Saturday, December 10, 2011

Life Without a Microwave

Life Without a Microwave

So when my husband and I moved in together we made the conscious decision to not have a microwave. We didn't want a microwave because it took up a bunch of counter space, it demolished any nutrients of food once you nuke it and it usually made the texture of food very odd. But...

Little did I know that it would make eating healthier so much easier!

When I had a microwave, I would use it a lot to make junk food and I barely cooked from scratch. For my dinner, I would either have a non cooked meal like a sandwich, or just get those horrible pizza rolls and microwave them.

Eliminating the possibility of using a microwave forced me to avoid microwavable food, make dinner from scratch, and inevitably know all the ingredients of what I'm eating. I find that I'm more involved with my food than I used to be and I have to make cooking meals part of my daily routine because I got rid of that crutch. 

So here is a challenge if it applies, put your microwave somewhere you can't see for two weeks to see how it changes your daily routine and/or possibly your health. If it's changed for the better, keep it out of your sight or donate it!

Just another way to have a healthier lifestyle.







Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Myth on Saturated Fat


Are Saturated Fats Good For You?

Many would believe that eating saturated fat will cause weight gain, high cholesterol and heart disease.

But what if I were to tell you that omnivores are meant to eat animal fat. A lot of it even. Why do you think breast milk is over 50% saturated fat? Countries that have a higher saturated fat consumption have less heart disease than countries that have developed a low fat diet.It's shown that humans who eat more animal fat and less carbohydrates are more fit and heart healthy.

Why do studies show that it's bad then?
Have you ever considered those test studies have been done on Herbivores? Herbivores who aren't meant to eat meat anyway. Tests done on omnivores and carnivores are fine.
Lets also remember that cholesterol medication is a 25 billion dollar industry. So it's in the country's best interest that we tell lies about health to U.S citizens...

There are good vs not so good saturated fats though...

Eggs, milk, and meat that are pastured and grass fed have higher nutrient rich fatty acids than animals that have been confined. So buying at a farmers market or going organic will give you the better option.

Let's not confuse Saturated fat with trans fat!
Trans fat is something made from vegetable oil to make it solid at room temp and is super un-natural and not meant for human consumption. (Crisco, margarine, partially or fully hydrogenated oil)

So stay away from trans fats and enjoy those saturated fats!
Use real butter and don't worry about eating the whole egg with the yolk. Just start shopping at  your local farmers market to make sure you are getting the best nutrient rich saturated fats you can and if a farmers market isn't an option Organic is a good second choice.

If you need to be more convinced, here is an article written by a cardiac surgeon and professor of surgery at the U.W. Medical Center.
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Best "On the Go" Bar


Lara Bars!

So Lara bars are one of the only energy/ snack bar on the market that isn't loaded with crap!

Every other bar, like Quaker oats, cliff, kashi, special k, generic cereal or granola bars, are typically packed with corn syrup, sugar, and soy!

Lara bars are just fruit and nuts and they come in a wide variety of flavors like apple pie, pecan pie, and other ones with chocolate (that don't contain soy lecithin!!!!). It's gmo free and usually contains 5 or less wholesome ingredients.

You can get these bars at almost any grocery store, even costco sells a variety pack.

Way to go Lara Bars!
Posted by at 2 comments:

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Get Fresh Local Organic Produce Delivered to You!


Here's a great way to support the Pacific Northwest and Washington farmers!

So I've been telling people about this and it's seems to me like many are unaware of this great service here in the northwest.

 You can have fresh local organic food delivered to you for a reasonable price either weekly or bi monthly.

There are two sites that I know of that do this. 

One is Full Circle Farms, which is a local farm here in Washington that teams up with other organic farmers in the region to bring you the best crops around. This company has a vast delivery area around and out of Seattle, plus this company allows you to select certain foods you don't like to leave out of your box and put more of something else you do like. There boxes come in standard or family sized with a variety of fruit, vegetables and herbs. This site also has an online grocery store, so you can have organic artisan crafted cheese and bread, as well as organic goods like meat, eggs, pantry food, pasta, and grains delivered to you as well. Price range for the fruit and vegetable boxes are  regular 37$- family size 58$ for delivery and 34$-54$ for pick up. They have pick up sites all over the pacific northwest.

The other site is Pacific Coast Harvest. This company uses organic farms around the region as well to give you organic produce. They have three sizes of boxes (single, regular, family) and three different styles of boxes ( all vegetable, the Washington box i.e. all fruit,  or half and half). The delivery range is mostly just in Seattle and immediately around Seattle. The price range for boxes is single 22$ regular 32$ and family 42$. 

So There you go people! Another great way to stock your place with local organic produce and support our local economy!

As always,
 KNOW WHAT YOU ARE EATING 
and read your labels.


Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Milk of Choice: Almond milk!


Almond Milk

So, I'm not knocking cows milk, but for someone who wants an alternative, almond milk is the way to go. There are a whole bunch of different types of milk on the market now including cow, goat, soy, hemp, rice, hazelnut, coconut ect...

But Almond milk, in my opinion, is the best alternative to cow's milk.
Why?
Almond milk is creamy without the fat, low in calories if you get the unsweetened kinds, has mild flavor that can be added to anything, has natural protein, and most almond milk comes without lots of additives and preservatives.

Soy milk is typically unfermented in the USA and therefore toxic.
Rice milk is a little to watery and doesn't have to not many health benefits.
Goat milk is fatty.
Hemp milk has a funny flavor to me.
Hazelnut milk is not produced widely enough so it's hard to find and expensive.
Coconut milk has a strong coconut flavor, which can be great in some cases and not so great in others.

So Almond Milk is my Natural choice for any milk substitutes even in cooking and baking.

You can buy Almond milk at almost any grocery store. I recommend getting the half gallon carton in the refrigerated section and not in the isle because the non-refrigerated kind sometimes has added soy lecithin but most almond milk is coming out with a much better alternative, cotton seed lecithin, which actually has many health benefits.

Just remember to read your ingredients label and be aware of what you are eating!

Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Is Your Beef Safe and Good For You?


Did you know that most ground meat in stores or restaurants are cleaned with ammonia?
Yup, that chemical that makes cat pee smell funny is in a lot (80-90% in america) of your ground beef.
YUCK! 

And the really bad part is that the FDA states that companies don't have to label if it's been treated with ammonia or not because it's considered part of the process and not part of the food.
The only way to eliminate this problem is getting the meat and having a butcher grind it in front of you or get a meat grinder.


I also know of a few places in Seattle where they state they grind their meat in house like The Palace Kitchen, Rock bottom Grill, and Blue Moon Burgers. In Fact Blue Moon Burgers has grass fed beef as well.

Why go grass fed with your beef?
If you eat grass fed beef, you are actually getting leaner and more nutrient rich meat. Plus you aren't getting the antibiotic and hormone pumped up beef that you normally would.

More info on grass fed beef here.

So avoid the chemicals and get grass fed and ammonia free beef!





Posted by at No comments:

Friday, September 9, 2011

Easy Homemade Mayo Recipe


Easy Home Made Mayo

You might be wondering why make your own mayo? It's simple, homemade mayo tastes so much better and you can make it without soy oil!
 Practically every mayo on the market uses soy oil, even the ones that say olive oil on it.
 So Here's my recipe and I use this with a magic bullet but you can use a food processor or any whipping device.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 EGG
  • 1 1/2 TBSP WHITE VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE
  • 1 TSP SALT
  • 1/2 TSP MUSTARD POWDER OPTIONAL
  • 1/2 TSP PAPRIKA OPTIONAL
  • 3/4 CUP LIGHT OLIVE OIL
DIRECTIONS
  • Put the egg, vinegar, salt, mustard, and paprika in the magic bullet and mix with the whipping blade till fully mixed.
  • Add 1/4 cup oil and mix thoroughly. repeat. Then on the last 1/4 cup you should see the thickness start and whip in the last bit of oil till it's a nice mayo consistency.
  • Store in a closed container in the fridge.

You can keep this mayo in the fridge for about two weeks or until it starts to smell funny. Remember you are using raw egg so be cautious with how long you keep it in the fridge. Or You can use powdered egg for the same amount as one large egg and not worry about it spoiling.



Enjoy
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Are You Eating Real Sea Salt?


Real Sea Salt
 Are you eating it?
Why Does It Matter?

Did you know that most "sea salt" you get in the store isn't really real sea salt? Most salt comes from the sea at one point or another but If it's all white, it's been stripped of it's natural minerals and may or may not have had iodine added back in.

Real Sea Salt naturally has dozens of trace minerals including iodine already.
Your salt should contain at least 50 trace minerals in it and look speckled brown, pink, and white. I have found such salts at local market stores, pcc (co'ops), and whole foods. The brand I found was Redmond RealSalt.
Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
This salt is considered to have a full spectrum of 84 trace minerals in it and best for your health and salt intake. The only reason why I looked into this salt was because one of my favorite chocolate bars (Theo's salted almond milk chocolate) contained it. When I researched, I found this site. You can buy Pink Himalayan Sea Salt at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and (Pcc) co'ops as well.
Why should you start using Real Sea Salt?
Why only eat the one added mineral when you could have 50 or more minerals and better taste?
Most real salt contains calcium, potassium, sulphur, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, manganese, copper, zinc and more! 
All of those minerals are pretty crucial for good health, so start getting some of them easily with real sea salt!

Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Restaurants In Seattle to Trust


Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)