Loading up on raw fruits and vegetables adds fiber and nutrients that you can’t get by simply drinking water.  What’s in your glass is important, but so is what’s in your food. 

Choose wet foods to keep dry winter skin at bay.

HOT AND STEAMY

This is about the ultimate comfort food but with a whole new twist.  Coaches Healthful and MplsMom (sometimes referred to as “The Jills”) have been working for weeks to bring you incredible soup recipes and one pot dishes that are full of nutrition and flavor. 

This isn’t like a five year old article in the waiting room:  “10 Uses for Leftover Pot Roast”  <gag>

This is hot steamy food that suits your lifestyle, nourishes your body and keeps your energy levels up right through winter.  

This class will have more than just recipes.  Join the fun, try some new ingredients, bring questions and share your own favorite tips and recipes. 

If you have questions about membership please contact us as soon as possible to gain access to class.  This one is a perfect winter pick me up.

There’s plenty of good news when it comes to preventing heart disease.  While saturated fats (think meat and dairy) and trans fats (think fried and processed) will raise your levels of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, there is such a thing as “GOOD” fat. 

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can lower the LDL levels and RAISE your HDL (good cholesterol) levels.  

We’re going to be including information throughout February with specifics about how to make protecting your heart easy,  with just a few simple changes to diet and lifestyle. 

See how a plant based diet,  filled with good whole foods, can give you more energy, more vitality and HEALTHIER HEART ! 

Marilu.com will give you the reasons why, the “how-to’s” and a community of support to make it easy and fun.

 While we don’t agree with their take on oils (they mention only two as acceptable and the Total Heatlh Makeover is more inclusive than that) the other information here is well worth viewing.   I suppose you might say that you could “take it to the bank.” 

Along with better tasting foods, more energy, a kinder approach to the environment, and spending less on over the counter meds and doctor visits, a healthy lifestyle saves you money at the check out line.  Immediate gratification.  What can YOU do with the money you save?

http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/taste-of-place/?v=45868766-b516-41ee-9f14-b7461f15f02d&from=en-us_msnhp

1 cup chopped sweet onion

3 stalks celery, chopped

4 carrots, chopped

2 cloves garlic, through a press

1 (16 ounce) package lentils

6 cups vegetable broth

2 cups spinach or kale

Heat oil in Dutch oven.  Add onions, garlic, celery and carrots and saute until vegetables soften.  Season with salt and pepper. 

Add vegetable broth and lentils.  Cover and reduce heat to simmer. 

Simmer for approximately 30 minutes, remove lid and cook an additional 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until lentils have softened.  Adjust seasonings.

Stir in spinach or kale in the last five minutes.

Serve with crusty bread and a tossed salad.

If you made resolutions that you haven’t kept today is amnesty day.  Give yourself a break and forget about sweeping declarations.   When it comes to setting goals there is no deadline. Forward motion is really all that matters in your health journey. 

JUST KEEP ON MOVING !

You don’t need to jump in with both feet today to begin to experience these benefits.  But you COULD start taking some baby steps towards better health beginning right now. 

Take a few minutes to read these testimonials recently published in VegNews, and also citing one of our favorite organizations, The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=4122&catId=7

If you’ve had success with a plant based diet in your own life we’d love to hear from YOU !

There are the obvious menu additions such as having an orange for breakfast, or adding lemon slices to your water but try using the juice of an orange as part of your salad dressing.  Whisk it with olive oil and toss it over fennel, and red onion slices. 

Grate the zest of a lemon over steamed asparagus, or green beans.

Marinate chicken, seitan, or tofu with lime juice, chili paste and olive oil. 

Have fun and get creative!

Ten minutes to read. Ten minutes for a soothing eye mask or hand massage.  Ten minutes to write a note to a friend or take a walk around the block.  Ten minutes for prayer, meditation or playing an instrument.  Ten minutes to play with your pet,  have an unhurried conversation with your partner or child.  Do the thing you know will help you recharge.

The only rule is that it be something that you enjoy…not a catch-up task.

Just one more reason to trade in “fast” food for real meals.