Excited about food!

I am very impressed with these gourmet, all natural,  nutritious,  products from Wildtree!  So impressed that I am endorsing them and recommending them to people.  If you want a quick, nutritious meal with few ingredients check these out!  The products are  preservative and additive free, produced in a peanut-free facility, are perfect for time-saving HEALTHY meals, and taste AMAZING!

For the next 2 weeks I am hosting a "virtual tasting" on this site:  Do Well Eat Well Be Well & Wildtree, go to the events tab and join in! Alternatively, you can browse the catalog and shop on your own.  If you are local, you can RSVP to my local LIVE tasting event that is also located in the events section.

These products are perfect for those with food sensitivities and those that are utilizing the ADHD elimination diet. Please, contact me to learn more or to book your own tasting party, you won't be sorry!!


Life is short; do well, eat well, be well!







BS, CHC, AADP

Relaxation and Exercise

Summer is often a time for serious play, time off and deep relaxation. Many of us use the summertime to rebuild our reserves for the rest of the busy year. In our work-crazed society we can lose sight of the benefits of slowing down and taking time to rest. Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to enjoy the restorative powers of reconnecting to your body through movement and relaxation.

The body loves to move. Even though our body is healthiest when it is getting appropriate physical activity, we often feel dread and boredom when we hear the word “exercise”. Think for a moment of what type of movement you would consider fun as opposed to torturous. Perhaps you loathe the idea of a gym, but miss taking dance classes. Maybe you secretly want to try yoga or rollerblading. You could play touch football with your kids, walk with a neighbor in the mornings or go for a swim. The summer offers so many choices – it’s simply up to you to choose which style of movement excites you. Your heart will thank you, your soul will be gratified, your limbs will be more fluid and you’ll sleep better at night.

Summer is a unique time of year when we can do both our relaxation and our movement out in nature. Take a nap in a hammock and enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass. Go to the park and meditate or read under a favorite tree. One of the greatest places to rest in the summertime is by the water. There is something magical and restorative in water, and we naturally crave to be near it, by it or in it. Heading to the water, whether it is the beach, a lake or a kiddy pool, can be relaxing and rejuvenating.

Whether you are relaxing, exercising or both, notice that being outside in nature has a profound way of quieting the mind and reconnecting us to ourselves. Often this relaxation and peace of mind are what our bodies crave the most. So while summer is with us, strap on your sandals and enjoy the rich elements of sun, wind and water and the nourishment that they bring.

Life is short; do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

I was featured in this past Sunday's local newspaper!!

This past Sunday was a nice surprise for me.  I received a text message from a friend that said she had just finished reading my article in the newspaper!  Well, I knew it was coming, it has been in the works since February.  I just didn't know when it would be published.  I opened up the "indy living" section of the newspaper to find my article under the "Five Fitness Favorites" heading in the heath section!  It was pretty AWESOME, to say the least!  Here is the article:

Bridget Parker has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a certification as a holistic health and wellness counselor. She also has a passion for the way the body works and what it can do if properly maintained. She is a certified personal trainer and worked as a group exercise trainer for the U.S. women's field hockey team. Parker home-schools her three sons and offers health counseling and coaching services through her business, Do Well Eat Well Be Well (www.dowelleatwellbewell.org).

Her five fitness tips are:

1 Eat local, organic food. By using a local diet, not only are you cutting down your carbon footprint, you are eating what your body needs during that time of the year. Locally grown food is fresher and holds its nutritional value longer. When local foods are in season, they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant and the least expensive. A great resource to find local, seasonal, organic foods year-round is the Trader's Point Creamery Green Market (www.tpforganics.com).

2 Drink more water. You'd be amazed at how much better your body will function with an increase in water consumption. I start my day with a glass of cold water. I then sip on it throughout the day and also drinkabout 16 ounces right before any meals.

3 Keep a food journal. This is a journal where you not only record what you eat, but when you eat, what you were feeling when you ate, and how you feel afterwards. This pinpoints patterns and habits. Once you can see what your triggers are, it is much easier to change your lifestyle for the better.

4 Get up and get moving. Did you ever have a dance party with your kids in the kitchen while you were making dinner? (This often occurs in our home.) If you got your heart rate up and kept it there for a period of time, then it counts. We've also been known to play tag with our kids to get some movement in.

5 Have a support network. Let people know what your goals are and find people who will hold you accountable. Get your family on board with your lifestyle changes, get a group of friends together to cook a healthy meal or to work out together -- just make sure that you aren't trying to accomplish everything on your own.

-- Kathy Day

So, there you have it!

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

Snack Attack!

There’s no denying that everyone, at one time or another, has had a snack attack. Views on snacking differ. Some feel that snacking is bad and that eating between meals leads to weight gain. Others believe that eating many small meals and snacks throughout the day is healthy for maintaining energy levels and optimal weight. If there were one way of snacking that was right for everyone, we would all be doing it!

To alleviate snack attack guilt, try to understand why you are snacking and what snacks work best for your body. Perhaps you snack because your daily diet is missing nutrition, or because you are eating too little at meals. You might be snacking to soothe jangled nerves when you are emotional, or to entertain yourself when you are bored. Whatever your reason, acknowledge it and start thinking about how to create a life that is nourishing and truly satisfying.

Although snacks are no substitute for loving your life, they can be great energy boosters. Many convenient snack foods are highly processed and full of chemicals, additives, damaging fats and refined sugars. When a snack attack hits you, try foods that are filling and satisfying, but also nutritious. Here are some tips:

• Snack on things that don’t come in a plastic wrapper or a box, like fresh fruit, leftover vegetables or rice cakes with almond butter and fruit spread.
• Make your own signature trail mix, organic hot chocolate made with almond milk sweetened with agave nectar, or blue corn chips with hummus.
• You can also try “upgrading”:
•  If you are craving something crunchy, upgrade from potato chips to raw carrots, apples or whole grain crackers.
• If you are craving a candy bar, upgrade to a handful of nuts and dried fruit.
•  Instead of a cup of coffee, upgrade to green tea.
• Instead of ice cream, upgrade to applesauce with cinnamon.

 Upgraded snacks are high in nutrition and give you a greater sense of satiety and satisfaction; you won’t feel physically or psychologically deprived, and you’ll have plenty of energy to sustain your activities for hours. Snacking is enjoyable and there is a wide variety of healthful goodies for whatever you’re craving, be it sweet, crunchy, salty, creamy or spicy. Dive in, be creative and enjoy your snack attack.








BS, CHC, AADP

Doing Well by Being a Laundress?

Laundry...the bane of my existence

With three, well four if you count my wonderful husband, crazy, active boys in my life it seems as if the laundry multiplies by leaps and bounds.  Just when I think I have caught up with it, it's spilling out of the hampers yet again.  As one can imagine, I go through A LOT of laundry detergent.  Now, I had been using the Ecos Brand laundry detergent for a number of years now due to sensitive skin issues with myself and my middle child.  It really is not that pricey, but I decided that we needed to cut that expense out of our budget and I searched for a cheaper, environmentally & health friendly, yet just as effective detergent for us.  Here is what I came up with:

Now, I know that this doesn't look like much in the way of laundry detergent, but let me tell you about the process that all of this undergoes.  First off, I grate about 1/3 of the Fels-Naptha soap and melt it in about 3 pints of hot water on the stove.  I then added 1/2 cup each of the washing soda and the Borax.  This mixture is then stirred until thickened and then removed from the heat.  I put one quart of hot water into a  2-gallon bucket and added the soap mixture to it.  This mixture is then stirred completely and hot water is added to top it off.  This mixture needs to set for 24 hours in order to "gel".  After 24 hours it is ready to use, you may need to add more hot water to the mixture if it is gelled too much, and you will need to mix before each use.  I poured my mixture into empty detergent bottles that I already had.  It takes approximately 1/2 cup of this mixture to wash a large load of laundry...the cost per load of laundry is approximately .03!!  Our clothes are wonderfully clean, no fragrances have been added, we haven't tainted our water supply with chemical laden run-off, and we save money over the long run!!

I know that it is "weird" to do this sort of thing, but so far these "weird" things work for us, and that, my friends, is part of "doing well"!

Now, if I could just find a way to have the laundry folded and put away I would be a happy camper!

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

Why weight? Diets don't work.

You can't turn on the TV, drive down the road or go to a party without being confronted with America's hottest obsession: weight. Diets are a billion-dollar industry; companies spend millions and millions luring you to try the latest diet (low carb, high protein, low fat, no fat, you name it) with promises that this will (finally!) be the solution-your shortcut to a thinner body. Advertising efforts also deeply affect our children, who develop distorted body images and are often on diets as early as nine or 10 years of age. 

Our culture touts diet pills, celebrity workouts, convenience foods and trendy diets to help us achieve our desired weight, but these quick-fix solutions have backfired. America's populace has reached its highest weight in history. About half of Americans are overweight; one-third are obese. Diets steer us away from our common sense and dip deeply into our pocketbooks while eliciting few, if any, lasting results. Why?

·         Diets don't work because each person is unique, with different needs based on gender, age, ancestry and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for everyone?

·         Diets don't work because they are extreme solutions. As in physics, if a pendulum swings to one extreme, it has to swing equally to the other. A diet might work for a short amount of time, but research shows that almost all diets result in a 10-pound gain once off the diet.

·         Diets don't work because they are too restrictive. People who fail on diet plans are not flawed or weak. Diets by nature require discipline and restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a healthy human body.

·         Most people are disconnected from why they gain weight and see diet as the only culprit. For example, ignoring or discounting emotions is often the first thing to cause weight imbalances.

In our fast-paced world, we have lost sight of many aspects of life that truly nourish and balance our bodies, such as slowing down, eating a home-cooked meal and spending quality time with loving people. Eating consciously and making simple lifestyle changes will create positive results and release you from the endless cycle of dieting.

Given half a chance, your body will balance out by itself, but this is only possible by getting out of the diet mentality and listening to what you truly need. Imagine taking all of the outward energy you expend on diets, fads and gimmicks and turning it inward, so that you can listen to your heart and inner wisdom. There is no such thing as a quick fix; you already have everything you need within you. With careful thought and loving reflection, you can feed yourself in a nourishing way. Working with your body rather than against it will bring you increased energy, stabilized weight and sustainable health.

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

What's behind your craving?

The body is amazing. It knows when to go to sleep, wake up, go to the bathroom, maintain 98.6 degrees, and tighten the eyes when the light gets bright. It knows the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. Your heart never misses a beat. Your lungs are always breathing. The body is a super-computer, and it never makes mistakes.
Look at the foods, deficits and behaviors in your life that are the underlying causes of your cravings. Many people view cravings as weakness, but really they are important messages meant to assist you in maintaining balance. When you experience a craving, deconstruct it. Ask yourself, what does my body want and why?

The eight primary causes of cravings are:

1. Water. Lack of water can send the message that you are thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as a mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water. Excess water can also cause cravings, so be sure that your water intake is well balanced.
2. Lack of primary food. Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little or the wrong type), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice may all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment or to fill the void of primary food.
3. Yin/yang imbalance. Certain foods have more yin qualities (expansive) while other foods have more yang qualities (constrictive). Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang). Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated) foods or vice-versa.
4. Inside coming out. Often times, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors, or foods from our childhood. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of one’s ancestral or childhood foods.
5. Seasonal. Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, people crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods and ice cream, and in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions and nuts. During winter many crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, oil and fat. Cravings can also be associated with the holidays, for foods like turkey, eggnog or sweets, etc.
6. Lack of nutrients. If the body has inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings and overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy like caffeine.
7. Hormonal. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings.
8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low blood sugar and may result in strong mood swings.


Whatever your source of cravings might be, I can work with you to identify why you have your cravings and re-direct them so that they don't bother you anymore.  Visit my website:  Do Well Eat Well Be Well to find out more about what I do to help people achieve their healthiest life possible and fill out a contact form.  Health is a passion of mine, in all forms, and I love being able to share with others!

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!








BS, CHC, AADP

Allergy Relief: The Golden Cure

I love this time of year; everything is turning green, leaves are budding, flowers are blooming, new life is in the air.  However, these are the same reasons that many (including myself) hate this time of year.  If you are one of the 50 million + people that suffer from seasonal allergies, then you know exactly what I'm talking about!


Seasonal allergies affect a large portion of the population, and the pharmaceutical companies take advantage of that little fact by marketing all kinds of medications that should  combat the allergens.  In reality, these chemical relieve the symptoms of the allergy for a short time period.  Not only are we left with an unfavorable chemical in our bodies, but we have usually forked over a good amount of money for these products that only work for a short period of time.  


When I was diagnosed with seasonal allergies (many years ago), I was given a prescription for one of these products, which I used religiously.  I DID NOT like the way it made me feel, I was constantly "cloudy" and felt like I was moving through a dream-world.  Side-effects aside, I didn't have itchy, watery eyes or a stuffy nose so it must not be a horrible product, right? WRONG!   This is just a partial list of many of the side-effects associated with OTC and prescription allergy medications: drowsiness, raised blood pressure, insomnia, lightheadedness, or nervousness, and the list goes on.

  Well, after I was fed up with the side-effects I started doing some research on natural allergy relief (I was also nursing my 2nd son at the time and didn't want to pass the meds on to him) and was very surprised to learn that I could very easily combat my allergies (not the symptoms) with honey (maybe Mary Poppins was on to something with the whole "spoonful of sugar" idea)!  Now, this doesn't mean that you can run to the grocery store and grad the squeezy bear of honey to use.  In order to help combat allergies, you need to use LOCAL RAW HONEY.  Here is the reasoning behind that: local honey is honey that is produced by bees in your area. This means that the pollen the bees are collecting are from vegetation in your area (the same vegetation that causes your runny/stuffy nose, and itchy/watery eyes). A teaspoon of local honey, taken several times a day, can build up your resistance to local allergens therefore relieving you of allergy symptoms over time.  

Now, it doesn't work immediately, but it DOES work. I have been using this method of allergy relief  for many years (with myself and my children)  now and I will never cease to be amazed at the way it works!  


There are other great benefits of having local honey around your home, as well as the bee pollen that you can purchase from those local bee keepers, but I've got to "buzz"  (I know, horrible pun!), so that's a post for another time.


You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!













BS, CHC, AADP

Choose to Chew

When it comes to increased health, it’s not just what we eat but how
we eat. Digestion actually begins in the mouth, where contact with our
teeth and digestive enzymes in our saliva break down food. But these days
most of us rush through the whole eating experience, barely acknowledging
what we’re putting in our mouths. We eat while
distracted—working, reading, talking and watching
television—and swallow our food practically whole. On average we chew
each bite only eight times. It’s no wonder that many people have
digestive problems.



There are many great reasons to slow down and chew your food.

• Saliva breaks down food into simple sugars, creating a sweet taste.
The more we chew, the sweeter our food becomes, so we don’t crave
those after-meal sweets.

• Chewing reduces digestive distress and improves assimilation,
allowing our bodies to absorb maximum nutrition from each bite of food.

• More chewing produces more endorphins, the brain chemicals
responsible for creating good feelings.

• It’s also helpful for weight loss, because when we are chewing
well, we are more apt to notice when we are full.

• In fact, chewing can promote increased circulation, enhanced
immunity, increased energy and endurance, as well as improve skin health
and stabilize weight.

• Taking time with a meal, beginning with chewing, allows for
enjoyment of the whole experience of eating: the smells, flavors and
textures. It helps us to give thanks, to show appreciation for the
abundance in our lives and to develop patience and self-control.



The power of chewing is so great that there are stories of concentration
camp survivors who, when others could not, made it through with very little
food by chewing their meager rations up to 300 times per bite of food. For
most of us 300 chews is a daunting and unrealistic goal. However, you can
experience the benefits of chewing by increasing to 30 chews per bite. Try
it and see how you feel.



Try eating without the TV, computer, iPhone, Blackberry, newspaper or noisy
company. Instead just pay attention to the food and to how you are
breathing and chewing.



This kind of quiet can be disconcerting at first, since we are used to a
steady stream of advertising, news, media, email and demands from others.
But as you create a new habit, you will begin to appreciate eating without
rushing. You have to eat every day—why not learn to savor and enjoy
it?



______________________________________________



Food Focus: Quinoa



Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), is a nutritional powerhouse with ancient
origins. It was originally cultivated by the Incas more than 5,000 years
ago; they referred to it as the “mother of all grains.” It
contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a great source of
protein for vegetarians. Quinoa is also high in magnesium, fiber, calcium,
phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, riboflavin and zinc.



While quinoa is widely considered a grain, it’s actually the seed of
a plant called Chenopodium or Goosefoot, related to chard and spinach.
Quinoa is a gluten-free grain and has a similar effect as other whole
grains in helping to stabilize blood sugar.



It has a waxy protective coating called saponin which can leave a bitter
taste. For best results, rinse quinoa before you cook it or even soak it
for a few hours or overnight. When cooked, it has a fluffy, slightly
crunchy texture. Try it in soups, salads, as a breakfast porridge or as its
own side dish.



For quinoa, and whole grains in general, the majority of digestion occurs
in the mouth through chewing and exposure to saliva. For optimal nutrition
and assimilation, it is vital to chew your grains well and with awareness.
A great meditation is to find a calm place, without distractions, to sit
down for your meal. Make it a habit to chew each bite 20 times or more. See
how this simple practice can help your digestion and overall focus for the
rest of your day.



Recipe of the Month: Quinoa Pilaf

Prep Time: 3 minutes                                                  

Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes

Yield: 4 servings



Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

2 1/4 cups water or stock

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup walnut pieces

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

pinch of salt



Directions:

1. Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer until water runs clear.

2. Boil the water and add quinoa and salt, cover and reduce heat.

3. After 15 minutes add cranberries and walnuts to top; do not stir.

4. Cook 5 minutes more, until all the liquid is absorbed.

5. Remove from heat, add parsley and fluff with fork, cover and let sit for
3-5 minutes and serve.





7-day Whole Foods Detox

March 6 - March 12

HURRY , space is limited to 12 participants! This is a great opportunity to
get some friends together to detox and explore whole foods. This is also a
FABULOUS way to get your body in gear for Spring Break!

What You’ll Get:

~Over 30 Delicious Detox Recipes

~Detox Guidelines

~Sample Detox Menu

~Grocery List

~Daily Stress Reduction Techniques

~Support and Camaraderie Within a Group Setting via Online Forum

~A Deeper Understanding of How Food Affects Your Body and

~What Works Best for Your Optimal Health!



Available to participants across the globe!



Participants will receive all their materials via email. Participate in an
online virtual forum throughout the week moderated by Bridget and receive
daily encouragement from your peers. A real-time wrap-up call will be held
on day 7 of the detox in which folks can call-in from any location.



Investment: $35.00

6-Week Spring Cleaning for your body and soul

March 21 - May 1

A six-week jump start program to a healthier, happier you! This
6-week course will include:


- an e-book created just for this class with menus, exercises, and
homework
- an introductory mp3 class delivered to your inbox on day 1
- a mid-point mp3 class delivered to your inbox
- a forum monitored by Bridget to talk with others that are also on the
program
- twice weekly e-mails tailored to you and your needs/concerns




- an optional call-in session during the last week



This class is very popular and space is limited, so sign-up now! This
is also a wonderful opportunity to do a "challenge" with your friends
and/or family before heading to the beach!

Investment: $90.00

Interested in a corporate or group class? Visit my website:
dowelleatwellbewell.org to see a list of offerings.

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!









BS, CHC, AADP

Fast-food oatmeal for breakfast?

Which would you choose for breakfast for yourself or your children?

                    




                                   .VS.





Oatmeal is one of the best breakfast foods out there, when prepared correctly.  True oatmeal (the actual oats, not the instant, flavored, pre-packaged variety) is a great source of soluble and insoluble fiber.  The insoluble fiber contains cancer fighting properties while the soluble kind helps to lower the bad cholesterol and slow the digestion of starch therefore avoiding the sharp rise in blood sugar that often occurs after consuming mainstream breakfast cereals, bagels, etc.  These are just a few of the benefits of utilizing this wonderful food.

Recently, fast-food giant McDonald's attempted to put a healthy breakfast item on their menu.  I was proud of them, until I saw the nutritional values of their oatmeal.  The oatmeal without the brown sugar still comes in at 260 calories with 18 grams of sugar, if you have the added brown sugar the sugar grams go to 32 and the calories to 290.  Just to give you an idea of what that means, a regular personal size bag of M&M's contains 31 grams of sugar, and a regular Hershey bar contains 24 grams of sugar.  Essentially, the Golden Arches has turned one of the very best foods you can start your day off with into an overpriced, blood sugar raising junk food!

Why overpriced?  Once serving (9.2 oz) of this glamorized oatmeal will run you between $1.99-$2.39 depending on tax.  I can purchase 5 lbs of organic rolled oats for $5.25, if we divide that into the 9.2 oz portions we're looking at approximately $0.50 per serving.  However, one cup of dry oats ( a serving size) is approximately 3.5 oz which brings it close to $0.15 per serving!  Even if I add in my own cinnamon, honey, raisins, apples, pure maple syrup, etc. I'm still looking at under $1.00/serving and it is so much healthier for you!

Many people complain about the length of time it takes to cook real oatmeal.  It really isn't that bad.  Regular rolled oats take about 10-15 mins on the stove, and steel cut oats take about 45.  The trick is to make a batch large enough to last for a few days and then store it in individual portions and reheat on the stove or in the toaster oven in the morning.  One way to save even more time is to put your water, oats, and any spices in the crockpot overnight and then add your fruit and/or natural sweetener in the morning.  Here is my favorite recipe:

                            Overnight Slow-Cooker Oatmeal

                            1 cup steel cut or regular oats (NOT Quick Oats!)

                                     4 cups water
                                     1  TBS butter
                                    1/2  tsp vanilla extract
                                      1 tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in crock-pot and set on low for 8 hours (you will need to time it to your wake-up time).  Once we're up and going we all throw in our favorite extras:  raisins, dried cherries, chopped apples, chopped nuts, fresh fruit, a drizzle of pure maple syrup (NOT Mrs. Butterworth!), or local, raw honey. This breakfast will stick with you, is loaded with nutrients, and will  keep you going until it's time for lunch.

You have one life to live;  do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

To eat like a monkey or not?

*This article discusses the findings of recent research performed on rhesus monkeys. I am not promoting this research in any way, just discussing the findings. The entire article that I'm referencing can be found here: Today’s Lab Rats of Obesity: Furry Couch Potatoes*

For many people, following the American Heart Association's diet is the golden standard of healthy eating. However, according to research from the University of South Florida, it may be time rethink those guidelines from the AHA. Dr. Barbara Hansen, from USF, has been doing research on obese monkeys for quite some time and favors working with these primates that, like humans, become obese over time. She once had the world's heaviest monkey that became that way by eating nothing except the recommended diet from the AHA! Something doesn't seem quite right about that! Honestly, I believe this is where the bio-individuality of a diet comes into play: no one diet works for everyone all of the time! Granted, these are monkeys not humans, but the fact remains that they are the closest to resembling humans and the studies that are done on them are pretty good indicators of what the human body would go through if subjected to the same or similar conditions.

Speaking of what the human body would go through, an alarming picture from this study is what happened to a primate by the name of Shiva that was given the SAD (standard American diet)of surgary drinks and junk food and reflected the standard American lifestyle of sitting around with no physical exercise as well. This primate has a belly that grazes the floor! The other finding that shocked me was the fact that these primates are even more like humans than we realize; when they are bored they tend to eat. How many times have you found yourself reaching for something to snack on when you weren't even hungry, you just didn't have anything else to do? I'll admit that I've done it.

I hate to say it, but sometimes it takes looking in from the outside to figure out what needs to be tweaked in our own lives in order to live a healthy lifestyle, and this article paints a sad picture of what our country is heading towards as a whole.

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

contact me for more information or to schedule a wellness strategy initial consultation.

We have a winner!!!

Last week I posted a giveaway contest for some amazing chocolate peanut butter.  Random.org was used this morning to pick a winner, and the lucky winner is:  Caren!  Congratulations, your wonderful product will be on it's way to you tomorrow.

Life is short; do well, eat well, be well!


BS, CHC, AADP

Snack time!

One of my family's favorite snacks is homemade kale chips, and kale is in abundance right now as a seasonal vegetable.  Now  I know that kale doesn't sound that impressive as a snack, but when you know about all of the nutritional benefits of this wonderfully obscure green you will want to do what you can to have your kiddos eat it too!  

Kale is a member of the cabbage family, and it

 is considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable with powerful antioxidant properties; kale is considered to be anti-inflammatory.  Kale is very high in beta carotene,vitamin K, vitamin C , lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium. 

 Considering that this is what it looks like, it is easy to see why it would be difficult to entice others to eat it:

However, if after taking the central stem out you happen to have some olive oil, sea salt, and nutritional yeast on hand, you can make a crunchy, slightly nutty, salty snack that is VERY addicting (our dog even likes to eat them...weird girl!)!

Once the central stem is removed, you just need to toss the kale leaves with the above ingredients until they are all coated with the oil (but not swimming in it!) and have a decent amount of salt and nutritional yeast on them.  I pop mine in to the dehydrator for about 45 minutes, but you can also put them under a broiler for a few minutes or turn your oven to the lowest setting and put them in for about an hour to an hour and a half.  Just make sure that you check on them so that they don't burn...burnt kale doesn't have a very alluring aroma!

The finished result doesn't look much different than what you started with:

But is sure is much more enjoyable!!

Once I start eating these, my body actually craves them and it is hard for me to stop (it's also hard for my boys to stop, they ask for the chips constantly when they know we have kale in the house)!  We also like to crunch them up over salads and pasta dishes to boost the nutritional value even more.

One of the best things about this snack  is that it is so easy for older kids to prepare, so put those kids to work creating a healthy snack for your family!

You have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!

BS, CHC, AADP

First Giveaway!!

I am so very excited to post my first giveaway!

Here are the rules:  you need to "like" me on Facebook, and then you either need to comment directly on the giveaway post or the favorite outdoor activity post.  Once I have reached 50 likes, I will use random.org to choose a winner from all of the posts.

Now for the prize:  "Sunland's Dark Chocolate Organic Creamy Peanut Butter"!  This stuff is truly amazing!  It is

dark roasted, coarse ground peanut butter spread with glorious dark chocolate. The extraordinary depth of flavor will be enhanced by fresh fruits, your favorite sweet breads, and pastries. Try heating it and drizzling it over ice cream or spreading it on New Morning Honey Graham Crackers...yum!

 As always:  you have one life to live; do well, eat well, be well!


BS, CHC, AADP