Taste and Value Delivered Right to Your Door From Healthy World Organics
April 24th, 2011Do I enjoy Organic and local food and much as possible? Yes. Do I always have the time to run here, there, and everywhere to get it? No.
So I am very thankful for people like Caroline Brito, owner and operator of Healthy World Organics. I can have my Organic, mostly local fresh produce, beans, grains, spices, teas, honey, and nuts delivered right to my door without breaking my weekly food budget.
Below is a gorgeous and colorful spread of a recent delivery which includes kale, beets, rainbow carrots, celery, garnet yams, Florida navels, pinto beans, dates, and red quinoa. All healthy, all organic! Healthy World Organic prices are ultra competitive, often lower than the competition, nominal delivery fee, which helps me save on gas, all delivered to my front door. Convenience and savings, excellent!!
Delivery area is currently Broward and Palm Beach Counties. You can contact Caroline to make a request if your area is not currently covered. You can also find Healthy World Organics at the Boca Raton Green Market and Parkland Green Markets running October thru May yearly.
Chef for a Day at Quantum House
April 18th, 2011On Sunday, Amy Gafney and I participated in the ‘Chef for a Day’ program at Quantum House by making dinner for the current guests. Quantum House is located on the campus of St. Mary’s Hospital on 45th Street in West Palm Beach. It’s a place for people to stay while their children are being treated at the hospital. What they offer to families is a sanctuary to rest, have meals, and have one less thing to worry about for a moment.
Amy Gafney (Health Coach and Personal Chef) and Me (Health Coach)
The families we cooked for were wonderful and very appreciative. They enjoyed the healthy dishes we made. The healthy spread included chicken and broccoli pasta salad, quinoa salad with tomato, cucumber, feta, and cranberries. Side dishes included cucumber salad, crusty bread, and a fresh garden salad. For dessert, Amy made a divine apple crisp served with all natural ice cream.
Delicious and nutritious comfort foods
This was truly a rewarding experience to serve a comforting and nourishing meal to the families at Quantum House.
It was a great day and I look forward to doing this again!
To participate in the program, call Quantum House at (561) 494-0515.
Warm Rice Salad
April 18th, 2011This is a quick lunch I threw together in just a few minutes. I had leftover black rice so I heated that for a minute then topped it with hummus, salad greens, carrots, snap peas, zucchini strips, and a few pieces of papaya. This was a very satisfying and healthy lunch. I like to have cooked grains or beans in the fridge most of the time, this has been a huge time saver for me time and time again. I also like to have cooked kale on hand, in addition to fresh veggies. Dress with a little olive oil, dried or fresh spices, a little vinegar and you’ve got yourself a meal in no time!
Spring into the season with greens!
April 10th, 2011Spring is a great time to clean up your diet and add more greens. Greens are wonderful for boosting your immune system, promoting growth of healthy gut bacteria, and improving lung and respiratory function to name a few benefits. Perfect for battling seasonal allergies!
What greens are the best to add to your diet? Dark leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, watercress, swiss chard, arugula, bok choy, cabbage, spinach, and broccoli. Some are best eaten cooked and others can be enjoyed either raw or cooked.
Greens are high in the essential minerals calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and Vitamins A, C, E, and K. Be sure to consume with a little bit of fat for maximum nutrient absorption. Adding greens to your weekly menu can reduce your need for expensive seasonal allergy medicines and cold medicines. They are also great for keeping skin clear as they are blood purifiers and help improve circulation.
Let me introduce you to my favorite leafy green, kale. This is green curly leaf kale, you can also get red curly leaf kale and dinosaur (lacinato) which is a flat leaf kale. This is a great tasting green that can be simply steamed then drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, and your favorite spices.
This is raw kale that I purchased from Whole Foods. They do sell it at Publix already chopped and washed in a bag labeled Morning Glory.
Kale in steaming pot. Steam for 5-7 minutes until done to your liking.
Here’s the kale ready to eat, simply drizzled with olive oil and a dash of sea salt. Delicious and healthy greens in no time!
Seize the Moment Self-Care
April 10th, 2011Friday morning and my BlackBerry pops up with a new e-mail from Balinesian Spa and Wellness Center. They have a special offer to receive a Free Quick Classic Facial when you book a massage at regular price. Checking in with myself and realizing it’s been a while since I’ve had a massage, it was time for some self-care for me! This was the perfect way to take time out for me and rejuvenate at the spa. I had an amazing massage, drank cucumber water to hydrate, then had a glorious facial. I floated out of the spa that evening.
This is a great example of Primary Food and how taking loving care of yourself not only makes you feel really special, but feeds your soul. Take a moment and think about when you last did something special for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a trip to the spa, a hot bubble bath or a book with a relaxing cup of tea can be all you need to allow yourself self-care that will nourish and revitalize your spirit.
Spring Cleaning
April 3rd, 2011After the long winter, it’s time to open up the windows, let in Spring’s fresh air and clear out excess clutter that has piled up all winter long. We can do this in two ways, both physically and mentally.
Physically, start by cleaning out both “houses”, the home you live in and your body. Your home may have a buildup of old magazines, clothes, or unnecessary odds and ends. Make a date to go room by room clearing out this excess clutter, dust and vacuum as you go to remove pollutants and allergens in the home.
Our bodies can have accumulations of toxins or environmental pollutants and food residues from a period of eating heavier foods and not enough physical activity during the colder months. Begin the process of Spring cleaning your body by crowding out rich, and processed foods. Add in more fresh fruits and vegetables, and be sure to drink plenty of fresh filtered water. Brew a kettle of green tea and serve over ice with fresh squeezed lemon or lime for a refreshing and antioxidant packed drink.
Be sure to chew food well to help the body digest and absorb nutrients better. Enhance flavors of fresh produce with mild herbs and spices along with first cold-pressed olive oil or ghee (clarified butter).
Eating seasonally is a good practice as well. Click here to access map. Select month above the map, then click on your state to see a list of what’s in season in your location.
Mentally, clean your mind and heart by clearing out negative thoughts and behaviors. Sit down and think about what thought patterns leave you feeling drained or stuck in a rut. Record the thoughts that make you feel the most stuck. Next to each of those thoughts, write a positive thought to break the negative thought pattern.
Take a look at your relationships and determine those having a toxic effect on your life and take steps to move away from those negative influences. Spend more time with those who are supportive of you and give you positive energy.
Here’s a quick recipe to help you kick start your Spring cleaning. Asparagus is great for Spring cleaning your body as it helps flush out extra fluid and reduces bloating. It’s a prebiotic food that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria your body. Another well known prebiotic in inulin which is typically added to foods like yogurt and granola bars that naturally do not contain prebiotics. Other natural food sources of prebiotics are dandelion greens, garlic, leeks, and onions.
Easy asparagus:
Take a bunch of asparagus and rinse well. Chop off about 1 inch from the bottom. You can also snap off the fibrous ends.
Place asparagus as shown below in a pan and pour about 1 inch of water over the asparagus, so it’s just barely covered.
Cover pan and bring water to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and let asparagus cook for 3-5 minutes.
Remove from heat and drain promptly. Serve immediately. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt, and spices.
Chop up leftovers to toss in salads!
