To organic or not organic that is the question?

If you are like me you want to eat healthy but need to spend a reasonable amount on food. So what do we do? There are a few answers.

1. Join a CSA (community supported agriculture), local food are less likely to have pesticides.

2. Join a co-op in your town. Organic foods are cheaper.

3.When shopping at the supermarket purchase organic on the most contaminated foods only and buy the rest regular farming. There is a group, the environmental working group (EWG) This company lists which crops have the fewest pesticides for the year.

The top ten that have the most pesticides:
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Sweet bell peppers
4. Peaches
5. Strawberries
6. Grapes
7. Spinach
8. Lettuce
9. Cucumbers
10. Blueberries

The ten that are least contaminated:
1. Kiwi
2. Eggplant
3. Mango
4. Asparagus
5. Sweet peas
6. Cabbage
7. Avocado
8. Pineapple
9. Sweet Corn
10. Onions

Remember if you cannot buy organic apples to peel them. Wash your fruits and veggies well. Buy organics when they are on sale and freeze them for later use.

Happy Eating!!

The New ME!

 This has been a  year of sickness and health. I have evolved from a meat eating, depressed 205 pound woman, to a 165 pound happy vegan! I was very sick early on this year with sever IBS. I did not know I had IBS but after medical testing and eliminating foods the results are in. My total weight loss has been over 50 pounds. But I am maintaing  at weight at 165.

I have now added a exercise routine called Faithful Workouts (http://www.faithfulworkouts.com/) It is Christ based workout and she gives advice about food.

I have gone back to school to the institute for integrative Nutrition. I am learning more about nutrition and health then I ever have. I am learning how to be a health coach. What is a health coach? A health coach is a person that works with clients to inspire them to make healthy changes in their lives.

So one of the biggest things I have learned is to keep a Clean kitchen. Not a kitchen that looks clean. A Clean kitchen is a kitchen that is full of organic foods and is free from processed foods, white flour products, hydrogenated oils, and foods with high fructose corn syrup.

Examples for foods NOT to keep in your Clean kitchen:

Non-organic meats

Non-organic milk and cheeses

GMO Oils- corn, canola, soybean and cottonseed. http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php

Refined sugars and high fructose corn syrup- mixes, sauces, sodas, candy, cookies, cereals and breads.

Processed grains- white rice, white flour and enriched pastas


My health is important to me and just as your health should be important to you. So go Clean your kitchen.

 

Happy Eating!!

Storing Veggies

I just joined a CSA. So how long can I store vegetables in the refridgerator??
When storing produce in the fridge it is important to keep the fridge at 40 F. If you have a crisper use it! Never wash fruits or veggies before storing.

Storage Time
Corn & cut veggies >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >1-2 Days

Asparagus/ Green Beans
Berries, Chard, Peas>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>2-3 Days

Broccoli,Collards>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>3-5 Days

Beets,Carrots,Parsnips
Turnip,Cabbage,Cucumber, Peppers>>>>>>1-2 Weeks

Apples >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>1 Month

Info fromUM.

Portabella & Pinto Bean Enchiladas

Potrabella & Pinto Bean Enchilads

9 Corn Tortillas
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 cup Onions, thin chopped
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
Pinch Black Pepper
1 Lg Portabella Mushroom, chopped
1/2 container Nasoya Tofu, pressed and crumbled
1 can Pinto Beans
1/2 cup Cashews, chopped
1 Lemon,, squeezed
1 jar Enchilida Sauce (I used Verde Enchilida)
3/4 Chili Sauce
8 oz Monteray Jack, shredded
1 bunch Cilantro, chopped

Preheat oven to 400. In pot or pan add oil, chili powder, cumin, salt &pepper and onions and saute for 3 min.

 Add pinto beans, mushrooms, and cashews. Saute for 4 min. Add lomon juice and take off the heat.

Mix enchiladia and chili sauce in a bowl. Pour on the baking dish to cover the botton. Fill tortillias with bean mixture. Roll and place in baking dish.





Pour the rest of the sauce on top of the tortillias.

 

 

Cover with foil bake 18 min. Take out of the oven top with grated cheese. Put back in the oven for 15 min. Let cool 5 min.

 

 

 Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.



 

 

Happy Eating!

Vegetarian Soup

Not all soups are equal!! I know I need to stay away from processed foods but as I have said before sometimes it is just easier as a single mother.

I was given some Venice Vegetarian Soups. I was happy and excited. So I put them away for a rainy day. Well today was that rainy day with 2 kids home with colds.

I decided I wanted to check the label to see what yummy goodness was in these cans.Well to my surprise there was not much yummy anything. I would say that most of it is on my new Dirty Foods list.

It starts out good with water, peas, carrots and tomato paste but then we are in trouble. Thiamine monontirate, frolic acid, green beans, high fructose corn syrup,potato starch, granulated onion, dehydrated onion, MSG, yeast extract, hydrolyzed corn gluten, soy protein, wheat gluten, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, granulated garlic, citric acid, celery powder and white pepper. Doesn't that sound yummy!!

So I did some checking and this wonderful little company is in business with the king of pasta Chef-Bo-Ar-Dee. Why can't these companies just make healthy foods, instead of chemical ridden foods.

So who wants soup.

Happy Healthy Eating

Low Fat-Peanut Tofu with Rice Noodles

Hello,

Today I was inspired by this recipe by Kalyn. It is a Peanut Tofu. But like always I had to change the recipe.

(yea, I have a camera now)

Peanut Tofu with Rice Noodles

3 tab Tamari
2 tab Rice Vinegar
2 tab Peanut Butter
1 tab Agave
2 tab Water
1 package of Extra Firm Tofu (Nasoya Brand is what I use)
1 clove Garlic sliced
2 slices of Ginger Root
1 tab Peanut Oil
1 bunch Rice Noodles (The noodles I get come in bunches, so I guess 1/4 package)

Heat some water in a pot and cook Rice Noodles. Drain and put on a dish.

Take a wok(I had to use a pot, need to buy a wok soon) heat Peanut Oil on medium add Garlic and Ginger Root, cook until light brown. Remove from the pot. Add drained & pressed Tofu. Cook until light brown.

 

 

Mix the liquid ingredients and Peanut butter in a bowl then add to Tofu. Cook on low for about 7 min. Don't over cook or it will be paste.

 

 

 Lay Tofu on top of the Noodles. Drip Sauce on top.

 

 

 

Serve with a side of steamed Bok Choy or any Green Veggie.

 

 

P.S.

Thank you Nasoya for the Tofu!!

 

Happy Eating!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



LightLife Meatless Tacos

This is my new best friend. I know all you anti-processed foodies won't like this. As a single mother, I have to get a break sometimes. This product is very close to ground beef. I can cook it in tacos or meatballs. The best part is my kids are eating. My son cleaned his plate tonight with lettuce.

Tacos
1 pk Smart Ground
1 pk Taco Seasoning (or homemade taco spice)
1/2 cup Water
1/2 head Lettuce, sliced
1 Tomato, diced
1/4 Red Onion, diced
1 cup Grated Cheese
1 can Black Olives, sliced
1 pk Taco Shells

Season your pan with spray oil. Heat. Add Smart Ground. Cook 2 min. Add pk of Taco Seasoning and water. Cook on low till all the water has disappeared. Place meat, olives, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion all in separate bowls. Give each person 2 or 3 warmed Taco Shells. Let your kids build their own Tacos.

My kids feel like they made dinner and eat more vegetables on their own. It's a win win!

Thank you to my friend Amy for giving me coupons for this product!

Happy Eating