Drink to health

Hey loves, It’s been a crazy couple weeks and the next few weeks will be too but i wanted to stop everything and say hi. With assignments, projects and quizzes due simultaneously on top of being sick 3 types of ways with a full time job, Updating you guys had taken the back burner. But I’m back and better than ever!  With all that’s has been going on i hadn’t really been eating the healthiest but i make sure to get at least 2 if not 3 green smoothies a day. This has help me to recover from being sick quicker than usual without the need for medicine. When sick i like to make a super alkalizing  green smoothie, that basically flush out toxins out my body while giving me the provided nutrients my body need. What’s in my Super alkalizing green smoothie you ask?

• bunches of Kale and Spinach (fresh or/and frozen)
• Pineapple chunks (Frozen)
• Green Grapes
• Water
• Coconut water
• Unsweetened Green Tea (can be bought in store, i use whole foods bottled version)
• Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
• Matcha Green Tea
• Spirulina Tablets
• Wheat Grass powder/ tablets
• Vibrant Health GreenVibrance powder
• Honey(Optional)
• Avocado(Optional)
• Hemp protein(optional)
• Flax-seeds and Chia seeds (optional)

I know you’re thinking i just gave you a laundry list of ingredients, but the cool things about green smoothies are that you can put whatever you want in them.These ingredients listed are high in antioxidants and/or alkalizing to the body, With a bit of research your food can cure your sickness with no need for medicine. Drink to health my friends.

Best part of waking up is a Green smoothie in your cup

Mix it up!

Since  incorporating  green smoothies to my daily food intake, I feel healthier than ever. I went from one smoothie a day to two,  to sometimes even three. But just like shampoo once you start using it, it doesn’t feel that effective any more. So I switch up my smoothies every week or so,so my body doesn’t get use to drinking the same thing. So one week I’ll have  collard greens instead of kale and other times I’ll put spinach. I’ll also incorporated anything green, because green foods especially super-foods  are good for your body. I like to put in Wheat grass tablets as well as spirulina tablets or green super food packets to my morning smoothies, these give me  such a boost that coffee isn’t really needed. I also like to add Matcha Green tea sometimes to my smoothies for added  antioxidants. I’ve also tried incorporating hemp protein, but i can never get passed the chalky taste of protein powders. My recent mix-in that i think I’ll be incorporating  more often in my green smoothie is raw rolled oats. The raw oats give a hearty taste to the smoothies and has a great amount of fiber. I also love to mix in chia seeds and flaxseed to my smoothie for the omega -3 and the extra fiber that they provide.  Avocados are great mix-ins as well since they give a creamy texture to your smoothie but is also filling because of the good fats found in them. The best part about making these smoothie is you can put anything in there to your liking. With a little bit of research you can be on your way to a healthier you. Mix-in my friends! 🙂

 

 

 

Dinner is served

So If you guys didn’t know already, i have the best sister in the world. Yes its a bias statement but it’s true none the less. The other night we planned on cooking this grand meal to end our 40 day fast. When I got home that night running late from work , everything was cooking away and dinner was almost ready. We had blackened salmon, garlic herb potatoes and green beans,three word to describe this meal was: Yum,Yum, Yum! In the past i tried but failed  at making  salmon but this was our first try at blackened salmon which came out great. We finally figured out the secret ingredient to make the best blackened salmon ever. Its all starts from the prep way before the seasoning comes in. Acidity is your best friend when it comes to fish let alone any meats or poultry. But its a vital part when it comes to fish. Why you ask?  Well because  without it you fish ends up having a fishy smell and taste. I like fish and all but the fishy scent that it gives when cooking i could live without. So we poured a little vinegar, wine  and lemon juice and let it marinate a little, you can also do rum or vodka if you like too.  We didn’t get to soak it over night but it did just fine in that short period of time. After that we added some blackened seasoning on both sides and baked.   Based on this picture and how happy my stomach felt after, why wouldn’t my sister be the best sister in the world lol. 🙂

VeggieMac and Cheese

One staple i started eating since turning vegetarian is wheat pasta. My favorite way to eat wheat pasta  is  Macaroni and cheese  with California blend vegetables. This is a great way to eat vegetables if you’re not a fan of steamed/boiled  vegetables.  My go to is California  vegetables that comes with Carrots, Broccoli and cauliflower but you can add any veggies you like. I  recommend using the deluxe mac and cheese that comes with the cheese sauce already made but you can make if  from scratch if you prefer. Being in school i don’t have much time to really do things from scratch let alone cook a grand meal, so this veggie Mac and Cheese is my go to. A quick 15 minute meals that’s easy  and nutritious(Depending on the brand) and affordable. Yum! 🙂

FYI: When your Pasta is close to al dente pour the frozen vegetable in the same pot, once boiled completely . Drain and Stir in the cheese!

Trip to the Farmers Market

So my sis and I decided to go to the farmers market to stock up on some fruits and veggies. We decided to be a little adventurous and try a new farmers market and finally decided on the Flamingo’s Farmer Market. This was more than a farmers market this was a plant Nursery as well. So this was basically a one stop shop kind of place, but we headed straight to the farmer market and stocked up on fruits and veggies for our Daniel fast . The prices were nothing short of the ordinary prices  at the regular grocery store but i did find a deal on beets.  I honestly have to say ,I  never thought i would like beets but i do.When you get pass the color they kinda of taste like earthy carrots. I haven’t juiced them or added them to my smoothies just yet but as a little snack they are pretty good.

On this particular Farmers Market trip I was on a mission to find some avocados.  There weren’t really on sale but i needed them specifically to make my green smoothies extra hearty.  I used one avocado for two 160z servings that i would drink throughout the morning at work.In addition to the avocados, i would add apples, flax-seeds, chia seeds and loosed leaf green tea along with my leafy greens and fruits. These smoothies were so thick that there were days that i would consume the smoothies for lunch instead cause they made me feel that full. I know they say that too much avocado is bad for, which i  really  don’t believe. But after this fast i will be taking a break from avocados only because I’ve gotten tired of it after 20 plus days of consuming it straight.

 

 

Sunday Afternoon (The Daniel Fast )

So it’s day 15 of my Daniel Fast and despite some of the hunger pains i get through out the day I feel pretty good.  Before i started the fast, I’ve been reading the Bible from the beginning (Genesis).  I just happen to be mid-way thru  the book of Numbers when i started the Fast. It really cool to just read about how God had specific plans for the Israelites but it was cause of their attitudes the journey took longer than it really was suppose to. It makes you think about how much things in our lives could have been easier but our attitudes made getting to that point more difficult. It has definitely been an eye opener.

This pass weekend after Church, my sister and i decided to go to lunch .We wanted to stay within the guidelines of the fast so we practically drove around in circles thinking of places we can eat. After 30 minutes of driving  we  decided to eat at Whole foods to make our live easier. We hit the salad bar and tried anything that was vegan and non dairy, we also read the ingredients on each to see if they were natural as possible.

The conclusion was a bowl fill of Tabbouleh, Asian Noodles, Pico De Gallo, Steamed vegetables, Beets with Ginger and a Roasted Tomato Soup. I know the Daniel Fast guidelines suggest water as the only Beverage,but i have a gag reflex when i consume  too much water. Sounds weird i know but that how my body operates. So when eating meals like this i chooses unsweetened Green Tea. It’s not exactly the best tasting drink in the world but it help me to better digest food a whole lot better at the same time getting lots of antioxidants.

Never in a million years would i thought i would be eating this way let alone fasting for 40 days, but this experience has definitely showed me that if i put my mind to it i can do it with God’s help.

Have you ever tried the Daniel Fast? If so let me know about your experience.

The Daniel Fast

Hey y’all, Its day 6 of my spiritual fast and i finally got the hang of things.  Being that this is my first fast i did a lot of research on how to go about doing one. After much thought and research I decided to go along with the Daniel fast which primarily is a vegan diet with more restrictions . At first i thought this would be somewhat smooth since I’ve  been practicing a vegetarian/wholefoods lifestyle for a little less than a year. But these past 3 days have been  tough  but i know at the end of this fast it would be so worth it. I decided to do the fast from 6am to 6pm being that the Daniel fast is typically done for 21 days and I’m doing it for 40. After 6 pm i  eat whatever i want but still try to keep it close to the guidelines of the Daniel Fast.

I’ve came up with a plan that is working for me but as the weeks go i might tweak a few things.

For breakfast I make a big batch of green smoothies that makes about two 160z mason jar fulls with all the vegetable and fruits i want.

To make them hearty as possible i add one Hass Avocado, spoonful of flax-seeds and Chia seeds and Matcha green tea leaves. ( the actual leaves not the powder). I drink a 16oz full jar for breakfast with a banana  and one mid morning with raw walnuts and dried cranberries. Yes these item have a high fiber/high fat content, But don’t be fooled I’m still hungry by noon.

By 12:30 I have a banana, with a salad either a garden salad or  a mixture of any raw /steamed or lightly seasoned vegetable  at hand at the salad bar. I haven’t incorporated  grains yet but i plan to do so in the next couple days.

Garden Salad Lunch

 

So what are the actual specific for a Daniel fast you say? Based on the Book of Daniel  fruits  and vegetable, no meats or wine. But if you want to go into specifics here is a run down on what to can eat and what you should avoid.

Foods to include during the Daniel Fast

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned.
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits and whole wheat pasta
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.

Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed foods products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
When you shop for food remember to READ THE LABELS to make sure the only ingredients in packaged foods are suitable for the Daniel Fast. You will want to be especially aware of chemicals, dairy products and sweeteners – all of which are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.

Though there is a lot of restrictions, this fast is more than just limiting food but getting closer to GOD.  We do this by prayer and reading the Bible and not just reading it but applying it to our everyday lives. I know that this 40 days is going to be tough, but enlightening , enriching and life changing, but i’m soready for it ! 🙂

Salads Galore

Oh how i miss you guys!!! These past few weeks have been hectic but I’m so glad that its coming to an end. Piled with projects after project i’ finally have some down time to update you guys.

Lately I’ve been trying to eat more vegan type foods. I really want to get use to eating raw foods in its naturalness where the ingredients in the product is just a few things i am able to pronounce. So one day for lunch, i stopped by whole foods and decided to try out the salad bar,and picked out anything that looked good and satiating. So i made a big bowl of Lentil Tabbouleh, Cranberry Couscous salad and a Savory Quinoa salad. They all were a bit different but surprisingly not bad. I’ve noticed most of these salads are about flavors and the common ingredients is ONIONS, if you don’t like onions its pretty much unbearable but if you do then this is a great choice. I got to say though it was nice trying something new and experimenting, i wouldn’t switch out to eat these salads everyday but every now and than with some salmon would be great.

Have your tried Tabbouleh or any Grain Salads before? What are your thoughts?

Afternoon delight

After church Sunday afternoon my sisters and i decided to grab lunch and a matinee. Its not everyday we decide on going to the movie theaters but when Denzel Washington is starring, you just cant pass it up. Unless its that train movie that he did, because that my friends was an utter disappointment… but i digress. We hopped in the car and head over to  the mall, knowing we wanted some time to grab some lunch we ordered our tickets first and than headed to Grand Lux.We’ve been to Grand Lux plenty of times as you can see if you follow the blog, but that day I decided to try something new instead of my usual and ordered up the Veggie Burger. This wasn’t your usual frozen Morning star Burger, this was a made from scratch veggie burger. This particular burger had rice,beans and beets and for an extra two bucks avocado.I read the description and thought if anything its going to be a rice and bean flavored sandwich but to be on the safe side i decided to add the avocado and pepper jack cheese.  When our food came out , you couldn’t even tell the difference which burger was which. This sandwich was massive and tasted great, it had a  rice/ bean flavor  which was a bit dry but the avocado really helped with that. I actually preferred this burger compared to others veggie burgers I’ve had, for the mere fact that it tasted like rice and beans and not some flavored “beef” Burger. As weird as it may sound, i find soy products that are meant to taste like meat, have more of a meatier taste or gamey taste than real meat itself. So a veggie burger that taste like veggies/grains  is always a plus in my book. To make a long story short , we enjoyed lunch but  missed the movie due to overcrowding. But with a lunch like that, it really didn’t matter to us. 🙂

 

 

 

Its a Celebration!

October is my fave month of the year not just cause its my birthday month but its also my sister and brothers’ as well. So at our house October is a month of birthday cake and celebrations! First up was my sister’s birthday,we had an all day girls  day of shopping and getting pampered and later went to dinner with the family. That night we went to Grand Lux for dinner, We practically had the whole restaurant to ourselves which for Grand Lux i never seen happened  but it made it that much special. I ordered fish tacos with a goat cheese salad.  While my family ordered Pizza, Buffalo wings, Turkey burgers, and a Chicken& Shrimp platter. Trust me eating dinner with them for a transitioning  vegetarian (pescatarian)  isn’t the easiest but they are supportive of my change and that is all that matters.  At the end of dinner the waiter surprised my sis with a birthday pastry surprise that was just the cutest thing ever.  We than celebrated at home with cake and wine and finished the celebration with watching the Presidential Debate. That’s what i call a great start to a month long of celebrations!

Fish Tacos

Birthday Surprise

The restaurant all to ourselves!