I read this article and just about gagged. The thought of my child, any child, eating this so called food product just turns my stomach. How in the world can the US Department of Education think this is a good idea? Please do your child(ren) a very big favor and DO NOT let him/her buy school lunch! I pack Brennan's lunch every single day (expect for pancake day), it is not hard or time consuming. I know what he is eating and where it came from. Ugh, this is just disturbing..........
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/pink-slime-for-school-lun_n_1322325.html
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Staying Healthy
I dislike this time of the year for many reasons: I loath cold weather, I am not a fan of grey days, shorter amounts of daylight hours makes me sad and I do not care to look at barren trees. Sure these are pretty silly reason to dislike the winter and even the very beginning of springtime, but I dislike them darn it! Most of all, I abhor this time of the year because it is cold and flu season. Yes, I am a germaphobic freak of nature. Lysol, bleach and Clorox wipes are my BFF's this time of the year. Since October my students have been coughing sneezing, snotting, fevering and every other nasty germ related ailment you can imagine has popped out of them. They are little and they are gross! Whatever major illness they get I tend to get. Whatever major illness I get I tend to pass it along to my own children. It is a nasty little cycle I tell you! I guess it is just the nature of the beast.
January was a hard month for my family. Alex, Brennan, Bryan and I all came down with this awful fever virus. Alex's turned into a secondary illness of pneumonia. Brennan not only battled the fever virus, but he also came down with strep (although I believe he may have had strep the whole time, who knows for sure). Bryan ended up with an ear infection and I was hit the hardest with high temps and insane chills. My class hasn't had perfect attendance in Lord knows how long. I am trying my best to wipe down toys, tables, handles, phones, lights and even some of the door and walls that the children touch. I even threw out our wonderful homemade play-dough because I am sure it is harboring all kinds of funky little germies. Then tonight while watching the news I heard that two schools in St. Louis are closing down for two days so crews can come in to deep clean and disinfect the buildings. One school had 25% of their student body out ill today. Last week, the class next to me had eight out of 18 children present meaning only 44% of their class was well enough to be at school!!
I try very hard to keep my children well and healthy. Due to their asthma, a simple virus can set them back days. What you and I can easily battle in a matter of days might send my poor boys into days/weeks of breathing treatments. While not 100% effective, here are some simple things we do to attempt to stay healthy:
1. Shoes off: the moment we walk into the house we take our shoes off. I have a little shoe cubby in the laundry room for shoes. Not only does it help keep the nasty germs out of my house, but it helps with organization and clutter. Think of all of the nasty things you walk on each day! I've seen phlegm, spit, animal poop, trash, spilled drinks and an array of other gross stuff on the ground. Why would you want that tracked in your home?!
2. Hand washing: we wash our hands as soon as we come inside. Whether we just went grocery shopping, we are arriving home from school or we were just outside playing ball, we wash our hands with soap and water. I keep fun scented soap in the kitchen so we can all wash after we kick off our shoes. Hand washing is the best preventative against germs and illness.
3. Bedding: I wash our bedding weekly in hot water. Not only do I wash away germs, but I was away pesky allergens such as dust. This is a must for allergy and asthma sufferers.
4. Healthy food: we eat as much fruits, veggies, lean meats, whole grains and low-fat dairy as possible. Sugary food and foods with little nutritional value wear down your immune system. We have started juicing and I am amazed at what Brennan will drink! This weekend he pounded two cups of apple/orange/strawberry/carrot/tomato juice. He refuses to eat a carrot, but will happily suck down cups of carrot juice (????). Who am I to complain!?
5. Sleep: I make sure the boys get at least 10-12 hours of sleep each night. Sleep rests and repairs and restores the mind and body.
6. Supplements: Every night before bed we take our daily vitamin and probiotics. I feel like my kids eat healthy, but let's face it they are kids and can use as much help as possible when it comes to vitamins and minerals. 70-80% of your immunity is found in your digestive tract so the probiotics help ensure the healthy levels of bacteria in the gut. Even with 40+ days of antibiotics for pneumonia, Alex never once had diarrhea or an upset stomach thanks to his "belly medicine".
7. Cleaning: Every few days I wipe down "hot spots" in the house: light switches, door handles, doors, cell phones, TV remotes, fridge and microwave handles, cordless phones, etc. Sometimes I use good old fashioned hot water and soap while other times I may use a Clorox wipe or even white vinegar. I know we need some exposure to bacteria so that is why I only do it every few days. However, I do enjoy a clean looking house so this is a win-win situation all around.
According to two doctors I've spoken with, March tends to be the end of respiratory viruses, but it also tends to be the start of gastro ailments like norovirus and rotovirus. I am ready for April and some true springtime. I am ready to see green grass and baby animals and sunshine and flowers. I am ready to open the windows for fresh breezes and to hear the birds sing their song. Most of all I am ready for the cold and season to leave us! Here is to health and happiness!
January was a hard month for my family. Alex, Brennan, Bryan and I all came down with this awful fever virus. Alex's turned into a secondary illness of pneumonia. Brennan not only battled the fever virus, but he also came down with strep (although I believe he may have had strep the whole time, who knows for sure). Bryan ended up with an ear infection and I was hit the hardest with high temps and insane chills. My class hasn't had perfect attendance in Lord knows how long. I am trying my best to wipe down toys, tables, handles, phones, lights and even some of the door and walls that the children touch. I even threw out our wonderful homemade play-dough because I am sure it is harboring all kinds of funky little germies. Then tonight while watching the news I heard that two schools in St. Louis are closing down for two days so crews can come in to deep clean and disinfect the buildings. One school had 25% of their student body out ill today. Last week, the class next to me had eight out of 18 children present meaning only 44% of their class was well enough to be at school!!
I try very hard to keep my children well and healthy. Due to their asthma, a simple virus can set them back days. What you and I can easily battle in a matter of days might send my poor boys into days/weeks of breathing treatments. While not 100% effective, here are some simple things we do to attempt to stay healthy:
1. Shoes off: the moment we walk into the house we take our shoes off. I have a little shoe cubby in the laundry room for shoes. Not only does it help keep the nasty germs out of my house, but it helps with organization and clutter. Think of all of the nasty things you walk on each day! I've seen phlegm, spit, animal poop, trash, spilled drinks and an array of other gross stuff on the ground. Why would you want that tracked in your home?!
2. Hand washing: we wash our hands as soon as we come inside. Whether we just went grocery shopping, we are arriving home from school or we were just outside playing ball, we wash our hands with soap and water. I keep fun scented soap in the kitchen so we can all wash after we kick off our shoes. Hand washing is the best preventative against germs and illness.
3. Bedding: I wash our bedding weekly in hot water. Not only do I wash away germs, but I was away pesky allergens such as dust. This is a must for allergy and asthma sufferers.
4. Healthy food: we eat as much fruits, veggies, lean meats, whole grains and low-fat dairy as possible. Sugary food and foods with little nutritional value wear down your immune system. We have started juicing and I am amazed at what Brennan will drink! This weekend he pounded two cups of apple/orange/strawberry/carrot/tomato juice. He refuses to eat a carrot, but will happily suck down cups of carrot juice (????). Who am I to complain!?
5. Sleep: I make sure the boys get at least 10-12 hours of sleep each night. Sleep rests and repairs and restores the mind and body.
6. Supplements: Every night before bed we take our daily vitamin and probiotics. I feel like my kids eat healthy, but let's face it they are kids and can use as much help as possible when it comes to vitamins and minerals. 70-80% of your immunity is found in your digestive tract so the probiotics help ensure the healthy levels of bacteria in the gut. Even with 40+ days of antibiotics for pneumonia, Alex never once had diarrhea or an upset stomach thanks to his "belly medicine".
7. Cleaning: Every few days I wipe down "hot spots" in the house: light switches, door handles, doors, cell phones, TV remotes, fridge and microwave handles, cordless phones, etc. Sometimes I use good old fashioned hot water and soap while other times I may use a Clorox wipe or even white vinegar. I know we need some exposure to bacteria so that is why I only do it every few days. However, I do enjoy a clean looking house so this is a win-win situation all around.
According to two doctors I've spoken with, March tends to be the end of respiratory viruses, but it also tends to be the start of gastro ailments like norovirus and rotovirus. I am ready for April and some true springtime. I am ready to see green grass and baby animals and sunshine and flowers. I am ready to open the windows for fresh breezes and to hear the birds sing their song. Most of all I am ready for the cold and season to leave us! Here is to health and happiness!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Chicken Nuggets
When the boys were younger and we were out and about on errands I would sometimes stop at McDonald's for lunch. At the time I thought a lunch of chicken nuggets, apples and low fat milk was a great option and I'll admit I didn't give it much thought. I'd always been fairly health conscious about food, but in this instance I now realize I wasn't all that health conscious. In my mom mind my kids were eating, their tummies were full and everyone was happy. Then I started to really delve into researching food and I was truly disgusted to learn the true nutritional value of a McNugget. From that moment on, McDonald's was banned from my menu. There was no way I would ever dream of letting my children ingest this crap into their bodies. My mom has fed them McNuggets a few times when they spent the night with her, despite my reminders and objections. This is a sore spot in our relationship to say the least.
Earlier this week my friend, Trena, blogged about chicken nuggets. Like me, she fed her child McDonald's chicken nuggets and didn't give it much though. Food was in the belly, everyone was happy and life was good. Like me, she started researching food and also discovered the gross truth surrounding these little McNasties. Basically, a McNugget's main ingredient is corn and the remaining ingredients contain alarming things such as partially hydrogenated oils and anti-foaming agent. What??!! Trena decided to stop eating the McNasties and has decided to make her own nuggets. I'm happy to say I know at least two families who say no to McNuggets!
A day after reading Trena's blog I came across a disturbing article about a 17 year old girl who has lived her whole life on chicken nuggets. According the the article this girl became very sick and even stopped breathing at one point due to malnutrition. She told the news that she consumes nuggets daily and that she hasn't eaten a fruit or vegetable in nearly 15 years. She does occasionally eat toast, fries and potato chips, but that is pretty much the extent of her diet. Her mother reports that she has tried to get her daughter to eat other foods, but the girl refuses. At one point Mom even tried to starve the girl in an effort to get her to eat other foods. In my mind I have to hold Mom somewhat accountable; who let's a two year old only eat chicken nuggets? My Alex is in a very picky food mood and if I let him he'd live on certain foods, but as his mom I am responsible for introducing a variety of healthy foods. He may not eat it the first or second or even the tenth time, but I never stop offering. Luckily the girl in the article is alive, is at home on bed rest and is being pumped full of vital vitamins and minerals that her body is lacking. I cannot imagine what her skin, bones, hair and organs look like. She is slowly killing herself that's for sure.
Chicken nuggets are on meal plan for the week because I know the kids like them. Instead of running through the McDonald's drive-thru or buying a bag of questionable frozen nuggets from the store, I will make my own. In our house I have the kids help so they are more inclined to eat the nuggets. I buy all natural, antibiotic free chicken breast (did you know the feed the chicken eat contains antibiotics that passes through their system and into yours when you eat them). I cut the chicken into small pieces, dip them in milk, roll in seasoned crumbs and bake in the oven. I serve these with kid friendly sides such as green beans and homemade mac & cheese. Usually they are a crowd pleaser. Sure it takes a little more time & energy, but I know what my kids are consuming and I can guarantee one thing, anti-foaming agents are not listed!
Earlier this week my friend, Trena, blogged about chicken nuggets. Like me, she fed her child McDonald's chicken nuggets and didn't give it much though. Food was in the belly, everyone was happy and life was good. Like me, she started researching food and also discovered the gross truth surrounding these little McNasties. Basically, a McNugget's main ingredient is corn and the remaining ingredients contain alarming things such as partially hydrogenated oils and anti-foaming agent. What??!! Trena decided to stop eating the McNasties and has decided to make her own nuggets. I'm happy to say I know at least two families who say no to McNuggets!
A day after reading Trena's blog I came across a disturbing article about a 17 year old girl who has lived her whole life on chicken nuggets. According the the article this girl became very sick and even stopped breathing at one point due to malnutrition. She told the news that she consumes nuggets daily and that she hasn't eaten a fruit or vegetable in nearly 15 years. She does occasionally eat toast, fries and potato chips, but that is pretty much the extent of her diet. Her mother reports that she has tried to get her daughter to eat other foods, but the girl refuses. At one point Mom even tried to starve the girl in an effort to get her to eat other foods. In my mind I have to hold Mom somewhat accountable; who let's a two year old only eat chicken nuggets? My Alex is in a very picky food mood and if I let him he'd live on certain foods, but as his mom I am responsible for introducing a variety of healthy foods. He may not eat it the first or second or even the tenth time, but I never stop offering. Luckily the girl in the article is alive, is at home on bed rest and is being pumped full of vital vitamins and minerals that her body is lacking. I cannot imagine what her skin, bones, hair and organs look like. She is slowly killing herself that's for sure.
Chicken nuggets are on meal plan for the week because I know the kids like them. Instead of running through the McDonald's drive-thru or buying a bag of questionable frozen nuggets from the store, I will make my own. In our house I have the kids help so they are more inclined to eat the nuggets. I buy all natural, antibiotic free chicken breast (did you know the feed the chicken eat contains antibiotics that passes through their system and into yours when you eat them). I cut the chicken into small pieces, dip them in milk, roll in seasoned crumbs and bake in the oven. I serve these with kid friendly sides such as green beans and homemade mac & cheese. Usually they are a crowd pleaser. Sure it takes a little more time & energy, but I know what my kids are consuming and I can guarantee one thing, anti-foaming agents are not listed!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Recipe: Chickpea & Brown Rice Burgers
Tonight I made "burgers" for dinner. Bryan, my "meat and potatoes" kinda guy, ate two of these burgers and raved on how good they tasted. Score! Brennan ate a small slider (another score!) and Alex, well, he hasn't eaten much this past week due to his steroids so I am not counting him in this poll! I really liked this recipe and I plan on making it again. I will warn that these burgers do not have the same texture as a beef or even a turkey burger, but they are tasty and much healthier for you than the red meat variety. I served these babies on King's Hawaiian Rolls with spicy brown mustard, romaine leaf lettuce and thin slices of roma tomatoes (the boys added cheddar cheese to their burgers).
Ingredients
2 cups of cooked and drained chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 cup of cooked brown rice
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large egg, whisked
coarse sea salt & pepper to taste
parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
1. Mash brown rice and chickpeas together until they form a thick paste
2. Add in minced shallots and garlic, stirring well
3. Whisk in one large egg
4. Add in sea salt & pepper, to taste. Add in parsley.
5. Form into patties
6. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Cook patties on both sides until browned.
Our patties crumbled a bit so I may try two eggs next time. Of the three people who actually ate dinner, all three enjoyed the burgers so I'll call this one a hit! We ate this with baked fries and steamed broccoli.
Ingredients
2 cups of cooked and drained chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 cup of cooked brown rice
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large egg, whisked
coarse sea salt & pepper to taste
parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
1. Mash brown rice and chickpeas together until they form a thick paste
2. Add in minced shallots and garlic, stirring well
3. Whisk in one large egg
4. Add in sea salt & pepper, to taste. Add in parsley.
5. Form into patties
6. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Cook patties on both sides until browned.
Our patties crumbled a bit so I may try two eggs next time. Of the three people who actually ate dinner, all three enjoyed the burgers so I'll call this one a hit! We ate this with baked fries and steamed broccoli.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Recipe: Whole Wheat Waffles
My boys love breakfast foods. If I allowed it, they would eat breakfast for every meal. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, french toast, oats, cream of wheat, yogurt, bacon, fruit....they love it all. Pancakes and waffles are probably their absolute favorites. I can easily whip up a healthy batch of pancakes, but I could never make waffles because I didn't have the right equipment. I make sure I buy whole wheat varieties and when possible I buy organic. A few weeks ago my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I knew instantly that I wanted a waffle maker. When I opened up my new waffle maker on Christmas Eve Brennan just about burst with excitement! Seriously, the child was happier than I was to receive this gift! He is so funny.
Earlier this week I made a run to Whole Foods where I picked up a package of organic whole wheat flour, organic frozen blueberries and my organic/cage free eggs and organic milk. I was on a mission to make the healthiest waffles possible! Tonight for dinner we had whole wheat blueberry waffles, uncured bacon and scrambled eggs. My kids were in Heaven!
This recipe is easy to make and my kids gobbled them up one after the other. If you have a waffle maker I highly suggest making this. Tonight we made a blueberry version; next time I will omit the berries and make a cinnamon waffle. Either way, I know exactly what went into the meal, I can make enough to freeze for future meals and I can change up the variations to our liking.
Ingredients
2 eggs (separate the yolk from the whites, you will use it all)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon stevia (you can use white sugar)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pureed blueberries
Directions
1. Preheat waffle maker/iron. I sprayed mine with non-stick spray so the waffles would come out easier.
2. Beat egg yolks in a large with a mixer. Beat in flour, milk, applesauce, stevia, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract and berries until well blended and smooth. Fold in egg whites.
3. When the maker/iron is hot, pour the mix onto the hot top, close and cook until golden brown. Be sure you do not over pour the batter, you will get a mess!
4. Enjoy with 100% maple syrup!
NOTE: Pureed fruits cook better than whole chunks of fruit.
If you do not want to add in blueberries, add in 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Chopped nuts are also tasty and healthy when added to the brown sugar and cinnamon variety.
Earlier this week I made a run to Whole Foods where I picked up a package of organic whole wheat flour, organic frozen blueberries and my organic/cage free eggs and organic milk. I was on a mission to make the healthiest waffles possible! Tonight for dinner we had whole wheat blueberry waffles, uncured bacon and scrambled eggs. My kids were in Heaven!
This recipe is easy to make and my kids gobbled them up one after the other. If you have a waffle maker I highly suggest making this. Tonight we made a blueberry version; next time I will omit the berries and make a cinnamon waffle. Either way, I know exactly what went into the meal, I can make enough to freeze for future meals and I can change up the variations to our liking.
Ingredients
2 eggs (separate the yolk from the whites, you will use it all)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon stevia (you can use white sugar)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pureed blueberries
Directions
1. Preheat waffle maker/iron. I sprayed mine with non-stick spray so the waffles would come out easier.
2. Beat egg yolks in a large with a mixer. Beat in flour, milk, applesauce, stevia, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract and berries until well blended and smooth. Fold in egg whites.
3. When the maker/iron is hot, pour the mix onto the hot top, close and cook until golden brown. Be sure you do not over pour the batter, you will get a mess!
4. Enjoy with 100% maple syrup!
NOTE: Pureed fruits cook better than whole chunks of fruit.
If you do not want to add in blueberries, add in 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Chopped nuts are also tasty and healthy when added to the brown sugar and cinnamon variety.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and watch a movie in ages. I believe the last time I stepped foot into a movie theater with Bryan was New Year's Eve 2004, no joke. I do watch tid bits of movies on TV from time to time, but to truly sit down and enjoy a movie is rare. I had heard about this documentary called "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead" and while I wanted to watch it I just never made the time. Carolyn, my soon to be sister in law, told me I needed to watch the film. She told me that after watching the movie she changed her views on food (Have I told you how thrilled I am to have her in our family!? Loving the idea of holding conversations about food and nutrition with someone close to me!). After Carolyn mentioned this film twice I decided I just HAD to make the time for myself and watch it. It was an eye opening experience!
Basically the film is about an Australian man, Joe, who is overweight, has an autoimmune disease and is generally unhealthy. He decided to heal his body from within by making drastic diet changes for 60 days. Instead of the traditional diet of steak, potatoes, burgers, fries, ice cream, soda, and sugary cereals, Joe lives off of fresh fruit and vegetable juice. He carries his juicing machine everywhere he goes and only consumes water and juice. Along the way Joe meets Phil who is obese and ill and in danger of dying if he doesn't make lifestyle changes ASAP. By the end of the movie both men have lost hundreds of pounds, gotten off their medicine for their autoimmune disorders, started exercising and are generally in great health.
This movie was inspiring on may levels! Not only did these men lose some much needed weight, they healed their ailing body with food. Do you know how much money we could save on medicine and doctor visits if we just ate healthy? Phil's brother, nicknamed Bear, was highlighted in the movie. Overweight and ill, Bear suffered a heart attack. The medical care, pills, tests, therapies, etc cost him 56 THOUSAND DOLLARS when it was all said and done. The cost of daily juicing is about $10-$14 dollars. What a difference in money. And to think the heart attack could have been avoided in the first place had Bear eaten well, not put the extra stress on his heart and exercised.
According the movie, 60% of a typical American diet consists of high fat, overly processed foods. Meat is 30% of our diets, grains/starches are 5% and fruits and veggies are 5%. YUCK! Obviously this doesn't hold true for everyone, but for a typical American who guzzles fast food, soda, cakes, cookies, beer, steaks, and burgers it is a pretty good picture. When juicing you do not consume any meats, any starches, any processed or fatty foods instead you are living on 100% fruits and veggies. Juicing allows you to consume more healthy foods than if you actually took the time to chew and swallow the apples and carrots. I'm not recommending that people run out, stop eating and juice for 60 days! I am recommending that people start thinking about their food choices and how it affects their bodies. Cake or carrot juice? Sure the cake sounds tastier, but what is it doing for your health?
Starting this week Bryan and I are going to juice for 10 days. After that we are only eating clean foods for a total of a 21 days cleansing program. During this time we will not consume soda, coffee, alcohol, fatty or processed foods. Will we fail? Maybe; we are human after all. Will we succeed? I sure hope so! It is only 21 days! We are not doing this to be skinny or to join a new trend. We are doing this to be healthy. The benefits out weight everything. It is no lie that I have had a rough year with work stress. I have migraines and digestive issues despite eating what I believe to be mostly healthy foods. I am looking to end my headaches, help heal my tummy and to manage stress better. Bryan has high blood pressure for his age (bad genetics) and at his last blood draw his good cholesterol count was not very high so we are hoping to lower the blood pressure and increase the good cholesterol count. We have nothing to lose by eating fruits and veggies and water and clean foods.
Here is a link to Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. It does have commercials, but they are fast. It was an interesting documentary, at least for me. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead
Basically the film is about an Australian man, Joe, who is overweight, has an autoimmune disease and is generally unhealthy. He decided to heal his body from within by making drastic diet changes for 60 days. Instead of the traditional diet of steak, potatoes, burgers, fries, ice cream, soda, and sugary cereals, Joe lives off of fresh fruit and vegetable juice. He carries his juicing machine everywhere he goes and only consumes water and juice. Along the way Joe meets Phil who is obese and ill and in danger of dying if he doesn't make lifestyle changes ASAP. By the end of the movie both men have lost hundreds of pounds, gotten off their medicine for their autoimmune disorders, started exercising and are generally in great health.
This movie was inspiring on may levels! Not only did these men lose some much needed weight, they healed their ailing body with food. Do you know how much money we could save on medicine and doctor visits if we just ate healthy? Phil's brother, nicknamed Bear, was highlighted in the movie. Overweight and ill, Bear suffered a heart attack. The medical care, pills, tests, therapies, etc cost him 56 THOUSAND DOLLARS when it was all said and done. The cost of daily juicing is about $10-$14 dollars. What a difference in money. And to think the heart attack could have been avoided in the first place had Bear eaten well, not put the extra stress on his heart and exercised.
According the movie, 60% of a typical American diet consists of high fat, overly processed foods. Meat is 30% of our diets, grains/starches are 5% and fruits and veggies are 5%. YUCK! Obviously this doesn't hold true for everyone, but for a typical American who guzzles fast food, soda, cakes, cookies, beer, steaks, and burgers it is a pretty good picture. When juicing you do not consume any meats, any starches, any processed or fatty foods instead you are living on 100% fruits and veggies. Juicing allows you to consume more healthy foods than if you actually took the time to chew and swallow the apples and carrots. I'm not recommending that people run out, stop eating and juice for 60 days! I am recommending that people start thinking about their food choices and how it affects their bodies. Cake or carrot juice? Sure the cake sounds tastier, but what is it doing for your health?
Starting this week Bryan and I are going to juice for 10 days. After that we are only eating clean foods for a total of a 21 days cleansing program. During this time we will not consume soda, coffee, alcohol, fatty or processed foods. Will we fail? Maybe; we are human after all. Will we succeed? I sure hope so! It is only 21 days! We are not doing this to be skinny or to join a new trend. We are doing this to be healthy. The benefits out weight everything. It is no lie that I have had a rough year with work stress. I have migraines and digestive issues despite eating what I believe to be mostly healthy foods. I am looking to end my headaches, help heal my tummy and to manage stress better. Bryan has high blood pressure for his age (bad genetics) and at his last blood draw his good cholesterol count was not very high so we are hoping to lower the blood pressure and increase the good cholesterol count. We have nothing to lose by eating fruits and veggies and water and clean foods.
Here is a link to Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. It does have commercials, but they are fast. It was an interesting documentary, at least for me. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Another Reason Why
A few weeks ago my mom's beloved dog, Bert, passed away. I will never forget the day we brought that baby home from the Human Society. I was in college and decided to stop at the Human Society on the way home from school. My eyes fell upon this absolutely adorable ball of golden fluff. He was little and fluffy and had a fat round puppy belly. I wanted him, but seeing that I was living with my mom, I needed her permission. After she got off work, my mom, Matt and I headed to the Human Society where we happily adopted our little bundle of joy, Bert. Bert was a Yellow Lab mix. He was full of crazy energy and went downright insane once he was home. On his third night home he escaped from his kennel and tore the house to pieces! He ate a 12 pack of toilet paper, a few plants, the remote, a shoe or two, a couple of socks, a bath towel and even got into the bag of bird seed. He started throwing up and before long we were back at the Human Society hoping he would make it through the night. After spending two night at the vet's office we were allowed to take our baby back home. My mom and I took turns sleeping with him and spoon feeding him baby food because he was so weak and so sick. Yes, this was not the first or the last time I would nurse a sick animal back to a healthy existence!
While Bert was the family dog, he was really my mom's dog. I finished college, moved out, got married, bought my own home and started a family. Matt finished college, moved out, moved back, moved out, became engaged and is embarking on his own life. Since having Bert in our lives we have lost both of my grandmothers and a grandfather, my dad has died and other life events have taken place. Through all of this my mom had Bert to come home to. Regardless of what kind of day or moment she was experiencing, Bert was there as her constant companion. Animals are amazing being. They sense fear, illness, sadness and jubilation. Animals are ready to snuggle, receive a belly rub or go for a walk at the drop of a hat. Animals love you regardless of how they are spoken to or treated, for the most part. We welcome these furry little creatures into our hearts and into our homes, caring for them as if they were truly a member of our family. The love between a human and an animal is unique and amazing.
Bert started to slow down a few years ago. This past year you could really tell his age was catching up with him. A few months ago he started having what the vet believed to be seizures, although at one point they thought he had some type of infection. His thyroid was out of whack and he started on meds. He couldn't walk some days and for awhile my mom had to go back to spoon feeding him his meals. He perked up for a bit, but then he was back to where he started. The vet had considered doing a brain scan to see if he had a tumor. My mom was already paying money for thyroid medicine and now she was considering a MRI. Sadly, Bert passed away in his bedroom before she was able to schedule the scan. I got "the call" at 6:43am one cold December morning. My mom was a mess of tears and emotions and she told me poor Bertie had died around midnight. She was so distraught and upset that she ended up taking the day off of work. A few days later she received a sympathy card in the mail from the vet's office. I cried like a baby as I read the words and help the paw print they had sent her. Our little fluffy yellow ball that we rescued from the Human Society that sunny spring day was now in doggie Heaven. Our hearts were heavy with grief.
As I sit here thinking and writing about Bert, I cannot help to think about the millions of animals who are abused and mistreated every day. The dogs who are forced into breeding litter after litter of puppies, the chickens who are shoulder to shoulder in dark little coops never to see light so they can mass produce eggs, the little calves who are shackled and force fed in an effort to produce "tasty" veal, the cows who are fed diets that are not healthy for them only to be horribly slaughtered for mass human consumption, the turkey who are cooped up in inhuman confines of a pin and eventually slaughtered for meals. I cannot help to think about the abuse these poor, helpless animals are faced with daily. Life is life. We can debate the whole abortion topic, we can debate the hunting for meat topic, but when it comes down to it, life is life. Why is a sad pet owner any different than a vegetarian who is sad over the loss of an animal's life? To me, there is no difference. The next time you sit down to indulge in that burger or that chicken breast, think about where it really came from. Can you honestly bite, chew and swallow and digest a once living creature? I cannot bring myself to doing that.
Off my recyclable, veggie soapbox now ;)
While Bert was the family dog, he was really my mom's dog. I finished college, moved out, got married, bought my own home and started a family. Matt finished college, moved out, moved back, moved out, became engaged and is embarking on his own life. Since having Bert in our lives we have lost both of my grandmothers and a grandfather, my dad has died and other life events have taken place. Through all of this my mom had Bert to come home to. Regardless of what kind of day or moment she was experiencing, Bert was there as her constant companion. Animals are amazing being. They sense fear, illness, sadness and jubilation. Animals are ready to snuggle, receive a belly rub or go for a walk at the drop of a hat. Animals love you regardless of how they are spoken to or treated, for the most part. We welcome these furry little creatures into our hearts and into our homes, caring for them as if they were truly a member of our family. The love between a human and an animal is unique and amazing.
Bert started to slow down a few years ago. This past year you could really tell his age was catching up with him. A few months ago he started having what the vet believed to be seizures, although at one point they thought he had some type of infection. His thyroid was out of whack and he started on meds. He couldn't walk some days and for awhile my mom had to go back to spoon feeding him his meals. He perked up for a bit, but then he was back to where he started. The vet had considered doing a brain scan to see if he had a tumor. My mom was already paying money for thyroid medicine and now she was considering a MRI. Sadly, Bert passed away in his bedroom before she was able to schedule the scan. I got "the call" at 6:43am one cold December morning. My mom was a mess of tears and emotions and she told me poor Bertie had died around midnight. She was so distraught and upset that she ended up taking the day off of work. A few days later she received a sympathy card in the mail from the vet's office. I cried like a baby as I read the words and help the paw print they had sent her. Our little fluffy yellow ball that we rescued from the Human Society that sunny spring day was now in doggie Heaven. Our hearts were heavy with grief.
As I sit here thinking and writing about Bert, I cannot help to think about the millions of animals who are abused and mistreated every day. The dogs who are forced into breeding litter after litter of puppies, the chickens who are shoulder to shoulder in dark little coops never to see light so they can mass produce eggs, the little calves who are shackled and force fed in an effort to produce "tasty" veal, the cows who are fed diets that are not healthy for them only to be horribly slaughtered for mass human consumption, the turkey who are cooped up in inhuman confines of a pin and eventually slaughtered for meals. I cannot help to think about the abuse these poor, helpless animals are faced with daily. Life is life. We can debate the whole abortion topic, we can debate the hunting for meat topic, but when it comes down to it, life is life. Why is a sad pet owner any different than a vegetarian who is sad over the loss of an animal's life? To me, there is no difference. The next time you sit down to indulge in that burger or that chicken breast, think about where it really came from. Can you honestly bite, chew and swallow and digest a once living creature? I cannot bring myself to doing that.
Off my recyclable, veggie soapbox now ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)