortable fact or article from time to time on here, but I want to focus on all the positive things that come with being vegan. After last night, my commitment toward living a vegan lifestyle has been renewed and positively strengthened and I am going to sit down and start reading Baur's book right now!

Beautiful sight of the morning

While I was running this morning, I witnessed a beautiful sight. The sky above my head was clear and the stars were still out. The air felt a smidgen "cooler" although I use that term loosely. And off to the west, there were big, poofy clouds with heat lightning flickering continuously. It was like a light show while I was running. Fabulous! Have a healthy and happy weekend!

(Note: this picture above was not taken by me, but you get the idea...)

Self-regulation

I remember my husband coming home from a food industry conference a few years back and telling me that Pepsi is now healthy! His sarcasm was obvious, of course, because he knows this comment would now push every health-related button in me. But his point was that Pepsi was launching a product that would be "vitamin-infused" or something like that. Most companies that put out the processed crap in our grocery stores try such marketing techniques to reassure us (and when I say "us" I am especially referring to mothers who want to make sure we are feeding our children proper nutrition) that we are doing right by our kids. That is why Apple Jacks can be considered part of a balanced diet and french fries are listed as a vegetable in the school lunch guidelines.

Bottom line, people: think about what you are eating. If you choose to eat Cookie Crisp cereal because you want to junk out on something sweet go for it. Just don't fool yourself into thinking that it really has whole grains in it that are going to keep you healthy. Read Mark Bittman's latest in the Times this morning about food industry self-regulation...

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/when-big-food-makes-its-own-rules/?ref=opinion

Your Garden

A Facebook friend of mine put up a post today that really made me think. He started by saying "Every thought, intention, and action is a seed." He then went on to say that it is our job, our responsibility to plant each seed and tend to our garden. Sometimes we plant good seeds, sometimes half seeds, sometimes bad. Whatever we plant will grow.

This post just really inspired me today because I have been struggling with staying positive the past week and a half. I've been lacking motivation and I've been allowing certain things weigh on me. I'd happily blame it on the continuous triple digit heat or the fiasco in Washington but I know this is not true. I've planted a couple not-so-great seeds and tended them with not-so-great water too. And I've done this with full awareness.

But I've also learned some great lessons by doing this. When negativity creeps up on me, I feel like I've developed some great tools to help me work through it and I've put those tools to good use this week to pick myself up. For example, I've been starting each day with the positive passages in my Daily Word, which is a spiritual magazine. I try to read at least one or two entries from the "Crazy Sexy Life" blog each day. I've surrounded myself with positive friends and made plans with them to give myself something to look forward to. I've reminded myself that I don't have to eat 100% healthy, 100% of the time. These are the good seeds. These are the seeds I will tend to with all my energy.

There is no time to wallow. Pick out the weeds and work on your beautiful garden.

A Taste of Vegan Chicago

I went to Chicago this weekend to visit some dear friends of mine from high school and just had to try some of the Windy City's vegan cuisine. As you can see from the picture above, I was even able to get in my green drink! (Don't worry, I also sampled some of the best hot fudge and non-vegan cupcakes I've ever had too). We visited Karyn's Raw Cafe in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Now, it's not all raw so in addition to my green drink (called the Peaceful Warrior) I also had the Wild Rice Mix which included rice, barley, avocado, spinach, tomatoes and other yummy veggies. It was fabulous. Here's what it looked like:

My friend had a portabella dish, seen here:

Overall the food was quite good and I felt especially healthy after the Peaceful Warrior. Attached to the cafe was a little vegan shop with everything from vegan desserts to trail mixes to books about healthy eating. There are also several other Karyn's restaurants in Chicago so check them out if you happen to be in the midwest! Here is the website: http://www.karynraw.com/

Yesterday, we went to brunch at a place called Orange, which was also in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. It's not a vegan place (and I didn't eat vegan there) but they had a very interesting and yummy dish I wanted to share. It's called Frushi and it is essentially coconut rice with fruit instead of raw fish (thank you very much). It was a delicious treat and a nice addition to the rest of my meal. Here is the website for Orange:  http://orangerestaurantchicago.com/Main.html

Rabbits and Crickets and Owls, Oh My!

There is nothing better than getting up just before the sun and going for a nice, sweaty, early morning summer run. Okay, well maybe there are a few things that are better like sipping rum punch on a Caribbean beach or box seats behind home plate at the Stadium, but for crazy old me, not much beats running with the bunnies. I'm going out of town this weekend and, given that my half marathon training plan has started, I needed to get in a six mile run that I would normally do on a Saturday. I got up at 5 and took off on a steady pace through my neighborhood. The first thing I heard was a Great Horned Owl hooting in a tree across the street. Of course the crickets were chirping away as well. And what run would be complete without the 22 rabbits that I saw in the hour that I ran? Now, running in the morning may not be your idea of a good time, but as I was out bonding with nature this morning, one thought was going through my mind.

I love this. 


Even if you don't want to run in the morning, go out for a walk just as the sun is coming up or stand on your front porch or just open the window and listen to the sounds of the morning. It can be beautiful so matter where you live. We currently live in a very typical suburban area but I remember clearly my early morning runs when I lived in Hoboken, NJ. I would get up early and get my run in before work and it was just as beautiful, if not more so, as it is here. Part of my run took my along the piers by the Hudson River and there, right before me was the most beautiful skyline in the world. It was amazing! I guess my point is this: take some time to get up early, enjoy the silence before your crazy day starts, and breathe. You might be surprised how well your day will go after that.

Knowing where your food comes from

It's easy to turn a blind eye to where our food comes from. As long as it's in the neat, clean aisles of the grocery store, it must be fine, right? As we speak, however, immense cruelty and suffering is being dealt out to the animals that will become America's sirloin, prime rib, and bacon. But two things are happening in regards to this cruelty: 1) We don't want to hear about it because, let's face it, we'd be morally obligated to give up our bacon double cheeseburger (what a shame that would be!) and 2) We're not being allowed to hear about it or see it because factory farms won't let people in to see how their operations run. Is there not a serious problem when we are not given access to see where our food comes from??? 


Read this article from Mark Bittman and, if you choose, look for his articles in the NY Times. He brings up excellent points and makes a case for being more conscious of our food choices. Hopefully one day his message and others like it will be loud enough for everyone to hear...

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/banned-from-the-barn/?ref=opinion

Green goodness

This past week has been really good for me in terms of eating. We've been juicing every day, eating lots of big salads, I haven't had coffee since Sunday and I haven't been snacking on anything sugary. Plus I've eaten 100% vegan this week (save for the one hard boiled egg I had the other morning). And here's the thing: I feel fantastic! Even with a jam packed week and a child who asks "why" questions every one of his waking moments, I feel like I have a ton of energy. So in the midst of this I ask myself, "Why don't I eat like this all the time?" For some reason, it's been really easy for me this week to make good choices in the food department. So why isn't it always like that? For instance, I know how I feel when I have a sugary coffee from Starbucks (crappy and jittery!) so why do I sometimes go and get those drinks? I also know that the graham crackers in my cabinet (the blue box, Eric!) have partially hydrogenated something or other in them, so why do I sometimes choose to snack on them until a whole sleeve is gone? I guess there are often factors in our lives that make us turn toward the comfort of sugar, caffeine, alcohol, whatever! But the thing that has helped me this week is 1) knowing how good I feel right now, powered by plants, 2) setting an example for my son, and 3) really looking at myself as a valuable person who needs to put things into my body that are going to keep it healthy, happy, and strong. This third part has been the most important. There were definitely times during the week when that blue box of graham crackers were calling out to me. But instead, I chose to turn to the container of raspberries in the fridge. When you put good stuff (the real good stuff, not the stuff that simply fulfills a sugar craving) into your body, you ultimately become what you are eating and you feel good about yourself for making good choices!

Should you eat organic?

A friend of mine, who is aware of my veggie obsession, recently asked if we buy all organic produce. My simple answer to this is no. While I do buy organic some of the time, there is an equal amount of time when I don't. To be honest, there really is no rhyme or reason for when I buy organic. Partly, it depends on which store I happen to be shopping at. If I'm at Whole Foods, I have a greater tendency to buy organic simply because their organic selection is excellent. If I'm at Costco, I just buy the vat of strawberries that look the best. At the farmers market, I also just buy what looks best. I know there is information out there about which fruits and veggies hold the most pesticide residue on them and we should definitely take this into consideration. Here is the "Dirty Dozen" list from Crazy Sexy Diet that lists the foods grown with the most pesticides:

1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

I think it is important to consider these foods and buy organic when possible. But here is the reality: 1) Organic food is expensive and 2) When I am running errands with my 2 year-old son and he's starting to get fussy, I'm not going to get fussy about organic versus conventional strawberries. I'm going to get my darn berries and get out of the store! This is my bottom line: I believe it is better to eat any fruit or vegetable (organic or otherwise) than not. At least you will be eating a strawberry and not a strawberry Pop Tart!

The Choice is Yours

So I went to see Forks Over Knives... again... with my hubby... on our date night! That's right, we saw something educational on our date night. No I did not drag him kicking and screaming. He went willingly. Anyway, after seeing the movie again and mentioning it to a couple friends, I started thinking about the way we eat on a deeper level. Some of the responses I got when telling people what the movie was about included the following:

"I don't want to see something that's going to make me want to change the way I eat."

and...

"It doesn't show animals getting hurt, does it?"

These two comments struck me as very interesting. The first response shows how ingrained our eating habits are in our own being. And believe me, I get this! Even after all the reading and self-education I've done, I still find myself falling back into those habits I've developed over years and years of eating. Let's be honest, it is NOT easy to change the way we eat. When you ask someone to see a movie or read a book about switching to a plant-based diet, it can force them to rethink everything they've ever known or loved about food and that can be a difficult thing to do. To me, however, I can think of no more important thing to do than improve our health through strong nutrition! This is why it is important to make small changes, a little at a time. It is not practical for most people to switch from omnivore to vegan overnight. That's fine! If you eat steak five nights a week, cut it down to 3 nights. If you are eating one serving of veggies a day, add a second, then a third (then a tenth! c'mon people, eat your veggies!). This is what we've done with going from vegetarian to vegan. First I cut out skim milk (which I used to drink like a fiend!), then I replaced cheddar cheese with daiya cheese, then started ordering sandwiches and wraps without cheese when we went out. Heck, I'm still working on giving up the eggs completely!

The second response I received asked about animals being hurt in the movie. I get it. Who wants to pay $12 to see a movie that shows the way a slaughterhouse works? (BTW, Forks Over Knives does not do this). I used to feel this way too but the more I read and studied, the more I realized how important it is to know the truth behind the bacon. Bottom line: animals have to die for us to eat them. There is nothing pretty about that fact. We shouldn't feel guilty though if we still eat animals in some form! Guilt gets us nowhere. What is important is that we think about how we eat and make the connection between what is on our plate and what is grazing in the pasture when we pass that farm down the road.

Ultimately, how we eat is our choice. With everything else going on in our lives, food choices may seem secondary. But remember that when your health is strong, everything else in your life will follow suit. Do the best you can, don't be too hard on yourself, and make one choice today about your food that is healthier than it was the day before!

A Real Review

And now for a review of Forks Over Knives from a true film critic, Roger Ebert...

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110511/REVIEWS/110519995

His review does the movie a little more justice than mine. Check it out!

Forks Over Knives

"The answer is so simple, it's criminal."  --Rip Esselstyn

If you could live a vibrant, healthy life with unlimited energy would you do it? If you could stop or even reverse heart disease and diabetes for yourself or a loved one would you do it? If you could dramatically decrease the chance of developing one of the many horrible forms of cancer so prevalent in our country would you take the steps to do it? And how?

The answer to "how" is waiting for you, right there, in your face, in the movie Forks Over Knives. I saw this film last night and although it simply reiterates what I believe about diet and health, I was amazed once again about how important a whole foods, plant-based diet is for living a health-filled life.

The movie mainly follows the work of Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, a former cardiac surgeon and current clinician and researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. T. Colin Campbell, nutritional researcher at Cornell and author of The China Study (read it!). There are also many other doctors and researchers interviewed, studies cited, and nutritional facts presented, but perhaps the most compelling evidence of the power of a plant-based diet comes from the individual patients featured in the film. These are individuals who were suffering from heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, soaring triglyceride counts, and type-2 diabetes. Bottom line? They reversed their conditions and were able to come off their medications because they changed what they ate. This is the "it's-so-simple-it's-criminal" part! We look for answers in the endless drugs we take as a nation when what we really should be doing is looking in our grocery stores and refrigerators.

We are so brainwashed as a nation to believe that we need protein, protein, protein from animal sources and calcium found in dairy products for good health but when you look at the research that is out there now (out there, but not yet in the advertising that most Americans see) we are consuming these nutrients in excessive amounts and they are making us sicker than ever. When you suggest to people that they change the way they eat, they may say, "Oh, a plant-based diet, a vegan diet... that seems so extreme." You know what else is extreme? Open-heart surgery. But over 500,000 Americans receive bypass surgery every year and each one costs about $100,000. Last time I went to the grocery store to buy whole foods and plant-based products for my family of three for a week, I spent about $150. I don't know about you, but I prefer option B.

Please go see Forks Over Knives. As many of you know, I could go on and on about this nutrition stuff but the movie makes a more powerful argument than I ever could. Visit the website, watch the trailer, and look for showtimes near you!

www.forksoverknives.com

Today's Lesson

What I learned on my morning run...

1. When faced with a steep hill and a head wind, keep putting one foot in front of the other.

2. The sweat is worth it.

3. A down hill finish can make you feel like a superstar.

90%

Lest anyone out there believe that I am eating a totally vegan diet 100% of the time, I've got news for you. I'm not. Just like everyone, I'm doing the best I can right now and I'd have to say that my best right now is about 90% vegan and I'm totally good with that! What can I say? Easter reminded me how much I enjoy a hard boiled egg.

With anything in life, it's important to do the best you can rather than strive for perfection. Perfection is boring. This is something I've dealt with my whole life. I've always wanted to do things the right way and have things just so. While there is nothing wrong with working hard to achieve the best results, it is also critical to go easy on yourself and not beat yourself up over silly things. Give it your best effort and move on.

In our media-infested world (Can I copyright that term? I really like it and plan to use it more!), we see images of people we may admire, people we may think are doing things "perfectly." Let's be honest. There is no such thing as a person doing things perfectly no matter how rich, beautiful, or healthy they may look on a magazine cover. (C'mon, certainly we are all familiar with airbrushing by now!). Even in health magazines where celebrities or models from the fitness industry talk about how clean their diets are, you know they're indulging every now and then, having some chocolate or a few glasses of wine. I don't think we could survive without such indulgences (especially when you have kids).

I guess my point today is to say, just do your best in everything you do and be satisfied when you've given a good effort. To me, right now, eating a 90% vegan diet is as good as I'm ready to do regardless of what I've written in the past. I am happy with that and I know that I have taken major steps over the past two years to reduce the suffering in the world and I've made myself a healthier person in the process!

Resurrect Yourself

Today is Easter, the day on which Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead to live in eternal life. Throughout the years, other traditions have been attached to Easter including the celebration of new life (really just a metaphor for the story of Jesus), the changing of the seasons from the dead of winter to the blooming and growth of spring, and, of course, every kid's favorite--the Easter bunny hiding eggs and bringing chocolate!

Regardless of what you believe about Easter, every person on the planet can really see themselves as a metaphor for the story of Jesus. We all experience difficulties, challenges, our own crucifixions, if you will. We may be going through such events in our lives right now. The wonderful part of this metaphor is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Challenging circumstances have so much to teach us once we are able to reflect on what we are going through. And then when that light comes, it can truly feel like new life!

The important thing to remember is that all growth comes from challenge, whether you are talking about improving your physical fitness or getting through a serious illness. Today I heard a story of a snake shedding its own skin several times a year in order to be "reborn," to change and to improve. While a snake is not my favorite creature, the analogy made sense to me. We continually have to shed our skins, overcome our challenges, to resurrect ourselves to a new life, a happy life, a healthy life. I have a hard time realizing the most important part of this growth sometimes--that is, growth is an ongoing process that goes on in different forms for your entire life. You don't shed one skin and call it a day. You face challenges to help you evolve into a more complete person. They may seem brutal when you are going through them, but you will be stronger, wiser, and more confident for having faced them and come through on the other side.

Running Lessons

I love to run... No, really, I love to run! I remember running my first 1 mile fun run in Havelock, North Carolina when I was 6 or 7 and I had a little medal to commemorate it. My love of running didn't really pick up though until after college when I finally decided to run further than three miles. I would find new routes, increase the mileage, and before I knew it I was running my first marathon.

But to me, running is more than just training for races and trying to break personal records. It is truly a metaphor for life. One morning, about a month ago, I was out for an early morning run by myself--no kid, no dog--and I was thinking about all of the lessons I have learned over my running years and the parallels between the journey around the block and the journey through life. So here's what I came up with...


1. It's cheaper (and better) than therapy! A good run on your own gives you time to deal with your demons. It allows you to work things out in your head without anyone interjecting their opinions and it gives you time to clear your mind.


2. Meditation. Along with therapy, running can serve as a form of meditation or prayer. I've used my time on the roads to clear my head of distractions and just be in the present moment. I've also used runs to pray for others who need it (sometimes myself!) or repeat an affirmation over and over. 


3. You might face a strong headwind, but you will turn a corner and eventually the wind will be at your back. Everyone has had struggles or has been through dark periods in their lives where it feels like the wind is just stopping you in your tracks. These times pass, though, and you will get stronger, one day getting to the place you want to be. 


4. Listen to your body. Like all runners, I can be stubborn and try to push through nagging injuries only to find that I am making them worse. Injuries will teach you patience and the more patient you are, the quicker you will heal. Running forces you to listen to what your body is telling you (push harder, slow down, stop!) and this is something we should do always.

5. Exploration. Whenever I travel to a new city, I try to find out where I can run to check out the scenery. This has helped me explore places like San Diego, Chicago's waterfront, Dublin, and many more. My favorite travel run ever was in St. Andrew's, Scotland where I got to run on the beach where they filmed "Chariots of Fire" and you better believe I had the theme song going through my mind as I ran there. Maybe I even sang it out loud!

6. Slow down and smell the roses. When you drive around in a car, it is easy to go quickly through towns and neighborhoods without noticing the details. When you are running, you get a chance to really take in everything around you. This morning when I ran, I saw a tremendous variety of birds that I would not have seen in a car.

7. Discipline. When you train for a race, or just run on a regular basis, you learn that things do not come easily. You have to work hard for something that's worth it. As a result of that training, you get great results, feel healthier, and push yourself beyond your previously established limits.

8. Freedom! I feel completely free when I run--free to think about what I want, free to look at what I want, free to feel however I want to feel. Sometimes I will run at sunrise and the sky here will be so beautiful and expansive and I feel like I'm on top of the world. It's amazing!

I know running is not for everyone and for those of you who don't like it, or can't do it because of injuries, there is definitely something else that can give you all of the above benefits. Look for what it is because you will come out a stronger, happier person when you find it!

Wendy Campbell

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by an amazing speaker who has made informing people about nutrition her life's mission (thank you Bree!). It is difficult to describe in words the energy and enthusiasm Wendy Campbell (a member of the Juice Plus--the whole food supplement we all take here--company) brought to the room when she started talking about how we need to change the way we eat to lead long, healthy lives. I will try to convey some of her message here...

First of all, Wendy's passion for nutrition was infectious! She brought the energy about this topic that I feel inside and only wish I could transfer to you. After many of her statements about changing the way we think about food, I wanted to shout "AMEN!" She presented so much information and research basically backing up the fact that we need to eat more fruits and veggies and whole grains if we want to change the way we feel. I can't possibly relate all the information she presented but the message was: Change the way you eat to change your life!

Two of the many things she focused on stuck with me after the talk. One was what I call "no shame/no blame." Early on, she spoke a lot about the epidemic of obesity in our country but she was quick to point out that people should not feel shame about their current state of health. This is SO important! If you are ashamed of where your body is right now, you cannot make positive changes. The "no blame" part had to do with not pointing fingers at people. For example, we shouldn't continuously lash out against McDonald's or Monsanto or Agribusiness. We also can't judge the people who are sitting in the drive-thru line at Wendy's because it is the only thing they can afford or have time for. These ideas were so empowering to me. When we get past shame/blame, we can feel empowered to make the best choices for us with the information we have.

The other thing that stuck with me was when Wendy Campbell spoke about making these better choices for our children. I feel like this topic of nutrition has become more important to me since Christopher was born. I know he's not always going to eat wholesome food or make the best nutritional choices all the time. However, if I can arm him with a good base of fruits, veggies, and whole grains now and model good nutrition at an early age, he will most likely come back to that way of eating throughout his life. Wendy focused on the fact that there are so many diseases in children now that did not exist (or were only present in adults) until recently. This is a sad, sad fact and one that we must be proactive about! She feels (as I have for a while) that these diseases are due in large part to the sugary, processed, "nutrient-less" food available to children today.

I am so happy that I attended this event and it really reinvigorated my passion for sharing the information I've learned about nutrition with you. Happy weekend and eat your veggies!!!

Bob and Jillian

Would you like some workouts that will kick your behind and get it into some serious shape? Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels (the two trainers from The Biggest Loser) will do just that.

If you know me well, you know that one of the only things I watch on TV is The Biggest Loser (or any other show where severely overweight people lose weight and change their lives--there are many shows like this and I'll find them if they're on!). I know the show is essentially the same every season but I absolutely love watching people who have led unhealthy lives learn how to change, gain confidence and enthusiasm for life, and help others along the way. The two trainers that help them do this are Bob and Jillian.

Now, of course, they each have their own DVD lines of workouts and, yes, it is another way to get you to spend money. But for me, I honestly can say these two trainers have helped get me in really good shape and have helped me feel stronger than ever. I've been "working out" with Jillian for well over a year and a half and started the Bob "Inside Out Method" DVDs earlier this year. Jillian's workouts are definitely challenging and will kick your butt, but right now Bob is making me work pretty darn hard! We have three of his DVDs (strength, cardio, and yoga) and after an hour of each of these (on different days, of course!) my body is spent... in a good way. I always finish these workouts feeling amazing and also exhausted and also strong. Bob's workouts are so tough that on the strength and cardio DVDs, the people doing them can hardly keep up. I mean, seriously! But they are super fun and super effective. I highly recommend these workouts if you're looking for a way to really turn it up a notch!

The Great Outdoors

We have had a few absolutely gorgeous days here in eastern Kansas and Christopher and I (and Kasey, our dog) have been spending time outside enjoying the weather. I think a big part of being healthy is spending time each day outdoors. I know it's not always easy, and it can be downright impossible when it's 0 degrees, snowing and windy. But whenever you can, get out to a place where you can see the trees and feel the fresh air.

You don't even have to live in the middle of nowhere to reap nature's benefits. Cities are filled with parks and green space; even small spots work! It's incredible the difference you notice in yourself when you spend time in nature. Here are some observations of my own feelings and what I see in Christopher when we spend a few minutes or a few hours outside...

• We are both much more relaxed.
• Any forms of stress that existed melt away and this effect seems to last for a long time after being outside.
• Our bodies get exercise! For a little, energetic boy this is critical! We go to a trail and he just RUNS. 
• We slow down more (after the running of course) and take in more details than we do when distracted by normal life... the moss on the ground, the woodpeckers in the tree, as many rocks as a certain someone can fit in his pocket, the snake in the garden... Our powers of observation are sharpened. 
• We have a ton to talk about. I can't tell you how many conversations are sparked by our hikes or refer back to one of our visits to the trail.
• We feel more connected to the rhythms and cycles of nature and the seasons. 

All of these effects are so important to a healthy life. You can eat all the fruits and veggies you want, but if you are stressed out because you are running from here to there, holding grudges against others, constantly checking the news updates, you will not get the chance to breathe, relax, and let go, even if it is for a few short minutes. It is so important! 

Pets and Farm Animals

An excellent op-ed in the Times this morning from Mark Bittman about the fine line between how we treat pets and how we treat farm animals. A must read...

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/some-animals-are-more-equal-than-others/?ref=opinion

The aftermath

So I took part in an inadvertent experiment today.

Actually, it took place last night and into today. We finished the cleanse on Saturday. I ate very well on Sunday, even though we didn't make any green juices that day. Sunday evening, we went out and had Indian food (which was fabulous... and vegan) as well as a glass of wine. The wine threw me for a loop but didn't bother me too much.

Today, my mom and I brought Christopher to a coffee house/indoor gym and I grabbed a foo-foo butterfinger espresso drink with soy milk. As soon as I had that, I knew it was a mistake. While it tasted good, it was so sweet and rich and wreaked havoc on my stomach. Later in the afternoon, I made my chocolate-chocolate chip vegan cookies for a couple events we have coming up this weekend and of course I had to sample one or two as well as the batter. The whole rest of the day up until this very moment, I have felt weak, shaky, and just generally crappy.

And so I come back to the fact that none of this surprises me. I think my body reacted more extremely to the caffeine and sugar because of how alkaline we had been eating for the past three weeks. But it affected me just the same and it amazes me again how the food choices we make influence the way we feel mentally and physically. When you are just eating the way you always have without paying attention, you might not notice, as I would not have in the past. But my body is more sensitive especially now, and I am going to listen to it and give it what it needs! Green juice anybody?

Greens!!!

So just to give you an idea of what goes into our green juices, here are the ingredients...

Here is Christopher helping with the kale...

And the milk mustache has been replaced by the green mustache!

A few thoughts

Well, here we are, approaching the very end of this 21 day adventure cleanse. Okay, so we still have a day to go but it's my blog and I get to reflect when I want to!

First I have to say that I am very proud of Brian and I for having committed to this cleanse and working hard to see it through. Although there were times that were not fun (cleaning the juicer again; having a big salad again; smelling that espresso and not drinking it again), it was so helpful to have the support of my fabulous husband throughout all this, knowing that we are doing this for the improvement of our health and well-being. We are so ready for it to be done tomorrow but we both feel pretty darn good physically and we are grateful for that.

Personally, there were lessons learned during this cleanse that I will keep with me from now on. 1) I am very aware of how good I feel right now and although I am certainly not eliminating caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and gluten forever, I will be more aware of how much I am consuming and how my body feels when I do have them... 2) Juicing will continue to be a part of my life, although not on a daily basis. I feel so good consuming the nutritious yumminess from fruits and veggies and want to keep that going for a lifetime! 3) I've learned some new ways to get creative with food (i.e.--how many different combinations of "grain-bean-veggie" can you come up with in a week?) 4) I've learned to satisfy a sweet tooth with stevia sweetened tea (does not affect blood sugar!) and fresh fruit such as pineapple and kiwi... 5) I've reinforced the fact that I can make a commitment to something, work hard on it, follow through, and complete it with success!

One thing I don't want to do is fall right back into the crappy foods I might have consumed before. Brian and I have said the following quite a bit recently: "I can't wait til we're done with this cleanse so we can eat _________ (Indian food, pizza, wine, etc.). I will definitely be including these things in my diet in the future, but I don't want to dive right in and go crazy just because we haven't had these things in 3 weeks. I want to include healthy versions of these foods and not run to them in either times of celebration or in times of stress, which I have done in the past.

This has been such a journey and I am so happy to have found Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Diet. She addresses her readers as "Wellness Warriors" and I love that description! To me a wellness warrior seeks to live a healthy, happy life-- not a perfect one, because perfect is boring, but a vibrant and active one!

Day 17

By now, it feels as if we've been eating the "cleanse way" for our entire lives. I guess that's the idea though--to create new, healthy habits that will stick with us forever. While I admit that I have been living with many of these habits for a while now, doing this cleanse has made me really pay attention to everything I put in my mouth.

If I had to do this forever (pay attention to everything I put in my mouth!), I just might lose my mind, that's for sure. I am so looking forward to having a glass of wine or even a slice of regular whole wheat toast (gasp!). But I'm thinking about how great I feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually right now and I don't want to lose that feeling! I'm ready for this to be done but I'm so thankful for having done it.

Day 14

I can't believe we have been doing this cleanse for 14 days already!

I just want to share one of the biggest challenges for me on this cleanse so far--gluten! I seriously thought the alcohol (I love a glass of wine now and then) and sugar would be the toughest things to give up, but man do I love my bread. So far it's the only thing I've given into, but only moderately. For example, last week I made black bean burgers for dinner and one of the ingredients is bread crumbs. Okay, no biggie. Last night, my mom came into town and we went out to dinner at Ingredient (love it!). It was a Friday night and honestly, I was not about to have yet another salad. So instead of stressing about it, I ordered the West Coast Veggie Burger which is so delish! I had half the roll instead of both halves and I'm really glad I had it.

Today we went downtown for something and then to eat at the Plaza. We went to Eden Alley and it was interesting looking over their menu now that we are eating gluten free these few weeks. Usually I get the sweet potato burrito there (yum!) but this time I ordered a tofu/falafel brunch dish with cashew cheese and brown rice which turned out to be great, as all of their food is. But they usually bring bread to the table before the meal with vegan butter and that was really hard to pass on. That bread is amazing! So I just had Christopher and my mom eat it for me. Anyway, of all the things I am looking forward to having again, a little bit of gluten is it. But I am grateful for doing this cleanse because I will probably cut down a bit on the gluten I eat. It's all about awareness!

My Green Juice Helper

My son loves when we make our green juices! When we're not actually making a real juice, he's pretending to make one and "add the 'gredients" with whatever he can find. Here he is helping me this morning...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT_NH0bwSvQ

And here he is enjoying his juice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoqNVYv1WvA

Cranky!

When we were preparing for this 21 day cleanse, we read about some of the different withdrawal symptoms we might encounter as we detoxified our bodies. Well, two of them have occurred today: crankiness and headaches. It amazes me that I would still get a headache 11 days into this cleanse. It also scares me a bit to think of the things my body is trying to get rid of in this process that would cause me to get a headache. I'm cranky about meticulously planning every single thing I put in my body. I'm drooling over Christopher's peanut butter and jelly with all its gluten and jelly sugar goodness. I'm cranky about cleaning the stinkin' juicer and all it's parts every single day. And for crying out loud, if I have to slice another fruit or vegetable, the results will not be pretty!

But........

This moodiness is just temporary and I feel utterly fabulous otherwise! I've lost a little weight and body fat. My workouts feel stronger. I feel clean and healthy inside and out. My skin has improved. I feel really good mentally and spiritually about strictly following a vegan diet. We are making changes for the better and that is what we have to focus on as we do this. Nothing improves when you stay in your comfort zone!

The Veganist

 "Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use.  Eating consciously is an exercise in kindness and the more I work at it, the more empowered I feel. When I eat food that's grown in the ground or in trees, my mind is clear, my body thrives and I'm more deeply connected with the world."

-Kathy Freston  author of "Veganist"

I just really loved this quote and wanted to share it with you today. Kathy Freston's book is definitely on my "to read" list!

Day 9

Well, we're midway through Day 9 of the cleanse and things are going pretty well. Now I must admit, I drove by Spin Pizza today and I drooled a little bit, no doubt about that. There have definitely been moments when I have said, "Why the heck am I doing this? It's been a week, that's enough right?" Perhaps, but I'm determined to stick to this. It is a commitment I've made and I'm going to do it.

It's funny because those momentary cravings are just that... momentary. They don't last long. I'm not dwelling on a soy latte or anything for more than 2 minutes. And I'm finding that there are an equal amount (if not more) of moments where I feel utterly joyful about how I'm eating. It may sound funny to you if you're not vegan, but it truly makes me happy when I am eating a plant-based diet. I've read so much about the treatment of animals (both for meat and dairy) that when I can exclude myself from participating in their misery, it makes me so happy.

This cleanse is not just vegan, it's uber-healthy. So while tortilla chips are vegan, they are not included in the cleanse (insert sad face here). Well, okay I say that but Brian and I went to a vegan restaurant downtown called Fud (www.eatfud.com- check it out KC folks! It was super yummy, but the food takes a long time. I'd recommend it if you want to have a slow leisurely dinner with your spouse or a friend you can gab with for hours) and we had vegan nachos and vegan tacos. In my opinion they were so, so delish! And then, in sticking with the cleanse, I washed it down with fresh-juiced carrot juice. While the cleanse is gluten free, I don't think I could live gluten free unless I absolutely had to. So when the cleanse is done, bring on the bread!

All in all, the cleanse is bringing on positive changes and habits that I want to continue for a lifetime!

Positive Message of the Day

I drink Yoga Tea in the morning when I get up and each packet has an inspirational message on it. I really liked today's message and wanted to share it with you...

Uplift others and uplift yourself.

I really loved this message this morning and am trying to put it into practice today. Give it a try yourself! I think we could all use it. :)

Don't Get Sucked In!

Manwich marketers... I have a bone to pick with you.

I want to know who you think you're fooling by advertising your product on television (I should stop right there but everyone has a right to sell stuff) and claiming that it has a full serving of vegetables in every can. First of all, a can full of "meat" that can sit on a shelf for umpteen years and not go bad gives me pause. Second of all, are you really implying that this product is healthy because it has "vegetables" in it? Ladies and gentlemen, this is why we have to be conscientious consumers. Manwich (ConAgra) doesn't come straight out and say their product is healthy, but they certainly imply it. A busy mom who is trying to get her picky kids to eat their veggies might actually think this is a quality product and that is scary! I probably sound like a broken record but let's stick to eating as many whole foods as possible. If it's in the produce section, get it and eat it in large quantities! If it needs loud and flashy packaging, put it back.

Another interesting blog post I read in the Times recently had to do with McDonald's and their selling of oatmeal. Read it and be amazed at how the fast food giant can ruin a perfectly healthy, beneficial grain. Spoiler alert! Their oatmeal is not healthy. And Starbucks, you're not innocent either... Here's the link to that post:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/how-to-make-oatmeal-wrong/?scp=1&sq=McDonald's%20Oatmeal&st=Search

Day 6

Towards the end of Crazy Sexy Diet, there is a section of day by day encouragement and tips if you choose to do the 21 day cleanse. The affirmation for today, day 6, is "Each step is a victory. Each fall is a lesson. Either way, I am improving now." I think this is great advice for every day. Some days are sunny, some are cloudy, and some are flat out hurricanes. Unfortunately, not every day is going to be sunny so it's important to accept the stormy days as they are, learn from them, and move on.

In our neck of the woods today, it happens to be snowy... literally. But I have to say that after a hurricane week with Christopher, I feel pretty sunny today and incredibly healthy. Today was the first day I started with a green shake instead of breakfast and it was better than I thought, to be honest. It's amazing how your taste buds change when you're not eating sugary junk. Now I must admit, I baked three small loaves of vegan banana bread (Veganomicon!) last night to use up ripe bananas (they are for Christopher, btw) and it was a bit of torture smelling them and not being able to eat them, but the torture was only temporary.

I forgot to mention some of the supplements I'm taking during this cleanse (and actually, I take most of these on a regular basis)... Multivitamin for my B12, D, etc.; Probiotics for my acidophillis, Aloe vera (liquid form) for detox, and Juice Plus Vinyard, Orchard, and Garden blends.

Have a healthy weekend!

Working Through It

We're on day 3 of the cleanse. As usual, our timing is impeccable--Chris has been sick since right before we started on this health journey and on top of it, he hasn't napped in 5 days. I'm looking at it as an extreme challenge for me because as I said before, Starbucks is usually my first stop when I get stressed out. I can't deny that I have wanted to dive into the sugary goodness of a cinnamon dulce latte but I'm looking for other ways to get through the no-nap-cranky-fussy-"no mommy"-two-year-old afternoons.

Overall, I feel excellent after just 3 days of this cleanse. The green juices make me feel so clean and healthy as do all the other foods we've been eating. Brian and I have each lost a couple initial pounds too. For breakfast this morning, I had some of our leftover millet from the other night mixed with raw spinach, onions, and cherry tomatoes--not your typical breakfast food but it was actually delicious and I followed it up with 2 cups of mixed fresh berries.

To be honest, it does take a lot of effort to eat like this, despite what anyone says. (Especially the juicing part--there are a lot of components to clean up!). But I feel like the effort is worth it. It gets us away from the fast food, pick-up-dinner-on-the-go mentality. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure we'll be doing that every now and then, but we'll be better off if we prepare our own meals and eat as a family at home!

A Day in the Life of the Cleanse

Day One!
We've officially begun our 21 day cleanse. I was thinking this morning as my child was hacking and the drainage was flowing from his nose that this would be the ultimate test for me. Whenever Chris is sick (or hasn't napped for, say, two straight days), I tend to get a little stressed and reach for the coffee/chocolate/sugar/crap. I know it's just for comfort but I'm trying new comforting methods that don't have to do with sugary, caffeinated foods. Any-hoo, if we can stay focused on taking care of ourselves while taking care of our son while he's sick it will be good for everyone involved!

So here is our sample menu for the day. Most days, at least for the first week, will be similar to this.

Upon waking: Down a big glass of water followed by a cup of hot herbal tea.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with flax and hemp seeds topped with cinnamon and strawberries and blueberries.
Throughout the morning: Water with aloe vera drink (a very good digestive cleanser) and another herbal tea.
AM Snack: Green drink (cucumber-green apple-celery-romaine lettuce-sprouts)
Lunch: Miso soup and a big, fat salad (mixed greens, bell peppers, 1/2 avocado, sunflower seeds, vinaigrette dressing)
PM Snack: Leftover green drink; handful of cashews
Dinner: Millet mixed with spinach and kale, topped with pinto beans and 1/2 avocado
"Dessert": A few chunks of pineapple or cantaloupe

This was my menu. Brian's didn't vary by much; he just had a different soup for lunch. And then of course, physical activity is also important. The weather has been very nice so we went for a family walk, chased our 2 year old around for a few hours, and did some power yoga... I have to say that it does take quite a bit of effort to prepare healthy food but it is so worth it! We'll keep you updated about how we are doing!

The Cleanse

So tomorrow is Day One of our 21-day Crazy Sexy Diet cleanse. Brian and I are both doing it and, by default, most of Christopher's meals will be pretty alkaline too. When I initially read through the Kris Carr book, I thought I would follow the cleanse to a T, but upon further examination, I was getting pretty overwhelmed. I felt as though I would be spending a whole lot of time in front of the juicer every day. So in the spirit of Kris Carr, I am making it my own and having some fun with it (not sure if Brian agrees about the "fun" part yet!). Here are the goals for the next 21 days...

1. Eliminate coffee and diet soda (or any kind of soda, juice, for that matter); also no alcohol

2. Eat gluten free for the next 21 days

3. Consume no sugar unless it is the sugar found in fruits

4. Consume no processed foods or animal products (this last part is easiest for us since we've already cut out the majority of animal products; eggs just might be the hardest).

5. Forgive ourselves if we slip up!

I'm feeling a little nervous but also very excited about this journey. I'm especially excited because Brian is choosing to do it with me (no I didn't bribe him in any way!) and it's always easier to do things as a family. Eliminating all of these "fun" foods for the next three weeks may seem pretty lame and it may seems like our diets will be really, well, boring. But I cannot wait to see how we both feel once the pH of our body starts to balance out and become more alkaline. I already know how I felt last year when I stopped drinking coffee, limited my wine consumption, and ate a really healthy diet. This cleanse takes it a step further by making it really alkaline and also gluten-free. We have our own personal reasons for taking on this challenge and I have a feeling we will all benefit!

I'll keep you updated about how we are doing and give you some sample menus of the meals we are eating. Wish us luck!

The Juicer

After being so inspired by Crazy Sexy Diet, we went ahead and purchased a juicer to add to our kitchen appliances. And actually, it is replacing my coffee maker as we are about to embark on the CSD 21 day cleanse. We ordered one of the Brielle models (don't ask which one; they all have crazy model numbers that I can never remember!) mostly because the reviews were positive, especially about ease of cleaning. This afternoon, the juicer made it's debut! More on that in a minute.

Previously, I have heard and read about the benefits of juicing, but also the drawbacks (no fiber, goes directly into the bloodstream, etc) and have been curious for a while. Kris Carr talks about the blood sugar issues in her book and most, if not all, of her recipes and juice suggestions include low glycemic veggies and fruits that have minimal effect. She's been juicing like this for 8 years now and it seems to be working for her!

Anyway, when I told my son that we would now have a juicer in the kitchen, he was very excited because for him, juice is a treat he only gets once in a while. Usually we're talking about apple juice or orange juice (which this juicer makes too; mmmm, fresh squeezed OJ!) so I figured cucumber-green apple-celery-romaine lettuce-sprout juice would be a shock for him. I didn't have high hopes, despite the fact that he's a good eater. Well, it appears that I am going to be stocking up on bulk veggies because this boy LOVES his green juice! "This is really good, Mommy" he said to me after finishing his first sip. "I want more please!" This mother could not have been more proud that my boy was drinking this yummy goodness. :)

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the juice and am now looking forward to beginning the 21 day cleanse. You know, it's amazing. Whenever I eat or drink something made from completely earth-made ingredients, I feel incredibly clean and healthy. It makes me wonder why, upon knowing such a feeling, we don't make green choices for our food all the time.

Eat your veggies everyone!!!

Winter blues

Okay, we're all saying it. We're tired of winter. I totally wasn't going to get caught up in feeling animosity toward the cold, dark, snowy weather. I was taking care of myself and staying positive...

And then last week happened.

We hardly left our house for three full days. And the one day my little boy goes to school, school was cancelled. On top of it, he was acting very two and a half and the only exercise I was doing was shoveling the driveway. I actually enjoy shoveling but I don't think there is any such thing as a "shoveler's high" as there is a "runner's high."

Anyway, I ate like crap, was cranky and tired of my house, and didn't want anything to do with green vegetables. This seems to be a pattern with me each winter. There is a stretch of a week or two when my normally healthy diet just crashes and I load up on comfort foods. Let's just say I visited Starbucks one too many times last week and ate the whole bag of mini marshmallows before they even made it into my hot chocolate... Yeah, not good.

But that was then and today is a new day. I broke out of my funk after a little Saturday TLC (cuddling up to watch a good movie and painting my nails!) and woke up Sunday with a new determination to take care of myself. I know the food we eat affects everything about us including our moods and this past week was a living experiment of that for me. Today I have eaten like a rock star, did some AM yoga, and a heart pumping afternoon workout and I feel fantastic! In my head, I always know that eating well makes us feel well, but it is not always easy to follow through when winter is dragging on. But it's okay you guys! If you get in a funk, remember to take care of yourself and start again. Each day is a new day!

Plie, Pas de bourree, Rond de jambe

A while back, I wrote about stepping outside your comfort zone. My whole life, I have been a rough and tumble girl who loves her hip checks and slap shots. Sports have been a huge part of my life and have helped shape the direction my life has taken (would my husband have asked me to marry him if I didn't like the Yankees???). I still do, and will always, love the world of sports and pushing myself to the limit. But this year, I have found a new way to do that and it doesn't involve skates, zoomers, or Garmins.

Ballet.

That's right, ballet. Some of my readers may be familiar with the terms in the title of this blog. For me, the only knowledge I had of them was from my years of studying French in school (sorry for the lack of accent aigu--Madame Kaufman would not be happy!). But I have, since high school, loved to watch ballet. I think it is an absolutely beautiful form of art. And yes, I'll admit it, I have twirled around my kitchen when no one was looking! Now I am in a time of my life when I wanted to give it a try for real. So I found a school, bought some pink tights and shoes and signed up for my first class. I usually feel pretty comfortable walking into any athletic situation. But I have to admit that I was slightly intimidated walking into that class and telling the teacher this was my first ballet class... dance class... ever. The good thing is, I was not alone.

Let me tell you, ballet is hard. It is hard physically and mentally. My legs were sore the next day. But it was so much fun and continues to be each class. This past Thursday I remember thinking in the middle of a challenging sequence of steps, "I am loving this! Ballet, where have you been all my life?" It is humbling to try something new that I know nothing about. But each night I come home from class and talk to Brian about what we did like an excited teenager. I am so happy to have found something that is enjoyable, physically demanding, and able to push me beyond what I am used to.

About Kris Carr... again!

Okay, I just finished watching Kris Carr's movie "Crazy, Sexy, Cancer." It is a must-see if you can do it! If not, pick up her book Crazy Sexy Diet. I mean, here is a woman who was diagnosed with a serious cancer and admits that it took something like that to change her life; to make a positive change. And she is sharing what she has learned so that it doesn't take the rest of us a cancer diagnosis (or whatever!) to make the same positive change.

What I love about her is that she's not all or nothing, so to speak, especially when it comes to the nutrition aspect of it. Sometimes when I read these nutrition books or vegan manifestos, I feel unable to live up to what they are saying to do. But Kris Carr says, you know what, that's fine. In the movie it shows her absolutely miserable on a 21 day raw juice diet (not the one she recommends in her book, btw), drinking (gasp) acidic coffee, and just learning how to accept a condition in her body that might not ever go away. It's an inspiring story and not just her own. She also shares the stories of several other women dealing with all sorts of cancers and how it changes the way they approach life.

Sometimes I feel like I need to view such sources of inspiration on at least a weekly basis. I'll see something like Crazy Sexy Cancer and want to eat wholesome, nutritious foods, devote myself to daily yoga and meditation, and just live each moment to the fullest. And then... well, someone has to do the laundry. And what? You mean you have another poopy diaper, CJ? Ugh, I think I need another cup of coffee! I guess, as Carr talks about in her movie and her books, you just have to find the right balance for yourself. We all have to just do the best we can!

Jack LaLanne

I was sad to find out that Jack LaLanne passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 96. This man was a true proponent of a healthy lifestyle. He ate well, exercised (to put it mildly), and exhibited a positive, optimistic attitude. I'm pretty sure all of these reasons contributed to his long, active life! Here is a nice article on his passing from the New York Times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/sports/24lalanne.html?src=me&ref=general

I first loved listening to LaLanne's videos a few years ago on YouTube. I think they are from his original show ("The Jack LaLanne Show"). They are simple, but very fun to watch. If you have a moment check one or two of them out! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WsMcfxCw2g

Working with what you have

So tonight, I didn't really feel like following any of the recipes I had planned for the week so I made due with what I had in the fridge. Here is what resulted:

First, I cooked 1/2 cup of millet (a yummy and very healthy grain) in simmering water for 25 minutes. While that was cooking, I sauteed a yellow onion, four cloves of chopped garlic, two diced tomatoes, one jar of sun dried tomatoes, 1/2 cup chopped black olives, and some fresh oregano in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. I also added a little salt and pepper to taste. After that cooked for about 15 minutes, I added a can of cannellini beans and cooked until the millet was done. Then I placed the veggies over the millet and topped it with just a little of the Daiya cheese (mozzarella style) that we had leftover from the week and served it up!  It actually turned out to be very yummy.

It's amazing what you can come up with when you have good, fresh ingredients in your pantry and fridge. I do this a lot with leftovers. For example, this week, I had some leftover rice and kidney beans. I put them together in a dish and then (separately) cooked a frozen kale/spinach/collards mix and combined them. I didn't have any, but normally I might put a little cheddar style Daiya cheese on top for some extra flavor. This usually works pretty well with Christopher too. Give the boy some beans and he's happy!

Did you know?

In 1960, Americans spent 18% of our income on food and 5% on health care.

Today, Americans spend 9% of our income on food and 17% on health care.

It may seem like you're saving when you buy cheap food in the grocery store but you end up paying for it in other ways. It may seem expensive to buy healthy foods (although it doesn't always have to be!) but it is also expensive to spend your hard earned cash on medications down the road.

Think of your food as medicine (and no, people, doughnuts are not medicine... sorry). Fill your body with life-giving, energy enhancing fruits, veggies, beans, and whole grains. Your body will thank you!