Day Two- A GF Vegan Tasty Treat!!

Being a former fatty-patty (I lost 80 pounds after a 20 year struggle with obesity) I am always up for a sweet treat. The whole reason I went to culinary school was not just because I was diagnosed by three different doctors for anti-depressants, it was more because I was addicted to junk food and I wanted to find a way to make the junky foods healthy for me!

Cooking has always been meditation for me…I am a baker at heart, though now my approach takes on a much healthier light. My natural inclination is to find the sweet alternatives when I first try a new way of eating so I have a go-to item when I need. This immediate experimentation also allows me to suggest recipes to clients in search of healthy sweets! It’s a win-win and my inner child loves every minute of it! 🙂

Here is my most recent kitchen experiment from day two. It’s a sweet potato pudding made with almond butter and almond meal. You can use oats in place of the nut meal and rice milk instead of the almond milk if you have a nut allergy or sensitivity. While oats can be gluten-free if you get them from a reputable distributor, I’d rather not take the chance as we are committed to be vegan, soy-free and gluten-free.

As this recipe is a total overhaul from another recipe I found, it suits my tastes much better than the way it was when I found it! It’s healthy enough to be breakfast or even a good pre-workout snack. 

Sweet Potato Pudding

1/3 cup blanched almond meal

1/2 cup fresh made almond milk

1 cup cooked yam or sweet potato

1/4 cup almond butter

1 Tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Blend in a blender until smooth. Let settle in fridge for an hour or more before eating.

Juicing 101

As many of you have read my last juicing article, you have approached me with questions regarding the proper way to juice, how to get all of the fluffy texture and how to effectively add it into a current regimen without affecting blood sugar levels. Today I will address these questions for you!

1-Juicing can be done many ways with all different types of produce. My current favorite combo is what I use two to three times per week for this season including things I find at the farmers market.  It’s important to understand that using foods out of season will effect your immune system, the ability to acclimate to the seasonal temperatures/climates and overall well being.  Shopping at your local farmers markets will assure you have the best quality produce for your body during the current season. My choice for equipment is the Jack LaLanne Juicer…had mine for over 10 years now and it’s still a champ!!!

2-At my local farmers market we have some farmers who make a killer green drink. It has a frothy, round texture on the palate, not pulpy, and is not watery with chunky pulp like typical juice you buy from the store. To achieve this texture you must take into consideration the order with which you add each ingredient into your juicer. Start with the soft stuff first!!! Progressively move to the harder items in the end to push the soft fluffy pulp through the mesh screen. I do one big batch and drink  6-8oz in between meals throughout my day. Here is my current recipe, in order of addition, which gives me the greatest juice ever:

1 pink lady apple

1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled

1 golden beet with greens

1 head celery

1 bunch carrots with stems and greens

3- If you have hypoglycemia or blood sugar issues, it’s important to not do juice with too many sugary items. By using more greens and veggies you will be better off. An example of an easy addition: instead of using just the carrots, make sure you include the tops as well. This will help slow down the processing of sugars in the juice. For added security in your blood sugar stability, try consuming 4-8oz between meals or 30 minutes prior to a meal containing protein sources. This will allow your body to absorb the nutrients from the juice without having to work through the fibers, proteins and fats in your meal as well as preventing any unnecessary blood sugar drops by having juice with no meal for hours.

If you have any questions regarding this topic or would like more information please check out my website at http://www.bodyeverlasting.com

To Juice or Not To Juice. That is THE Question!

It’s been a topic raised by many of my family, friends and clients…will juicing really give me the benefits that everyone says it will? Here’s my take on this touchy subject so that you can have a bit more clarity and make a decision for yourself!

When I first discovered juicing I was in love. I never thought broccoli juice would be even remotely palatable until I combined it with carrots, fresh ginger and some tart apples. BUT there was a catch…

For many of you struggling with weight loss and or blood sugar issues, you will experience symptoms like I did at first: lethargy, blood sugar spikes, increase in weight/water retention and various other not-fun bodily functions. The reason for all of this is mainly due to the build up of toxins in your system, the way we have treated our bodies over time and the foods we consume while adding fresh juices into our daily routine.

To begin, when we gain weight there are many factors and reasons. Poor food choices, emotional trauma, environment etc. can all play a part in how our bodies store excess calories. When we begin consuming fresh juices these toxins are released back into the system and can play a number on our entire body from nerves to thoughts to waste removal.

The detoxification process can be a miserable one if not taken seriously. What’s more, if you do not change your diet along with the juicing you will be consuming way more carbs than necessary and find that you crave more sugar and carbs in the process leading to blood sugar spikes, weight gain and lethargic feelings throughout the day.

From my personal expereience, it is best to make fresh juices with more veggies than fruits in order to keep the sugars to a minimum and get the most from the nutritional content. Veggies of all colors can be extremely beneficial in the detoxification process of shrinking fat cells, eliminating excess waste and water retention from the body. Fruits have these benefits as well but when working to lose weight one must take into account the amount of sugar consumption more than the juicing itself. It’s better for those in need of losing some serious weight to not juice at all if it would only be fruit based, in my opinion.

To aid in the removal of waste and toxins from the system as juicing is introduced into the diet one must consider using komucha and or other probiotic containing products such as greek yogurt and Shakeology. (for more info on Shakeology see my favorite links at http://www.bodyeverlasting.com) The liver can only handle so much at one time and if your body is really gunked up, you will need all the help you can get…

Many people ask me if buying juice from the store is just as good to which I say…OH heck no!! Juice pre-made has been flash-pasterurized meaning the enzymes that actually do the work in your body to detox have been killed off. In addition, many of the vitamins are not only heat resistant but begin to “oxidize” once exposed to air. This means you will not be getting what the label says you are getting! Basically you are consuming some really awesome-tasting sugary drink.

In conslusion, making the choice to juice is a very personal one but must not be done without fully understanding one’s purpose in doing so. When you have clarity in your reasons why you want to juice, commit to it as a tool in conjunction with a clean eating program for best results. With a bit of trial and error you will find what works best for your body 🙂