Popcorn - Why Mess with a Good Thing?

Since I have been spending much of my time down at Pocketful of Moxie - which launches tomorrow by the way - I have huge plans of settling in tonight and taking in a movie.

That always begins thoughts of snacks - and what snacks to eat during said movie. The first thing I always think of is popcorn - so we're taking a revisit to my 'popcorn post' of yesteryear.......

I love going to the theatre to watch a good movie.

Correction - I used to love going to the theatre to eat as much popcorn, candy and soda as I could stuff down my body before the 2 hour time limit 'however long the movie is' was up. I was probably not great dating material at the time but a theatre is always dark and no one could see how much I didn't care - or how much I loved popcorn. Really loved it.

The food was always my favorite thing about movie going, but once the food aspect of my life changed, everything had to adjust accordingly. It wasn't a struggle. I didn't stand outside theatres and beg for them to open the doors so I could buy some of that hot, delicious popcorn. I don't think that's what the police report said.....

Things adjusted in my life because it was necessary. It happened without much thought, and it happened  to include phasing out of movie theatre food.

A large buttered popcorn at the movie theater has 126 grams of fat and 1,640 calories. I am not a counter of calories, but the heart stopping action of this 'treat' is enough to make one stop and think before shovelling handfuls into our mouths.....and why does theatre popcorn and butter end up leaving us with that burny lip feeling? I never understood that....

The nutritional information listed for movie theater popcorn represents the entire container as one serving. Interesting....

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 The carbohydrate value for movie theater popcorn varies depending on the container size.

The child's popcorn has approximately 25 g carbohydrates while the large bucket has approximately 90 g.

Child-sized movie theater popcorn without butter has approximately 14 g saturated fat and 20 g total fat. With butter, it has 22 g saturated fat and 37 g total fat.

A large-sized bucket of popcorn without butter has approximately 55 g saturated fat and 77 g total fat. The large bucket with butter has 73 g saturated fat and 126 g total fat.

A few movie theaters use canola oil instead of coconut oil to make their popcorn. Yuck.

Small-size movie theater popcorn has about 8 g of protein while a large has 16 g. The total fat and protein values may vary with each movie theater chain.

Movie theater popcorn does not contain significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. When I was going to the movies, vitamins and minerals were the last thing on my list.

Small-sized popcorn has 2 percent of the recommended daily value for iron based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The iron value increases slightly with larger popcorn sizes. Movie theater popcorn is high in sodium.

A small-sized container has approximately 150 mg of sodium. That is insanity!

This value increases with larger popcorn sizes. The sodium value does not account for consumer added salt before eating. Let's not forget that salt is also a major ingredient to the flavored shakers they offer at theatres - so double the salt right there. Wow.

OK, so now that we have covered all of that - is there anything else you should know about movie theatre popcorn? Of course!

Here is a list of ingredients that are currently in your movie theatre popcorn. I know, I'm sorry.

GMO corn.

90% of the earth's corn is GMO now. Act accordingly.

Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil.

Trans fat linked to inflammation, free radical damage and cancer.

Any processed soy is not good for us.

Artificial Butter Flavor - Diacetyl & Acetoin.

Linked to asthma and respiratory problems. Read one story here.

People who work with this stuff have to wear protective gear or they end up with 'butter lung.'

One woman's story about her popcorn lung illness made the paper here.

Other ingredients in movie theatre popcorn include;

Beta Carotene.

For color.

TBHQ.

Anti-foaming agent

Citric Acid.

One final thought - the chemical diacetyl is not simply found in your theatre treat. It is also found in the at home, microwaveable version (please throw out your microwave - you don't need it....read why here).

Ok, Ok...one more piece of information I found; (thanks, How Stuff Works)

In 2003 and 2004, federal health officials looked into the cases of several hundred sick workers at popcorn manufacturing plants. Those workers were diagnosed with popcorn lung, likely caused by inhalation of diacetyl fumes. The owner of a popcorn company in Montana died from complications believed to be related to ingredients in popcorn flavoring [source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer]. 

It's not only hundreds of popcorn factory workers -- workers in candy and potato chip factories have gotten sick as well, as have at least 20 more workers who manufactured products with diacetyl [source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer]. More than $20 million in damages have been paid out as a result of lawsuits filed by factory workers harmed by diacetyl, and as previously mentioned, some workers have died [source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer].

The sick workers in popcorn and candy factories were exposed to large quantities of diacetyl fumes on a daily basis, but could consumers be at risk? On the next page, we'll look at what's believed to be the first case of a popcorn lover suffering from bronchiolitis obliterans.

Sure, diacetyl is the reason our popcorn has the flavor it does (and why we can't seem to replicate it at home - darn it!)....but if that's why my popcorn tastes so good to me, I'll go without.

Instead of eating the popcorn with the diacetyl poured all over top of it (and if you were like me, you started the butter when the tub was only half full, ensuring proper coverage) - try these interesting and delicious twists on our old favorites. If I can love them, so can you.

*Hot air popcorn with olive oil drizzled on it and parmesan sprinkled over top. Toss and enjoy!

*Hot air popcorn with coconut oil (way yummier than butter) - add your favorite true spices like cayenne, chili spice, garlic powder.....you decide!

Do you have a great diacetyl-free popcorn recipe? I'd love to hear it! Leave it in the comments below - thanks!

Rock your day!
 

The Absolute Wrong Way to Work Toward Abs

When I came across the following photo, I have to admit that I may have spit tea all over my computer monitor.

After a hasty clean up, I decided the world must realize how NOT to go about developing abs as the results....well....they just don't last.

You're welcome.

Have a great Saturday!

SECRET POST: You'll Have to Click To Find Out

There are many subjects this 'secret' blog post could be about. It could be about the greatest time of year - Fall - and how our seasons are starting to change and bring with it the chilly, bitter winter air.....but then again.....................maybe it isn't.

No, that's not what this blog post is about.
Not at all.

It isn't about anything that will make you comfortable - but maybe part of learning life's lessons is in the being uncomfortable - outside that zone that you feel safe.

Are you ready to be shaken up? I present to you.....

Puking.

Yes, I said puking. AKA: vomit.

Vomiting (known medically as emesis and informally as throwing up and numerous other terms) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose.^[1] Vomiting can be caused by a wide variety of conditions; it may present as a specific response to ailments like gastritis or poisoning, or as a non-specific sequela of disorders ranging from brain tumors and elevated intracranial pressure to overexposure to ionizing radiation. The feeling that one is about to vomit is called nausea, which often precedes, but does not always lead to, vomiting. Antiemetics are sometimes necessary to suppress nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, where dehydration develops, intravenous fluid may be required.

Vomiting is different from regurgitation, although the two terms are often used interchangeably. Regurgitation is the return of undigested food back up the esophagus to the mouth, without the force and displeasure associated with vomiting. The causes of vomiting and regurgitation are generally different.

So yeah - puking. I don't love it - heck, I don't think I even really like it - but I do consider it a necessary and vital gauge of how our bodies are doing. If I am really nauseated though, I would gladly puke to feel better than stay in that gross feeling for too long.

Let's put it this way - there are two major routes for our bodies to immediately remove toxic wastes from our systems, allowing us to remain healthy, vital and energetic. If you haven't guessed already - those two things are vomit and diarrhea. Notice there aren't many visuals here today.

Diarrhea or diarrhoea (from the Greek διάρροια, δια dia "through" + ρέω rheo "flow" meaning "flowing through"^[2]) is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day.^[3] The most common cause is gastroenteritis.

Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) with modest amounts of salts and zinc tablets are the treatment of choice and have been estimated to have saved 50 million children in the past 25 years.^[1] In cases where ORS is not available, homemade solutions are often used.

It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss offluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and electrolyte disturbances such as potassium deficiency or other salt imbalances. In 2009 diarrhea was estimated to have caused 1.1 million deaths in people aged 5 and over^[4] and 1.5 million deaths in children under the age of 5.^{[1](from Wikipedia)}

If we vomit, it is a direct and urgent signal from our bodies that whatever we have in there is not meant to be in there. Interestingly enough, most prescription medications come with a leaflet that tells you side effects - often these include vomiting and diarrhea. 

When your body involuntarily pushes something out of you - you should really pay attention!

The same goes for diarrhea.....your body wants it out - and now. What you have to say doesn't matter. It'll happen. 

Remember the movie Bridesmaids?

Time for seriousness - stop smirking. We're talking about vomit and diarrhea.

I think that's proof enough, don't you....and as funny as I thought this movie was - I gotta say I totally get it.

Years ago, I weighed 266 pounds because I regularly ate a diet of high sodium, high fat and high salt content foods. No secret - I've laid it all out for you here at The Fat Girl Now 50% Lighter.

My nutritional choices were non-existent because I didn't use my brain because I didn't realize I was avoiding caring about who I was. I had a busy life - a job I loved, a now ex-husband that I clearly didn't love and a mess of issues that I had carried throughout my entire life that had been stomped on, broken and now seemed unfixable.

I couldn't handle any more. I couldn't seem to do anything but soak my brain in a soda and carry on.

Wow, Shawn - what does this have to do with vomit and diarrhea?

Not much, but I thought the reasons I thought I had to stay unaware and unwell were good enough. They weren't. All of the above reasons were reasons for my hasty and poor food choices.....key word choices. I had them and I messed them up to the point where my regular diet was grease and salt.

I always had a great reason to eat crappy foods - the first and most important being that they tasted way better than those rice cakes I tried to choke down for lunch that one time. A Popcorn flavored rice cake. Now I understand how sad that is.

I would drink bottle after bottle of soda - never water - not ever. When I realized how large I had become and acknowledged that I didn't like it - I made a change. For me, it was huge - others laughed and were certain it would lead to nothing significant. I guess they were mistaken.

I switched from regular soda to diet soda - but I got far sicker far quicker. Then I was just confused.

The one interesting thing I noted was that when I ate these foods, I always got diarrhea. I recall one time that I headed to a fast food place with my Grandmother - I couldn't even get through the meal (if that's what that was) without hitting the washroom. As fast as I could eat it, my body was rejecting it. This was strange to me because I had eaten it almost all of my adult life. I should be used to it. I loved it.

Not once did I connect the food to what was making me sick. Not once. I was in complete denial about it because eating that rice cake - well - there was going to be hell to pay if I had to eat that.

Over time we learn - we grow - and I learned to look at my little victories for what they were - successes. I quit eating a regular diet of garbage, quit soda - I quit smoking like a chimney and drinking more than I should have. I started telling myself the good things about myself instead of the other things and I really started spending time enjoying being me. I hadn't known who that was for a really long time.

Everything starts with a thought - so if you have already done something (ie: eliminated soda) - congratulations! That is beyond what most thoughts become. You are now 'doing something positive for yourself' no matter if you view that as a large success or not.

So, I guess I should get to my point with this whole vomit and diarrhea post.

The point is - these fast fried and processed foods make you crap and puke. If that is happening to you, please stop eating them.

Listen to your body.

Now go forth and share this link - gross YOUR friends out too!

The Pink Breakfast Smoothie

THE PINK BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE

Thanks to mamaowlblog.com for the recipe!

Probiotics You Make At Home For Almost No Money

Probiotic discussions are popping up all over my circle of the internet lately. I wanted to share this repost......

A probiotic is a mystical and wonderful thing - at least it used to be. Now, it is the first thing I reach for each and every morning. Why? Let me tell you why.....

The term 'probiotic' literally means 'for life.' Looking at this definition, it then seems logical that we can determine what an 'anti-biotic' does. It is 'anti-life.' I even Googled it for you....

When a person takes antibiotics, both the harmful bacteria and the beneficial bacteria are killed. A reduction of beneficial bacteria can lead to digestive problems, such as diarrhea, yeast infections and urinary tract infections. The possibility that supplemental probiotics affect such digestive issues is unknown, and remains under study.

So once again, if we go back and look at the probiotic, it will help alleviate digestive problems, yeast infestations and urinary tract infections. Yet they just finished saying that there is only a 'possibility' that supplemental probiotics do these things. I could beg to differ, but I don't have to beg. I know what they do for me.

There are many probiotics on the market, and some of them are quite amazing, and then there are those that claim they are active cultures, but we end up paying far too much for something that doesn't work because we don't understand it.

The very first probiotic I ever tried was ACIDOPHILUS. We could purchase it in capsule form too, so we were off! Here is the best explanation for what it is that I could find (thanks, New Well Being.Com).

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a "friendly" strain of bacteria used to make yogurt and cheese. Although we are born without it, acidophilus soon establishes itself in our intestines and helps prevent intestinal infections.

Acidophilus also flourishes in the vagina, where it protects women against yeast infections. Acidophilus is one of several microbes known collectively as probiotics (literally, "pro life," indicating that they are bacteria and yeasts that help rather than harm). Others include the bacteria L. bulgaricus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, L. casei, B. bifidus, S. salivarius, and S. thermophilus and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii.

Your digestive tract is like a rain forest ecosystem, with billions of bacteria and yeasts rather than trees, frogs and leopards. Some of these internal inhabitants are more helpful to your body than others. Acidophilus and related probiotics not only help the digestive tract function, they also reduce the presence of less healthful organisms by competing with them for the limited space available. For this reason, use of probiotics can help prevent infectious diarrhea.

Antibiotics can disturb the balance of your "inner rain forest" by killing friendly bacteria. When this happens, harmful bacteria and yeasts can move in and flourish. This can lead to vaginal yeast infections.

Whenever you take antibiotics, you should probably take probiotics as well, and continue them for some time after you are done with the course of treatment. Although we believe that they are helpful and perhaps even necessary for human health, we don't have a daily requirement for probiotic bacteria. They are living creatures, not chemicals, so they can sustain themselves in your body unless something comes along to damage them, such as antibiotics.

Cultured dairy products such as yogurt and kefir are good sources of acidophilus and other probiotic bacteria. Supplements are widely available in powder, liquid, capsule,or tablet form. Grocery stores and natural food stores both carry milk that contains live acidophilus.

Interesting, right? Keep in mind that when we hear 'yogurt' that they don't mean the store bought processed yogurt that won't have what we need in it (processed never does). Acidophilus is just one probiotic, and we haven't gotten to the recipe yet - we have to keep moving forward.....

Once I explored wellness further, I learned that if a probiotic purchased at the store isn't refrigerated, it doesn't have much use in our guts. It is broken down and digested/eliminated before we are able to extract anything useful and what we do get ends up a mediocre help to our systems.

So I started buying the refrigerated probiotics. I thought they were incredible! The RENEW LIFE probiotics were expensive to me (I am a very thrifty gal) at $60 for 60 capsules - but I bought them and I know what a difference they made. I felt so much better!

The probiotics we bought were always kept in the fridge, and I kept them in the door so I was always reminded at breakfast to take them.

I also made and drank REJUVELAC - a liquid made from soaking brown rice in water. Straining off the liquid, another probiotic is created. Hubby and I had been popping a probiotic capsule every morning, so trying this was definitely more work intensive. It was a learning process and we embraced every new idea or theory with an open mind.

The recipe for the brown rice rejuvelac is in my book, "The Fat Girl Now 50% Lighter. We got the recipe from someone who had been making their own for years. We took it every day in place of the capsule - but we found difficulty in getting around one simple aspect of the self-made rejuvelac.

It tasted like baby puke.

At this point in my wellness journey, it didn't matter to me. I choked it down every day with a water chaser and patted myself on the back for getting through another one. If I didn't rev myself up psychologically, I'd never do it. The smell alone....

The reason I kept taking the horrid stuff? It worked far better than anything else I had tried - and my 'balance' between mind, body and spirit continued to improve. Of course, we weren't simply waiting for rejuvelac to do all the work for me - what I ate still mattered, but the flora balance of my guts kept getting better, making life improve overall.

This year, that same wonderful, amazing rejuvelac maker who had helped me in the past returned to save me yet again. She had with her a new, improved rejuvelac recipe - and this one doesn't taste like baby puke at all! In fact, when hubby and I first went to try it, we braced ourselves - and then we happily discovered it tastes like water. Bonus!

The new rejuvelac is made with spelt berries. They are really spelt seeds, just with a fancy name.

So, the recipe is beyond simple - it goes like this;


DAY 1:
*In a quart jar put 1 cup of spelt berries and 2 cups of water.
*Cover with a cheesecloth.
*Set on your counter top for 24 hours.



DAY 2:
*Drain water and discard this water.
*Add 2 more cups of water to the jar.
*Let stand for 48 hours.






DAY 3:
Do nothing, you're supposed to be leaving it for 24 hours, remember? Think of all the things you can do with this extra time! You could go for a walk - head to the park and take a picnic....or go play in the mud.....or write your friend a letter...on real paper.....but you'll have to do something because you don't have to do this. Not today.





DAY 4:
*Your Rejuvelac is ready!
*Strain the 'water' off and store in a new, clean glass jar.
*This will make up your Rejuvelac.
*Add 2 cups of water to the original jar.
*Let stand for 24 hours.






DAY 5:
*Strain all liquid into the 'straining' jar.
*You should have 1 quart of Rejuvelac in the jar now (no berries - they are in the other jar all alone now).
*Refrigerate your Rejuvelac for up to 21 days!


When we are finished with the spelt berries, we take them and plant them in dirt. Waste not, want not - and we always cut the blades of grass that grow, dry and powder them and use them in smoothies. Spelt berries can be purchased at your local bulk foods place or from an organic grower like Integrity Foods in Riverton, Manitoba. They are far less cheaper and go farther than a store bought probiotic.

The spelt berry grass (as I call it) - if it seems work intensive, I assure you it isn't. They grow all on their own, you merely have to cut and dry it when it is ready. The benefits to our wellness is amazing and it never hurts to keep exploring.

Now - the final instructions. I try to make everything as fun as I can, otherwise it just isn't worth doing.

I take a shot glass and fill it with my Rejuvelac. This will be referred to as my morning 'shot.'

Once I started exploring wellness, I realized there were still some things that I had to psych myself up for.....like the first Rejuvelac recipe I had.

This one is a breeze to take - but hubby and I still put it in a shooter glass each every morning, share a smile, a toast to wellness - then we chug 'er down.

It's empowering to know you're making the right choices for yourself - and doing it like a boss!

How will you know Rejuvelac is working for you? My experience has been this; when I first started taking it, I really noticed that my guts started moving more. Yes, by that I mean I was attending the washroom area of my home more frequently. I could hear the burbling of my tummy as things in the bacterial world started re-balancing.

These days, I take a shot every morning to maintain things in the digestive world (and all of the other great reasons).

Do you have experience with Rejuvelac? I'd love to hear about it - feel free to leave a comment.
Rock your day!

10 Things to Do Instead of Binging

One of the most popular posts I have ever made centered around binging.

I thought a repost was definitely in order.

I love inspirational lists. 

I used to make them myself when I was sorting out the chaos that was my life, my thoughts and my wellness.

Lists make order of things we can't seem to make order of.....for me, it is all about the visual. I just learn better that way and I feel far more centered organizing thoughts on paper.

I found this helpful list - and although I think that if you really do not want to learn the guitar, you shouldn't have to - this list is great! 

Replace the items in the list with something as appropriate. 

The list itself is only to give us an idea of the possibilities that can help curb cravings 

that lead to binge eating.

You can add or remove items from this list as you choose. It is YOUR LIST.

Heck, rewrite the whole thing - as long as you keep moving forward and feeling improvements - you'll know you're on the right track.

Rock your day!

Thug Kitchen

I wanted to share a Facebook page that a friend of mine discovered. She is an amazing chef who should have her own creations in print - but that'll be another blog.

 

THUG KITCHEN is a place unlike no other. Instead of babying us through the simplistic recipes of wellness, they have taken another route to the same destination - one that many of us find not only amusing, but entertaining too.

 

There is no other way to explain how Thug Kitchen gets the view across that food is nutrition (and some 'food' isn't) - so I'm just going to show you.........

 

Their message: EAT LIKE YOU GIVE A FUCK.

THEIR MISSION: To inspire the shit out of some mother f***ers to eat better and have a healthier lifestyle.

 

I introduce to you....THUG KITCHEN.

 

(Taken straight from their facebook post):

 

Clear room on the grill for these stuffed sons of bitches. They pack a lot more flavor and nutrition than some lazy, played-out veggie kebabs. And no, you don’t eat the stem; you throw it at whoeverthefuck brought veggie kebabs.
 

BASMATI STUFFED GRILLED PEPPERS
FOR THE FILLING:
1 ½ cups brown basmati or other long grain brown rice
1 large tomato
1 large carrot
... ½ large onion, yellow or white
1 zucchini
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 ¼ teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme
 

 

 

1 teaspoon smoked paprika (if the store doesn’t have this then just leave it out. It’s not a fucking deal breaker)
2 cups water
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar (red wine vinegar would work too)
3-4 cloves of garlic
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

FOR THE BEANS:
1 ½ cups white beans or 1- 15 ounce can (You can use navy, cannellini, whatever kind of creamy bean you got)
2 tablespoons of chopped onion
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (or whatever vinegar you’ve already used)
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon oregano dried
4 large bell peppers
Fresh basil (optional)

Put the rice in a strainer and rinse that shit. Throw the tomato in a food processor and puree it into juice. You should get about a cup. You could also just use tomato juice here if you have that at your place already.

 

Chop up the onion, carrot, and zucchini into pieces about the size of a dime. Take 2 tablespoons of the chopped onion and put it aside. You will use that shit in a minute. In a big pot heat the olive oil up over a medium heat. Add the big portion of onion and let it cook until it starts brown, like 5 minutes. Add the carrot, zucchini, oregano, thyme, and paprika. Cook for about 1 minute. Add the rice, pureed tomato, and water. Throw in a pinch of salt and bring it all to a boil. Once it is boiling, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low so that shit simmers. Let it go for like 30-40 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked all the way.

While the rice cooks throw the beans, 2 tablespoons of onion from earlier, olive oil, vinegar, and oregano in the dirty food processor and run it until everything looks smooth. It’s cool if there still are some tomato bits in there. Add a little pepper and stir that shit in. When the rice is done, add the garlic, sherry vinegar, and lemon juice to it. Cover and let that sit for a goddamn minute. Taste the rice and add salt, pepper, or more seasoning until that shit tastes good enough to meet your standards.

Chop the bell peppers in half lengthwise and scrape out all the seeds. They aren’t hot and taste bitter so throw them the fuck away. Add a couple spoonfuls of the bean mixture inside each pepper and spread that shit around. Add spoonfuls of the rice until it is all nice and packed in. I got about half a cup of rice in each one of mine.

Heat up your grill to a medium-low heat. Spray it down with a little oil so that the peppers don’t stick. Spray the tops of each pepper lightly with oil too so those fuckers don’t dry out. Grill the stuffed peppers for about 10-12 minutes. You want the peppers to start to soften and get some good looking grill marks on them. Top with fresh basil and serve warm.

Makes 8 stuffed peppers.

 

They deliver nutritional information and wellness support with an edgy blade that people are really responding to.

 

It reeaaaallllyyyyy makes no difference if you ever visit Thug Kitchen or not - what will make the difference is when you create their amazing recipes, consume them.....and discover f***ing wellness. ;)

Leave your views in the comment section. Rock your day!

 

THUG KITCHEN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thugkitchen

Raw Green Vegan Collard Wraps by Avocado Pesto

I discovered a new nook  to tuck myself into and learn! This heavenly website is called AvocadoPesto.Com and I have discovered many a new recipe I am going to make throughout the summer. One I found really piqued my interest - the raw green collard wrap. They are vegan and filled with the nutritional goodness I want my family to have....and maybe, just maybe good enough that my kid will eat it too.

Vegan Vicki (catchy, right?) has recipe after delectable looking recipe - without all of 'that stuff' we don't want to add if we don't have to.

 

On to the recipe!

Rock your day...the collard green way! ;)

 

 

The Canadian Prairies Has A 'Super Fruit'

 

If you're going to be categorized as a 'super fruit' you're going to have to be worthy of the name. So what makes a super fruit? If something is high in antioxidants, it can soar above other foods in the ability to fight cancer, inflammation, aging, cardiovascular disease and boost our immune systems - and that my friends is a super fruit.

 I read that they were more antioxidant than blueberries.......

Saskatoons are grown strictly in Canada, with the three main provinces that host this plant being Sakatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.

 

 I looked into saskatoons a little more and discovered this;

 

Saskatoon Nutrients  The Journal of Food Science

Volume 47 1982  Dr. G. Mazza

Saskatoons appear to be an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, copper and carotene.  A 100 gm serving of fresh saskatoons will supply 88 mg. of calcium or 11 % of the Recommended Dietary Allowance.  Saskatoons can be considered a better source of calcium than red meats, vegetables and cereals. 

Saskatoons supply 33.8 % of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of manganese and 7% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of copper.

Recent research indicates saskatoons have very high components of phenolics, flavonols and anthocyanins.

Saskatoons are high in sugar, rich in Vitamin C, and also contain more than three times as much iron and copper in the same weight as raisins.

 

I was thrilled to learn that my yard is surrounded by bushes of saskatoons! They may need some TLC to get them really producing berries, but it is a step forward!

 

All of the information is great, but we need to put it to good use to make a difference in our lives - so off we went to pick what we could find. I prefer mine in something like a smoothie - the rest of the family loves them fresh picked.

 

There are benefits all around us - natural, cost effective ways to boost our immune systems and feel better overall.

Saskatoons are one of those great ways! Rock your day....and eat some berries!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never Regret a Vinaigrette

We're always looking for a terrific salad dressing - and my taste buds are often grateful I try the new ones that I do. My favorite has always been the garlic ceasar dressing recipe mom shared with me years ago but I really love the variety and choices - the flavor results of each different dressing.

I stopped buying store bught dressings when I learned that it is really nothing more than squeezing fat onto your salad.....and what is the point of that? I explored the 'light' and 'fat free' dressings - but they are often worse. Check out the sodium and sugar content of any store bought dressings, even the 'good for you' ones - and you'll rush to make your own.

Your body will thank you!

Simple and Delicious!

These dressing recipes are delicious! be sure to test them out for yourself - you won't be disappointed.


SIMPLE VINAIGRETTE

uice of 1 large lemon or 3 tbsp white wine vinegar. ( you could also use plain vinegar in it’s place but white wine vinegar is better tasting)
½ cup olive oil, extra virgin is recommended for its health benefits.
½ tsp mustard, for the tang.
½ tsp mixed herbs
Salt and pepper to taste.

Whisk herbs, mustard and lemon juice.

Drizzle in the oil while stirring. Or simply put all the ingredients into a bottle and shake well.

HONEY VINAIGRETTE

¼ th cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
1 small piece grated ginger
A  dash of orange juice
1 tbsp honey

If you feel adventurous, add a tsp of toasted curry powder to this mixture. As with all the other salad dressings, mix all the ingredients together in a bottle. Finely minced shallots will add to the taste of this dressing too.

These great recipes are from Glad To Be a Woman. Rock your day!

Chocolate Covered Katie - The Healthy Dessert Blog

I am always looking for healthy snack recipes - I stumble across many wellness recipe sites that post what looks to be delicious morsels of healthy yumminess, but when I create them in my own kitchen following the recipe to the exact.....it falls flat. I'm all about flavor when It comes to delicious goodies - and the healthier the better.

So when I found 'Chocolate Covered Katie' - a blog dedicated to recipes of the chocolate kind, my ears perked up and I became curiouser and curiouser.....

I explored a bit and discovered;

This isn’t just any dessert blog: it’s the healthy-dessert blog! The recipes featured are healthier versions of your favorite naughty treats: Cookie Dough Milkshakes, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Brownie Batter Pancakes…..

Katie (the Chocolate Covered) says;

This healthy dessert blog is for anyone who wants to be healthy but refuses to give up eating delicious desserts in the name of health.

Happiness and health go hand-in-hand, and how can you be happy if you’re not eating what you truly desire? My favorite food is chocolate, and I eat it at least once a day. I’ve never been happier. Or healthier.


I scoured the blog - recipe after delectable looking recipe unfolded before me...until my eyes rested on one I have to try!

I'm sharing it here in the hopes Katie encourages sharing - and because the world needs to know about her! I have every intention of creating many of her scrumptious looking treats!

Gluten free brownies.....go!

Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies

 

1 1/2 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed very well) (250g after draining)

2 tbsp cocoa powder- dutch or regular (10g) (add a little extra if desired)

1/2 cup quick oats (40g) (See nutrition facts link below for all substitution notes.)

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave (Honey will work, but not for strict vegans.) (75g)

2 nunaturals stevia packs or 2 tbsp sugar (or omit and increase maple syrup to 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil (40g) (See “nutrition facts” link for all substitution notes.)

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup to 2/3 cup chocolate chips (115-140g) (Not optional. Omit at your own risk.)

 

Optional: more chips, for presentation.

 

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine all ingredients except chips in a good food processor, and blend until completely smooth.

Really blend well. (A blender can work if you absolutely must, but the texture—and even the taste—will be much better in a food processor.)

Stir in the chips, then pour into a greased 8×8 pan.

Optional: sprinkle extra chocolate chips over the top.

Cook the black bean brownies 15-18 minutes, then let cool at least 10 minutes before trying to cut.

Makes 9-12 brownies.

We'll be creating these this weekend (thanks, Katie!). Happy exploring - and please let me know what you create from her recipes. Reviews are always welcome.

If you're looking for Katie now too, here are all of her links.

Chocolate Covered Katie's Blog

Find Katie on Facebook

Katie's Chocolate Covered Pinterest Link

Black Bean Burgers

I have never been a real fan of beans. I mean, really, there is nothing terribly exciting about a bean. They are virtually flavorless....unless 'yuck' is a flavor.

I avoided beans for one reason. Other stuff tasted better. I never realized (or wanted to) that beans may not look or taste all that wonderful alone, but they can be coupled with other flavors and magic is made. Not only that, but beans have the power to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Let's not forget the fiber!

So, when we made the transition and started incorporating more beans into our diets, the world of nutrition really started opening up. Food became more interesting - do you know how many types of beans there are? Beans are also an excellent meat replacement....y'know....if you're looking for one.

Enough chatting....time for a recipe!

Beans. Try them - you'll be just as surprised as I was!

Black Bean Burgers from Ultimate Vegetarian Global Cafe Cookbook
by: Denise

Makes 10 (1/3) cup burgers

Olive Oil or water to cook onion
1 Med. onion, finely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic minced
(2) 15 oz Cans black beans, drained OR 3 cups cooked black beans
1 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs of more if needed (we make our own)
1 tsp chili powder or substitute
1/2 tsp.ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt

Cook onion until tender in olive oil or water in non-stick pan.

Mash together beans, bread crumbs, chili powder, cumin and salt.

Stir in cooked onion and garlic, mix well. (If too moist, add more bread crumbs).

Very lightly coat a non-stick pan with coconut oil, then drop about 1/3 cup portions into skillet and flatten into burgers. Brown on both sides.

Serve with spelt bread buns, sliced tomato, onion or lettuce. Add parmesan cheese if desired... or just serve as you like!

Enjoy!

Don't Quit

I have been called a go-getter, motivator, inspiration, good listener (I have my moments) and someone who tells it like it is.

I'm not sure how else to be, but I am who I am. I believe we all have moments where we experience all of everything (from the goodest of good to the baddest of bad) - but it is how we deal with these things and how much harm we do along the way that matters. If we continue to carry these negative  things through life, we will continue to do harm to ourselves and others. Not good.

We all will learn and experience love, loss, grief, pain, happiness and joy. How much of each we allow into our beings is up to each of us. Life throw's its curve balls - we still have to deal.

You can generally tell someone who doesn't like themselves very much - they point out all of the people that bother them, offend them or make their lives unliveable. Meanwhile, it is their own miserable existence that keeps them jabbering on about others as a distraction for what ails them.

Distraction means they don't have to look at themselves or deal with their own issues. It's a shame, but avoidance of these folks is best until they figure out how to circumvent the pubic bullying and deal with some stuff.....and even then, harm can be so damaging that reconciliation is futile. I have definitely been this person.

I wasn't always this nice - or this approachable. I have had my moments of down right bitchy as anyone who knows me can attest.....and although life happens, I have kept moving forward and surviving thriving life as it happens. We get better. We grow and hopefully not in ways we shouldn't - but even that happens. If we are lucky, those we have harmed in the past are willing to see us for who we are now, but that doesn't always happen. We have to be flexible and realize all of the aspects of a picture - and not just our one small piece.

When I weighed 266 pounds, I knew in my head nothing would change for me. It never changed. I knew how hard quitting smoking was - so I never tried. I thought that soda made a fair water replacement - so I drank tonnes of it and made myself horribly ill. I made up all of this ridiculous sh** in my head to get what I wanted. I wanted to be fat, lazy and full of phony cheese products, potato chips and tobacco smoke because they were my buddy.

When I felt like crap, these aspects of my life were my 'go to' items. I could get them anytime I wanted and they made me feel good all the time....until I didn't have them anymore......

It took some time and a whole lot of self reminders about what my goals actually were, but it happened. It happens slowly at first - we are searching for proof of effectiveness. We are so used to being 'duped' in the world of wellness that when someone claims something new to them, they immediately dismiss it as a lie. We need to know how to weed out the things that don't work for us and move toward the things that do.

If I had been honest with myself years ago, I could have saved myself a lot of health issues. Instead, I justified drinking in excess of 12 cans of soda a day, stuffing my face with every bad food going all the while growing more and more ill. We can lie to ourselves too.

In my book, The Fat Girl Now 50% Lighter, I explain how I learned to embrace change and grow through being flexible instead of believing everything I was told and defending it without proof. We learn that everything is not what it seems - and we have to remain open minded if we are going to adapt well.

There's nothing like the feeling of having epiphany after epiphany - every day! Joy comes back into life and smiling.....It can't be helped!

 

Embrace life - all it is and all it brings into your world. Some will be amazing - some not so significant and others yet - downright terrifying.....but embrace it. Life is meant to be lived - all of it.
 Always move forward and remain open to new experiences.

Rock your day!

We Are Energy

When I first watched 'The Secret' it took me awhile to really be interested enough to sit through it and actually use my brain to decipher what the show was saying to me.

When I did....wow.

 

I watched it again and again and again - pulling new information....deeper points I hadn't considered about the universe and my place in it. I got so much out of this video!

This was the greatest segment that I could find to share.

Once you watch this clip and ponder what it is truly saying, you may want to get your hands on 'The Secret' too.

 

I love to hear what you have to say on the subject -

feel free to leave your opinion in the comment section.

Rock your day!

Superfood Brownie Recipe

Part of the transition from garbage, Standard 'American' diet food is the realization that most of the favorite comfort foods fall by the wayside due to lack of nutritional content. No matter, we humans adjust well and in no time we can replace those old habits with new, nutritionally viable alternatives.

Take these brownies for example.....you're welcome.

Not only are they packed with real flavor - not that chemically created laboratory Franken-flavor - these are actually good for you.

Yup. It's here. The food revolution is happening!

Not only will you feel better about having one....or three of these suckers, you'll have more energy and get your nutrients too!

 

Ingredients

2 cups whole walnuts (finely chop 1/2 cup)
2 cups Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup raw cacao
1/2 banana, mashed
1 Tbsp coconut oil
¼ tsp sea salt

Methods/steps

In a food processor grind 1 1/2 cups of the walnuts until fine, then add the dates and pulse until blended. 
Add the raw cacao, banana, coconut oil and salt.  Once smooth stir in the 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.

Spoon brownie batter onto a square cake pan lined with parchment paper or plastic wrap, or form the batter into small squares and set onto a large plate.

Decorate the top of the brownies with Goji berries, cocoa powder or shredded coconut and place into the refrigerator for an hour to chill and harden a bit.

Brownies will keep in refrigerator for a few days - but they'll be long gone by then.

Thanks, Raw Food Recipes.Com.

Rock your day....and have a brownie for me!