Near and DEAR to us all

Recently a few of my dear family members have been diagnosed with some serious diseases.  My heart aches for them and what they are going through.  We all have people we care about.  I learned a few years ago the hard way that it's easier to prevent a disease than cure a disease.  I'm living proof that it can be done because I'm here today disease free after being sick for nearly 10 years.  But the road took determination and lots of prayer.  So to any of you that are on the path to healing, I know you can do it.  Our bodies are incredible creations with endless possibilities.  As I was thinking about my family especially my children, I was thinking about how I want for them a life that is disease-free.  I know as parents we want to protect our children from getting hurt but sometimes we forget to protect them from getting sick

Here's a list of things you can do now to keep you and your children free from serious sickness in the future.  The time isn't when they get sick to change.  The time is now. Remember, it's easier to prevent.


BASIC STEPS (start here)
#1  Drink Purified Water -the rule is 1/2 ounce of water per pound of weight  (see post WATER)
#2  Get proper Nutrition-(see post NUTRITION)
#3 Walk Everyday--(see post EXERCISE)
#4 Keep those Bowels moving at least 2x a day (see post HEALTHY BOWELS)
#5 Good Digestion take enzymes and probiotics (see post GOOD DIGESTION)

My next 5 posts I will go into more detail for each category.  Keep reading!

Garden time

It's garden time.  Would the weather please cooperate!!!! I'm so excited.  I'm using every possible space for my garden this year.  If you haven't started your plant starts yet, now's the time to do it.  It's super easy and much less expensive.  I bought the little greenhouse from Walmart (i think it costs $7).  Then I planted peppers (red, yellow, green, and jalapeno), celery, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, leeks, and onions.  These plants need a longer season than Utah offers so its best to get a head start on these.  You'll be able to transplant them easily.  If you haven't already gotten your peas, beets, carrots, chard, and lettuce in the ground you can do those plants anytime.  They are fine with the cold weather and even the snow.  Beet greens offer a lot of nutrients and are a great addition to your green drinks so be sure to plant beets that you can use just for beet greens. They are high in Magnesium which most Americans are extremely deficient in.  Chard is also a good one for your green drinks.  Chard grows under extreme circumstances. For example, I planted a row of swiss chard last august and kept it covered all winter.  My plants are now thriving and will be ready to use very soon.  Who would have thought??  Kale also grows thru the winter.  I have 2 kale plants that I kept covered that are growing very well now.  Between Kale and Chard you get 10 of the 12 essential vitamins.  They are an essential part of the green drinks.  I planted a variety of kale and chard.  There are several types. This will help you rotate the greens you use.  If you have any questions about gardening, I'd be happy to help.  I'm also willing to help get you started and come over with a shovel and my gloves.  For those of you who don't think its worth it, just try it.  There is nothing better than going out to my garden and picking fresh vegetables and herbs.  Green drinks taste way better to me.  The plants are fresh and have more enzymes and nutrients.  Kale and Chard can be grown in planters as well so there's no excuse.  Get to it:)

By the way...thanks

Dear Family and Friends,

Thanks to all of you that have told me about your experiences with the green drinks and my recipes.  I feel so happy to know that you are trying my recipes and loving them!

I can't describe to you the change that has occurred in our home since our focus has been on getting our kids the adequate nutrition.  Our kids are happier, easier to handle, more obedient, less mood swings, they are trying new foods, doing better in school, more polite and courteous (which my mom told me she noticed when they spent the night at her house awhile ago), healthier and stronger immune systems, sick less, less allergies, and the list goes on.
I'm happy to share this with you all with the hopes that you will have some success as well. 

I hope you know, especially my family, that anything you can do in the right direction is a great start. I've gone kind of extreme as you can see, but remember I started small. Line upon line... It takes time to make changes.  Continue working, continue trying... Before long, you'll be whipping up delicious meals from scratch, blending up drinks, and making bread, etc without batting an eye.  AND more importantly feeling and looking great.  This lifestyle has helped me so much.  I love feeling good each day.  I can accomplish so much more.  I have a greater capacity to serve and to love my family especially my children.  I feel blessed everyday for good food and love to be able to share it with my family and friends.  So Thanks for allowing me to share this with you. Much love,

Melissa 

green drinks 101--simple and easy

 Hey everyone,

If you haven't figured out that I'm really into green drinks, you haven't been reading my blog.

Reasons why I love them:

• They taste good (and no it's not cuz my taste-buds are messed up; they are really good)
• Fast and easy (wash and blend--ITS SOOOO SIMPLE)
• Great way of getting the much needed nutrients that are missing from the average diet (perfect for the picky eaters who won't eat salad or vegetables)
• Makes me feel better as a mother knowing my kids are getting so many nutrients in one delicious drink
• Inexpensive--seriously-way cheaper than buying vitamins, or powders, etc.

If you are a beginner, start here

1. The first experience will be the last so make it a good one. Use less greens and more frozen fruit. I promise you kids will love it.  What's not to love its juice and frozen fruit!  Don't use as many greens as I have in my recipes...my kids are used to it now.
2. Blend it smooth.  If you give a kid a green drink with chunks, they won't like them so blend it really smooth.  I of course now don't care as much because my kids are used to it and don't mind having it blended all the way.
3. Make it fun.  Make games out of it...Like hulking out... Call it hulk juice.  Be creative, use fun jars and straws.
4. Don't let them see you make it!!!! That's a given.  If they see you putting green stuff in it and vegetables they aren't going to try it.
5. If at first you don't succeed, try again.  Stay positive and don't force the kid.  Wait awhile to get them to that point.
6. Avoid using too many types of frozen fruits in one drink or too many different types of greens.  This could cause a tummy ache.  Keep it simple.  I've tried going crazy with it and I realized that it's more beneficial keeping it simple and then rotating what I use.  For example:  Rotate the greens you use so your body can absorb more nutrients.

So what are you waiting for, mothers, fathers, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, whoever you are... if you notice the kids in your life aren't getting adequate nutrition...do something about it!!!!
  
I suggest starting with this classic recipe.

Fill blender 3/4 full of apple juice (I use unfiltered but you don't have to)
Add ice or frozen fruit (stick with one kind.  If you use too many kinds they'll get a stomach ache) 
2 chard leaves 
1 handful of spinach

 You can add more greens later.  Here you just want to get the kids used to it.   

Hulk Juice Recipe High in Vita C

This week my kids have been a bit sick so I've wanted to supplement them with Vita C (absorbic acid).

Here's a great smoothie high in antioxidants and vita c and packed full of vitamins and minerals which is especially important when you are sick.

2 handfuls spinach
2 handfuls lettuce/salad mix (i get it at costco)
4 kale or chard leaves (red chard is extremely high in magnesium which helps in Vita A absorption)
1 tsp powdered alfalfa
1 tsp spirulina
1 Tablespoon Absorbic Acid (powder)*available in the bulk herbs at health food stores** really inexpensive
3 cups Fresh Orange Juice
2 handfuls frozen apricots (can use canned and then ice)
Blend until chunks are gone (my blender takes 3-4 min)

This is a QUICK way to get your kids nutrients. My kids love this drink.  I adjusted the basic hulk juice recipe to help pick up the needed Vita C.  I've also blended other herbs into this recipe and the kids can't tell.  Other herbs/vitamins I've used: Cod Liver Oil, acidophilus, echinacea, etc.  If you've got a kid that can't swallow herbs and won't take the tinctures just disguise it in a smoothie. 

It's always best fresh right after blending but if you need to leave you can store it in stainless steel water bottles in the coolest part of the fridge. 

If your blender doesn't blend these drinks finely enough then strain it after blending.  Instead of discarding the chunks I eat them.  It tastes like salad.

Chocolate Dessert Recipes--sugarfree, gluten free

Raw Chocolate Recipes--SOOOOOOOO GOOD.  I've been making raw chocolate desserts and have shared them with friends and family.  The vote is unanimous for deliciousness.



1. Dipping Chocolate (for fruit or you can also put in molds and freeze it) Love it with strawberries

½ cup raw organic cacao powder

½ cup unrefined coconut oil

½ cup agave nectar



Blend and dip!

2. Chocolate Cups

2 bananas

1 avocado

1/3 cup raw organic cacao powder

1/3 cup agave nectar

Pinch of salt



Spoon in mini cupcake tins. Top with gogi berries, macadamia nuts, almond butter, etc.



3. Chocolate Coconut Mousse Cake

Cake Layer

3 cups shredded coconut

1 cup chopped dates

2 Tbs vanilla

Pinch of salt

2/3 cup water

Blend all ingredients in blender or food processor.


Mousse Layer

½ oz. irish moss (get at Omar’s Raw Living Cuisine Restaurant)

2 ¼ cup raw nut milk

1/3 cup chopped dates

1/3 cup agave

½ cup cacao

2 Tbs vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1 Tbs soy lecithin

1/3 cup coconut oil

Blend irish moss and nut milk until smooth. Add dates, agave, vanilla, cacao, vanilla and salt. Blend. Add soy lecithin, coconut oil. Blend until creamy.



Whipped Cream Layer

1 ½ cups raw cashews soaked 30 minutes

2 cups coconut milk

1/3 cup agave

1 Tbs vanilla

Pinch of salt

2 Tbs soy lecithin

½ cup coconut oil

Blend all ingredients except soy lecithin and coconut oil. When mixture is smooth and creamy add lecithin and coconut oil and blend again.



Layering the cake:

Spread half of the shredded coconut mixture on the bottom of a glass pan 9x13”. Pour chocolate mousse over top. Let set in freezer approx. 30 minutes until firm. Spread remaining coconut mixture over chocolate mousse and pour whipped cream layer on top. Let set in freezer another 30 minutes. Sprinkle the top with raw cacao powder if you’d like. Serve and enjoy.


Recipes courtesy of my friend Linda. 
Check out her website here.http://www.rawrecipebox.blogspot.com/

kids are funny!

A few days ago, I was getting ready for work.  Pat had to work til 5 am so he was sleeping in.  I kissed the kids good bye after waking Pat up.  Bubbles thought there wasn't going to be anyone at the house to babysit he and Tallyoop.  I heard him say to Tally, "It's okay Tallyoop.  I'll take good care of you.  I'll make you green drinks and feed you lunch and turn a movie on for you."  How cute is my 4-yr-old boy!!!  I love how he included green drinks into how he'd take good care of her.  Precious!!!!