Some of that produce in your garden is about ready for harvest, so you’ll want to be prepared to deal with the surplus. Freeze it properly, and you can eat well all year, and save money, too. Even if you didn’t grow your own fruits and veggies, you can purchase them cheaper when they’re at their peak.

Freezing is the easiest, most convenient, and least time-consuming method of preserving foods. Freezing does not sterilize foods or destroy the organisms that cause spoilage; the extreme cold simply slows the growth of microorganisms and the chemical changes that affect quality or cause spoilage.

Freezing produce is relatively simple, but for best results you need to follow certain guidelines:

• Use recommended varieties. There are usually numerous varieties or hybrids of any vegetable or fruit. Quality varies after freezing. Some produce may be unpalatable after freezing. Therefore use only those varieties that tests say yield a high quality frozen product.
• Select mature fruits & vegetables. They should be fresh, tender, and succulent – just right for immediate table use.
• Prepare quickly and carefully. Most fruits & vegetables lose quality quickly after harvest. Freeze fruits & vegetables the same day you pick them–within a few hours from vine to container.
• Prepare for freezing as for table use. Wash thoroughly and discard inferior produce.
• Trim and cut into serving pieces if necessary.

Keeping Enzymes in Frozen Food

Enzymes are complex proteins, present in all living tissue, that help organisms ripen and mature.

During freezing, enzyme action is slowed but not stopped. If not inactivated, these enzymes can cause color and flavor changes and loss of nutrients during freezer storage.

Vegetables
Blanching vegetables before freezing inactivates the enzymes. During blanching, the vegetable is exposed to boiling water or steam for a brief period. The vegetable is then rapidly cooled in ice water to prevent cooking.

The use of microwave ovens for blanching has become popular. However, microwave blanching produces uneven results because of varied heat patterns within an oven and from one oven to another. Microwave blanching requires working with only small quantities at a time; there is no time saving when working with large quantities of vegetables. Blanching also helps destroy microorganisms on the surface of the vegetables. When blanched, vegetables such as broccoli and spinach become more compact.

Following the recommended times for blanching each vegetable is important. Overblanching results in a cooked product and loss of flavor, color, and nutrients. Underblanching stimulates enzyme activity and is worse than no blanching at all.

Fruits
Enzymes in fruits can cause browning and loss of Vitamin C. Fruits, however, are not usually blanched.

Instead, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is used to control enzymes in frozen fruits. Commercial mixtures of ascorbic acid are available for home use. Citric acid or lemon juice also may be used to prevent darkening of fruits, but they are not as effective as ascorbic acid. Packing fruit in sugar or sugar syrup also will control browning.

If there is a delay before you prepare vegetables for freezing, keep them in a refrigerator. Or, you can put them in any cool place not higher than 40F and preferably as low as 32F.

Look for more information on freezing later this week!

It can be tedious to focus on the same task or project for hours at a time.

Divide your work tasks into different category-types, and make mandatory category changes every hour. For example, spend an hour doing research for one topic, and then an hour answering emails and phone messages. After that, do another hour of research, and finally an hour creating a presentation on a different project.

This is also a great way to work at home – organizing your kitchen for an hour, followed by weeding the garden for an hour, then playing with your kids. Mix it up!

Breaking the monotony keeps your spirits and your mind sharper and fresher, and will ultimately make you more productive.

… is whenever you’ll DO IT.

For many people, first thing in the morning works best. It’s a productive way to start your day, both physically and mentally. You generally don’t have to clear your calendar, and you won’t have interruptions.

But hey – maybe morning doesn’t work for you.

Then find the time that is convenient, that you have the energy for (although you’ll gain more energy by exercising than you think you have going into it!), and that you can set aside regularly. Maybe that’s your lunch break, or after work as a “decompression” activity. Maybe it’s right after dinner, or maybe it’s after the kids go to bed.

The most important thing about exercise is to DO IT!

In the Viva la Vegan class this week, we’re going international. Join us here.

Here’s a song about Mexico (sort of) – it has a good warm up or cool down tempo. Which is kind of what Mexico is all about – warming up (in the sun) and cooling down (under the stars).

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Or are you overeating because you’re out of balance?

Many time we overeat because we’re having a good time, it’s a special occasion, or because we can’t believe something tastes so good.

But more often than not, we overeat because something is bothering us. We “eat” our feelings instead of dealing with them.

If you find that you are snacking all day, not really enjoying food, but picking at a little bit of everything, try to stop and think, “Something is out of balance, so what is it? What’s bothering me?” This could be a relationship problem – or a challenge at work – or something you’re procrastinating about. Take a personal time out to state what’s bothering you out loud. Or if the time and place aren’t right for that, write it down.

When you really get in touch with what is bothering you, the desire to pick at the food (instead of “picking” at the problem) goes away.

How are you creating a better world?

What actions can you take today? What habits can you form for a lifetime?

Photo by Kelsey Berens

Eating fast is bad for your digestion, and limits nutrient absorption. One way to slow down is to make mealtime an event.

Set the table with nice dishes, use your best linens, and light the candles. Set the mood with soft background music. Ask everyone to freshen up and maybe even dress for dinner.

Serve a delicious meal of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and lean protein. Add a lemon slice to each water glass.

When you create an environment for dining, the pace will naturally slow down.

out of mind, right?

That’s what happens to “stuff” when we collect it. The stacks just keep getting bigger. Sometimes I think we’re the ones who are out of our minds, at least when it comes to what we keep out of sight!

So here’s my little organizing project from last week. If you have a collection like this, how are you managing it?

Here’s what sugar can do for you:

• deplete B vitamins
• leach calcium from your hair, blood, bones, and teeth
• interfere with calcium absorption
• cause mood swings
• cause digestive problems
• has been linked in research with diabetes, obesity, rheumatism, gout, hypoglycemia, acne, indigestion, arteriosclerosis, and even mental illness

You don’t need any refined white sugar. Or anything it’s in, either. Read labels, shop smart.

Here’s why –

The last thing I want is for you to think that exercise is the final step in your makeover program, and that you incorporate it only after you’ve been able to conquer everything else. In fact, you should think just the opposite.

~ Marilu Henner, The 30-Day Total Health Makeover

That means we need to get moving. All of us. Every day – but on Fridays, we’ll give you a reminder and maybe a new idea to use.

Exercise doesn’t have to be all sweaty and gym-like. You know that if you’ve been tuning in for our favorite exercise music. We’re going to suggest some ways to have fun while you get fit. Most of these ideas are family-friendly, too.

For the first Fitness Friday, let’s get your environment set up to win! Do you recognize that line? It’s from Wear Your Life Well. And it’s a great place to start.

Check your yard and driveway. Are they activity friendly? When you all go out to play, is there someplace to play? Notice we did not say “when you send everyone out to play”… you’re going too!

• Do you have a basketball hoop or tetherball pole or volleyball net (or a place to put one)?
• Do you have open space for running and playing? If the yard is full of doggie-doo, you’ll need to fix that before anyone wants to play outside!

Apartment and big city dwellers –

• Do you have common space that’s good for play?
• Do you have a park nearby with green space and playground space and sports courts?

Today, evaluate your space. Then get out there and use it!

Photo by Horton Group