Jamie Oliver Demonstrates What Mechanically Separated Meat Really Is...

This video is eye opening. Jamie Oliver shows a group of children how "mechanically separated" chicken is made and how it is made into "chicken patties" etc that many Americans eat every single day. Sadly, even after the children see how horrible processed chicken is, they still want to eat it. Pretty sad commentary on how brain washed our children are when it comes to what they are willing to eat. Hint, you may need to double click on the video to view it.


Check it out...

Gluten-Free Chocolate Muffins From the Gluten-Free Goddess

About a month ago my naturopath suggested I go off gluten to see if some of my "issues" would clear up. I am not celiac, but sometimes you don't have to be celiac to have sensitivities to gluten. I have been off gluten for over a month now and I have to admit that I am feeling better...emotionally and physically.  The bloat is gone and my mind feels clearer and more focused. I also have more energy.  Before going off gluten completely I had dabbled in gluten-free baking, so it wasn't too overwhelming for me when my ND suggested going totally gluten-free.  We already eat gluten free pasta and I had already been eating gluten free bread (Udi's is my favorite so far).

One of my favorite gluten free baker's is the Gluten-Free Goddess.  Her recipes are amazing, really easy and the ones I've tried have all turned out great.  My favorite so far is the Gluten-free Chocolate Muffins. These muffins are more like a dessert...maybe that's why I like them. :-) I have modified it a bit.  I use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar and coconut oil instead of olive oil and I used dark chocolate chips.  I also add about a 1/2 tsp of liquid vanilla stevia to kick up the sweetness factor. I hope you try these, they will cure any chocolate craving!

Check out this article by Dr. Mark Hyman.  Avoiding gluten is not just trendy, it's a really good idea, even if you do not have celiac disease.


*If you are currently fighting cancer, I would eat these as a special treat or omit the chocolate chips as the chocolate chips add some sugar.  If you omit the chocolate chips and add chopped nuts, they will be just as yummy.

Food Matters! Watch It!

My husband and I just finished watching the documentary Food Matters. It was extremely eye opening,  even though I already knew about most of what was presented.  If you are tired of popping pills or know of someone who is suffering through chemotherapy or their cancer just seems to come back no matter how much chemo they get.  Or if you need more proof that a plant based diet is the best way to avoid chronic disease, this is the film for you.  Like I've said before, you are the only one who can change your health.  You are not a victim, you have the ability to feel good.  If you are interested in preventing or reversing chronic disease, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND  this film...you will be astounded!

Blueberry-lemon Spelt Muffins

I really enjoy baking, definitely more than cooking. If I am making a soup for dinner I will try to whip up a batch of muffins to go with. This recipe is wheat free and sugar free. Here's a favorite...
1 cup spelt flour
1 cup millet flour (I use Bob's Red Mill or Arrowhead Mills)
2 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 egg (organic/cage free) to make this egg free mix 1 Tbls ground flax with 3 Tbls water, let sit for about 5-10 mins. and then add in lieu of egg.
1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
1/4 tsp lemon flavored liquid stevia (can sub lemon extract)
zest of one lemon
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 400.  Melt the coconut oil over low heat. Set aside. Next, in a mixing bowl combine dry ingredients.   In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients. Add wet to dry and then gently fold in the blueberries and zest. Be careful not to over mix.  Spoon batter into muffin tin. Makes 12 muffins.  Place in a 400 degree oven for about 15-20 mins. Enjoy!
For Cranberry-Orange muffins: substitute fresh cranberries for blueberries and orange zest for lemon zest and orange flavored liquid stevia for lemon flavored.

Dairy Free, Sugar Free Hot Cocoa

When I'm craving something warm and chocolatey here's what I whip up:
In a mug pour about one cup of unsweetened almond milk in a small sauce pan(rice milk will also work, but we avoid soy milk). Heat over low to medium heat until warm.
Add about 2 Tbls unsweetened cocoa powdered. Stir until dissolved.
Next, add about 2 Tbls pure grade b maple syrup, stir.
Pour into your favorite mug...and enjoy!
*adjust cocoa powder and maple syrup to your own taste. :-)
Variations:  add a few drops of vanilla stevia for a vanilla twist or add a few drops of peppermint extract or a dash of cinnamon. Yum!

Two Must See Documentaries

If you haven't seen these two documentaries, then I highly recommend doing so NOW!  The first one is Food Inc.  It is a powerful documentary that reveals the industrial machine that produces the food that you eat everyday.  You will never walk into a grocery store and see it the same way again. And, hopefully, it will change the way you eat and what you put into your body. If you think that the meat you are eating comes from happy cows that are grazing in green fields or the eggs you consume come from healthy chickens that live in a peaceful barnyard, then you are sadly mistaken. Check out the trailer.
The second documentary that I recommend is Forks Over Knives. If you have any doubts as to whether a whole foods plant based diet has validity or is actually backed up by science, then this is the movie is for you.
Here's a bit of the synopsis:
FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.
Dr. Campbell, a nutritional scientist at Cornell University, was concerned in the late 1960′s with producing "high quality" animal protein to bring to the poor and malnourished areas of the third world. While in the Philippines, he made a life-changing discovery: the country’s wealthier children, who were consuming relatively high amounts of animal-based foods, were much more likely to get liver cancer. Dr. Esselstyn, a top surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, found that many of the diseases he routinely treated were virtually unknown in parts of the world where animal-based foods were rarely consumed.
These discoveries inspired Campbell and Esselstyn, who didn’t know each other yet, to conduct several groundbreaking studies. One of them took place in China and is still among the most comprehensive health-related investigations ever undertaken. Their research led them to a startling conclusion: degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, could almost always be prevented – and in many cases reversed – by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. Despite the profound implications of their findings, their work has remained relatively unknown to the public.
Here's the trailer to Forks Over Knives. I hope you take the time to view these documentaries.  They will change the way you  think about food and what you put into your body in a profound way!

If This Man Can Do It, So Can YOU!

Check out the story of Randy Hale, an Oklahoma man who dropped 40 lbs and was able to reverse his diabetes by following a vegan diet.  My first thought was of all the men I know out there who's worst nightmare would be to give up meat and dairy...especially meat.  This should be inspiration for all of you who are struggling with chronic disease or obesity. You are not a victim, you have the power to change the course of your health. There are countless stories of people who have lost weight and been able to reverse chronic diseases by becoming vegan.  After only 3 weeks of eating a plant based diet (following the plant based diet plan of Dr Neal Barnard) Randy Hale was able to reverse his diabetes!
Switching to a whole foods diet isn't just about losing weight it is also about prevention.  A vegan diet has also been shown to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and many other chronic diseases. If you are already thin, don't think you are safe, being thin doesn't mean you are healthy! Not sure where to start? In my sidebar I have many links to sites with amazing recipes!  Being vegan does not mean you have to eat a "boring" diet.  :-)