Journey with Healthy Me Archives - Page 39 of 40

Easy Classic Hummus

I’ve shared this recipe before, including it with other party recipes. However this classic hummus is so good and so easy to make at home, that it deserves its own post. I make my own hummus at least once a week. With a food processor, a few pantry staples become a healthy and delicious snack or meal, served up with fresh veggies or gluten free crackers.

Here is the simple recipe:

Use fresh lemon juice. I cut one large lemon in two and use my aunts glass juicer, however each half can simply be squeezed into a measuring cup or directly into the food processor.

Tahini is sesame seed paste and can be purchased at health food stores or in the international section at larger grocery stores. A future project is to make my own tahini. This paste is great also as a base for salad dressings.

Drizzle olive oil over the hummus, after transferring it from the processor to a bowl, and sprinkle with paprika. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

There are so many ways to vary this basic recipe, by adding olives, red peppers, more garlic or additional spices. The possibilities are many!

Enjoy with fresh veggies, apple slices or gluten free crackers. Most of all, simply enjoy!

Try out this food processor:

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Make Your Own Mexican Bowl

Living on a plant based lifestyle, my options for dining out are limited. So it is always a joy to discover a restaurant that serves vegan food, especially when it is an old favorite.

Such was the case with Moe’s Southwest Grill. I had avoided this restaurant that I once frequented, until I realized I could create my own special bowl as I moved down the order line, omitting meat and cheese and tortillas. I stopped by often, grabbing a bowl to go.

I’m not sure why it took me this long to have a further realization…I could make my own Mexican bowl at home! This easy to create meal is so good, Moe’s may never see me again.

Here is the simple assembly process:

Skip the meat and start with a base of brown rice. I am enjoying the ease of cooking rice in the pressure cooker.

While the brown rice cooks, sauté thinly sliced onions and green peppers in a small amount of olive oil. Other vegetables can be added, according to preference. Good choices include garlic, mushrooms, broccoli or cauliflower.

Assemble favorite toppings. Again, there are so many choices. Do your body a favor and avoid cheese, meat and sour cream. I like to include pinto beans, shredded lettuce, salsa and sliced avocado.

Create a yummy Mexican bowl. I start with the brown rice and then add the sautéed veggies. Next I add beans, shredded lettuce and salsa, topping the bowl with sliced avocado.

This colorful meal is so satisfying. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, with the rice taking the longest to cook…about 20 minutes in the pressure cooker. The food is freshly prepared and I like knowing exactly what ingredients are used.

Healthy and delicious, this do it yourself Mexican bowl is perfect for lunch or dinner, even for those who aren’t following the plant based lifestyle.

I may never again hear the friendly greeting, “Welcome to Moe’s”, as I walk through that restaurant’s door. However, I suppose I can shout it out at home…

Welcome to Cindy’s! Welcome to healthy eating!

Healing Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

One of the easiest changes to make in embracing a healthier lifestyle is the inclusion of a cup of warm lemon water first thing in the morning. Before drinking or eating anything else, starting the day sipping on this zesty health booster brings amazing healing benefits.

According to Anthony William, author of the book Life Changing Foods, lemons, and their citrus cousins limes, are ultrahydrating and electolyte producing because they are a top source of mineral salts and trace mineral salts.

And they are a source of highly absorbable vitamin C. In addition, lemons provide bioactive calcium. The phytochemicals called limonoids actually bond the vitamin C and calcium together, so where one goes in the body, the other tags along.

Lemons alkalinize the body, which helps to prevent the growth of most types of cancer. And the antioxidant flavonoids fight other illnesses such as cold, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Lemons are an effective mucus expeller and an amazing cleanser of the liver, kidneys, spleen, thyroid and gallbladder.

They purge the body of toxins that collect in the body due to exposure to plastics, chemicals, radiation and poor food choices. Drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up flushes these toxins from the liver, which has worked through the night detoxifying the body. Otherwise, those toxins settle back in.

Other benefits include:

Ease nausea
Reduce bloating
Lower cholesterol
Aid in weight loss
Prevent kidney stones
Boost mood & sense of well being

Preparing this extraordinary drink is simple. Using a fresh lemon, or lime if you prefer, cut in two and squeeze the juice of one of the halves into a cup of warm water. I like using my Aunt Annie’s old juicer, however squeezing the juice directly into the cup of water is fine. During the summer, I like to cut up a couple of lemons and make a large pitcher of lemon water that I sip on all day.

When I first began drinking lemon water, I made the mistake of using a bottled concentrate. While there may be some benefits from drinking that juice, it just doesn’t compare to the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon. Plus, I now use fresh lemons to make my own hummus and salad dressings. I like keeping them on hand.

While it is important to start the day with lemon water, it also makes a great end of the day drink. A cup of warm lemon water with a spoonful of raw, local honey calms the nervous system and aids in a restful night’s sleep.

From flushing toxins to fighting colds and allergies to aiding in weight loss and getting a good night’s sleep, this little powerhouse of a fruit offers incredible healing benefits. Try adding a cup or two of lemon water to your daily routine, and see what happens!

For more information about lemons, and 49 other healing foods, check out Life Changing Foods by Anthony William.

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Recipes for Clean Eating for Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday, which is tomorrow, is practically a national holiday in the US. People gather to watch the game in a boisterous party like atmosphere, where drinks flow and the food is plentiful. Typical fare includes wings, chips and dips, sub sandwiches, chili, and an assortment of munchies and sweet treats.

There won’t be a party going on at my house. However, I will join Greg in watching the Super Bowl. It is the one time during football season that I will give the game my full attention. As a nod to the day, I normally prepare an array of snacks and a pot of chili or little smoky sausages.

It wouldn’t seem like Super Bowl Sunday without the fun food. But this year, I am preparing plant based chow. It will be just as fun, while also being healthy, and guilt free!

Here are several easy and delicious recipes that can be enjoyed during Super Bowl Sunday:

Served up with fresh marinara sauce:

Hummus makes a great snack, served with fresh veggies or gluten free crackers.

This veggie pizza on gluten free crust is amazing.

This is a new recipe for lentil chili that I will be trying!

Rather than serving alcohol, which is full of sugar, I’ll prepare this spiced apple cider.

I won’t be preparing any sweet treats for tomorrow. Instead, I’ll have available fresh fruit and dates. There will be plenty to eat as I watch the game and chuckle over the Super Bowl commercials.

No matter which team wins, I will enjoy the day, and the game. The food will be great and I will feel great, which is of utmost importance to me. Go Falcons! Go Patriots! Go me!

Nori Rolls with Spicy Tahini Sauce

Before switching to a plant based lifestyle, I loved eating sushi. Granted, I preferred California Rolls, which were primarily veggie based, however I also enjoyed sushi with fish, crab or shrimp. I have saved several vegan sushi and nori roll recipes on Pinterest. When I found vegan, non GMO sushi rice and nori wraps at Sprouts in Broken Arrow, OK, I purchased them so I could make my own healthy rolls.

I felt inspired to try this first today, making my own nori rolls for lunch.

I prepared the sushi rice according to the package directions. While the rice cooked, I sliced several veggies…celery, carrots and green pepper…into thin strips. I cut up an avocado as well. That’s the beauty of creating my own nori rolls. I can use whatever vegetables or fruits that I have on hand.

As the timer counted down on the sushi rice, I made the spicy tahini sauce, adapting a recipe I found on Pinterest.

In a blender, I combined 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon joice, 1 tablespoon mashed chickpeas (from a can), 1 tablespoon tahini (purchase at health food store or find in international aisle of larger grocery stores), 1 garlic clove, minced, 2 dates, and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper. I slowly added 2 teaspoons of water as the ingredients blended, to create a smooth sauce.

The tahini sauce was so delicious! It would make a great salad dressing or dipping sauce for veggies.

I covered a nori wrap with a thin layer of sushi rice. Near one end, I arranged the slices of veggies and avocado and drizzled on the spicy tahini sauce. After sprinkling with sea salt and coarse black pepper, I carefully rolled up the wrap, keeping everything inside!

These rolls were not difficult to make, however I need to cut back slightly on the amount of veggies that I used as filler. They turned out great, if a bit messy, and the taste was so satisfying!

I am connected with an amazing and supportive group of people on Instagram who are improving their health and well being by way of wholesome, nutrient rich foods. Many are healing from inflammation and diseases. Some have chosen a vegan or plant based lifestyle for their health and also for the health of the planet.

Daily I am inspired by their pictures of colorful, healthy meals. One Instagram friend, who goes by the name of Geoff the Vegan Dad, posts his daily lunches. More than meals, Geoff’s creations are works of art. I appreciate how beautiful his lunches are and I learn a lot about preparing nutritious meals as I follow his journey.

He has fun, creating a different lunch from scratch each day and sharing the results. I realized that’s so important, to have fun creating in the kitchen. It is playing really, quite literally playing with food, while experimenting with flavors and seasonings.

I played today. And then I savored.

What Do You Eat Following a Plant Based Lifestyle?

This is by far the most frequent question that I get asked, when people learn I’ve adopted a plant based lifestyle. They are curious, or incredulous, or considering a change in diet themselves. I am always happy to answer questions! Today’s post covers a typical day for me, following a plant based lifestyle.

My morning routine is important. I have rested and there are toxins ready to be flushed from my body as I rehydrate and prepare for the day.

There are so many benefits from drinking a cup of warm water with the juice from half a fresh lemon, that it warrants its on blog post. Soon. This drink wakes up my body as it provides hydration, and necessary minerals and vitamin C.

After lemon water comes a glass of freshly prepared celery juice. I began drinking this juice about a year ago, after reading the Medical Medium’s post about its many health benefits. Celery juice heals the digestive system by alkalizing the gut. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that flushes toxins and debris out of the intestinal tract. More about the amazing healing properties of celery in an upcoming post.

Breakfast smoothies are my favorite meal of the day. Fruits can be blended together in endless combinations. I have a different smoothie every morning, using a banana as the base. I add fresh fruits, such as strawberries or an orange or a chopped up pear, and add a cup of frozen fruit, such as wild blueberries or pineapple chunks, and 3/4 cup of water. I also like to add chia or hemp seeds.

Lunch is a simple, raw salad such as this grapefruit, avocado delight. Or it might be a fresh fruit bowl. I typically eat raw for lunch, however a platter of cooked veggies is a possibility too.

Afternoon snack is fresh fruit, such as sliced apples, an orange, and dates with a cup of hot herbal or Scottish tea.

Dinner is a bowl of cooked and raw veggies with brown rice, or vegan pizza on gluten free crust, a bowl of vegetable soup or brown rice pasta with my own marinara sauce. Again, the possibilities are many, and can be as simple as oven roasted potato wedges or more creative, like lentil curry.

I finish the day with a cup of hot herbal tea and a small snack if I’m hungry. That might be raw fresh fruit, celery, dates or a handful of unsalted cashews.

This is an average day. On busy mornings I may skip the lemon water or celery juice, but I would rather not. I might have salsa and non GMO gluten free chips for a snack. I read labels on everything and avoid most cooking oils such as canola. I’m aware of my NO list, which includes meat, dairy, eggs, sugar, corn, soy and gluten.

I remind myself daily that I have made this choice and this commitment for improved health and well being. I take 18 supplements a day, herbs primarily, to support my immunesystem and destroy viruses in my body.

This has not been a difficult transition to make, as there is such a variety of fruits and vegetables available. What I eat is not boring or bland. It is full of flavor and life nourishing nutrients. I am highly motivated to continue this journey because of the good health I am experiencing and the amazing changes in my body in a relatively short amount of time.

The next most frequently asked question I get is How long are you going to eat this way?

My answer is, for the rest of my life. Simple enough, right? I am not missing any foods or missing out on any celebrations or life events. Trust me, I am eating well and loving what I eat. I have a very healthy relationship with my food. And a very healthy relationship with myself.

I am plant based. And I love it.

Saying HELLO to Healthy Me

It has been seven months since I switched to a plant based lifestyle and became very diligent about taking back my health. I was mindful of my healing journey as I showered this morning, checking in with myself as I assessed where I am right this moment.

Because I was working in my creative studio this morning, after I stepped out of the shower, I felt inspired to wrap up in a beautiful sarong that I picked up on a trip to Phoenix. As the steamed over full length mirror cleared, I caught sight of myself.

Hello, healthy you! I greeted myself. I was being silly. Yet instantly, my eyes filled with tears.

I looked at myself, not in a critical way as I used to, but with appreciation for the amazing changes that have occured in seven short months. I have clear skin, and a glow that emanates from within. I am smaller and more fit. Best of all, my pain level was at a ZERO. Swirling like a little girl in a frilly dress, I moved freely. No limp. No cane. So many ailments have disappeared completely. Most amazing of all, my sciatic nerves are no longer inflammed.

I feel healthy, strong and fit. I feel good, creating a sense of euphoria. My journey will continue. Plant based is a lifestyle for me, not a diet. I am still clearing viruses and toxins from my body. As I do, my legs are regaining flexibility and strength. The muscles around my knees tighten up if I sit or sleep with my legs bent for too long, however, there is improvement every day. I feel healing continuing.

During my life, I have hidden so many aspects of myself. For years and years, I hid my intuitive side, confused by my ability to receive information in non traditional ways, afraid people would think I was a freak. I hid my voice and my thoughts, my ideas and my desires to create and grow and challenge myself, choosing to remain silent and play small.

After the car accident 22 years ago, I hid the daily pain, and the increasing difficulty I had walking, until I could no longer deny it. I hid behind excess weight, and baggy clothes and oversized hoodies, and an I don’t care attitude.

No more.

My little impromptu photo shoot, after I figured out how to use the timer on my iphone, is a beautiful declaration that I am no longer hiding, no longer sick, no longer in pain, no longer silent. I love my healthy body and I am tuned in to what I need and what I don’t need. I am getting to know myself in fresh new ways, and I am so grateful for this journey and this opportunity.

Hello, healthy me! I am so glad to know you.

Dining Out on a Plant Based Diet

Making healthy food choices is important on any diet. The choices become crucial when dining out. Since beginning the plant based lifestyle, I’ve found it easiest to prepare my own meals at home. However occasionally there is a family dinner or I am out of town or I want to pick something up on the way home after a long day.

Is it possible to eat out when living a plant based lifestyle? Or while following other diets? Yes!

I was in Olathe, KS today, dropping Greg off to paint a house interior for his cousin. Before I headed back to Joplin, we wanted to eat a late lunch. My experience provides a good example of how to stay true to a diet or lifestyle, while enjoying a meal out.

* Avoid fast food restaurants. There are very few good options available in fast food.

* Use Google, if you own a smart phone, typing in the words, vegan restaurants, and the town name, to locate healthier possibilities. Look the list over carefully! Google isn’t perfect. I Googled vegan restaurants Olathe KS and IHOP appeared on the list. While they do offer a few healthier options, it’s not a good choice for me.

* Ask for suggestions. I found the perfect restaurant today by asking Greg’s cousin Tim what healthy options were available locally.

* Check out an online menu before finalizing the selection, to make sure the restaurant is a good choice.

I chose a new-to-me restaurant this afternoon, Zoës Kitchen in Olathe, based on Tim’s recommendation. Zoës features Mediterranean cooking using fresh ingredients that are prepared daily.

* There are several good choices for restaurants, when eating plant based or following other diets. Many restaurants offer a veggie plate or allow sides to be ordered a la carte. Chose Mexican or Chinese or Thai restaurants that offer brown rice, simply prepared vegetables or salads with lots of veggies rather than iceberg lettuce with toppings such as cheese, bacon and croutons. There are good buffet style restaurants that have large salad bars full of healthy choices. However, avoid buffet style if the platters and platters of food present too great a temptation!

* Carefully check out the menu before ordering and don’t hesitate to ask the wait staff questions about ingredients or food prep.

Zoës Kitchen made it easy to make great choices. Their menu listed exactly what was in each meal, and they even put a V for vegan next to plant based meals.

Greg and I shared Classic Hummus with Cucumber Slices, and we each had a bowl of Mediterranean Lentil Soup. Both were delicious! I loved that the hummus came with cucumber slices. Pita bread was available on request. That made me feel that Zoës has my best health in mind.

* If the meal isn’t right or what you expected, don’t feel like you have to eat it. Most restaurants are happy to get it right for you.

* And if the meal is more than you can comfortably eat, take the rest home. I like knowing I have another healthy meal ready to eat in the fridge.

With a little knowledge and preparing, eating out doesn’t have to set me back or make me feel guilty, or worse, make me feel bad, physically. I have a short list of approved restaurants in the Joplin area. And I love discovering new vegan restaurants in bigger cities, and places that at least have plant based options on the menu.

In the end, eating out isn’t supposed to be stressful or a reason to cheat on a diet or lifestyle. Its about connecting with others, having fun, and nourishing the body and the soul. When I can accomplish all three, it becomes a beautiful experience.

Zoës Kitchen in Olathe met that criteria, providing wholesome, flavorful, healthy food in a fun, colorful atmosphere. It was added to my list of favorites today.

The 28 Day Healing Cleanse

Today’s post highlights how my healing journey began, in July of 2016, and explains the 28 Day Healing Cleanse that so radically altered my health and my life.

I love how life flows and the Divine guides me to the right actions to take. I came across Anthony William on Facebook a couple of years ago. I’ve benefitted from his posts concerning health, taking note especially of his insights on healing from what he calls mysterious illnesses, including chronic pain and inflammation.

It was no coincidence that I was aware of Anthony at a time in which physical issues from a long ago car accident worsened. After the accident in 1995, doctors said that in 20 years my condition would rapidly deteriorate. I didn’t want to believe that. And yet in the fall of 2015, right on cue it seemed, I began using a cane to walk. After six months of increased pain, physical therapy, massage and energy work from my friend Margit helped me to walk without aid again, most of the time. However, I was concerned, especially when my right leg began to worsen as well. I searched for ways to bring further healing to my damaged back and legs.

Which brought me back to Anthony William. I saw his post about drinking celery juice first thing every morning, to restore digestive health and bring balance and healing into my body in numerous ways. I have been amazed at what this daily practice has shifted in my overall well being.

Encouraged to know more and go further, I bought Anthony’s book, Medical Medium. I finished the book, eager to begin the 28 day healing cleanse, as described within. I made careful notes, about what I could eat and when, and what herbs and supplements to include.

It was very simple, really. For the next 28 days, I only ate fresh fruits, dates and raw vegetables…green vegetables primarily. I eliminated meat, sugar, gluten, dairy products, eggs, soy and corn. Using a juicer and a blender, I enjoyed celery juice in the mornings, plus fruit and veggie smoothies, and chopped salads throughout the day. No, it wasn’t how I normally ate. And that was the problem. My body needed a break from its usual fare so that toxins and heavy metals could be released, and health restored.

I was excited. I was hopeful. I became dedicated to creating the best possible version of myself, which included being healthy, active and pain free.

The first three days on the cleanse, I was a little low energy, as my body began to release toxins, and I had a headache. However, by day four, my energy came up, the headache was gone, and amazing changes were occurring. By the end of the first week, my mobility had increased and my pain decreased to the point that I parked my cane in a corner of the bedroom and have not used it since.

Anthony William says, “We eat things our systems don’t appreciate, indulge in foods to comfort our emotions rather than feed our bodies and souls. As we seek out snacks, meals, beverages and desserts that keep emotions at bay, our bodies become the victims of our soul damage. We get confused and cross the line between what we like to eat and what our bodies need.”

For the first time in my life, I listened to what my body needed, and to the guidance I was given, at a soul level. I am not sorry. The 28 Day Healing Cleanse began my healing process, allowed me to take back control of my health and changed the quality of my life.

I’ll be sharing in future blog posts about the next steps that I took, after the cleanse, and what I have discovered about thriving and healing on a plant based diet. To learn more about Anthony William, and his books, Medical Medium and Life Changing Foods, visit his website www.medicalmedium.com

Four Drinks that Help Fight a Cold

We are in the middle of cold season. And while not life threatening, the sniffles make us miserable while the bug runs its course. There are many over the counter cold remedies available, however these products can create side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth and eyes, and digestive distress.

I’ve discovered four natural alternatives to cold medicine. These powerful drinks not only help me in my fight against colds and allergies, they support and strengthen my immune system so that I am less likely to catch what’s going around next time.

Banana Orange Pineapple Smoothie

We typically think of hot drinks when fighting a cold. However, this nutrient packed fruit smoothie is a great drink to boost the immune system and increase vitamin C.

Bananas are a powerful antiviral food that also soothes sleep disorders and reduces anxiety. Oranges are high in vitamin C and bioactive calcium. They help combat the strep virus and a host of other disorders. Pineapple is anti inflammatory and supports the immune system as well.

In a blender, combine 1 banana, 2 oranges and 1 cup frozen pineapple chucks. Add 3/4 cup water and blend well.

Sipping on a banana orange pineapple smoothie is a great way to start the day, boost the immune system, and soothe a sore or scratchy throat.

Spiced Apple Cider

This fragrant hot drink not only tastes great, it also smells wonderful as it simmers on the stove. And the spiced cider is full of health benefits.

Apple cider is a great digestive aid and is very soothing to the digestive tract sipped before or after a meal. It also helps to reduce stress damage and keep the body energized and active. Cloves and ginger are especially good for warding off respiratory ailments and any cold or flu symptoms. They also help relieve headaches, nausea, muscle spasms, tension, and nerve pain. Cinnamon is very good for reducing inflammation. Star anise is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and sinus infections. (Recipe and info from Anthony William, the Medical Medium).

This warming drink is soothing, easing a sore throat and clearing a stuffy nose. Save the left overs in the fridge and drink cold or reheat. Drink spiced apple cider often to ward off cold symptoms and strengthen the body’s immune system.

Big Magic Chai

I discovered this hot drink via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook page. Full of anti inflammatory spices, this hot drink is a great end of the day treat. Liz swears that it will cure anything!

Ginger is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects. Cardamom is a pungent spice, related to ginger, that helps alleviate cold symptoms. Cinnamon also has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties.

This is another aromatic drink that makes me feel better just by inhaling the spicy scent.

Nettle Tea

This tea can be purchased in tea bag form, or it is simple to brew from loose dried leaves, purchased in bulk, at a health food store.

Nettle leaves have anti inflammatory properties that work with the body in relieving and preventing cold and allergy symptoms. I brew a pot of tea and keeping it warm under a tea cozy, sip on it all day.

Place 3-4 teaspoons of dried nettle leaves into a large mesh tea ball. Steep in teapot, in very hot water, for 15 minutes. Add a spoonful of raw honey to each cup of tea, as a sweetener, if desired.

A single cup of tea can be prepared by adding 1 teaspoon of dried nettle leaves to a small mesh tea ball or mesh basket and steeping for 15 minutes in a cup of very hot water.

I start drinking nettle tea as soon as I feel a cold coming on. It not only feels great to my throat, it soothes my body and clears my head.

The next time a cold threatens to bring you down, try one, or all, of these natural drinks. Your body will thank you.