Weekly Food Prep #2 Salad

Hello and welcome to the delicious salad post.

Here I intend to introduce you to my easy, weekly, salad eating frenzy.

Once a week I buy a 1 pound container of organic lettuce. I makes little baggies for each day and take these to work. Spill them out onto a reusable container from home (that I keep at work) and top the lettuce with any vegetables I have packed along.
Here are some examples:


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2 large handfuls of organic lettuce (spring mix for example)
1 handful of cherry tomatoes (b/c they need no chopping and don't get soggy)
1 chopped cucumber

2-3 tbsp homemade dressing OR Goddess dressing (my other fav)








Here's another:

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2 large handfuls of organic lettuce (a nice chopped romaine blend)

1/2 cup cooked black beans

1/2 cup raw corn

tiny baggie of chopped cilantro

2-3 tbsp homemade dressing OR Ranch dressing

And another:

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2 large handfuls organic lettuce (kale possibly)

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup salsa

2-3 tbsp homemade dressing OR Italian dressing

Just one more fav for the road:

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2 handfuls organic lettuce (spinach for example)

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

2-3 tbsp homemade dressing OR Lemon/EVOO/Salt/Pepper dressing

Sometimes I put lots of stuff, sometimes I put nothing but lettuce and dressing. Either way, this method helps me to eat all my raw veggies for the day, AND still get a good filling meal in.

*Confession* I have eated 1/2 pound of salad in one sitting before. DOnt' judge.

Eating salad it SOOOOO easy.

Price breakdown:
1 lb. tub of organic lettuce: $5.99 divided by 5 days (workweek) = $1.20 per serving
1 bottle of dressing: $3.99/ 8 (usually lasts 8-9 days) = 50 cents per serving

WHO can say they spend under $2.00/day for a delicious nutricious lunch!?

Who can? ...You can, if you adopt these methods.

 

Weekly Food Prep #1: Soup

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Save for the hot hot summer months (and even then I often make a summer soup of sorts) I am a lovable soup eater.

Soup is great when you're thirsty, hungry, sleepy, tired, sick, excited...I could go on for days about the AWESOMENESS of soup. I will spare you my ramblings and get to the point.

Every week, and I mean every week, I make a pot of soup. It's my creed. It's my sanity.

Now for those who say, "Meh, I like soup but I get bored if I have to eat the same thing everyday." I say: stick with me...you'll see. I will offer options for modifications that will entertain even the miser-iest of us all, my bubby.

Now, as I was saying...ah, yes SOUP.

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Reasons why I like making soup:
1) Pour it all in a pot and walk away. (for the most part)
 - Soup usually cooks itself, minus a bit of stirring here or there and the occasional check that it's not boiling too vigorously, it usually requires minimal "kitchen work." This is a HUGE bonus for me, and will be for you too if you're the kind who has a bit of time to chop and prep and then other things to do. Soup is a good option for those strapped for time.

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2) You can make soup out of just about ANYTHING.
 - You've got carrots, peas, corn, potatoes and garlic on hand...let's make some soup! No carrots, okay, no problem. Throw lentils, pumpkin puree, onions, and some celery in, add water and season to taste...and we've got soup! Leftover rice and stirfry in the fridge, throw it in there...add some chopped kale, seasonings, and chopped red peppers...and we've got soup! The list goes on and on...

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3) It's filling.
 - Anyone responsible for feeding themselves can easily say, "once I eat, I don't want to be heading back to the kitchen in an hour or so in search of food." You cook, you eat, you get on with your day. No one has days and hours to spend cooking and cooking on end just to survive. Soup is the answer of all answers. You eat some, not yet full, eat some more.

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4) It's cheap.
 - Most of the time when I endeavor to make soup, I look in the fridge, cupboards and crisper, see what's around, make a pile on the counter, pick out some options and "throw it in a pot." I'm not kidding. Once it starts cooking I season to taste, put the lid on and walk away. I don't tend to grocery shop to make soup. You can very often use what you already have in your pantry and reduce your trips to the store.

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5) It's healthy.*
 - Now this one is tricky, depending on what you put in it. If we're talking ham hocks and fried butter onion soup...or mac n' cheese soup (there exists such a thing)...not so healthy. Just because you cook it down and throw in a veggie or two doesn't necessarily make it good for you. We CAN however, make our soup choices largely veggie-based, limit the salt and try not to over cook them. These suggestions can help to preserve the nutrients in our soups and make them a very healthly alternative.


So, there you have it. My humble plea for weekly soup-making. I encourage you to make some yourself this week! Share your "spontan" recipe below!

Afraid of making TOO much soup? here's a tip on how to freeze leftovers.

Simple Meal Suggestions (3 part post)

My weekly regimen:

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SO, most people have a busy schedule that allows for limited access to fresh, nutrient-rich foods. The typical American diet consists of whatever is quick, easy, and tasty. We are often know, world-wide for burning our candles at both ends (if you've ever heard the saying). And this is unfortunately often the case.

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We get sick, and don't take the time to find out the root of the cause. We simply look for the quickest cold-suppressant we can find that will allow us to keep working and moving along at the daily grind pace.

We could stand to learn a lesson (or two) from some other cultures that value their rest.

I digress...


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I endeavor to present to you my Weekly (Sunday's are my free-est day of the week) Work-Week Food Prep Regimen.

The name is actually longer than most of these items take to prepare so let's begin....

Weekly Food Prep #1: Soup
Weekly Food Prep #2: Salad

REnaming foods to get kids to eat them...?

Repost from http://inventorspot.com/articles/branding_vegetables_so_kids_will_eat_them

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Would George H. W. Bush have liked broccoli if his mother referred to it as "Power Bunch Broccoli" instead of just plain (hold your nose) broccoli? Research from Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab says he would.

Brian Wansink and others had already concluded in previous research that people perceive food more positively when it has a 'fancy' name, rather than a plain or non-descriptive name. (Wansink et al, 2005) This time Wansink and other Cornell researchers tested that theory on kids and precisely the foods kids seem to hate: vegetables.

First, the team tested the effect of positive branding on kids in their choice of one vegetable: carrots. For three days, in 5 school lunch rooms in economically diverse areas, cooked carrots were served. On days one and three, no descriptive labels were placed on the carrot area, but on day two, the carrots were labeled, 'Food of the Day' or 'X-Ray vision carrots."

Perhaps you've guessed that the 'X-ray vision carrots' won the carrot-eating contest. Sixty-six percent of the students chose the 'X-ray vision carrots', while 32 percent ordered the 'Food of the Day; 35 percent ate the carrots without a sign on days one and three.

Expanding the 'jazzy' descriptions to other vegetables, the same researchers explored the effects of re-naming carrots, broccoli, and string beans in two New York City schools. For two months the number of students choosing each vegetable was tracked. In one school, however, the veggies were labeled 'X-ray vision carrots,' 'Power Punch Broccoli,' and 'Silly Dilly Green Beans."

You guessed it again, but maybe you underestimated the effect of this round of vegetable branding.
In this study, the experimental school students made 99 percent more vegetable purchases than they did the prior month! In the control school, where no branding changes were made during the second month, vegetable purchases went down by 16 percent.

The authors emphasized that appealing descriptive branding had a positive effect on purchases in all age groups tested.

Well, President Bush, would you like to try some Power Punch Broccoli?

Who poo'ed...did you???

Photo by http://pinsta.me/u/chichiromeoandme and her beautiful children.

When I was a little kid and first became exposed to the naughty nature of children and their uncanny fascination with poo, I quickly learned the correct and incorrect ways to describe it in public setting. Below I will categorize the words most commonly used for this regular bodily function:

1) Poo or Poop
 - The word "poo" is often used in conjuction with the unattractive smell associated either before or after the action of relieving one's bowels takes place. Add a simple letter "p" to the end and you will be describing the action itself.
EX. " Ewww.... Mom, Trent smells like poop!" or " Peee-eeeww, she poo'ed!"

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2) "BM"
 - A "BM" is a technical abbreviation for "bowel movement." This, according to my grandmother, who is the knower of all things, it is the most appropriate way to describe such personal functions, in public or private. It is also the most politically correct way to describe the action taking place.
EX. "May I please be excused, I need to make a BM."

3) #2
 - Realizing the meaning of doing a "#2" can only be understood by knowing the meaning of doing a "#1." Here we see that the first describes simple urination, while the second describes the complex task of bowel movements. Oftentimes parents will ask their children, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" "Okay, #1 or #2?"
*Note: This way of describing the lower bowel movements is accepted in most all settings and situations and is the most 'politically correct' version to use.

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4) crap or it's censored version "$h!t"
 - To "crap" one's pants, or to "take a crap" is often used by the pre-teen to early and late adulthood generations. There is a sense of vulgarity to this verbiage and it is considered most rude to say out loud in public, especially the latter.
EX. "Gross Josh! You just crapped all over yourself!" or "Man, get outta my way! I need to take a massive $h!t"

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5) Doo-doo or boo-boo
 - These variations can be used by adults and children alike. The repetition in the words make them easy for kids to learn and they are generally accepted in public, when speaking to or about children's bowel movements.
EX. "Momma, I need to go boo-boo." or "Daddy, doo-doo'ed upstairs!"

6) Taking a "dump" 
Taking a dump is a common way to describe the process of passing stools and specifically refers to a large amount of waste being removed from the bowels. Often, it is also assumed, by using this phrase, that you will be engaged in bathroom functions for some time.
EX. " AY! Close the door! I'm taking a dump here!"

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SO...I hope that proved to be an informational and entertaining spin on the normal bodily functions we each experience everyday. No matter what you call it, or when you it happens, everyone does it!

Throughout your detox I hope yours are as smooth and pain-free as possible. Happy dumping!

DeToxify-ing our bodies

Let's talk about a few ways we can get our bodies regulated:

• 1) Drink WATER

We are challenged to drink half our body weight in ounces in order to maintain hydration. (ex. a person who weighs 160 lbs. (160/2=80) should drink 80 oz. of water daily OR eight 10 oz. glasses/day) Our body is made up of over 70% water and needs this to feed our cells, help our organs and move out the waste. Water is the cheapest, easiest, simplest way to regulate your body, stools included.

The way I do it: keep a water bottle/large cup at my desk at work, refill it every time it gets close to empty. At home, I have a large glass I keep by my bed. I plan to drink 1-2 large glasses before retiring to bed, refill, go to sleep, then drink the same immediately upon rising. Otherwise it's easy to forget about it.

I can't stress this enough: Drink to your health, DRINK WATER.

• 2) Drink Tea

If you can't get enough water in, next best thing is unsweetened tea. Tea and coffee can sometimes be dehydrating; I will not go into this debate here and now, however I will simply say there can be magnificent benefits to drinking tea for it's herbal components.

Tea can often get herbs into your digestive system faster than tablets and capsules can.

Here are some tea brands I recommend below:
1) Yogi Tea - Detox, Berry DeTox, Skin DeTox, Peach DeTox, Lemon DeTox, Mint Get Regular, Green Tea Kombucha, Purifica, Seven Berry Anti-oxidant...and so on.
2) Traditional Medicinals - Lemon Everyday DeTox, Women's Liberty...

I have personally had great success with these brands and have drunk many of their teas, always unsweetened and with great taste and results. Be encouraged to find the purest forms of tea you can and stay away from the "generic black teas." We can never be sure the leaf:stem ratio in the mix.

• 3) Take supplements

Of course, there are many out there in both liquid, capsule and powder form. Below are just a few I am familiar with:

1) Dr. John R. Christopher's Lower Bowel Formula ( I am currently testing this one out: here)
2) Essense of Vitality, Chef Ahki Cleanse (information found: here)
3) Nature's Way Naturalax 2 (info: here)

• 4) Detox with foods

This is mentioned last, because if we are already stopped up internally, adding more fuel (food) to the fire (our digestive system) will NOT make it better. There are, however, a few foods that can aid in detoxification, and help with waste management in the body.


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1) Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, chard, romaine...)
2) Root vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes...)
3) Citrus Fruits (lemon, orange, apples, pineapple...)
4) AVC (Apple Cidar Vinegar) the best "in my humble opinion" can be purchased here

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 - Instructions:  Mix with water and honey or lemon or basic fruit juice. Add 2-3 tbsp to an 8 oz. cup of liquid. Drink ACV up to 3x/daily.

5) Aloe Vera Juice or Gel (This can be consumed straight in "shot" form, or added to a well-like plain juice or smoothie) BEWARE: it will clean you out.

Either way it goes, remember there are MANY ways to deToxify your body and help it do it's job of keeping you healthy and alive with vitality.

 Attempt one or more of these each day and you will be well on your way to understanding your body better and helping it function and survive.
 









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Which one of these methods will you try today? Have you done a deTox regimen lately that WORKED!? Tell us about your experience "deTox-ing" below! Join the conversation!

Eat well. Live well. Be well.

Dr. John R. Christopher's Lower Bowel Formula Basics

This information is adapted from the website found here which has many awesome other pieces of information for your reading pleasure. Below I will outline the main points from their information and add a few of my own suggestions. ENJOY!

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Dr. John R. Christopher's Lower Bowel Formula

This is one of Dr. John R. Christopher’s most famous and popular formulas. To some this formula is known as an herbal laxative, however, to many herbalists it is much more than this. One of the most important and beneficial factors of this formula is how it stimulates peristaltic action within the lower bowel.

Directions: Take according to personal need.

As  no two people are alike in age, size, or physical construction and the bowel itself will differ in persons as much as the finger prints, most people will start with two capsules or 30 drops of the glycerine based extract three times a day, and then regulate the dosage from there.

Observe:

• If the stool seems too loose then lower the dose, but if it is difficult to get a bowel movement and the stool is hard and takes a long time, then increase the dose until the movements become soft and well-formed.
• In very difficult cases, one could take up to 40 of these capsules a day. After the hard material which is hard fecal matter that may have been stored on the intestinal wall for years has broken loose and is eliminated, one can gradually decrease but do not taper off the Lower Bowel Formula dosage so much that you lose this advantageous momentum and continuity of elimination. In most cases, improper diet has caused the peristaltic muscles to become sluggish, and in some cases, to quit working.

Timeline: It will take six to nine months with the aid of the Lower Bowel Formula for the average individual to clean out the fecal matter and to rebuild the bowel structure sufficiently to have the peristaltic muscles working entirely on their own.

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Problem: Most people have pounds of old dried fecal matter that is stored in the colon, which is toxifying the system, and keeping the food from being properly assimilated. Because of this putrefied condition, many people consume far more food than the body actually requires.

 In the process they wear out their bodies trying to get sufficient nutrition and are still always hungry and eating.

Benefits: After the bowel is cleaned, the body is able to normally assimilate the nutrients through the cell structures in the colon instead of being trapped in a maze of waste.

Food is more readily assimilated, and a person can sustain himself on about one-third the quantity of his prior food consumption and have four or five times more power, vitality and life.

When the body is completely clean, these aids will no longer be necessary;

then your food will be your medicine and your medicine will be your food. After following this program properly and the bowels are cleansed, this formula should only be used when needed.

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Eat well. Live well. Be well.