Behold Buckwheat!

How many foods do you eat in a day that contains white or wheat flour, especially pre-packaged? I switched to wheat flour some time ago and I strongly believe hands down it's the healthy choice over white flour, however try going a day without any white or wheat flour! Don't get confused I still have breads and crackers with sprouted grains and/or seeds, steel cut oats and occasionally wheat pita bread or pizza with homemade wheat crust. With that said I notice when I eat 1 serving or less of "flour" my body does not slooooow down to digest which means my energy level throughout the day is more constant as well as my digestion works well let's just say like clock work. Recently I discovered buckwheat and the amazing fact that it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel making it a suitable substitute for grains. So I started with pancakes, they are soooo good but make you feel so horrible about 30 minutes later, however buckwheat pancakes eliminate the food coma typical pancakes cause. The recipe is almost ready for its debut so stay tuned and again pay attention to that sneaky downer - FLOUR!

*French Toast Breakfast*

1 Egg - organic

1/2 Cup organic egg whites

1 Tsp. vanilla

1/2 Tsp. cinnamon

Ezekiel Bread

Nut Butter

Berry Syrup

Combine egg, egg whites, vanilla and cinnamon in container, mix well and store in fridge for up to 3 days. This mixture will do 4 slices of bread, I eat 2 slices per serving. Soak bread in mixture and place in preheated skillet (I usually pour a bit more egg mixture on top) and brown on both sides. Top with a smear of nut butter and a generous portion of 1/4 cup of berry syrup along with 3/4 cup of fresh berries. This is a complete breakfast!!!

Confessions of a Syrupaholic

Okay so I admit there was one processed item lurking in my pantry that I just couldn't get rid off. The Log Cabin sugar free syrup loaded with artificial sweeteners and too many ingredients I could not pronounce. I love french toast and I figured out how to make it quick, healthy and oh so yummy but I just couldn't get used to the pure maple syrup, it was too sweet for me so every time I ate my beloved french toast I would with my guilty conscience pour the fake stuff over my healthy french toast. I have tried crushing berries but they were too tart and chunky, the berry syrups in the store are just as bad as the sugar free syrup, I tried recipes but it always consists of boiling the fruit and adding sugar which is pointless if your trying to eat healthy, I tried no syrup, but that was no fun, what was I to do? An then I one day I was reading in one of my RAW cookbooks about dates and how they are really healthy and the perfect natural sweetener, at Costco you can buy Medjool dates already pitted, I store them in an airtight container in my refrigerator and use them whenever you need a touch of sweetness.

So back to my syrup dilemma, dates combined with fresh fruit makes an amazing sauce for everything from french toast, pancakes, dessert topping, etc. I am so thrilled the combinations are endless and more important the fruit is kept in its natural, raw and healthy state.

Happy eating and goodbye processed food!!!

*Berry Syrup*

8 Pitted Medjool dates

2 1/3 Cups of fresh or frozen berries

Add filtered water for desired consistency

Add dates and berries in food processor. Process until smooth, add water if needed for desired consistency.

Your Optimal Health

Take note at my favorite links. I recently added Hakenya . . .

After having Sidney I wanted to loose the 70+ lbs I gained so I started at Total Health and Fitness. Total Health taught me the importance of eating on a schedule as well as eating 6 times a day, for me I love it I always have fuel to get through the day and never feel like I am starving. Total Health also introduced me to weight training and cardio workouts because no matter how well you eat I believe exercise is the other half of a healthy lifestyle. I did loose the 70 lbs. and then some with Total Health but after a year of the diet I was burned out on steamed broccoli and chicken for dinner.

My father is a cyclist and introduced me to Nate Thomas, founder of Hakenya. Nate and his nutritionist at the time taught me how to change up my workouts, take recovery time for my body and how to incorporate good fats back into my diet. From Hakenya I learned flexibility from my rigid (yet effective) health plan from Total Health, their work is backed by an extensive education and based from a scientific standpoint not just standing on a scale.

After I had Lucie I gained 50 lbs. again but I felt I had the power to loose the weight on my own from a nutritional standpoint, I did get a trainer at my gym once a week to give my body an intense workout at least once a week. It's been 20 months since having Lucie and happily I have lost the weight again. For me it took a good year before I could zip of my beloved pre-pregnancy jeans but I believe loosing weight slowly, consistently and without the help of ANY diet or weight loss gimmicks is the only way to keep the lbs. off.

The only medical issue I deal with for now is my lack of thyroid production since I was 18 years old. It seems having two kids has changed hormone levels in my body yet again but I have an excellent doctor that well is actually a doctor. She can reason between natural and conventional medicine and has incredible knowledge when diagnosing problems.

So again not only are pure foods vital and important fuel for your body, fitness (working out smart) and ensuring your bodies functions are all alined and working efficiently are all keys to feeling your best!

Sodium Beware

FYI: Pay attention to the sodium when you are buying pre-packaged and/or canned foods. I bought S&W garbanzo beans at Costco because it sounded like a great deal. When I got home I still had a can of the organic garbanzo beans from Sunflower Market, I compared the two, here is what I found:

Organic can from Sunflower Market sodium = 100 mg

Costco S&W sodium = 460 mg

Yikes, needless to say I am returning the case to Costco, pay attention to the sodium and happy shopping.

*The body requires 500 mg of sodium per day

*The heart association recommends no more than 2,400 mg of sodium per day

*Most Americans take in 4000 mg of sodium per day

Nutrition Guidelines

-Dairy - 2 times daily

Yogurt (without added sugar), white cheese, 2% milk (I choose organic for milk)

-Protein - 4 times daily

Fish, eggs, poultry (I choose organic for eggs and poultry), nuts,black beans, tofu, soybeans

-Carbs - 3 times daily

Whole grains only (sprouted and sugar free)

-Fats - 2 times daily

Avocado, black olives, oil (olive, safflower or nut oils are the best)

-Veggies - 4 times daily

Fresh is best or flash frozen

-Fruits - 3 times daily

Fresh is best or flash frozen

*The information above is general, the quantities will vary depending on age, fitness regime and male vs. female.

*Hummus*

A healthy substitute for cheese and mayonnaise . . . Yields: 8 Servings Ingredients 1 can (14.5 oz) Garbonzo beans (chickpeas) drained 3 tablespoons Sesame tahini mix well 3 tablespoons Olive oil 1 teaspoon Cumin ground 1 teaspoon Coriander ground 1 clove Garlic Coarse salt to taste 1/2 Lemon juiced 1/2 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
Instructions Drain beans. In Vita Mix add beans, sesame tahini, oil (this varies depending on the consistency you like), pepper flakes, cumin, coriander, garlic, salt, and lemon juice and grind into smooth paste. Transfer to dish and refrigerate. This recipe makes a great appetizer or anytime snack. Tidbit: add jalapenos, extra garlic, roasted red pepper for alternate flavors.
Cuisine : Indian Main Ingredient : Garbonzo beans