tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55283369227814811492024-03-04T23:27:24.847-05:00Wholesome. Healthy. Happy.Striving to eat clean, wholesome foods, and lead a healthy lifestyle, in the real world.Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-87043480622469023782016-02-18T22:08:00.001-05:002016-02-18T22:08:14.375-05:00Cookie Taylor: From shame to self-worthPretty darned amazing, this.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M-EFoABDR7w" width="480"></iframe>Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-91645865289046758442015-10-16T19:26:00.002-04:002015-10-16T19:26:16.470-04:00Clean Eating On A Budget - Turkey Stock, the Great Experiment, and The AvengersHappy Canadian Thanksgiving!<br />
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One of the ways that I like to get seriously delish whole foods, whilst also sticking to my budget, is to ask friends and family if they are going to use their turkey bones. It's amazing how many people don't know how delicious turkey stock is, and how nutritious it is, let alone ever make it!<br />
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Thing is, it's just as easy to make turkey stock as it is to make chicken or veggie stock. I hear seafood stock is easy to make too, but I haven't made it yet (though I'd imagine it would make delicious soup!)--maybe that's a discovery I'll come to sometime in the future!<br />
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Anyway, this year I wasn't able to score the bones for free, so I decided to budget to buy a "small" turkey. The one I ended up getting was about 10 kg/13 lbs. Not huge by turkey standards, but it will yield a lot of dinners for the $24 and change I spent. <br />
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The key to making good turkey stock, other than simmering for a loooooong time, is to season the bird with all the herbs and spices you would want to include in the stock. It took me a few years to realize that I was wasting money (albeit only a little) and time, adding the seasonings to the pot instead of to the bird. Since the turkey roasts for so long, on a low temperature, the flavours infuse the bird and thus will infuse the stock. I don't normally eat the skin, unless it's very crispy (it's a texture thing), so all the seasoned skin goes into the stock pot.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully Seasoned Cooked Turkey</td></tr>
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This time, I seasoned the bird with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, dehydrated onion and <br />
garlic bits (you can use powder or fresh garlic if you like), poultry seasoning, sage (I like sage a lot, but if you don't, then skip the sage, as there is sage in the poultry seasoning). If you have it, putting fresh sprigs of herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary <i>inside</i> the bird, along with salt, will season from within, as you season from without.<br />
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Be sure to sprinkle some of the seasoning in the roasting pan too, to season your gravy!<br />
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The pic doesn't really do it justice (darned camera phone!), but you get the idea. This is the cooked product.<br />
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Keep in mind that cooking the turkey, and making the stock, takes many hours, to be sure to make the turkey one day, and stock the following day. It's just much nicer to not have to be watching the clock constantly, isn't it?<br />
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So I made the turkey yesterday, (<a href="http://www.tastyturkey.ca/wholebird/cooking-times-and-temperatures/" target="_blank">here's a link to how long to cook a turkey for</a>), and put it in the fridge overnight. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey Breast</td></tr>
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I also made super easy gravy from the drippings. Since it was already seasoned, all I did was strain it with a fine mesh strainer into a glass measuring cup, and let it sit for about 15 minutes, so some of the fat rose to the top. I scooped most of it off, and poured a bit into a bowl. To that I slowly added some whole wheat flour, whisking constantly until it was completely combined. Then I poured that into a sauce pan, with the rest of the drippings, and set it to simmer on medium-low (or more or less depending on your stove). Be sure to whisk it in the pan regularly.<br />
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Today, I sat down to watch The Avengers (I'm still watching it lol), and picked apart the turkey. I put all the breast meat into a container to put in the freezer, and set aside all the rest (including the skin, and the legs and wings) to make the stock out of.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ4rn3FevgXuCS7uPMMQTrrQ5AX6PK0P-I112bWPaY2D9TMMurY4fK_kiOZuu7JOjFqxoa_uysrM2hjtuoqAnqrknLxpzTnVTu7PEdRkUyQj1f_IR84MDzuivNmGspF-27MP8PqXxLKga/s1600/20151012_112457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ4rn3FevgXuCS7uPMMQTrrQ5AX6PK0P-I112bWPaY2D9TMMurY4fK_kiOZuu7JOjFqxoa_uysrM2hjtuoqAnqrknLxpzTnVTu7PEdRkUyQj1f_IR84MDzuivNmGspF-27MP8PqXxLKga/s200/20151012_112457.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Instant Pot</td></tr>
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I didn't remove the dark meat from the legs and thighs, because I wanted it to add flavour to the stock. I'm not a fan, for whatever reason, so I'm happy to use it to make my stock yummy!<br />
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Right now, on the TV, Loki is learning about the cage he's been placed in, which will be dropped 30,000 feet if he's naughty. Meanwhile in the kitchen, I have both my Crock Pot and my Instant Pot cooking away making stock, since there wasn't enough room in one LOL. I have a big stock pot, but I can't find the lid, so 2 batches works fine.<br />
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In fact, it inspired an experiment--what is the difference between doing the stock in the Crock Pot the whole time (probably around 6 hours), vs using the "Soup" button in the Instant Pot, for say 3 hours? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxai2lxSfohgW55-5x3aA-ZekbVRl17YZkJK2P1A-E5omVgcxS6QTiNjFI20DyUgFOmhCxqm5Wa1bPwHlwupa6DVOAwh6nkFpzBN-lHIXzQ6b0Aw_s6F8UYiYS9GsRhA6XMu8ZfCA3dOO/s1600/20151012_112638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxai2lxSfohgW55-5x3aA-ZekbVRl17YZkJK2P1A-E5omVgcxS6QTiNjFI20DyUgFOmhCxqm5Wa1bPwHlwupa6DVOAwh6nkFpzBN-lHIXzQ6b0Aw_s6F8UYiYS9GsRhA6XMu8ZfCA3dOO/s200/20151012_112638.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Crock Pot</td></tr>
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I set the IP to "Soup" to cook for 1 hour, and set the CP to "High" for one hour. It's very important to start any meat stock off by heating it to high temperature quickly, so it doesn't spend much time in the "danger zone" for bacteria growth. This is doubly important if you're cooking meat from raw<br />
in any kind of slow-cooking way--the raw meat cannot sit between 40F and 140F for long, as that's the preferred temperature for them to get their boogie on, and start making bacteria babies. Which is very bad for YOU!!<br />
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For this first hour, I'm simply cooking the turkey bones in water. When you fill either your slow-cooker or your Instant pot, be sure to NOT fill it up to the full-line--remember that it needs room to boil (for the slow cooker), and both will have veggies added in an hour, so there needs to be room for that. If you find you didn't add enough water, after you add the veggies, go ahead and add more. No sweat!<br />
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I'm cooking it for an hour first, because I want it to fall apart a little, to make room for the veggies I'm going to add--seriously, who knew that such a small turkey would actually be so big?! LOL Good news is it'll make a lot of meals! In addition to stock and soup, I think I'm going to try making Turkey A La King. I've never made it before, though I understand it's easy. I haven't had it since I was a kid, but I remember really liking it. I found <a href="http://brucebradley.com/food/recipe-turkey-a-la-king/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> that has real ingredients, which I'll follow, but I won't use the sherry (unless I can use rice wine? That I have in my pantry), I'll be making half the recipe (3 servings instead of 6), and probably use 2 tbsp butter, and whole/homo milk. I'm sure 4 tbsp butter is delicious, but that's kinda a lot for 3 servings LOL. It should be delicious, since I'm using home-made turkey stock!<br />
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Time now to check on the progress of the stock in the 2 pots. On The Avengers, Thor made Hulk angry (don't make Hulk angry!), and now he's trying to get Hulk to listen to reason (LOL!), while Tony and Captain America are trying to play nice and save the airship. So much drama. Why can't they all just get along? Go for shawarma?<br />
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Turns out the CP still hasn't come to a boil, despite it being an hour and it's on high and I used hot water (even more of a reason to put it on high not low for the first while in your slowcooker!), and the IP is currently venting. Venting the Instant Pot when it's full of water means slowly releasing the pressure--you don't want that hot broth spewing out the release valve! Once it's fully opened, it takes about a minute to fully release so you can open it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L - Crock Pot R - Instant Pot @ 3 hours each</td></tr>
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It's been an hour, and it seems that the slow cooker on the left, is not as far along as the IP on the right. That's to be expected, though, since the slow cooker will be cooking for twice as long as the IP will. <br />
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Between the two pots, I added 1 coarsely-chopped onion (I used a yellow cooking onion, but any white or yellow onion will probably do), 3 coarsely-chopped carrots, and 4 coarsely-chopped celery stalks. You can add any number of types of veggies, really, but these are the 3 I like to add to my stocks, and they are also the 3 I had in the fridge!<br />
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At this point you may also like to add a stock cube, depending on your taste. It will be plenty flavourful on its own, but if you decide you want to, make sure that it's low in sodium. Most stock cubes are SUPER filled with sodium, and you really don't want to do that to your healthy stock! If you need to add sea salt for flavour later, that's fine, but 1000mg + is WAAAAY too much.<br />
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My slow cooker isn't boiling yet, so I still have it on "High". Once it's boiling, I'll put it on low for the remaining time. The IP I've set for another 2 hours (shows as 120 minutes) on the "Soup" setting. Once the IP is done those 2 hours, I'm considering it done, and will strain it and then put it in the fridge to cool. Hopefully it cools in a few hours, because I want to skim the excess fat AND make soup tonight, for lunch at work tomorrow. Tall order? We'll see. It's 1:49pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdfLF1lQWl0dF51WSmtB0gQt6ENebXR6-dO95_tPz4BgIbpwyCvXFnOEA1IjrPQukewRxbSZ1njIv8qZGuZOqUzYfS3LfnPsdfAr1qyyuIaWlGbQiVzFsGt0iLpJvHHYvIbrNS1peDStE/s1600/20151013_183739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdfLF1lQWl0dF51WSmtB0gQt6ENebXR6-dO95_tPz4BgIbpwyCvXFnOEA1IjrPQukewRxbSZ1njIv8qZGuZOqUzYfS3LfnPsdfAr1qyyuIaWlGbQiVzFsGt0iLpJvHHYvIbrNS1peDStE/s200/20151013_183739.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious Soup!</td></tr>
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Turns out, yep, tall order. Too tall in fact--the stock wasn't even very cool by the time I went to bed, so alas, no soup that night. Drat!<br />
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However, soup was made the following day. What you want to do, when cooking any kind of bone broth/stock, is allow your stock to cool overnight in the fridge, and then skim any fat which has collected on the top. It hardens in the fridge, so it's easy to remove! Depending on what you're using, it could be a quite thick layer to remove. I once had it come up in just 2 pieces. Can't get much easier than that!<br />
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To about 4 cups of stock, I added a bit of light soy sauce, a drop of sesame oil, a bit of salt and pepper, and chopped and added a couple of carrots, stalks of celery, some chopped onion, and a handful of mushrooms. Simmered for about 15 minutes, and ate. Simple, and delicious!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDcBDXhJgYqN2GqpKNGCWeOEgnjChsbMe-UdDnXwLrtMQMuzr3VcgZarJyux9EfTGqpwxew9kWqrDPB7_AIewwN03DYLemse3ToqYwIeibvVDgBsCr7KouEX1GFjcYveedgZseo_nB_r9/s1600/20151012_153026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDcBDXhJgYqN2GqpKNGCWeOEgnjChsbMe-UdDnXwLrtMQMuzr3VcgZarJyux9EfTGqpwxew9kWqrDPB7_AIewwN03DYLemse3ToqYwIeibvVDgBsCr7KouEX1GFjcYveedgZseo_nB_r9/s200/20151012_153026.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous Turkey Broth</td></tr>
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Feel like adding different veggies? How about some pasta? Some rice? Or some barley? Go for it--all good choices! This kind of soup you can add a lot of different things, just keep an eye on the stuff cooking in your pot--if you add things like peppers to things like carrots, you'll want to add them in the final 5 minutes or so of cooking, so they don't over cook and end up gross. How upsetting would that be?!<br />
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The remaining stock, I froze in ice-cube trays, which I will transfer to a container in the freezer. They're super handy when you're cooking--just thaw and use, or if you're using it for something like seasoning rice when it's cooking, or using it as seasoning in a stir-fry, just add it to the water or to the pan. <br />
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As for <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">The Great Turkey Stock Experiment</span>--turns out that 6 hours in the slow cooker was VERY similar to 3 hours in the Instant Pot. Good to know!<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-82861345607824003242015-08-08T19:02:00.002-04:002015-08-08T19:37:07.021-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KwAGKJgQBjlGW2Lkmdwxo3_w3HW16PgvAFkvAaWUZIVR39iVz5MfTV-APSwJ2vUzmK7jPBt67yetPCn9XDBngF8A3ZwjNj2tevLFzXjHu-1fAtw79AaRlbaBvJUGZ1noAu2ZvWXL662j/s1600/Jalapeno.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KwAGKJgQBjlGW2Lkmdwxo3_w3HW16PgvAFkvAaWUZIVR39iVz5MfTV-APSwJ2vUzmK7jPBt67yetPCn9XDBngF8A3ZwjNj2tevLFzXjHu-1fAtw79AaRlbaBvJUGZ1noAu2ZvWXL662j/s1600/Jalapeno.JPG" /></a>Last weekend, I picked up some lovely fresh and perky jalapeno peppers for $2 for a half-pint <br />
(worked out to 8 decent-sized peppers). <br />
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I had the idea that I could keep a couple fresh, while harvesting the seeds from the rest, to plant in my first-even community garden plots next year (free seeds!), and dehydrate the peppers to grind up, and add to sea salt and some seasonings, to make a custom home-made flavoured salt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69eCWcbZ-8MFQcYo-o5K17JFXwvIqau5g6eEr5uXWhaeRAH4o6hpMyQ8D3me3eOXOhifo22nn9uB80wRkdlkXUJSH7cd-5WHsKtDwUHxwUSvm7wVL-nRzn1U2tLGdiM7jY3LCTZW2azYb/s1600/20150807_221341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69eCWcbZ-8MFQcYo-o5K17JFXwvIqau5g6eEr5uXWhaeRAH4o6hpMyQ8D3me3eOXOhifo22nn9uB80wRkdlkXUJSH7cd-5WHsKtDwUHxwUSvm7wVL-nRzn1U2tLGdiM7jY3LCTZW2azYb/s200/20150807_221341.jpg" width="150" /></a>Great idea, right? Yes, it is...except I decided to dehydrate the peppers with the seeds in (my thought was that it would dry out the seeds, and they wouldn't get moldy or rot, as I was waiting for them to dry, since it's quite humid here), and I had to use a pair of scissors to cut into them, to get out the seeds.<br />
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So what right? Yes...except that I didn't wash my hands as thoroughly as I thought I did, afterward, and then put my hands to my face. <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">OMG!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!</span><br />
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<b>THE BURNING! IT WAS EVERYWHERE! </b> Then I sniffed, because my nose was running. <b> OMG WORSE BURNING!! THERE WAS APPARENTLY JALAPENO POWDER IN THE AIR, AND <i>I'D SNIFFED IT RIGHT UP MY NOSE!!</i></b><br />
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I ran screaming and coughing into the bathroom, and scrubbed my hands and my face with cold soapy water. Once the water was off my face, my face started feeling like it was enormous and inflamed. It felt like my face was distended by an inch! When I looked, it was normal, but OOOOOOH THE BURNING!!<br />
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For the next hour, I continuously rubbed iced cubes all over my face and lips. It worked, but as soon as I stopped, the burning returned. FINALLY, the burning lessened, and I added raw coconut oil to my face (which I normally use for moisturizer), and the burning went away.<br />
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Silver lining? At least I know the peppers weren't duds! They should make a great seasoned sea salt, <i><b>if I ever get the nerve to make it...and then eat it. </b></i><br />
<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-24465784468207438512015-02-17T22:24:00.002-05:002015-02-17T22:25:25.238-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fBWpwoDZ0g0K5Ol-F5I45VhbQx6etu39VAlECkbiyULpdbb0fVWvjrWckvLoK5_vt5rDrDfCPvTzDSGw1dM2D3L_WIBYQ0lgclMvGwsNfPgDWFS-JCchiRPbXZnsPxHAWjOssznk91Lr/s1600/cupcake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fBWpwoDZ0g0K5Ol-F5I45VhbQx6etu39VAlECkbiyULpdbb0fVWvjrWckvLoK5_vt5rDrDfCPvTzDSGw1dM2D3L_WIBYQ0lgclMvGwsNfPgDWFS-JCchiRPbXZnsPxHAWjOssznk91Lr/s1600/cupcake.JPG" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
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<br />
This time last year, I embarked on a 70-day processed-sugar-free challenge, and made it the entire time, despite (or perhaps because of!) it being over Valentine's Day, and Easter, and All Junk On Sale Week. I passed it with flying colours!<br />
<br />
This year I decided to do it again, starting February 9th, and this time for a full 100 days.<br />
<br />
Yes, you read right--100 days, 100% processed sugar free!<br />
<br />
I don't know if I'm remembering last year with rosy glasses or not, but this year seems to be a bit more of a challenge (I'm just over a week in). Not that it's horrific, but my mind has been doing a lot of, "Ooh look at that!", "That looks yummy!", "It's so pretty! I wonder what it tastes like?" etc.<br />
<br />
Of course I'm in control. Right? Yes, I'm in control. Yes. Just repeating to drive the point home LOL.<br />
<br />
In all seriousness I <b>am </b>in control. And I know how my body reacts to processed sugar--basically I feel like a big pile of crapola. And I'm bitchy. Whoa nelly do I get mood swings eating processed sugar! Beware ye people on the street, daring to be in my path! Beware the cold for being too cold and the hot for being too hot!<br />
<br />
I'm doing well. Yes, the little sugar voices in my head are whispering, but I just don't speak their language. No speekee sugaree!<br />
<br />
On a completely different note, in the next few weeks I'm going to start a juice and chew feast as inspired by Cookie Taylor at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaVSC7VE8hw">Reach4Raw</a>! I have to figure out the details, and I definitely won't be doing it until May or June (aka until it warms up...seriously it has been literally PAINFULLY COLD here!) and things start to get cheaper and in season. Makes sense, right?<br />
<br />
I'm also going to rope a friend into doing it with me. I approached her way back in January about it (was it really just last month?!) and she said she was interested, but we didn't talk about it after that LOL. I'll remind her when I've figured stuff out.<br />
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Excited! Moving onward with my journey back to health! Operation 2015!! Ain't this picture sexy? Hot damn!<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-76898767892983103262015-02-01T22:27:00.000-05:002015-02-01T22:27:11.722-05:00WOW, OK so it's been a long time since I blogged!<br />
<br />
Here's a quick update on what's been happening lately.<br />
<br />
For the new year, I, like many, decided that things needed to change. The thing to start the changes (and there will be many over this year), is to start with LIVING the person I always wanted to be, rather than DREAMING of being that person.<br />
<br />
I had a little moment as 2014 ended, saying goodbye to the old me, thanking her for what she's done for me, and releasing her. It sounds kind of corny, I know, but I really felt that I was releasing a part of me that had been holding me back in a lot of ways, and releasing her was also releasing a lot of old wounds and other hurts.<br />
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January 1st-9th, I started easing back into being more active, walking a little more, eating a little better. <br />
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January 10th-16th, I was in Jamaica, at an all-inclusive. Now, you may well be thinking, "DUN DUN DUUUUUUN", but you see, I had a PLAN. Failing to plan is planning to fail as they say!<br />
<br />
I wanted to have a good time, soak up some rays, and not worry about what I was doing, BUT I also didn't want to come back home resenting myself for going bat-shit crazy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb-FRZ7tiJ4VtXV4_VV2hwLCNlhtFv2EX2Bvrm73mprd21ij0OfUpTozix5QJK2OHhz8n8kzajVjg4SmOMCufdaVAcnIR6au4ra2WcX6NTkCzO3Y17jbPhprcW5PWG8-Xfi7azttB6pRO/s1600/spark+tracker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb-FRZ7tiJ4VtXV4_VV2hwLCNlhtFv2EX2Bvrm73mprd21ij0OfUpTozix5QJK2OHhz8n8kzajVjg4SmOMCufdaVAcnIR6au4ra2WcX6NTkCzO3Y17jbPhprcW5PWG8-Xfi7azttB6pRO/s1600/spark+tracker.JPG" height="190" width="200" /></a><br />
So, my plan was to wear my <a href="http://www.sparkactivitytracker.com/">Spark Activity Tracker</a> each day, which shows me through lights, how <br />
close I am to my goal of walking 10,000 steps per day. And of course walk those steps!<br />
<br />
I also planned to have drinks, but decided to only have alcohol when I was eating, and only eat 3x per day, unless I was starving. That's still plenty of opportunities! <br />
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In addition to that, I decided that I would eat fresh fruit with as many meals as possible, at least a salad-plate amount. That would allow me to eat lots of fresh fruit, which is amazing in January, and also fill me enough that I may not want dessert. Win-win!<br />
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At the end of my vacation, when I got home, I sync'd my tracker up to Sparkpeople, and lo and behold, I'd walked 68,000+ steps during that week. Insane! And I didn't gain an ounce. Also amazing!<br />
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Rejuvenated by my vacation, and with a wildfire in me from my steps success, I decided to make up a plan for 2015. I also committed to join the Reach 4 Raw Marathon Fun Run, and walk a half marathon on October 25th. How's that for motivation to keep going?!<br />
<br />
My plan to train for walking a half-marathon (for the second time!) is laid out in 3-week increments until April 4th, then in 2 week increments since I'm following a <a href="http://www.marathonwalking.com/schedule_ez_half.html">marathon training program for walkers</a>, and since I have time, I'm doing each week for 2 weeks, thus getting even more prepared.<br />
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The first 3-week phase finished 2 days ago, and I did great! My plan was to walk 10,000 steps per day, 5 days a week, with a bonus challenge of walking 60,000+ steps each week, thus getting a Spark Activity Gold Medal. And I did it!<br />
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It's a bit of a challenge to get the steps in each day, since it's the middle of winter and very cold, which makes indoor walking desirable. Very desirable!! But I'm doing it, come hell or 10 feet of snow. I want my experience walking the half marathon to be an enjoyable challenge, not full of pain and anguish. :)</div>
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On the food side (this IS a food blog!), things are going well. I'm learning that I don't have to be 100% clean, that in fact it doesn't work for me at all, because then I start thinking in terms of what I can't eat/drink, instead of what I can, and I fall off the rails. Now, my aim is to eat well most of the time, work on eating lots of fruit and veg, juicing, and just not worrying about it if I eat or drink something a little unhealthy occasionally. It's about what I can do long-term, not short-term. </div>
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I've been trying new recipes, including an AMAZING, authentic jerk-chicken recipe, which I will share soon. Delish!!</div>
Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-90801463627043557242014-10-15T21:12:00.000-04:002014-10-15T21:12:52.230-04:00Nutrition Is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEgVcsSbqnR50C-umEO2y5278oyXcylJoGNhDzL_E3RY5esN2hFfrOZdjMwkblpzo7EFDVAQAB028z3DthXr_aSpIlcBVInYgGqnzdgh-8IMCIvpltNb_phz8FwhVpuWXFDhClPgXWnrB/s1600/nutrition+is.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEgVcsSbqnR50C-umEO2y5278oyXcylJoGNhDzL_E3RY5esN2hFfrOZdjMwkblpzo7EFDVAQAB028z3DthXr_aSpIlcBVInYgGqnzdgh-8IMCIvpltNb_phz8FwhVpuWXFDhClPgXWnrB/s1600/nutrition+is.JPG" height="394" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-62563371903871837672014-10-03T21:47:00.001-04:002015-02-17T21:41:42.872-05:00Another Smoothie Day!Yesterday, I woke up later than I should have, and thus missed the opportunity for my breakfast green smoothie...and then went out for a large late lunch and didn't want to make it when I got home. Oh well...on to...<br />
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Day 3!<br />
<br />
I awoke this morning, and the first thought I had, after "aaaack the sun is too bright!" was "smoothie time!" I wanted to make a Caribbean-esque smoothie, so what I ended up making was:<br />
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<i><br /></i>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsp2eqENVTeZqV8R0PTyprcGGSXLg0r73-QeF2GOI5Dmumv3a2uqHAPzZch2a68gl2W9oyPyJ3b9oBYZxLprXTY_l_af26ZnKfhOILkO9VCBeNqmCaaaxQaBMaXzEZ34yy2qzz0a2j5np/s1600/20141003_112110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsp2eqENVTeZqV8R0PTyprcGGSXLg0r73-QeF2GOI5Dmumv3a2uqHAPzZch2a68gl2W9oyPyJ3b9oBYZxLprXTY_l_af26ZnKfhOILkO9VCBeNqmCaaaxQaBMaXzEZ34yy2qzz0a2j5np/s1600/20141003_112110.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><i><br /></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>2 big handfuls spinach</i><br />
<i>A little bit of kale</i><br />
<i>A small handful of parsley</i><br />
<i>1 banana</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3DG2UZSVR0r5y4hjkJ2EsiRX5-8bUq5-3rpZkWSXtY3m-M-dPgr9kf8Jjca0_honjnij29sut23mALwtqb8-NjdHy0mIsciUb51zYOzIc4cV6dfZCbyxu06-h0be-SozuduA12ulHga3/s1600/20141003_112940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3DG2UZSVR0r5y4hjkJ2EsiRX5-8bUq5-3rpZkWSXtY3m-M-dPgr9kf8Jjca0_honjnij29sut23mALwtqb8-NjdHy0mIsciUb51zYOzIc4cV6dfZCbyxu06-h0be-SozuduA12ulHga3/s1600/20141003_112940.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
<i>1/2 cup pineapple</i><br />
<i>1/2 cup peaches</i><br />
<i>1/2 cup mango</i><br />
<i>1/2 avocado</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp chia seeds</i><br />
<i>About 2 cups of coconut water</i><br />
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I learned a few days ago, that in order to have the smoothest consistency when you don't have a turbo-super-duper blender (which I don't), to blend the greens with the liquid first. I tried that out today, and boy did it make for a smoother smoothie! I highly recommend it!<br />
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I've been hungry relatively soon after having my smoothies both days, but I think it has to do with the fact that I was approaching lunch time by the time I had it, and therefore was in need of more food, if you know what I mean. I've had smoothies until dinner in the past, and wasn't hungry at all.<br />
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I love how quick they are to make too! I couldn't run to the local coffee shop for a bagel and back, in the time it takes to make my green smoothies. In fact, how long I'd be <i>in line</i> is more than it take to make them. Crazy!<br />
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Looking forward to tomorrow!<br />
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Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-76877225888145873862014-10-01T15:09:00.001-04:002014-10-01T15:35:25.254-04:00A Smoothie A Day, Day OneWelcome to Smoothieland!<br />
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Today is October 1st, which marks the first day that I'm drinking a green smoothie each day, preferably/hopefully for breakfast.<br />
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I woke up in the morning this morning, and thought, "I'll just lay in bed for a few mins to wake up."<br />
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Well, I woke up...again...and it was almost NOON! What the HECK?! I know I'm off this week but sheesh! I gotta nip this in the bud!<br />
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As soon as I woke up, I was STARVING. By that point I should have been almost at the point of eating lunch. FAMISHED! Not good, when you still have to make almond milk, make a smoothie, and THEN eat...<br />
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Anyway...bygones... Lesson learned? 1) Set the alarm AND get up, and 2) Make the smoothie the night before! Problem solved.<br />
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So here's the ingredients (for the most part) and what it looked like in the end. Well, it was greener than the army-green that it appears in the pic (ruddy cell phone camera). <br />
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I ended up not using the vanilla like in the pic, and added a little bit of kale. A very little bit of kale, actually, because I had to use my regular blender for making the smoothie, since my Nutribullet blade is currently AWOL. Chunks of kale in a smoothie are ICK!<br />
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I also added the tiny bit of fruit that was left in one of the bags of frozen fruit, which turned out to be mango and a few strawberries.<br />
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So, for those interested, the ingredients list is:<br />
<br />
1 banana<br />
1 large handful baby spinach<br />
A little bit of kale<br />
A handful of strawberries<br />
About a half cup of rasperries<br />
A few frozen mango pieces<br />
1/2 tbsp chia seeds<br />
1.5 tbsp hemp hearts<br />
4 dates (I should have used a few more)<br />
2 cups (approximately) of almond milk<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBiywiZGxzukqu4-rICABi1rEE6dddBBylQBvIoQvEz8MQeo60iCEwGcckhFb-n_hnlP9qh1Gpz3irOydyg4cOztAtWQp6T1CqqfyhD9fP16KNxBmtYtk50nuukMVDSWCrI3b97pC8dM4/s1600/Oct+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBiywiZGxzukqu4-rICABi1rEE6dddBBylQBvIoQvEz8MQeo60iCEwGcckhFb-n_hnlP9qh1Gpz3irOydyg4cOztAtWQp6T1CqqfyhD9fP16KNxBmtYtk50nuukMVDSWCrI3b97pC8dM4/s1600/Oct+1.JPG" height="141" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nutritious and delicious!<br />
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And would I have eaten all that for breakfast? File that under, "Heeel Naw!" I'm not the salad for breakfast kind of person. ;)<br />
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Want to make your own almond milk? <a href="http://amacubarawfor30days.blogspot.ca/2014_10_01_archive.html">Click here</a> for instructions!<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-22194996618631486272014-10-01T15:06:00.001-04:002014-10-01T15:09:46.434-04:00How To Make Almond MilkHow to make almond milk, the quick and easy way!<br />
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What you'll need:<br />
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1 cup almonds (about a large handful), <b>NOT roasted</b><br />
Water<br />
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A blender<br />
A nut milk bag/soup strainer bag<br />
An airtight container to hold the almond milk (preferably glass)<br />
A large bowl with a pouring spout<br />
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Instructions:<br />
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Soak the almonds overnight in water, in the fridge. This step isn't strictly necessary, but it makes for a much nicer and nuttier milk.<br />
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Up to 24 hours later, give the nuts a rinse, and stick them in the blender. Fill the blender with water to the 4-cup mark. **<b>Tip</b>--if you want thicker almond milk, just use less water.**<br />
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Blend 'er up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOjLWtTChXE3iVAkr_Sb2IQ5FUz6eAD7Ejl8EKymtZV7rX0UKESrENtRONZtmeA-GIy0LAk0KKoDHmP0ne9qqHafMTWWvWhLSn1mtAabgLpDURLpzS-w9SaizPNGxS936flY6wHXovmnj/s1600/20141001_113312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOjLWtTChXE3iVAkr_Sb2IQ5FUz6eAD7Ejl8EKymtZV7rX0UKESrENtRONZtmeA-GIy0LAk0KKoDHmP0ne9qqHafMTWWvWhLSn1mtAabgLpDURLpzS-w9SaizPNGxS936flY6wHXovmnj/s1600/20141001_113312.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Let the blender blend for at least a minute, at its highest speed. The longer it blends, the better the milk will be. I blend around 1-2 minutes I think. Not that I've ever timed it or anything.</div>
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Take your nut milk bag and open it. I found soup bags for super cheap at the local Asian super market, so that's what I use. $1.29!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tVsjWtxGCE0nx-yJDfjbbuaWGJtAMN0pAGKZFle6tYGnhKMosXTo4-H-ramSqH8uQQ2umF9eiulwyKZnhCAKISwJSbwCsGPdycFF4eKhSzio6EMb6HMppVfRvgHluzeSZDt2Zj0TWhJr/s1600/20141001_113116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tVsjWtxGCE0nx-yJDfjbbuaWGJtAMN0pAGKZFle6tYGnhKMosXTo4-H-ramSqH8uQQ2umF9eiulwyKZnhCAKISwJSbwCsGPdycFF4eKhSzio6EMb6HMppVfRvgHluzeSZDt2Zj0TWhJr/s1600/20141001_113116.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Put your bowl in front of you, and pour the nut milk in the blender into the bag, allowing it to drain into the bowl. You'll note in the pics that I'm not using a nice big bowl with a spout. Don't do this. It can be very messy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhE_j72-41NOYRWnwCSVoj2OEFWgveDUaRjUWLfm5Y_gEIzESeBJP0ghCEW2i4WvegiB2a8rjrb_sAjY0R0cTRvdfRo9cvZBiFYajZJk0XidoSIrdql64Y-xhLJY0H1qTcfZLyJyGDHBG/s1600/20141001_113342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhE_j72-41NOYRWnwCSVoj2OEFWgveDUaRjUWLfm5Y_gEIzESeBJP0ghCEW2i4WvegiB2a8rjrb_sAjY0R0cTRvdfRo9cvZBiFYajZJk0XidoSIrdql64Y-xhLJY0H1qTcfZLyJyGDHBG/s1600/20141001_113342.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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When it gets to the point where the last of the liquid is straining through the bag, give the bag a gentle squeeze to help it out. Don't be too aggressive though--I learned the hard way that trying to make sure you get every last drop with <i>too much enthusiasm</i> resulted in some of the almond meal getting through the mesh of the bag. Which meant that I had to strain it again. Oil. Trust me--gentle but firm works best!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KyX1Sa-iSmF8wEPBfeP8NPVnw3Jbjt1h3yG2rcERdStNvehX5xIpoFPSPFJZoup4qFhlrnbC7jW878oToTZMk2RvkI2bPkl82QUphZXd0eEtqaujzU4xuwO4vqCwW6u61-qn6DYn7-Yv/s1600/20141001_113542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KyX1Sa-iSmF8wEPBfeP8NPVnw3Jbjt1h3yG2rcERdStNvehX5xIpoFPSPFJZoup4qFhlrnbC7jW878oToTZMk2RvkI2bPkl82QUphZXd0eEtqaujzU4xuwO4vqCwW6u61-qn6DYn7-Yv/s1600/20141001_113542.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The end result is beautiful isn't it? So purdy and white.<br />
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Fresh-made almond milk in an airtight container will last in the fridge for about two days. The 4 cups that I made today will also last me 2 smoothies. Coincidence? Hmmm...<br />
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**<b>Quick Tip:</b> Soaked and rinsed almonds will last about 4 days in the fridge. So why not save some time, and soak enough for 2 batches? That way you only have to soak the almonds every 4 days, instead of every 2.**<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-92199780671056427782014-10-01T13:29:00.002-04:002015-02-17T21:39:38.936-05:00Check out this cool "how-to" infographic I found from <a href="http://nobeefhere.com/">nobeefhere.com</a>!<br />
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The only difference in how I make mine, is I just use tap water (if I'm using water as a base) because the water here is pretty good, and I don't have a filter anyway, and if I use any sort of sweet, it's almost always dates (because they're sweet, have a flavour, and are quite good for you), or occasionally raw honey. <br />
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Stevia I personally don't care for, I prefer raw honey to agave, coconut nectar and palm sugar are SUPER expensive here, and I can't have maple syrup in my home. Seriously, I have a PROBLEM. The problem being I LOOOVE IT and find way too many reasons to inhale it if it's in my pantry!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBEBB4lXNxoUPxrWa6ZWxrgvV4WjH_04_0Lpfdrk-RbiU8N0pCr5NWPnBTaxMDVxF5TIH2BjooCqYJz-fu6N2Z_7CiyayEJQibZHzqQr5RR3FkKbBVfghi8dwgpD-h441yPJXIcBRGK23/s1600/green+smoothie+infographic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBEBB4lXNxoUPxrWa6ZWxrgvV4WjH_04_0Lpfdrk-RbiU8N0pCr5NWPnBTaxMDVxF5TIH2BjooCqYJz-fu6N2Z_7CiyayEJQibZHzqQr5RR3FkKbBVfghi8dwgpD-h441yPJXIcBRGK23/s1600/green+smoothie+infographic.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-20963070056668610842014-10-01T00:31:00.001-04:002015-02-17T21:41:25.732-05:00Whew! What a crazy few months! <br />
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Luckily, things have returned to a semblance of normalcy, so I can return to this blog!<br />
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So!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXivLTh92sirX2VMN7AUz6Mxna-SURPzF4IvXiLoQuNNTHIUdoFiGG3zu2-BPNO0ys1xkwbFgiK8-kXkoXylFKkvxmtAE5gm0pfu7iNn5ufMQA3VF2TQXLuTdLdegm2petZzvkqKI4q4RU/s1600/green+smoothie+from+vitamix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXivLTh92sirX2VMN7AUz6Mxna-SURPzF4IvXiLoQuNNTHIUdoFiGG3zu2-BPNO0ys1xkwbFgiK8-kXkoXylFKkvxmtAE5gm0pfu7iNn5ufMQA3VF2TQXLuTdLdegm2petZzvkqKI4q4RU/s1600/green+smoothie+from+vitamix.JPG" height="193" width="200" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow I'm starting a little "challenge" to have a green smoothie each day. I love smoothies anyway, they're so easy, cheap and delicious! And of course nutritious! I'll post the ingredients and pics as often as possible, for those who are new to the green smoothie idea, if you want to take part. There are also lots of recipes out there--just be SURE that all your ingredients are whole foods. Adding something like white sugar pretty much defeats the purpose! If you have any doubts at all, shoot me a message/comment, and I'll do my best to help you out. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpXgi_ymQ_o4OjUn8v0NKOdcc7o1UeqELbdkDFfwaOSB-q1bkGWhi68BdxBPBfETt-ky_XKujffeJZQ0V0kVKqBKPscnWFQswcdEf6ljZPC0Hj0Jnvi8NkSkwVF6Hki14ntznZk6q7JZz/s1600/green+smoothie+ingredients.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpXgi_ymQ_o4OjUn8v0NKOdcc7o1UeqELbdkDFfwaOSB-q1bkGWhi68BdxBPBfETt-ky_XKujffeJZQ0V0kVKqBKPscnWFQswcdEf6ljZPC0Hj0Jnvi8NkSkwVF6Hki14ntznZk6q7JZz/s1600/green+smoothie+ingredients.JPG" height="199" width="200" /></a>Green smoothies are incredibly good for you. Think about the last time that you had fruit and vegetables for breakfast. And no, fruit danishes don't count! If you do it right, you can have 2 or even 3 servings (or more, depending on the size of your blender!) of fruits and veggies, just with your breakfast!<br />
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I found the image on the right online (click <a href="http://emmagowdie.wordpress.com/?s=green+smoothie&submit=Search">here </a>for the website and page), which illustrates just how much you can put in a smoothie. <br />
Isn't it amazing?! Would you eat all that for breakfast? Maybe some would, but I can say for me, definitely not. And not every day! <br />
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Tomorrow, I'm going to buy apples and frozen fruit. Well, after I "spring clean" my freezer. I just have a regular old fridge freezer, so it fills up quickly. It seems like just a month or so ago that I clean it out last, but I know it was a lot longer ago than that. I always apply the "if I haven't reached for it recently/don't know what it is, it's gone" part of spring cleaning, so it won't take long. <br />
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I have some strawberries, a few persimmons I found at the farmer's market this weekend (they were quite the find!), baby spinach (I prefer baby for smoothies because they're tender and blend better), kale, and bananas in the fridge. I also have raw almonds I'm soaking, to make almond milk tomorrow morning (since I have a vast amount of almonds but no almond milk in the pantry).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgmv3Rkw6X5E8RU177t1Pv2h2zSprJktRuCOEDlW-jPs5c4rThmHub90c_AUVM8s4oYW3JmKvtTsx8h7lbKuBFfpfqQSMq-pjcw4h6kkGVtqcY-lwzBUgih2TdcseDVL9YfoDip71Ip3g/s1600/frozen+fruit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgmv3Rkw6X5E8RU177t1Pv2h2zSprJktRuCOEDlW-jPs5c4rThmHub90c_AUVM8s4oYW3JmKvtTsx8h7lbKuBFfpfqQSMq-pjcw4h6kkGVtqcY-lwzBUgih2TdcseDVL9YfoDip71Ip3g/s1600/frozen+fruit.JPG" height="158" width="200" /></a>I think I have frozen cherries, the very end of a mango/berry mix (well, it was berries, and mango, which I combined to save space)...maybe some blueberries...and I think that's it for the freezer. So I think I'll buy pineapple (which is GREAT in a green smoothie), mango...we'll see. Maybe something will be on sale!<br />
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Frozen fruit is great for smoothies, particularly off-season. They're frozen at the peak of their freshness and nutritional density, and they're MUCH cheaper Autumn-Spring in northern climes. Just make sure you look at the ingredients. It should ONLY say the fruit that's in it, and nothing else. Some brands even add sugar! I mean really! It's FRUIT PEOPLE!!<br />
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Tomorrow I'm going to make roasted root vegetables for lunch or dinner. A work friend of mine from work, asked if I'd help her to try to figure out what's in a spice blend she bought from 10,000 Villages a couple of years ago. She loves it, but had poured the spice blend into a container when she bought it, throwing away the bag. D'OH! Apparently she's been trying to make it last as long as possible, but hasn't been able to figure it out yet, so decided to sacrifice a bit. I think I have about 1 tsp, so that should be enough to cook with. I could taste it before cooking, but "raw" spices often taste so different than cooked, I think making a dish is a better idea. It smells like some sort of Moroccan blend, so that's a good start.<br />
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Anyway, it's after midnight (!! How did that happen?!) so I'm hittin' the hay. See you tomorrow!<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-30152301569045644032014-07-03T19:45:00.001-04:002014-07-03T19:45:45.857-04:00<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Now you know!</span><br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-11414002551467100662014-05-16T23:08:00.002-04:002014-05-16T23:08:47.838-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-38271673130998230842014-05-07T03:00:00.000-04:002014-05-07T03:00:00.233-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-90818745619481694752014-05-06T18:45:00.000-04:002014-05-06T18:45:52.485-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-88245715672329486522014-05-02T21:18:00.001-04:002014-05-02T21:18:34.255-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's day 72! So what you might ask? Well, day 72 means that I successfully completed the "no sugar for 70 days challenge" 2 days go!<br />
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I'm so so so so SO proud of myself. Honestly! I could jump for joy!<br />
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I feel different now, somehow. Not physically (not that I noticed anyway) but inside. Like I've crossed a threshold, and I'm now moving to a new stage. Dunno what it is but I like it!<br />
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I've finished Phase One (no sugar) and Phase Two (lots of days of juice until lunch), which means now is time for Phase Three! <br />
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Phase Three has two parts:<br />
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1) 2 juices per day plus a smallish raw snack, then a sensible dinner<br />
2) 3 juices per day, then a sensible dinner<br />
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Phase Three is about transitioning and detoxing so I'm ready for the next stage--I'm going to do a <br />
juice feast (not fast) for as many days as I can, from June 1-10th. I don't know how long it will be (it's my first time), and I'm going to take it day by day. Or juice by juice if necessary!<br />
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I've found that all it takes to make things easier when I was juicing until lunch, was my body (and mind) getting used to it. The first few days were a challenge, but as time went on I found that I was satisfied until just before lunch. I was happy to be eating my lunch, but I wasn't eating my desk either. Which is good, because it's rather difficult to chew...<br />
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So that's why the 2-part plan for Phase 3. 2 weeks of part 1 and 2 weeks of part 2 ought to be enough to help me transition to just juices and tonnes of water starting June 1st. :) I have no doubt my mind is going to play a big part of it, for good or bad. <br />
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I'm planning on being as kind, and non-judgmental to myself as I can be, both during the juice feast and in the month leading up to it. Over the 70 days of the processed sugar challenge, I learned that I got a LOT further, a LOT easier, by being kind to myself and not stressing about it, just doing it.<br />
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So that's going to be my M.O. over the next 6 weeks or so. Being kind, patient with myself, and allowing it to happen. To enjoy myself, and enjoy the benefits of the juice, including detoxing. Definitely better out than in! <br />
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Will I juice for 10 days? Dunno. Will I juice for 1 day, then eat for a day, then juice for a day? Dunno. Will I juice all day and have a snack? Dunno! What I'm going to do is explore what is good for me, what feels good to me, what works for me, because I know that it's MY juice feast, and therefore it'll be customized to me! :)<br />
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Why juice fasting/feasting? Check out the video below. :)<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-86053847845407148252014-04-09T20:51:00.000-04:002014-04-09T20:51:42.734-04:00Happy sunny FINALLY WARM(ish) DAY!<br />
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It's been a while...well let's be honest, it's been a looooong while...since I've posted, but I'm...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">...to say that today is<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> DAY 49</span></b> of a processed sugar-free me!!!</span></div>
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I really can't get over it. It hasn't always been easy. It's still Easter Junk Season. I have random chocolate-bunny-cravings...not just chocolate, oh no nothing so simple. I mean bunny chocolate specifically. Once in a while I can quite literally taste it. Weird eh?</div>
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Nevertheless, I have stayed strong. Last week was my boss's (unexpected and emotional) last day, and nearly everything that was brought for the goodbye coffee was sugary. But it didn't even really tempt me very much, which really surprised me. I had some cheese, and some fruit. :)</div>
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Afterward, a co-worker who knows how hard avoiding processed sugar has been for me my whole life, and has seen me attempt to be processed sugar-free before, commented to me that it seemed a lot easier on me this time. I thought about it, and had to agree. It's not that it didn't look good (they had CARROT CAKE, PEOPLE!!) but, I'm not eating processed sugar. Period as it turns out. </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Cool!!!</span></div>
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Anyway, so very happy that things are progressing!</div>
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There's another, more secret thing that I've been in the process of doing and which I'm excited about--juicing!</div>
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I've been having wonderful, fresh, raw mostly veggie with some fruit juices for breakfast on many days over the first few weeks. No pressure, just enjoyment. </div>
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It's been great! At first, my body was all "WHAT THE?!" but surprisingly quickly it seemed to understand the massive amount of vitamins and nutrients it was getting, and settled down. Even more than that, I started to feel satisfied! That was a shock, and it really didn't take much to get to that part, which is amazing.</div>
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On Saturday (3 days from today) I'm transitioning to Phase 2 (of 3)--fresh nutritious juice for breakfast, everyday. I'm so looking forward to it! The only reason I'm not starting tomorrow, is because I'm attending a book launch of a friend's new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dish-Do-Over-Family-Favourites-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B00D5TRREA">cookbook </a>tomorrow, which is in Toronto. We'll be there until Friday evening, but just TRY to stop me from starting after that!!</div>
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It just feels like now is the time to make the final push in my health. To finally reach my long-dreamed-for goals. I think I'm finally ready for the big change which is sure to come. But as a friend just said (like 10 minutes ago lol)--"Stop thinking about it. Just juice. Don't make it a big head thing." which I thought was brilliant and frankly kind of profound. I love fresh juice, I love how it makes me feel, how good for me it is. So, I will just juice, and enjoy it--both the juice itself, and the path it will bring me down. Wherever it leads!</div>
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If you're interested in juicing, and want to know all about it, there's a great YouTube channel called Raw Raw Life, which quite literally will answer any question you might have, if you watch enough of the videos! The lady on the videos, Carla Douglin, is so insightful and honest, and frankly HILARIOUS a lot of the time. I definitely recommend checking it out.</div>
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You can find the channel here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/rawrawlife/videos">Raw Raw Life On YouTube </a></div>
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Here's one to get your started. :)</div>
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-10468884510310253072014-03-02T15:02:00.001-05:002014-03-02T15:02:58.286-05:00Visions of chocolate bunnies are dancing through my head.<br />
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For whatever reason, I'm so totally wanting chocolate bunnies specifically. Not just chocolate (though I'm sure that would do) but bunnies. Are bunnies tastier? Who knows. But I want to bite their ears off with gusto.<br />
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Today is Day 10 processed-sugar-free. Or 14% to my goal. Not sure how that makes me feel..."Yay 14% already!" or "OMG only 14%?!"<br />
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I'm ultimately the one who is in charge here, and I'm not going to give in, no matter how much the little chocolate-bunny-loving sonofabitch devil on my shoulder is whispering in my ear. <br />
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This is the single most important thing I can currently do for my health, and to take a big leap toward the me I want to be. I spent the first 40 years of my life in its grip. I won't be a sugar addict anymore. I simply refuse.<br />
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Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-43461533154834132612014-02-23T15:30:00.000-05:002015-02-17T21:47:48.113-05:00<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>KOMBUCHA!!</b></span><br />
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About a month ago, I started brewing my own kombucha. I was never a huge drinker of it, partly because of the cost, but I had heard a lot of really great things about it, and wanted to check it out for myself. <br />
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Things started out small, owing to the fact that I started from scratch by not purchasing the "<a href="http://yougrowgirl.com/mother-may-i-make-a-kombucha-scoby/">scoby</a>" but growing them myself. (Type in "how to brew kombucha" on Youtube, and you'll get lots of videos on the subject). As time went on, and I had more scobies to work with, my volume of brew...grew!<br />
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Stuff for growing the first two scobies (there's organic white sugar there too, just not in the pic):<br />
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A batch with a couple of toddler scobies doing there thing. I use all organic ingredients:<br />
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The brew is expanding!</div>
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And two pics from today. On top, two large bottles on their second brew--the one on the left was made today, and is peach, and the one on the right is blueberry, which I started drinking today; and the pic below that is my brew area. I drank half or so of the blueberry bottle so put the other half into one of the green Grolsch bottles (you can see it in the right hand pic--there are three toward the front of the desk, and the blueberry is the darker one). Empty bottles at the back. The jars with "sweaters" on them are smaller batches of kombucha brewing (it's winter here), and the large jar to the left is what I hope will turn into a "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYqFBXY-nM">continuous brew</a>". I didn't want to spent a lot of money on an "official" jar, so tried this one instead--it was $17!</div>
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<b style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">So have I felt any benefits since starting to drink kombucha everyday a month ago? You betcha!!!</b></div>
<br />
Two things actually. One, <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">I can now breathe through both nostrils</span></b>. I didn't even realize this was an issue, until I suddenly had access to tonnes of Oxygen! HAHA! The other has had a profound effect on my life--<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>after 40 years of pretty maddening sleep issues, I have fallen asleep all but 3 nights with no problem</b></span>. I have never in my LIFE had this much success with falling asleep. It's ASTOUNDING I tell you! <br />
<br />
Given the fact that each serving, despite being made with organic ingredients, is just a few cents per serving, and the benefits I'm already feeling, I can see myself brewing kombucha for quite a long time. I can't wait to see what effect not having processed sugar, AND drinking kombucha on the regular will have on my life!<br />
<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-23936812678393436562014-02-23T14:30:00.001-05:002014-02-23T14:30:43.886-05:00This is a year of change. Big change if I have anything to do with it. Big honking change, which will fundamentally alter the paradigm that is my life...BUT will enable me to become the person I've always felt I was, but was actively denying myself from achieving.<br />
<br />
In order to change my paradigm, I have to be willing to be uncomfortable. Perhaps very uncomfortable. Comfort comes from the familiar, and since that will no longer be the case, I'm bound to be...uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
It simply must be done, however.<br />
<br />
Step One was to figure out what I wanted to accomplish this year, and I believe I've mostly figured that out, though it may be updated as time goes on. Then work them into steps to accomplish.<br />
<br />
Step Two is upon me. Step Two is to deal once and for all with my processed sugar addiction.<br />
<br />
The deets:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rxTTp950plf7GNOrlJG6lCBn5ZJSibFKlqbE40nGLDrZzU1OkDpznvGYZYk5U5rwlFII1Pg80qbL6Gx1wXIic6dmHK_NMAvInUa-2AlFvjWpzl8eZDsckmvz4t7MPcY_zUhzFjktO5ON/s1600/sugar1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rxTTp950plf7GNOrlJG6lCBn5ZJSibFKlqbE40nGLDrZzU1OkDpznvGYZYk5U5rwlFII1Pg80qbL6Gx1wXIic6dmHK_NMAvInUa-2AlFvjWpzl8eZDsckmvz4t7MPcY_zUhzFjktO5ON/s1600/sugar1.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a>* Stop eating processed sugar in obvious things like sweets. I started Feb 19/14 and it will go for 2 months until April 20th. <br />
* Limit processed food.<br />
<br />
I'm limiting processed foods for a few reasons. One, there's processed sugar in virtually ALL <br />
processed food, even things you wouldn't expect in, like savoury snacks and "diet" ready-made meals. Two, I have found that if I eat less sugar, I crave more salt and unhealthy fats. Since sugar, salt and unheathy fats are in all processed foods in varying amounts, limiting it seems like a good proactive step. :)<br />
<br />
The reasons WHY I'm doing this are many, and in no particular order:<br />
<br />
I enjoy it at the time, but shortly thereafter I have a lot of rather clear symptoms that tell me my body does NOT like processed sugar, including fatigue, mood wings, heaviness in my body, and of course ultimate weight gain. <br />
<br />
The other part of it is I now know the APPALLING effects that processed sugar has on my long-term health. When I was younger, I could kind of brush off the idea that consuming so much processed sugar was bad for me, saying that I didn't feel affected by it at all (which wasn't really true, because I didn't know how I COULD feel without it, thus had nothing to compare my supposedly "fine" feeling to), but now, as I enter my 40's, I'm starting to feel my body rebelling. There are days when I feel like my body is falling apart. And that is SCARY. What in the world is my life going to be like when I reach retirement age?!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLREvj0jGs4pNUuZpQ9_JvWUFvnslfQNy1EJpUieYllM8jmsq1o2CUb4bkIe6G4uZnZId-ky6qvrMoJ47ib7BP8T08tIpXLHso1_N812MfXWLmtV7wCI-romJTH1-4RbnidcHRnfdzZ1hR/s1600/sugar4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLREvj0jGs4pNUuZpQ9_JvWUFvnslfQNy1EJpUieYllM8jmsq1o2CUb4bkIe6G4uZnZId-ky6qvrMoJ47ib7BP8T08tIpXLHso1_N812MfXWLmtV7wCI-romJTH1-4RbnidcHRnfdzZ1hR/s1600/sugar4.JPG" height="177" width="200" /></a>Premature aging is usually something talked about by cosmetic companies who mean what you look like on the outside as you get older. But premature aging can also mean the speeding up of the aging of your body. When your body is prematurely aging, it likely will lead to not only a diminished quality of life, but also a diminished <i>quantity of life</i>. I already feel far older than I did <br />
just a few years ago, and I know it's because of the not-so-good food choices I've made. I do also eat healthy, clean, whole foods, so the fact that the "unclean" foods I consume has affected me so much is alarming, not only for myself, but for the many people in the world who eat FAR more junk than I do!<br />
<br />
I also know that it can be reversed with good food choices, and moving my body. The biggest part of that is the removal of the vast majority processed sugar from my diet, permanently.<br />
<br />
So! For these 2 months, processed sugar will be all but eliminated. NO obvious things like sweets with processed sugar in them, and very limited processed foods since I know they also contain processed sugar (among other things).<br />
<br />
Today is day 4. I wanted to blog about this when I started, but I also wanted to have a few days behind me so I could talk about my experiences as I go.<br />
<br />
Day one wasn't bad at all, since I've gone a day without processed sugar before. Day two was a bit more of a challenge, as at the end of the work day I kept thinking that I'd stop by the grocery store after work and "pick something up" which of course means something either ready-made or pre-made that just needs heating in the oven. AND lately has also meant buying chocolate. You know, "Just this one time" which of course is a lot more than just that one time!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh608o5oJWzDscg7TsZsI8E_UfT8sr4AdBWmlu__1rq122_vBPzDhK3fSrEby0Ry4mmH4xSulrbvnF6MBBfLGaUlP9uFcOouWuRNu4-KOCiCLSli8J_fExsuNuezyVli_wX1vLmxX9l8ZnF/s1600/sugar3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh608o5oJWzDscg7TsZsI8E_UfT8sr4AdBWmlu__1rq122_vBPzDhK3fSrEby0Ry4mmH4xSulrbvnF6MBBfLGaUlP9uFcOouWuRNu4-KOCiCLSli8J_fExsuNuezyVli_wX1vLmxX9l8ZnF/s1600/sugar3.JPG" height="184" width="320" /></a>Day three was my first real challenge, because I was hungry at one point and wanted to "pick <br />
something up" SO badly, and I was also really wanted chocolate. It wasn't a full-blown craving, where you're doubled over, clutching your stomach (went through that was sugar in the past), but I really wanted it. I didn't have it however. <br />
<br />
Today is day 4. So far it's been good, but I'm at home, and there's no junk at home. There's junk at the store, which is only a block away, but I'm too lazy to go out in the cold and "pick something up" LOL! Hey man, whatever you gotta do, right?<br />
<br />
Up until about 2 or 3 years ago, I took FOUR sugar in my tea. FOUR people. I whittled it down and down, until I was to 1/2 a sugar. Then one day when waiting for the bus, I thought that if I was at such a small amount, why am I taking any sugar at all? So I started drinking my tea with no sugar. If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd enjoy my tea with NO sugar, I'd think you were daft. I'd tried going cold-turkey before with sugar in my tea, and found it disgusting.<br />
<br />
My experience with my tea gives me hope that I can and will adjust my lifestyle to where I want it to be, I just need to keep working at it. I know sugar (and processed foods my extension) are my biggest hurdle, and are also the things which are the worst for me, which is why I decided to tackle them first. Get the worst part over with right away, instead of worrying about it in the future, right?<br />
<br />
Onward and upward from here! Here's a great video about processed sugar that I watched today. You may never look at the "white stuff" the same again!<br />
<br />
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<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-53479835067335821022014-01-22T21:23:00.000-05:002014-01-22T21:23:49.477-05:00Whole, Real Food, Day 56<div class="MsoNormal">
November was great, the first half of December was good…and
then it all went to pot! HA!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, you know what? I’m
not giving up. Why? Because I want to make big changes in my
life, and the only way to do that is to learn from my mistakes, try new ways of
accomplishing what I want to, and find the right path that will take me to the
life I want to live.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earlier this month, I started to realize that I was on the
same slippery slope as I've found myself on before, which would lead inevitably
to a return to the life I used to lead.
I do NOT want to return to that version of myself, in fact I REFUSE to,
and I will fight, kicking and screaming to keep from returning there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO7MX7JuBY9VXIGkPzA4BXKbh0oAxndQ3nCW-cAkH6cEBipeZSkjK3w0de4BOa48NtG48eKfSNTaBT7mjbQsHc0NSf1DV9w23Wo1nBs6VnkufDEo0cJcjXQGmySgUHcnp3BqwPGhgDC3p/s1600/chip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO7MX7JuBY9VXIGkPzA4BXKbh0oAxndQ3nCW-cAkH6cEBipeZSkjK3w0de4BOa48NtG48eKfSNTaBT7mjbQsHc0NSf1DV9w23Wo1nBs6VnkufDEo0cJcjXQGmySgUHcnp3BqwPGhgDC3p/s1600/chip.JPG" height="162" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I realized what was starting to happen again, I decided
to do something about it. Right then my
sister texted me saying that if we are what we eat, she was a potato chip. And I was a chocolate and caramel-coated
piece of popcorn.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coincidence? Hmmmm…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I thought about what to do to put myself back on the
path to the life I wanted to live. In
the past, I've made elaborate plans to work out xx amount each week, eat 100%
healthy, walk everywhere, etc. The
problem was I wasn't considering what might actually work. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've also been dreaming for quite a while about what life
would be like when I reached my goals, and therefore could start to live the
life I wanted. And to my mind, achieving
the life I wanted could only be achieved by the elaborate and unrealistic plans
I mentioned above. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A0WIT2_m_PNa3ZpbGu9RLxVmdr72lxe3qUOIBOGWCRgZZIcpJN7Q5wTJ0-Zky7weMzh-VFwtM80izhwJzPs_8IB_toliY2YLpqfIT51SDgXyE5Z_BrjHOyJc16qr2TJiS9LXZb1AvfVt/s1600/nowhere.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A0WIT2_m_PNa3ZpbGu9RLxVmdr72lxe3qUOIBOGWCRgZZIcpJN7Q5wTJ0-Zky7weMzh-VFwtM80izhwJzPs_8IB_toliY2YLpqfIT51SDgXyE5Z_BrjHOyJc16qr2TJiS9LXZb1AvfVt/s1600/nowhere.JPG" height="158" width="200" /></a>So what happened?
Well you don’t have to be a fortune-teller to see what happened:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got nowhere.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I’m now of a mind of <i>learning</i> from my previous experiences, rather than “failing” and
beating myself up for my failures, I tried another tack—to make a plan of
sorts, but make it with a mind to what I’m willing to do<i> for the long-haul</i>, and what <i>makes
allowances for real life.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Revolutionary! Well…at
least for me. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phase one was starting to think about what I would <i>do</i> when I lived the life I wanted, and
therefore what I was going to <i>start to do
right now.</i> In other words, stop
dreaming and <b><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">do it</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phase two was figuring out how to manage my food intake,
while still living a real life, and in no way shape or form being ridiculously restrictive,
what could eventually become automatic, but while still working toward my
health goals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far, the form that’s taken is a plan to eat healthy,
whole foods 90% of the time, stay in my calorie range 90% of the time, and try
it for 35 days. Why 35 days? Because every 35 days our livers are renewed,
and if our liver is clean and healthy, it has a much better chance to clean out
the rest of our body! Cool right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m also thinking of things in terms of what I've done <i>for the week</i>, rather than just for a
day, because I've often fallen for the trap that has also snared so many others—the
“oh just for today, I can start tomorrow”.
Well that might be true, but when I repeated it to myself over and over
and over, time went by and I not only didn't “start tomorrow”, I found myself
further away from my goals, and on that darned slope again!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really like how this plan allows for flexibility. The end plan, after I try 90x90x35 for a
while (35 days to be exact!), may look more like 80x90 or 90x80 or 95x95 for
all I know. Somewhere above 80% clean,
80% of the time. It’s about trying new
things to see what works for me, so we’ll see!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now, it’s 90x90x35, the Liver Plan (lol). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phase two week one ends on Friday (two days from now), and
it so far has been a mixed bag. That’s
OK, since I’m making some pretty serious life changes, and discovering what
will ultimately work for me. I’m also
PMSing (sorry guys) so the junk cravings are in full swing!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I have given in a couple of times (a non-healthy
muffin today, and too much chocolate a couple of evening’s ago) and tracked it
all. It doesn't disappear just because
it’s not acknowledged! This week so far
I've also made some healthy choices, and planned for some life events as
well. I knew I was going out for sushi
earlier this week, so I planned for that.
Normally I’d go nutso (I love sushi) but I figured out how I could have
what I wanted and enough of it to feel satisfied, without leaving full and
round like a teletubby. Yes, it was a
large meal, but it was smaller than it could have been.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because I’m thinking of things in terms of a week, not a
day, I’m going to do what I can to make up for my little PMS-y indiscretions
(lol) get my exercise in for the week (activity as much as I can, actual
workouts at least 2x), and try to make sure I’m as close to where I hope to be
in a “good” week. If there’s a discrepancy,
I won’t beat myself up, as that is what I used to do, but I no longer do as the
new me. I’ll learn from my “mistakes”—be
prepared for the PMS and have healthy versions of comfort foods at the ready!—and
move on to next week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those who like to track, here’s a snip of what each week
will look like, before I enter the data:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffEliy_IOW7-OsB146uJHQWEztSke27TCZMR9gbg3E2Dx3GxFlddwtUfDYPmLiJdvaWs1Wh18B7WTHdLNwyg_MemZpUfKRKrrX6xYakzKyvNWHlRXK9OPMCCdGD6FmQvWefCotXfH6sUf/s1600/weekly+food+chart+snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffEliy_IOW7-OsB146uJHQWEztSke27TCZMR9gbg3E2Dx3GxFlddwtUfDYPmLiJdvaWs1Wh18B7WTHdLNwyg_MemZpUfKRKrrX6xYakzKyvNWHlRXK9OPMCCdGD6FmQvWefCotXfH6sUf/s1600/weekly+food+chart+snip.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To translate, 1600 cals per day is just under my max (by 50
for a little wiggle room) at the moment, per day. The “remaining cals” line is 11200 because
that’s 1600 x 7 days. Since I’m
currently allowing myself up to 10% of my food as unhealthy (anything not whole
and clean, including things like alcohol) I track per day how much, if any, of
my cals are unhealthy each day, and tally at the bottom. The tally is currently at 1060 because that’s
the unused portion. My week starts on
Saturday, because that’s market day!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKrjKq-WFc5u5RPQVv1KQNY_VDaKAyKFXqX931RWnsVHdmc1vT5wgwWrZNf1VEFo8_JyfM3kGZMsnfNIkrXaN7vbgejTN-10vV_w0ZCCKDan-XpqnquNT4p7DkMIhXgpDkGAH-4RZmrNB/s1600/sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKrjKq-WFc5u5RPQVv1KQNY_VDaKAyKFXqX931RWnsVHdmc1vT5wgwWrZNf1VEFo8_JyfM3kGZMsnfNIkrXaN7vbgejTN-10vV_w0ZCCKDan-XpqnquNT4p7DkMIhXgpDkGAH-4RZmrNB/s1600/sign.JPG" height="200" width="189" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This plan is also going to allow me to see trends. Like “just this one thing” thinking, which
will show up each time in the “unhealthy” column. Or if my resolve wanes toward the end of the
week, or Mondays mean more comfort-eating, or whatever. I’m not just trying to reach my health goals,
after all, but reach my “me” goals too, which means I want to figure out why I
found myself where I did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I’m a bit of a planner.
Not sure if you noticed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Luckily, the hard work is done as far as the planning, and
now all I have to do is copy a new little chart at the beginning of each week, be
a good girl and track my food and exercise, and move forward to a rosy future!<o:p></o:p></div>
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OH! And did I mention
that I’ve started not only drinking but <i>brewing
</i>kombucha?! Stay tuned for a post
about THAT! So EXCITED!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-13017458153876996202013-12-08T19:08:00.002-05:002013-12-08T19:08:38.608-05:00100 Days of Real Food--Day 49OK, so it's been a while (again) since I posted about my <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/">100 Days of Real Food</a>. Darned holiday season!<br />
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Here are some of the real food meals that I've made in the past couple of weeks, as well as a grocery store/farmer's market haul:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO_H8SJBfXFAitVYMiivb9CwNfN0D-aJHZTPWxDy6Cjp0wh5rQXwLHXJpOtbKCX38RqX5Uyv44GyztPIhRAZ5BZVN6-7btAnzJbb6ua9kOFA4qeC_ls8TPtb2D9-_WIkekGbUw_s2d228/s1600/20131110_175908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO_H8SJBfXFAitVYMiivb9CwNfN0D-aJHZTPWxDy6Cjp0wh5rQXwLHXJpOtbKCX38RqX5Uyv44GyztPIhRAZ5BZVN6-7btAnzJbb6ua9kOFA4qeC_ls8TPtb2D9-_WIkekGbUw_s2d228/s320/20131110_175908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Fish taco. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKvaUGDeC7yZrnlCKKwtavR6KzFaXzj871pqFF9O1kzSNmlmpJyfJbihcPFEhJEe_Kgfexn82PYPByE2C90bE4HYji5lSgPN6cUJuuTjuMbgSEdklpvxshXROdP7E3_AiMQmSYRquSn58/s1600/20131111_183920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKvaUGDeC7yZrnlCKKwtavR6KzFaXzj871pqFF9O1kzSNmlmpJyfJbihcPFEhJEe_Kgfexn82PYPByE2C90bE4HYji5lSgPN6cUJuuTjuMbgSEdklpvxshXROdP7E3_AiMQmSYRquSn58/s320/20131111_183920.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Mushroom fettuccine Alfredo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDOJwPRLkf2xLHz4KPnGtK4GEutLzHexx5LVsVVrnX3_93iCy4D6QCjWzlv5eA4-TzLAaW77OKNxLc3fESeUMhY3KZObI8s0OY4DYtF1BqGuKyrTcg5fMoAHJoDmNVoZKSSJ_BM2uzwal/s1600/20131112_204348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDOJwPRLkf2xLHz4KPnGtK4GEutLzHexx5LVsVVrnX3_93iCy4D6QCjWzlv5eA4-TzLAaW77OKNxLc3fESeUMhY3KZObI8s0OY4DYtF1BqGuKyrTcg5fMoAHJoDmNVoZKSSJ_BM2uzwal/s320/20131112_204348.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Crunchy spiced chickpeas.</div>
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Root vegetable stew.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BrOt_nhED2X7wb-yOSMbOhUAuhOQvFB88A7HQDk_Htd-U15f-d-x47bjgNVd__aOn51p3-p1loDLcAQSjukq2ZZVgMDp_JdYLCpJVO5MLfkUu8f67dVS74nukssgzZJ-h_PJh3a_odvP/s1600/20131117_175432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BrOt_nhED2X7wb-yOSMbOhUAuhOQvFB88A7HQDk_Htd-U15f-d-x47bjgNVd__aOn51p3-p1loDLcAQSjukq2ZZVgMDp_JdYLCpJVO5MLfkUu8f67dVS74nukssgzZJ-h_PJh3a_odvP/s320/20131117_175432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shrimp wontons.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyae68sUKr0X_dtndWcQxvodjufN76cM3J_Wc6q_nWxCAdgYgpaLzBJFo1E3KPTE2JoDJgr_LGznqsJR-CO7AHURinyrPjzrLr2lFqZCs7Aswa-7fhlmC5fvuAUehtxElsErc7vQjFkfh/s1600/20131120_120326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyae68sUKr0X_dtndWcQxvodjufN76cM3J_Wc6q_nWxCAdgYgpaLzBJFo1E3KPTE2JoDJgr_LGznqsJR-CO7AHURinyrPjzrLr2lFqZCs7Aswa-7fhlmC5fvuAUehtxElsErc7vQjFkfh/s320/20131120_120326.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Detox salad (from <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/09/27/detox-salad/">Oh She Glows</a>). Yum and easy!</div>
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Grocery haul.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSFQp5C_3wyTnijjGyK8QTT_ahBKlrmRWz0_Rb285DDMZn-U1s2cM_fEKI3sgXpOy7wJIRgQqAjBj2uA6klBy29wWUy0kl_Hs2tSCmmhDWRLZExxHXcIOiDjWaE-kSMXnNXGvD9o4XBlk/s1600/20131130_155737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSFQp5C_3wyTnijjGyK8QTT_ahBKlrmRWz0_Rb285DDMZn-U1s2cM_fEKI3sgXpOy7wJIRgQqAjBj2uA6klBy29wWUy0kl_Hs2tSCmmhDWRLZExxHXcIOiDjWaE-kSMXnNXGvD9o4XBlk/s320/20131130_155737.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Take-out! It was delicious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior51xHS_6JSn-KJr-DLFNaznulPf8Hb-o7RmIPmcwJQZmC3U4DFQeYHHqcP6C-gkMKfQh_tWJpvgHCh9rf-s2LweN_fOzA7D7iBqiGs4tIdYqpy6Iq4Hx4r00fOxmXRwrBhkocq9o_9Qt/s1600/20131130_174249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior51xHS_6JSn-KJr-DLFNaznulPf8Hb-o7RmIPmcwJQZmC3U4DFQeYHHqcP6C-gkMKfQh_tWJpvgHCh9rf-s2LweN_fOzA7D7iBqiGs4tIdYqpy6Iq4Hx4r00fOxmXRwrBhkocq9o_9Qt/s320/20131130_174249.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Home-made <a href="http://holycrap.ca/">Holy Crap</a> cereal topper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaP2aRS_cen8WcR1kiNM-NW3O32k3oSZWBthiNiBvRcB5Qi9dk5a-Xf4I2yDI_bBSZN4IAlUVPdj-2sD_xZlq9ahjinCuE_DljpwGJCgYpbSLqHo1oT-2viemz1utxFayrZHJDHZq2TCS/s1600/20131201_091101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaP2aRS_cen8WcR1kiNM-NW3O32k3oSZWBthiNiBvRcB5Qi9dk5a-Xf4I2yDI_bBSZN4IAlUVPdj-2sD_xZlq9ahjinCuE_DljpwGJCgYpbSLqHo1oT-2viemz1utxFayrZHJDHZq2TCS/s320/20131201_091101.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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First breakfast sandwich attempt. Yummo!</div>
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Today's breakfast sandwich. Too much food! One is enough.</div>
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During my time of the month (sorry guys) this time around, I found myself slipping. That was last week. I haven't gone bat-shit or anything, but I found my oomph was waning. My get up and go got up and went.</div>
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I knew it was happening, and did what I had to to mitigate it. Now I'm on the other side, and I've survived. Not as sparkly clean as my first round, but still OK. Today is a new day (well, everyday is LOL) and this is about permanent change so I'm not beating myself up over it.</div>
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2 days ago was my work Christmas party, and I didn't attend this year. Why? Because there wasn't anything that they were serving which would have been in-line with what I'm trying to accomplish. If there had been something I could have eaten, I would have attended, but there was nothing, so there was no point. Other years it was a traditional Christmas dinner, which would probably have been pretty safe other than the dessert, but this year it was a 50's theme, which sound like fun, but the food was things like burgers, sundae's, iced cream floats... Needless to say, there was noting. It sounded like a lot of fun, but honestly I'm not going to pay $40 for a meal I can't even eat!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WWKvJK-W0Wva0pXb_vHlWgv_GDLB_3K4wqj4MTaK168DfHrHL2Dwl4ijYEi4AQaCJA-Xqysb6Wfsb63Sbhd7SG3NKqBYOrZFlmJhFP4U2TCrAfgWqS_7IuKOlMl4SYpMSYVEWOfdkayV/s1600/holiday+coffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WWKvJK-W0Wva0pXb_vHlWgv_GDLB_3K4wqj4MTaK168DfHrHL2Dwl4ijYEi4AQaCJA-Xqysb6Wfsb63Sbhd7SG3NKqBYOrZFlmJhFP4U2TCrAfgWqS_7IuKOlMl4SYpMSYVEWOfdkayV/s200/holiday+coffee.JPG" width="200" /></a>The "seasonal hot drinks" have been a little hard to stay away from. I made the mistake last year</div>
of trying one for the first time (in past years they didn't really call to me) and this year I did so again... Well, lets's say I had more than one, and I'm now clamping down on it. I looked up what one small one included, and let me tell you it's so not worth it! Not worth the ingredients, or the cost. They were tasty, but in the end are they worth the drawbacks? No, to my mind they're not. Mind you, they sure seem worth it when I'm drinking them! ;)<br />
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So today is December 8th, which means that I have about 3 weeks until the end of December, and the end of the holiday season. I'm not too stressed about getting through this season being "good", because I've been, and will continue to pick and choose which events I'll be attending. Many times I'm having a meal out with friends, and am able to vote for places to go. My department's Christmas lunch is going to be at a very nice place that I've been wanting to visit, which I'm sure has some choices which are in-line or very close to my real-food goals. 2 other dinners with friends are much the same--my friends don't like attending crappy restaurants, so there will be good options. On Tuesday I'm going for sushi for lunch, and I know what I am to eat and what not. Nothing deep-fried (no hand rolls! Boo!), but other than that I'm pretty safe. <br />
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On another note, I've started to include a lot more activity in my day. I purchased the <a href="http://www.sparkactivitytracker.com/?r=sphead4">Sparkpeople Activity Tracker </a> and it's really encouraged me to get my butt moving! I have a challenge to walk 50 miles/80 kms in December, and guess what? I'm already at 48% and today is only December 8th!! Next month is to get 2,014 exercise minutes... Oi. That will be more of a challenge I think! You can see in the image below what my exercise minutes have been since I got the tracker:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTGaHdOv9lRFVyi4DrgwlCSA7Kj3aSeu2M3SKc0nmiIBzTUNnO6Sw61I28kTfMIp7Gororppq7Kvrnp6QxR3aLUoZ5y49n-m8jaz2LW6ap5nkY613KyKw9DvDnNzQUFaLZN546IqAnINL/s1600/minutes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTGaHdOv9lRFVyi4DrgwlCSA7Kj3aSeu2M3SKc0nmiIBzTUNnO6Sw61I28kTfMIp7Gororppq7Kvrnp6QxR3aLUoZ5y49n-m8jaz2LW6ap5nkY613KyKw9DvDnNzQUFaLZN546IqAnINL/s640/minutes.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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*the days after November 27th where it shows little or no minutes, it was because I was at home all day, and of course don't wear shoes indoors. And since the tracker is on my shoe, it showed as nothing.*</div>
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To my mind, eating real food is very important, but it's also important to move!! Not just for a weight standpoint, but for energy, and as we age. Every year after age 40 we lose muscle and bone mass, and it's important to keep them from wasting. I don't want to be one of those people who are 65 years old and hardly able to lift my grand children! I want to be as fit as possible as I get older, because it means not only a longer life, but a BETTER life.<br />
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I also know how I feel if I've been too sedentary one day: tired, achy, grouchy! If I have an active day, I feel more energetic, more youthful, and happier. And others are happier around me too! I also find that I eat better. Not sure why, but it's consistently true, so that's certainly a motivator!<br />
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Today is the last day of the first half of this journey. Tomorrow I leave behind any challenges and "failures", and move forward having learned from my stumbles and mistakes. I'm working on a plan for after these 100 days are over, but for now I'm focusing on the task at hand!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0be65XUJ5cYjt7hyphenhyphenOhGPYc9V1b7YDRp96NuJ9eby-FwW-x5cUU-1qNsdZP7R2AcnOkdQ36Qf_UY164hzAhaRlc8hfFYEmzyH5Jn-6wP96sve-cDLs0_ZtFHjKBXYXxYwD5a3WDthIsFT/s1600/real+food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0be65XUJ5cYjt7hyphenhyphenOhGPYc9V1b7YDRp96NuJ9eby-FwW-x5cUU-1qNsdZP7R2AcnOkdQ36Qf_UY164hzAhaRlc8hfFYEmzyH5Jn-6wP96sve-cDLs0_ZtFHjKBXYXxYwD5a3WDthIsFT/s320/real+food.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-74318683047072942042013-11-15T17:27:00.000-05:002013-11-21T21:20:42.430-05:00100 Days of Real Food--Day 25: My Budgeting TechniqueI started talking last week about eating real food on a budget. <a href="http://amacubarawfor30days.blogspot.ca/2013/11/saving-money-while-eating-real-food.html">In the first post</a>, I talked about finding somewhere local which for whatever reason has real/clean food for a better price--Asian or other "ethnic" supermarkets, bulk stores, etc.<br />
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This time, I thought I'd show you in detail how I go about saving money on purchases, and also optimizing the food I have.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw6b7fdrOam8B4WbazNyJCUZNxHA7PIyQLj7dpSIzRLYmbfdb3Dlv7S_KHQxzTeo3v6yXHKRerw6p2UbmPL3tDE0PNFWroRViwgRgp3n_gWcZvHKb-XC5k5Kpsl_GzARmpcQN2V6KKtSt/s1600/tomatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw6b7fdrOam8B4WbazNyJCUZNxHA7PIyQLj7dpSIzRLYmbfdb3Dlv7S_KHQxzTeo3v6yXHKRerw6p2UbmPL3tDE0PNFWroRViwgRgp3n_gWcZvHKb-XC5k5Kpsl_GzARmpcQN2V6KKtSt/s200/tomatoes.JPG" width="180" /></a>I usually make half of recipes, unless it's something that can't easily be halved (like bread for instance), because I don't really want to have 6-8 servings that I have to eat in a few days. So I also often have unused portions of things like diced or crushed tomatoes, since unfortunately, the only size cans they seem to come in is large!<br />
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In the past, before I started this <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/">100 Days of Real Food</a>, I would probably have forgotten all about the part can of diced tomatoes in my fridge, until at some future time I decided to clean out the fridge and saw it among all the other things I forgot about. <br />
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How much food and money have I thrown away in all these years? I have no idea, though I hear that the average person wastes 40% of what they buy, and that doesn't even include the food wasted before it even gets to our kitchens. Isn't that crazy?! Check out this article by David Suzuki, "<a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/food-and-our-planet/help-end-food-waste/">How to End Food Waste</a>". Also <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2012/qog_endfoodwaste.pdf">click here for 5 ways to end food waste.</a><br />
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<b>Fresh things still to use:</b><br />
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Eggs--7<br />
Container egg whites (1/2)<br />
Kale <span style="color: red;">I'm going to make kale chips out of this today or tomorrow</span><br />
Romaine hearts (almost 3)<br />
Tortillas (8/10) <span style="color: red;">will use 1 1/2 tortillas with lunch, so 6 1/2 left</span><br />
Chicken broth (1/2 tetra pack)<br />
Herbs--dill, parsley, cilantro, chives<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/why-you-should-give-rutabaga-a-chance-183530">Rutabaga</a><br />
<a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2012/09/19/5-favourite-butternut-squash-recipes/">Butternut squash</a> (1/2) <span style="color: red;">will use half of this with lunch, so 1/4 left</span><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/try-this-spaghetti-squash-inst-106610">Spaghetti squash</a> (1 small)<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/10-ways-to-eat-an-acorn-squash-129731">Acorn squash</a> (1)<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/five-tips-for-preparing-tempeh-63906">Tempeh </a>(2 packs)<br />
Carnation 2% condensed milk (1/2 can)<br />
Sugar snap peas (about 10)<br />
Mushrooms (most of a pack)<br />
Zucchini (2 baby)<br />
Red bell pepper (3/4)<br />
Carrots (most of bag)<br />
Onions (2)<br />
Pomegranate<br />
Ginger<br />
Greek yogurt (1/2)<br />
Apples (4 small)<br />
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<b>Stuff still in the freezer:</b><br />
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Bananas (3)<br />
Fruit (blueberry, strawberry)<br />
Shrimp (1 1/2 bags) <span style="color: red;">will use 1/4 bag with lunch</span><br />
Whole wheat pizza crusts (5 single thin-crust balls)<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/tip-how-to-use-frozen-edamame-48170">Edemame</a><br />
Beef, strips (about 1 lb)<br />
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So obviously I need to use the fresh stuff first, and of that the stuff that will go bad first...first! <br />
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I have today and Monday off (needed some down time!) so I'm able to actually make my lunch when I intend to eat it!<br />
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Oh wait, here's what I made for breakfast:<br />
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It's a whole-grain waffle with frozen blueberries and a drizzle of honey. :)</div>
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Anyway, for lunch I'm making pumpkin shrimp roti. It's not authentic because I use tortillas (or pita if I have that) instead of real <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roti">roti</a>, but the pumpkin/shrimp mixture is pretty authentic.</div>
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Other than the AMAZING flavour, the best thing about it is it's the easiest thing in the world to make! You can find the recipe <a href="http://amacubarawfor30days.blogspot.ca/2013/11/recipe-authentic-ish-pumpkin-roti.html">here</a>.</div>
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<i>Pause to eat my lunch...</i></div>
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Back to budgeting and using up food!</div>
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I see that I have carnation milk, chicken broth, and mushrooms. At first I thought I'd make fettuccine Alfredo again, but now I think I may make chicken pot pie! I love pot pies, but I've never made one before. Sounds like fun!</div>
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I found <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/light-chicken-potpie-recipe/index.html">this recipe</a>, which also uses some of the ingredients I already have: yogurt, parsley, eggs, carrots, 2% milk (carnation), and onions! I can half the filling recipe, but I'm not going to mess with the crust. What I'll do is freeze half of the crust recipe!!</div>
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<i>Pause to do some chores...lol</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnNfPEtzIOw-WN9xqFdqvy7L-cZiOLbJu4WI6PqZUkEeJ-78-h3Ey4pu1MoRiyCjoC4BUUSdPwGUXXGOxFSXmSIsNOoy4l2aoSx8mRbOhyphenhyphenXdfoHfCTBqc8YLnURGy7F5RjUrfGWhwXoFP/s1600/tempeh+gyro+from+food+dot+com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnNfPEtzIOw-WN9xqFdqvy7L-cZiOLbJu4WI6PqZUkEeJ-78-h3Ey4pu1MoRiyCjoC4BUUSdPwGUXXGOxFSXmSIsNOoy4l2aoSx8mRbOhyphenhyphenXdfoHfCTBqc8YLnURGy7F5RjUrfGWhwXoFP/s1600/tempeh+gyro+from+food+dot+com.JPG" /></a>Tomorrow, I'm going to make the <a href="file:///C:/Users/Amanda%20Baker/Desktop/Tempeh%20Gyros%20And%20Tzatziki%20Recipe%20-%20Greek.Food.com%20-%20148197.htm">temeh gyro recipe from Food.com</a> that I've been meaning to try</div>
for the past couple of weeks. Every time I go to make it, I'm reminded that I have to marinate the tempeh strips for at least 4 hours, or even overnight. DOH! So THIS AFTERNOON (aka just now) I sliced the tempeh and it's marinating in the fridge. Look at me go! Preparation is key! <br />
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With the frozen bananas I think I'll make banana muffins (yum, and I use honey instead of sugar!), as it's always a good idea to have tasty snacks around. <br />
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What else is on tap for next week? Don't know...so stay tuned!<br />
<br />Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-44656090537756695952013-11-15T14:07:00.000-05:002013-11-21T21:20:59.272-05:00Recipe: Authentic (Ish) Pumpkin Roti<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This recipe is really tasty, not at all expensive, and easy to boot!</div>
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<b>Authentic (Ish) Pumpkin Roti</b></div>
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For a hearty single serving or 2 smaller servings you will need:</div>
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About 2 cups of some kind of winter squash (I like butternut, but pumpkin is good too)</div>
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About 1 small white or yellow onion, diced</div>
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10 large frozen shrimp, thawed and diced</div>
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2-3 cloves garlic, crushed</div>
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Teensy bit of <a href="http://www.templeofthai.com/food/chili_pastes/sambeloelek-5531391081.php">sambal oelek </a>(traditionally use small very hot pepper)</div>
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Sea salt to taste (just a dash unless you want to use more)</div>
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Spritz of oil</div>
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Black pepper (just a wee bit) optional</div>
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Roti, whole-grain tortilla or whole-gain pita (about 1.5 or so)</div>
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In a medium pot over medium heat, heat healthy oil of your choice (olive, coconut or safflower--I </div>
used safflower this time) and throw in onions, garlic, sambal oelek, salt and pepper. Saute quickly and then lower temperature to low, and cover. Allow the onions to "sweat", stirring occasionally, until they're turning a little translucent. Don't allow them to brown.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUZaseb14OLq4bL216eIZo5KmIwKNHj0Zi3LLtD3ixHZV8eLaBXTUGvWm-vgHylPQ8aHJMYqWrE8z0Nuox8XziT-ZMxOSc7nbmFMeqFBgKnYIDV8AKFb-AnDK9luD5O0mBqmx2eReRbEX/s1600/20131115_122825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUZaseb14OLq4bL216eIZo5KmIwKNHj0Zi3LLtD3ixHZV8eLaBXTUGvWm-vgHylPQ8aHJMYqWrE8z0Nuox8XziT-ZMxOSc7nbmFMeqFBgKnYIDV8AKFb-AnDK9luD5O0mBqmx2eReRbEX/s320/20131115_122825.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooked onions + squash</td></tr>
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When the onions are finished, raise the temp to medium-low (depending on your oven) and add the winter squash cubes, and cover again. Stir every 5 minutes or so, helping the cubes along as they break down. When the squash is nearly cooked, add the shrimp, and fold it into the squash. Cover and cook for about another 5 minutes, or until all the shrimp have turned white and pink. If there's any grey, or if they appear translucent at all, they're not quite cooked. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp added - still raw</td></tr>
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When it's finished, place it into a bowl. Using small pieces of bread, scoop the mixture with your hands, and eat! You can use a spoon to put it on the pieces if you like, but it's more fun the other way. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGxqgCvUYEy-2beIRnc4Eu8SnfrzA93yb052DR4qv2fKnLrhd8t652AszI_reHSRBoTjkg2jGcXm9AcytYgKng8US8MZWTSim_auGxUl-VELJUPaSVCipLKq0dex7vzLePktY6_DUQy2G/s1600/20131115_140156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGxqgCvUYEy-2beIRnc4Eu8SnfrzA93yb052DR4qv2fKnLrhd8t652AszI_reHSRBoTjkg2jGcXm9AcytYgKng8US8MZWTSim_auGxUl-VELJUPaSVCipLKq0dex7vzLePktY6_DUQy2G/s400/20131115_140156.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's left after I finished eating - forgot to take a before pic! lol</td></tr>
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This recipe re-heats really well, just be sure not to over-heat it, so that the shrimp don't overcook and get tough. </div>
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Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528336922781481149.post-90239406120123547712013-11-12T22:19:00.001-05:002013-11-12T22:24:33.272-05:00100 Days of Real Food--Day 22<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOGcEKuuOKY7OKETSaHZTgIygbT-Es4k2oY1RYV1pg9fdaxEYOdQsWieyBmi9wGlGkkI14GOuR7iq5rD-t3tq4N9-9bnwXd-JCdlZFVNeeZQaw8sKT2eBOk4UAXfSwsvT9hoUDJe00xY-/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOGcEKuuOKY7OKETSaHZTgIygbT-Es4k2oY1RYV1pg9fdaxEYOdQsWieyBmi9wGlGkkI14GOuR7iq5rD-t3tq4N9-9bnwXd-JCdlZFVNeeZQaw8sKT2eBOk4UAXfSwsvT9hoUDJe00xY-/s200/100.JPG" width="193" /></a>Yesterday marked the three week point for this <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/">100 Days of Real Food</a>! It also means that I'm nearly at the 1/4 mark! WOW! It went so quickly--from this perspective anyway. :)<br />
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I've spent the first few weeks of this time settling into the idea of eating only real food, which has been a great idea. It was nice to ease into the idea (though no easing into the food!) because in this world, it's sometimes difficult to stay away from processed foods etc simply because it's everywhere. If I'd started with the, "I can't haves" I think I would have dived into a vat of chocolate mint iced cream and never come up for air! But allowing myself to feel the things I was feeling, whether joy, contentedness or resentment, and knowing that it was all OK, that it was all completely normal and it was all a good thing, really helped me to stick to it.<br />
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This past weekend I was thinking about what I wanted for my life, and specifically what I wanted for the food part of my life, moving forward. As you may know if you've read any of my other posts, I'd like to ultimately lead a plant-based life. One of the things I want to accomplish during these 100 days is to transition from where I am now, to eating mostly (but not all!) plants. <br />
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So, in this post, I'd like to share my thoughts on it, and clarify a few misconceptions people seem to have about it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJ6UDnGFJQiq-aMkF99wx8YcVmXhddIspDVCr7K5EFoDvC0HjYA3XTEekJyzazMvMsLEQPDBawmJn_7S7vtj4XY6GrBCWqDzxUxwo4dZ-apWh8UEQ7GqmEyyKSS-edXvV1KgDb6EUgqxX/s1600/peas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJ6UDnGFJQiq-aMkF99wx8YcVmXhddIspDVCr7K5EFoDvC0HjYA3XTEekJyzazMvMsLEQPDBawmJn_7S7vtj4XY6GrBCWqDzxUxwo4dZ-apWh8UEQ7GqmEyyKSS-edXvV1KgDb6EUgqxX/s200/peas.JPG" width="131" /></a>"Plant-based" is becoming a bit of a buzz-word recently, and with good reason. There are so many benefits to eating mostly plants, and scientists and health-care professionals are doing a lot of studies on the subject, and coming to a unanimous conclusion that HEY! They're not only good for you, they're REALLY good for you!!<br />
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There are some people who think that being 'plant-based' means having to be vegetarian, or even vegan. That's OK, they can definitely have their opinions, but the truth is that being plant-based literally means that most of what you eat is plants of some kind--fruit, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, chickpeas, lentils, grains, etc.<br />
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What that means <i>specifically</i> depends on YOU, not what someone else tells you. If being plant-based to you, means no meat or fish, but you eat dairy and eggs, then go for it. If being plant-based means no animal products of any kind, then go for that too! If plant-based means you eat mostly plants, with some animal products, then great!<br />
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To ME, it means eating mostly plants. It means a little bit of meat, though not a lot, and making sure that the meat I do eat is of good quality. It means also eating some dairy in various forms, though rarely the "low fat" or "fat-free" kind, because it's hard to find those which are not full of chemicals. They're out there, but they're rare!<br />
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To me being clean and plant-based, also means limiting processed foods. Having them occasionally if I feel like it, but not part of my regular life. So if I want a chai tea latte one day, and I'm not 100% sure what's in it (though it probably has processed sugar), that's OK, because it's not part of my normal daily eating.<br />
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While most everyone was brought up hearing "eat your veggies!", we never knew WHY, and for that matter, what was being served up wasn't really saying "EAT ME!" was it? The bane of my existence were things like canned green peas. DIS. GUS. TING!!! Smooshy and grey/brown?! EEEEEEW. <br />
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Because of things like canned pea-shaped THINGS, I grew up thinking that I hated peas. Loathed <br />
them! But you know what? Then I tried fresh peas. Like I picked it off the vine at a farm, opened the pod, and ate one. They're sweet! They're crunchy! They're chewy! They're DELISH! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGAMWBCuzTrqCCGn0RxeH8RZL9dQxBxSxM4xVgChqL_fVQq8keL2IQnfhfinxa90ZuvQT0KMdSDAcRyWtHpdqVl_yH7VT4lXuDTrxfJu3BH1Nafh_YeVYYK2sqsFF0vziGWvBuIKxowHy/s1600/zombie+carrot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGAMWBCuzTrqCCGn0RxeH8RZL9dQxBxSxM4xVgChqL_fVQq8keL2IQnfhfinxa90ZuvQT0KMdSDAcRyWtHpdqVl_yH7VT4lXuDTrxfJu3BH1Nafh_YeVYYK2sqsFF0vziGWvBuIKxowHy/s200/zombie+carrot.JPG" width="100" /></a><br />
Turns out a lot of the things I heartily disliked as a child were because of the poor quality of the food I was eating. I thought I didn't like cheese--turns out it was processed cheese slices I didn't like. I thought I didn't like carrots--but I didn't like the over-cooked zombie carrots! <br />
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Anyway, long story short, turns out I actually like the majority of fruits and vegetables. Loathe raw tomatoes with the passion of 1,000 hells, but other than that I'm pretty good. Well not a fan of green lima beans either, but I haven't eaten them since I was a kid, so who knows, maybe I would like them now.<br />
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I didn't come to enjoy them until I learned how to cook them properly. That's the key. Over-boiled vegetables and super boring salads just aren't good to anyone are they?<br />
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So anyway, that's what I'm up to at this point. I'm going to increase my plant intake slowly over the next couple of months. I don't know what my percentage of plants vs not plants will be, but you know what? It really doesn't matter. What matters is that I'll be plant-based by the end of January. And my body will LOVE me for it! <br />
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I found this great food pyramid today, which explains what I want my diet to look like by the end of January (or at the very least am very much on the way to achieving). I love infographic don't you? I won't be sticking to any percentages, as I mentioned, so the numbers you see won't apply, but the rest gives you a good idea. :) Lots of veggies on the bottom, followed by lots of fruits. Then things like beans, seeds, nuts and other healthy fats. Then any animal products I may eat, then anything else, but only rarely. <br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;">(image belongs to Joel Fuhrman, MD)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKgd5TOXYxGopmDtQXbyOYADpAOWj1FidN2PfDmtgLOVd5clVFyRe7iE4AuLvix3vXhYVk_cCpoO6SgfKHAudcSVrQ7BQ0DMStRasuT4h21SNGg0nnOP_GICn9U55yq1TGnSlnx1RxzoY/s1600/Plant+based+pyramid+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKgd5TOXYxGopmDtQXbyOYADpAOWj1FidN2PfDmtgLOVd5clVFyRe7iE4AuLvix3vXhYVk_cCpoO6SgfKHAudcSVrQ7BQ0DMStRasuT4h21SNGg0nnOP_GICn9U55yq1TGnSlnx1RxzoY/s320/Plant+based+pyramid+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also for your enjoyment, here is a great video that explains the whys about eating a plant-based diet. I liked it so I thought I'd share!</div>
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Amacubahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943936292719634643noreply@blogger.com0