Adding Veggies to your daily diet

I wanted to explain and give some ideas on how and why you should add vegetables to your daily diet. I can't explain and demonstrate enough how important vegetables are to your diet. I personally think our educational  system needs to do a better job at conveying to children and young adults that we need to eat a more whole food based diet. Meaning we need to eat more vegetables and fruits over meats, carbs, fats and dairy. My thoughts are also steered to thinking that it's the parents job to teach their children as well the importance of a healthy diet. This post is to actively help with everyone who needs help and suggestions!



You can click on the link below for more updated health and eating tips.
Harvard-School of Public Health

Remember that as a people and community we are always evolving and learning new things. What was once taught in the past to eat may not necessarily be good for us today. For example, we were taught as children that a healthy balanced breakfast were eggs, bacon, toast and milk. Now we realized that eggs if eaten too much can cause cholesterol problems, bacon is high in fat and contains nitrates and we can find healthier substitutes to the hormone infused milk.

Well back to vegetables, they help with digestions and help you to eliminate DAILY waste which is extra fat in your body that you really don't need. It's a good start to add your favorite vegetable daily to your lunch or dinner. My favorites are tomatoes, cucumber, onions and green peas. If you include your favorite vegetable and fill half of your plate with it you will feel full and satisfied. Just remember that it's a change and it will take get used to because you once ate a plate filled with meaty, fried and greasy items.

Vegetables are FILLED with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that meats,carbohydrates and dairy don't have in them. Whole foods have so many healing properties they can eliminate diseases like diabetes and cancer. Check out this website Gerson Institute

Food of the day: Hearts of Palm
The good: This food is very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Riboflavin and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.

Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/3027/2#ixzz24PoCSm8l



1 garlic clove, minced 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard salt and pepper, to taste 2 (14 ounce) jars hearts of palm, drained and sliced into 1/2-inch rings 2 (14 ounce) cans artichoke hearts, drained and quartered 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 4 cups mesclun Directions: 1 In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, olive oil, vinegar, mustard and salt and pepper to taste. 2 In a large salad bowl, combine hearts of palm, artichokes, tomatoes and parsley. 3 Pour dressing over hearts of palm mixture, tossing to coat. 4 Cover and chill 30 minutes. 5 Spoon marinated mixture over greens and serve.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/marinated-hearts-of-palm-salad-308190?oc=linkback

Enjoy and happy eating!

Juicing Recipes

                                                HULK SMASH

3 Collard Green Leaves

3 Kale Leaves

2 Cucumbers

1 Celery

2 Oranges

SWEET BLISS

2 Red Apples

2 Cups Strawberry

2 Oranges

1 Kiwi

EYE & IMMUNE BOOSTER UPPER

3 Carrots

1 Tomato

2 Red Apples

BEETNICK

3 Beets

5 Carrots

1 Orange

APPLE JUICY JUICE

5 Green Apples

5 Red Apples

 

  CLEANSING SPREE

5 STEMS WATER CREST

5 STEMS OF PARSLEY

1 ORANGE

1 CUCUMBER

1 CELERY

1 LIME

1 LEMON

SPICY TOMATO SURPRISE

2 TOMATOES

1/2 TEASPOON FRESH GINGER

1 LEMON

5 CARROTS

This is for my friends and family requesting juice recipes. I have tried most of these as you can see from the pictures. The servings are from 8-14 oz. You can add more or less veggies/fruits to your liking. Enjoy!

                        

Juicing

Orange and Carrot Juice

Carrots, kale, Green Apple and Strawberry Juice

I learned about Juicing a few years ago watching infomercials. I became really interested when I stumbled upon while browsing my Netflix recommendations. It was called Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. I was surprised to watch his transition from being over weight and sick with a skin condition to being a healthy eating and active man. It forced me to look at my own eating habits and what I was feeding my family. Once I was done watching the film, I quickly told my husband and friends to check it out!

This is Joe Cross in the movie. You'll see him change.

I also learned from the film, that doing a juice fast can help to heal your insides. Give your cells a chance to rebuild and heal your body. When we eat several times a day our body is constantly working to break down all of the food we eat. I've read in a few places that red meat alone takes up to 72hrs to be digested. So a juice fast for 24hrs would really help your body. Juicing can also be an added meal or snack. It has all the vitamins and nutrients needed for your body. Try juicing in the mornings and you will feel an immediate change. Your skin, hair and energy level will go up!

Kale, Collard Greens, Green Apple Juice

Another movie, that I would highly recommend for you all to watch is Forks Over Knives. You can watch it on Netflix as well. It documents a few people who have diabetes and other illnesses and how a doctor has been doing research for most of career on the benefits of eating whole and raw foods. This video helps to show how important vegetables/fruits are and not meat is to our diet.

One of the doctors patient, he lost weight eating fruits/veggies only.

Remember you don't have to quit your unhealthy lifestyle cold turkey! If there is something that you wish to remove from your diet you can start off with that one. Simply replace it with one healthy meal idea or habit. You can do it and happy juicing!