...And the cleanse becomes a way of living.

Our 4-week plan for a nutritional cleanse turned into a 2.5 week nutritional cleanse. This is due to both a vacation (and all that comes with trying to eat purely while on the road) and a discipline that is not fully mature. Rather than be discouraged with this change of plans, we are embracing it in this way: The nutritional cleanse served a benefit through starting the cleansing process within our bodies, BUT really by cultivating our discipline and jump-starting us both into a more pure way of eating. I'd like to take credit and say that I already ate this way, but honestly, I have not been faithful in this since my pregnancy, so I needed it as much as Michael. We now eat with conscious thought :)

Here is yet another HEALTHY BUT YUMMY RECIPE that you must try!:

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

-Heat oven & place triangle tortilla pieces basted with canola oil OR olive oil mixed with a bit of butter and then drizzled with cinnamon into oven and bake
-Chop into small pieces: mango, strawberries, kiwi, cantalope, or any fruit!
-Add a pinch of sugar in the raw, liquid stevia, or juice from dates, etc if you want
-Allow juices from fruits to provide the moisture for the salsa effect
-Add cilantro and/or parsley
-Serve salsa over chips or dip chips into yummy salsa!
(Thanks to Julia Schaap and Brittney Yandell for this recipe!)

....And the Cleanse Goes on....

We are once week into the 'nutritional cleanse,' and it is going well. We are definitely disciplined. Michael has lost 6 pounds and we both are feeling good and energized, however, we have the cravings that accompany this weaning process of fats and sugars and processed foods. Now, if you're thinking that we are just a couple of extreme hippies or health freaks, think again; we are real enough to enjoy 1 bar-b-que meal and 1 Como Steakhouse (the best meal of your life) visit while in Memphis this weekend!!! Our cleansing foods will get us back on track again.....

THIS WEEK'S HEALTHY YET YUMMY RECIPE: ROASTED RED PEPPER & GOAT CHEESE PUREE

Roast a red pepper (whole) in the oven, turning occasionally
Cut and puree in food processor with goat cheese (I used peppered cheese)
*Adds a flavorful sauce to turkey burgers, chicken, rice, over vegetables, etc.

My husband and I are delving into a 4 week 'cleansing nutrition plan' - this means no highly processed dairy, breads/pastas, processed food, trans fats, and NO SUGAR! We are doing this to cleanse, discipline our eating habits, and lose some body fat (not just weight). Now, this can be challenging.....because of preparation time, figuring out how to create yummy variety, and having quick handy meals/snacks. I am including some simple ideas on this post and then hope to display more recipes for the next post. Here's what I have for now - foods to stock in your home, bag, and office:

Home: quinoa, brown rice, whole rolled oats, steel cut oats, many vegetables and fruits of all kinds & colors, ground turkey, wild alaskan salmon, grass-fed beef, beans (canned & from bulk bins), spinach, kale, herbs, "alternative milk" such as coconut or almond milk (without carageenan), bee pollen, flax seeds (to grind), lemons, almond butter, tahini.....I think that covers a large portion!

office/bag/purse: Larabars, coconut anything, any fruit :), a container with almond butter and an apple, fresh nuts, a container with hummus & chopped carrots, nutritional yeast to spread over your lunch, yogurt (if you have office fridge).

TODAY'S CREATIVE HEALTHY RECIPE:
french green beans (from market is yummy) boiled in sea salt & minced onion
drain beans and add cut tomatoes (regular or cherry tomatoes are nice)
whisk together and add: red whine vinegar, olive oil, a hint of tobasco, fresh chopped basil
Top with soft goat cheese crumbles

NATURAL and ORGANIC defined

Society is finally getting around to rethinking our state of living. "Natural" and "organic" products and items are everywhere now. I personally have thought for quite some time that something, whether food or favorite product or a tangible need, is better in a naturally occurring state....meaning I am not one to conform to this newfound trend of natural and organic because it's popular or it's everywhere. In anything that I've studied, I have found that doing a bit of research on the origin or definition of a word or meaning is beneficial to understanding; it seems to brighten the purpose of that which you are investigating. Therefore, I have included some favorite definitions for "natural" and "organic." Hopefully these will enlighten your understanding into WHY the world benefits from things that are natural and organic: NATURAL = in a state of nature; uncultivated, as land
NATURAL = arising easily or spontaneously

ORGANIC = characterized by the systemic arrangement of parts; organized; ssytematic; elements fitting together into a unified, whole.

ORGANIC = having an organization similar in its complexity to that of living things.

Do you question the world around you? I mean the everyday lifestyle happenings: why you get stuck in the same 'ruts' each week; why so many people have low back pain; why you can get dinner in a box; why kids always have runny noses; and most intriguingly....why people are choosing natural products/birthplans/remedies? Why are they choosing this - are they just "hippies" or are they onto something good? I question this, of course. That's why I'm writing this blog - to share my perspective as I delve into the answers to these questions. Follow me.....