Use what you've got!

I've had some questions about what kind of blender I use. I wish I was using one of those sweet VitaMix blenders. SOMEDAY! For a long time I used an inexpensive blender that my sister gave to me. I wore it out after 6 months of using it several times a day. It was a Cuisinart. So for Christmas I got one of these blenders and I LOVE IT!Plus it came with a food processor which I've always wanted but couldn't ever afford.  This has really made things easier for all the raw food recipes I make.  The great thing is it was at Costco for less than $60.  I've been impressed with it.  Obviously if I could have bought the Vitamix they were selling I would have but I took what I could get and have been happy as can be. Thanks honey!

The point is YOU DON'T NEED AN EXPENSIVE BLENDER.  I don't even have one. For those of you who have a Vitamix, I hope you're using the crap out of them.  Use them for all us poor people working with 1/4 of the power you've got:)  Happy Blending!

"Oh no he's turning green!!!" (part 3)

I experimented over the next few months.  It was summer so there were plenty of fresh vegetables to choose from.  I researched more and more about the essential vitamins and minerals.  We had a shake a day.  (A different one each day of course)  At first I had to use more juice and frozen fruit to mask the taste of the vegetables and greens.  Now I don't have to use as much sweet stuff.  I used this basic recipe.  It's easy to make and easy to digest and a best-seller at our house.
fill blender pitcher 1/2 full of apple juice (I use the unfiltered or homemade apple juice but use whatever juice you have)
add 3 red chard leaves, 3 kale leaves, beet greens, handful of spinach, handful of romaine lettuce, spirulina (powder 1/2 tsp) and ice and water if needed. . 
The thing is I've tried this recipe on some of the pickiest eaters. I've babysat kids and tried it out on them.  Consistently, it’s a big hit.  It's awesome. I have to coax them a bit to take the first drink by making a game out of it or using some fun straws.  We call it "Hulk Juice".  Whoever finishes all of their drink first acts like "hulk" with his superhuman powers.

We established the tradition to "hulk out" after drinking it.  We all say as each kid finishes his last sip, "OH NO HE'S TURNING GREEN! WATCH OUT!"  It's fun for the kids.  They pretend to grow and rip their clothes out.  They act like they have superhuman strength like the hulk by picking up ridiculous things like the sofa chair or refrigerator or even each other. 

All I can say is if this is what it takes to get them the much needed vitamins and minerals they need each day, I'll do it because I'm committed to providing them with the best nutrition possible.  

Curious about what vitamins are found in this drink:

Red Chard has fiber, vita K, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, vita E, Folate.

          Kale has Vita C, Riboflavin, Vita A, Vita E, Vita K, Iron, Fluoride.

          Spinach has Potassium and Zinc, Vitamin B-6.

          Spirulina is high in Kelp, Protein, Essential Fatty Acids, Vita B12

This drink not only will cleanse the body but will also build the immune system. Try it.  I’m serious.  You’ll love the way you feel after drinking it. It's awesome!

Eat it Or Drink it (part 2)

Every night I tried to make a salad for dinner.  I love salad and wanted my kids to start eating more of them or at all I guess would be a better way of putting it.  Of course they would shove the bowl away and never eat it.  One night I was especially frustrated with them and couldn't stand the fact that they wouldn't eat all the good food I was offering them.  


I bribed them and begged them to eat their vegetables.  I felt like a broken record night after night.  An idea came to me right there in the spur of the moment and I blurted out, "if you don't eat your salads tonight... you'll have to drink it!"  They all just laughed at me.  So I took their salads threw them in the blender added some apple juice and ice and blended it right in front of them.  (DON'T MESS WITH ME!! haha). They sat there quietly as I put jars of this green drink in front of them.  I told them they couldn't get up from the table until they drank all of it.  I still remember their faces. Bubbles Pat, my 4-yr-old, was the first to drink it.  
And HE LOVED IT! What the heck!  The others started drinking theirs and liking them.  It was such an incredible night.  I felt like my prayers had been answered.  Soon I was experimenting with all kinds of stuff I could throw into these "green drinks."  

Keep reading for the results! 

What's missing? PART 1

Okay so I've been really posting a lot about keeping a food journal.  Hope you have been doing it.  I posed this questions to all of my fine readers... How do you know if you or your children are getting adequate nutrients if you aren't keeping track?  Hope this has inspired you to do this!  There are great resources online for those that need help with this.  The link below was the best I found.

Once you've got your food journal.  Now it's time to analyze it to see what's missing.  I have a table on my fridge that shows all the essential vitamins and minerals and what food sources they are found in.  This is super easy and helpful in determining what nutrients are missing.  The Food and Nutrition Information Center from the USDA's website was actually the MOST helpful in all my research. http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=1

For individual vitamins and minerals click here to see what food sources  http://jn.nutrition.org/nutinfo/
Also this is great to print for your notes http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/Topics/FG/AppendixC_NutrientChart.pdf?debugMode=false

Studies show that in America children are deficient in Vita A, Vita E, Vita K, all the B vitamins, Magnesium, Omega Fatty Acids, and Iron and Electrolytes.  Children (and adults) needed to eat more green leafy vegetables, red and yellow vegetables to get rid of these deficits.  After journalling the first time I realized that my children, though I didn't think it was possible (haha) were no different than the typical American.  They were, in fact, deficient in the same vitamins and minerals.  

I went to work researching what foods I needed to get into their diets.  I came across lots of literature and ideas that would help me on my quest. Again I used the USDA website a TON.

This is all outlined in detail in my book.

For example, I learned about Kale and Red Chard and Swiss Chard.  These are all green leafy vegetables that are among the highest vitamin enriched foods.  They have 9 of the essential vitamins needed daily.

Of course, how on earth were my ridiculously picky eaters going to eat more of all the foods they needed especially salads with green leafy vegetables like Kale and Chard? 

Read my next post for the answer (eat it or drink it- part 2)!

Raw Fudge (it's the bomb)

Spanky and I made fudge today.  It's so easy and sooooooooo good.  

Here's the recipe I used:

1 cup coconut oil (softer is better)

1 cup finely chopped almonds (i put them in the food processor cuz my kids are picky about nuts)

3/4 cup agave nectar (I like a bit less cuz i don't like sweet things)

2 tsp organic vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup cacoa (raw chocolate powder) get at a health food store

Blend the ingredients together.

Spread out on a pan and put in the fridge/freezer. 

OOOH so good.  I'm thinking about mint extract for next time.  Doesn't that sound freakin awesome?  (Oh and I used a knife to cut the fudge that had peanut butter on it (don't judge me it was the only knife in site).  Anyways it tasted like chocolatey-peanut butter heaven.  Try it! Even though it's not all raw.

My husband commented on how creamy and smooth the fudge tastes.  He's not one to like all my crazy treats but this one was a home run.

I'm Smiling!

Isn't eating healthy so wonderful?  I could just do it all day everyday.  I love it! It makes me happy.  I love to whip up healthy alternatives in my kitchen. A common misconception is that I miss out on foods with flavor since it's healthy.  Gotta say that I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything when the food I eat is so tasty and so full of vitamins and minerals and just delicious.  Another misconception about eating healthy is that it costs a lot.  Not true.  I don't have a large food budget to work with and through smart shopping and cutting out buying processed foods, it's easy to spend less than the average American.  I'd love for you to join me on my mission.  Come on why not?  Try some of my recipes.  A little by little and you'll love the way you feel. The thing is if everyone else would join me, I wouldn't seem like such a freak.  Is that possible at this point?  Hmmm.... 
Still the same, I'm smiling.  Guess that's all that matters.

Granola is so delicious. Gluten free.

Instead of buying cereal try making granola.  It's so much cheaper and way better.  Here's my quick recipe.  It was done in 20 minutes. No joke start to finish.

Combine the following ingredients in a bowl.

5 cups oatmeal
1 cup agave **less is always better
1/2 c coconut oil
dash of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp maple
1 T cinnamon
2 T organic sugar optional (not necessary at all, in fact I make it without it all the time, 
               I put this in for Miles cuz he likes it a little sweeter)
1 T sesame seeds (can use other seeds, my kids won't eat it if I put too many in)

Spread out onto a tray.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes at 350.  Watch carefully and stir it often to keep it from burning.

Let cool and store your favorite jar (avoid plastic to keep fresher).  We like to eat it with raisins or Kefir.  (I'll post soon about how easy it is to make your own yogurt and kefir).  I love eating it with Almond Milk.  I'll post how easy it is to make that soon.