Easy dinner idea: Vegan Kale Pasta

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Few weeks ago , we were invited to my cousin's house for an adult dinner. Well her little one did wake up but we still considered it adult dinner LOL since we were drinking red wine ;)

Before going to dinner ;)



Since my cousin knows I eat plantbased, she made a dish for moi ;) Well everyone ate from it too, so I guess it was for everyone too :) It was DELICIOUS so I asked her for the recipe and I made it for us, I tweaked a little bit ofcourse.
I would like to add, I recently started enjoying cooking. I am not the type of person who just creates recipes from scracth ! I always look up recipes, add something, omit or replace etc... So I make the recipe which is widely used, let's say, my own. I have made several Lebanese dishes I grew up eating without meat, or added something different.
Busy moms don't have time to re-create the wheel! The recipes are out there, remake them using the healthiest, cleanest ingredients.
Enough talking !! Let's get to business ;)




Ingredients:


2 bunches kale (washed and chopped)
1 tbsp. Olive oil
1-basket cherry tomatoes or regular tomatoes chopped ( which I used)
1 1/2 head garlic minced
Vegetable broth or water
Pasta of choice

Method:

Cook pasta according to package and set aside,

1. Sauté garlic in olive oil
2: Add tomatoes( sauté until tender)
3: Season with salt/pepper. I also used thyme, oregano and sage.
4: Add kale then  about a cup of vegetable broth or water
5: Lower heat and let simmer until  kale is tender and broth/water reduces
6: Toss pasta with kale or just serve over it like I did !

In the making ! 

I would like to thank my cousin Aimee for this recipe :) I am not sure if she created it or followed. She used cherry tomatoes and as you can see I used regular tomatoes. She added salt and pepper and I used more spices.   I love using spices...Spices and dried herbs are great for digestion and make the food taste EPIC ;)
Enjoy !!

Final product! 

Easy dinner/lunch idea: Homemade vegetable soup ( vegan and healthy)

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

As it is starting to get colder, warming foods such as soups are important. Our ancestors ate with the seasons. They made soups and stews when it was cold and more cooling foods when it was warm. So why did we change? Why did we become a society that eats ice creams in the middle of winter. I do live in Southern California and our weather is mainly hot year round but I was born and raised in Lebanon where we did have all 4 seasons.  So having soups during this time of the year is very comforting for me.
Try to find out what your ancestors ate and experiment with it. Maybe you will find it more soothing , maybe not. Nothing to lose ;)
Let's get to the recipe!

Ingredients:
1/2 -1 onion chopped ( if you love onions add more)
celery (2-3 depending on what you like)
carrots (2-3)
small potatoes (6-7) I used the really tiny potatoes but if you are using Russet or red, you can use 3-4 medium ones
mushrooms
olive oil
salt, peppers and spices to taste( I used thyme, oregano, cumin, cardamom)
bay leaf
Water ( or veggie brother if you like) 2-3 cups.

Heat olive oil a little, add the onions , sautee for few minutes. Then add veggies, season and sautee all for 4-5 minutes to bring out the flavor ( it's like you are making your own veggie broth before you add the water).
Add water, bay leaf, bring to a boil, then lower heat and let it simmer covered until all veggies are cooked.



You can add less water if you don't want it too liquidy ( is that a word ?? LOL).  You can add any spices you like or omit any I mentioned.
Spices are good for digestion, they make food more digestible.  They also bring out the flavor of the vegetables and make your food taste better.
When I used to cook before, I didn't use spices so my cooking tasted bland and always needed something ;)
"Spice it up!"
This is the secret to great homemade cooking :)

Enjoy !!

Raw vegan chocolate mylk

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Ingredients:

3-4 bananas

5 pitted medjool dates 

1 liter of water ( I wanted it more watery, less water if you want it thick )

1-2 tbsp of raw cacao powder 

1-2 tsp maca powder 

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender and enjoy!

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama
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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

Raw Chocolate Maca Ice Cream

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Ingredients: 

2 frozen bananas 

5 medjool dates( pit removed)

1/2 tsp maca powder 

A little coconut milk( add more if you want to make it softer )

1 tbsp raw cacao

Method :

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender such as a vitamix . I usually start blending at 7, then higher ;) 

Sprinkle dates and mulberries on top ! 

Enjoy ❤️

Maca powder : 

"Lepidium meyenii, known commonly as maca, is an herbaceous biennial plant of the crucifer family native to the high Andes of Peru around Lake Junin."*

Maca is known to:

1- boost energy

2- balance hormones 

3- may have benefits for brain and mental health 

4- lower blood pressure 

*Information gathered from Wikipedia and livestrong.com

 

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama
Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babieshttps://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl




All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

Easy and healthy lunch/dinner idea: Cauliflower brown rice

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

                                                              Cauliflower Rice

Ingredients:

1/2 onion

1-2 tsp of olive oil

Frozen peas, carrots ( assorted veggies)

1/2 head of cauliflower ( cut into florets)

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp of cumin

salt, pepper to taste

2 and 3/4 cups of water

one cup of brown rice

Method:

Heat oil for a minute, then add onions.  Sautee the onions for few minutes. Then add the cauliflowers, veggies, salt, pepper, cinnamon, cumin ( or any other spice you like). Sautee for 3-4 minutes.

Then add the water, bring to a boil uncovered.

Next, add the rice, turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer until rice is cooked. 

It will take about 30-45 minutes.  Enjoy !

Brown rice contains the highest amount of B vitamins out of all grains. Additionally, it contains iron, vitamin E, amino acids, and linoleic acid. Brown rice is high in fiber, extremely low in sodium, and is composed of 80% complex carbohydrates.  Brown rice promotes good digestion, quenches thirst, balances blood sugar and regulates mood swings*

* Brow rice: whfoods.com

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family.

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama; http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama
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All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.



Green smoothie

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Green smoothie recipe :

1/2 cup of fresh pineapples

2-3 strips of celery

3-4 leaves of romaine 

1 cup of Spinach 

A little lemon juice 

1-2 cups of water 

Blend and enjoy the yumminess

The original recipe was created or made by Rawvana and I added my twist :) You can add any greens you like such as cucumbers, parsley, cilantro, kale etc... If you don't like pineapples, you can replace it with an apple. You can also add fresh ginger. Change it to whatever suits you. 

Dark leafy greens are alkaline, carry many minerals and vitamins, blood purifiers, oxygen filled, and detoxifiers.  Try to drink one green smoothie or juice a day and see if you notice a difference.

On the weekend, I learned a lesson about resisting going with the flow.

Resistance . It keeps us from going with the flow, it makes us more irritated , and prone to anger. It disables our natural state of being which is joy.
Resistance . It disrupts our well being and peace of mind , it cripples us. We can't let go and move on.
Going with the flow and being flexible with any situation that comes our way is hard work but is gives up peace of mind , joy and ease.

Finding your own balance when it comes to being healthier!

How to lose weight ? Simple ways to get healthier and lose the weight you don't desire

To text or to call?? The million dollar question.... My frustration explained !!!

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

You might wonder the reason I am writing about social media! It has nothing to do with health? Health is not just the food we eat! Health entitles a healthy mind, a healthy way of living, healthy relationships and SOCIALIZATION with others.  The way social media is used nowadays is NOT healthy in my opinion.

Have you ever thought to yourself " I can't wear that dress anymore because I already have pics on facebook wearing it?" or " I gotta to that place because they took their kids there." " I thought she is getting a divorce , why is she posting loving pictures of her and her husband?"
Sometimes I see myself taking pictures just to post on facebook rather than enjoying the view. I also catch myself thinking about what my status will be today!  I keep checking and refreshing my instagram posts to see if I got new likes. Then I look at others' accounts and be like " how come they have more followers?" How the heck did she get 1.1 million followers or over a 100 thousand followers? I also noticed that people just get obsesessed with others' lives, pictures, etc... by reading their comments " you are so perfect, you are so beautiful, please follow me etc...."
Whatsapp and texting: I call my friends, they don't answer but then they text me or wanna chat on facebook messenger!! As a busy working mom, I am driving half of the time whether to or from work, to or from picking the kids up, to or from home, to or from music practice etc... you get the point? I can't text or chat, I can have a real conversation that will take less time than the text !!
Have you noticed cramps in your neck, shoulders and your arms??? Well, we are holding our phones pretty much 24/7, texting with both thumbs or in my case I am putting my daughter to sleep , trying to post or chat with one hand and rubbing her back with the other; so after she falls asleep my whole right side is numb !!
I realized how much I depended on my phone for directions when my phone died as we were in San Diego with our cousin from Chicago.  First, I couldn't find the way but somehow figured it out; meanwhile I felt free and enjoyed the view of the new streets I have never seen before.  Then, instead of snapping tons of pictures  of the kids in order to post ( while thinking of the caption...you know you do it :P ) , I enjoyed them playing and having fun... I also played and had fun with them. In addition, I started noticing the many moms sitting checking their phones while their kids played. So I remembered myself doing that: While at the park, kids are playing and I am constantly on my phone. 

Seeing others do it made me realize how much I don't want to do it coz it looks disturbing. These are my kids, I should pay attention to them playing and laughing not other people !!
When I started texting my friends less and calling more, I noticed how less people answer the phone and don't keep in touch with you simply  because your texts are short ...well I am trying not to get in a car accident.  

Maybe they don't care enough to take the time to call you and have an oral conversation.

Sorry Einstein, the day has come !!!

I am not writing this post to offend or judge anyone , I am frustrated because I care !!! If  you are my friend and you found what I wrote offensive and judgmental , please call me and let me know LOL

Facebook, Instagram, twitter, smart phones should be called UNsocial media.
I am a speech and language pathologist ( M.S-CCC, SLP) I work on pragmatics which includes socialization with some students so I know about this topic a little I can say ;)
Chatting and texting is NOT a two way communiction even though it appears this way coz the other person is responding!!! The other person may forget to respond or may not want to , so we are left with a one way communication. TALKING to YOURSELF ! 

Another point about chatting is :as human beings we read into everything, even the punctuation marks. We also make a big deal out of it " MMM she put a period , does that mean she does not want to talk anymore, what did he mean by this sentence? is she trying to be a bitch ? or is he tyring bla bla " Sometimes, we end friendships and relationships due to a misinterpretation of a text or an email" A friend told me " texting is easier."   I don't see it easy, I see it as you are not as important to me to bother calling you and hearing your voice for few minutes. I used to view it this way ( easy), to the point my sister and I got mom an iphone and taught her to text.  Texting can be important! My husband and I text , I text with my sister and mom but I still talk to them on the phone.  We have a family group on whatsaapp ( mom, dad, my sister, and myself) , we share pictures and thoughts coz we can't all have a phone conversation at once. You know what , if we try hard enough and don't make excuses maybe we can;)  My point is : we don't rely on that way of communcation, we still call or facetime ! My brother is in Texas; he loves to see the kids and we love to see him too. 
I am not saying let's stop texting and emailing....let's just do it less.
I am not saying don't check facebook, let's just do it less.
I am not saying don't tweet, let's just do it less.
Try to use the phone like it was originally created for : talking to people using your voice. I am not perfect but I am realizing my faults and working on them.  Let's use technology with moderation and not let it take over our lives.  Let's teach our children to look up while walking not down on the phone or ipad . 

Here are some tips that helped me and I sure hope they help you:

• Call people and leave them voicemails....If they don't end up calling me back after many attempts then to me they don't view me as a priority so I won't view them as such.
• Specify a time you want to check your phone for FB, IG, etc... I don't want to get up and check my phone first thing in the morning so my times are 8:00 AM, noon, 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. There are exceptions and I am not rigid; I am saying when I decreased the number of times I allowed myself to check social media ( or unsocial media LOL) I noticed that I automatically check it less.
• Specify a time when you want all electronics OFF and display it. YES! Write it down and hang it on the wall. Your kids' friends will see it too LOL We don't use electronics after 4:00 PM unless ipad is being used by my son for homework. He has to do 20 minutes of Math daily on the ipad.
• TURN IT OFF at night. If it's off, I am less likely to turn it on to check it. It's off. For example , it's 8:47 AM now and my phone has been dead...I didn't even charge it yet.  Try it, you will feel free.
• Forget it. Make the point of forgetting it in the house or in the car for just few hours and see how much your life changes!!!

Thank you so much for reading my post and please feel free to comment and let us know of some tips that worked for you to decrease technology and increase human interaction. 

Follow me on Instagram and tmblr: bzhealthymama; http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl


All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

How to get your children to eat more fruits and veggies!

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

As I was drinking my green smoothie during therapy , one of my students said "ewww, what is that?"

bzhealthymama on Instagram

 Then I realized, nowadays kids reach out for fish crackers, candy, chocolate bars, sugary cereals  etc...( the real "ewww") before fruits or vegetables.  I know some people who go on the whole day heck few days without fruits or vegetables....yup that was me few years ago. Then I would complain " why am I so constipated?"
Think about it, why would a 4 year old go for kale if he has candy on a daily basis?? Kale tastes horrible to them and they don't know that it is packed with vitamins and minerals. All they know is kale looks green and disgusting in comparison to the colorful lollipops packed with sugar, chemicals, dyes to name the few.
Since I started this healthy journey and educated myself, I became more open to fruits and veggies especially the vegetables.  My taste buds have changed and I enjoy eating and drinking greens.  Then I started looking at my own children and how much fruits and vegetables they don't eat.  My oldest is way more open to anything, he enjoys food ; however, my daughter is very picky.... At this moment, my son eat a variety of fruits and vegetables , a salad with dinner. In addition, my daughter eats more fruits and a salad with dinner. She also eats cucumbers!!! "Hooray" ( this is what she says LOL)  So here are the few tips that worked with my  kids, hopefully they will work with yours ( I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment or two ;) )

1. Lead by example: I didn't force my kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. I started eating and drinking more fruits and vegetables. Then they were curious to try, sometimes they would like it and at times not.  My daughter saw me eat a huge salad for dinner daily for at least a year before she tried the lettuce but you know what now she eats a small salad every evening. Keep the dressing simple: our dressing is lemon juice, some sea salt, and grape seed oil.   
2. Make smoothies: Make smoothies for you and your kids. Drink with them and you will be surprised , they will drink theirs and yours ;) Make the smoothies sweet and add the greens.  Bananas and dates are so sweet, add some spinach or celery and blend; they won't even taste the difference.  We are a picky family , if we can handle green veggies in the smoothies, I think any person can :) P.S: Pineapples are strong too so if you add a variety of greens with pineapples , u will only taste the latter and barely the greens. 
3. Throw away the junk: if they don't have it available , they won't reach for it.... if they can't see it for a while they won't miss it anymore.  When they do ask for junk, educate and explain to them ( even If they are little, they will understand) why it's not allowed in your household. 
4. Keep your house abundant with all kinds of fruits and vegetables: after they get used not seeing the junk and consistently seeing the beautiful colors of fruits and vegetables they will start asking for them.
5. Pack them fruits and/or veggies for school: they may throw it away or give it to someone but if they see how consistent you are they will eat it...they are hungry and they don't have a choice ! They are not going to like cucumbers or radishes at first, but be patient, and consistent their taste buds will change. Some kids may take longer than others but they will get there if you hang in there and do not give in.  Example: one morning, it took my daughter crying for at least an hour ( I need to explain a little as some may think I am too "extreme"- the crying was on and off and it was the whiny crying not the running out of breath I am in danger crying...the seeking attention cry which can be tuned out and tolerable LOL), throwing a tantrum for another 30 minutes( also on and off, I really didn't time it here guys ) before she gave in and ate the fruits I gave her for breakfast. The bottom line is I was consistent and she saw that!  Am I a cruel mom? Maybe some people view it this way; however, I think cruel moms are the ones letting their children eat junk and not forcing some discipline and increasing fruits and veggies in the house.



Eating her veggies ~@bzhealthymama on Instagram

I am sure there are many articles talking about this subject and there are many more tips but the ones I mentioned are the ones that worked with my kids and my family.  I hope they will work for yours....try them out, you have nothing to lose :) Please comment if you have any tips that worked in your household !

I would like to thank all who follow and believe in my blog :) Please subscribe to my mailing list and invite your friends and family. 
Please feel free to share my blog with your friends and family. I would also love to hear from you , so please write me comments as I learn from each one of you :)

Follow me on Instagram and tmblr: bzhealthymama; http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl


All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

 

Sunscreen: Is it an enemy or a friend ?

Hello everyone, I would like to thank you for reading my posts and following my blog. Please feel free to share with your friends and family.  In this post, I will talk about my opinion about sunscreens and will recommend a homemade product that will replace the sunscreen you have which is most likely filled with harsh chemicals.  There will also be a giveaway ;) so please read until the end :)
More and more people are afraid of the sun and bathe themselves and their kids with sunscreen to protect their skin from cancer. However, cancer is on the rising so I don't think the sunscreen is helping !!!
More and more people are vitamin D deficient....just ask your friends and family and I can assure you a lot will have a deficiency.
We get our Vitamin D from the sun but when we lather our skin with sunscreen , we are not giving the sun a chance hence the deficiency, the depression , mood swings, irritability and anxiety. So get out in the sun and get your vitamin D from the source not from supplements. 

There are plenty of articles out there stating the harsh chemicals in the sunscreen so I ask you: Which one is more harmful? The sunscreen? or the sun?
In my opinion, and according to plenty of research and articles written about the subject the sunscreen is more harmful to the skin than the sun. 
As you all know me by now, I like to link articles to my blog because I do not claim to be an expert on anything. I research, use common sense and like to break it down in simpler terms to the people who follow me ( Thank you for the follow and support....there is a free giveaway, keep on reading LOL).
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2014/teensunscreen/pdf/EWG_teensunscreen_guide_2014.pdf
According to this guide choose sunscreen that has an SPF of 50 or below and avoid the following: fragrance, oxybenzone and vitamin A. 
There are articles stating the benefits of sunscreens and others stating the harm of sunscreens.  However, try to consider the motto I have been living by since I began my journey to healthy living:
"if you can't read it , don't eat it or put it on your skin."
The following are few tips to help you decide what to do when it comes to sunscreen and sun:

1. Get out in the sun more. If you are at work all day, eat your lunch outside or take a quick walk during your break. 
2. If you are going to be in the sun for a little bit and you are fully clothed , there is no need for sunscreen.
3. If you are going to be in the sun before 2:00 PM and for a period of time longer than 2 hours use a homemade sunscreen.
4. If you are going to be in the sun after 4:00 PM there is no need for sunscreen, the sun is not harmful.
5. Visit EWG and type in the name of your sunscreen , they will tell you how hazardous it is in case you bought a big case of sunscreens from Costco and you don't want to throw it away.
6. Make your own sunscreen or support small businesses on Etsy and buy homemade sunscreen if you don't have time to make your own. I have tried the sunscreen from Mama Dre's and it does work. My kids were in the sun all day and they didn't get burnt.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaDres?ref=search_shop_redirect

Homemade sunscreens are the best in my opinion, however, you have to be aware that they do melt easily so you can just stick them in the cooler if you are on the beach or at the pool or your fridge when you come back home.  They are more oily so my advice to this is let your skin absorb it for few minutes before you get in the water. 
Here are the ingredients in Mama Dre's sunscreen stick :  coconut oil, beeswax, Shea butter, hemp oil, vitamin e, zinc oxide and vanilla. 
What is Zinc Oxide you say ? Well here it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_oxide.
Zinc Oxide was used as a salve for eyes and open wounds in the Indian medicine, it was also used by others such as the Greeks, the Romans, etc.... So in my dictionary, this is safer than most of the ingredients available in the commercial sunscreens. 


NOW HERE IS THE GIVEAWAY

In order to continue to support small businesses I would like to send 10 of my followers homemade sunscreen sticks from Mama Dre's. Here are the rules in order to be entered in the giveaway:

• Like Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl
• Like Mama Dre's on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mamadreslove?fref=ts
• Follow bzheathymama on Instagram http://instagram.com/bzhealthymama, repost a picture and comment with #bzhealthymamagiveaway
• Share this post on any social network and tag #bzhealthymama
• Comment on this post with your ideas, suggestions, thoughts etc....good or bad I love the criticism and the challenge but keep it respectful . Agree or disagree with the idea and content not the person :)

The winners will be selected on August 27, 2014 and will be sent an email.  Thank you so much for participating :)

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

ORGANIC VS CONVENTIONAL? TIPS THAT MAY HELP YOU CHOOSE

Long time ago, fruits and vegetables were referred to by their names rather than organic or non organic because humans practiced traditional farming or forest gardening. 
Then the pesticides and harmful fertilizers were introduced and of course we got greedy and we didn't care about our well being and began mass production and mass harming of fruits and vegetables. 
Therefore, we have to differentiate between fruits and veggies grown the "old fashion" way and the ones sprayed with tons of chemicals nowadays. 
The ones treated with chemicals and harmful substances look pretty and they have a nice color but their taste is horrible.... you don't believe me?? Please try it for yourself!
Try an organic strawberry and a non organic one .... Taste the difference? They look, smell and taste different.
According to this article : http://livefreelivenatural.com/scientists-reviewed-343-studies-see-organic-food-better-heres-found/
Organic produce contain more antioxidants and more nutrients per serving hence the body needs less servings per meal. This piece of information argues the fact that organic produce is more expensive than conventional.  In addition, conventional fruits and vegetables contain pesticides residue that is harmful to the body...so in my opinion, always choose organic.

However, some people may not be able to afford it so here are few tips:

1. Visit your farmers market, check with them if they grow their produce organically and buy from them....their fruits and vegetables cost less.
2. Grow your own. Even if you don't have time you can grow the herbs such as mint, oregano, thyme in pots. I am growing my green onions from the white bulb in a mug in my kitchen. 
3. When you are at the grocery store, make sure to check the "clearance" section usually where they put the items that are about to expire.  You may be able to find some ripe organic bananas or sweet bell peppers etc....
4. Go to Costco or Sam's club if you are a member. Costco has a lot of organic produce such as strawberries, apples, spinach, spring mix, carrots etc.... Sam's club has less of a selection but they do carry sometimes organic blueberries, raspberries, etc...
5. Pick the organic fruits and vegetables that are in season in your area and indulge... For example: oranges are in season during the fall and winter so eat more oranges then; watermelons are in season during the summer so eat accordingly. Back in the day, people ate what was growing on trees,  so what was in season.
6. Reduce buying junk such as sugary cereal, soda, cookies, candies etc... so you are able to afford to buy most of your produce organic. A 24 pack of Pepsi or coca-cola is 9.99 in the US in most stores, for 9.99 you can buy a stalk of organic celery, a large bag of organic potatoes, and 2-3 heads of romaine lettuce. 
7. Finally, refer to the dirty dozen plus and clean 15 list by EWG. https://donate.ewg.org/images/2014_Shopper_Guide_to_Pesticides_in_Produce.pdf

The dirty dozen are the fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticide residue and should always be bought organic are:

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Potatoes
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Snap Peas
• Spinach
• Cucumbers
• Sweet bell peppers
• Grapes
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Hot peppers
• Kale
• Collards

I would like to thank all who follow and believe in my blog :) Please subscribe to my mailing list and invite your friends and family. 
Please feel free to share my blog with your friends and family. I would also love to hear from you , so please write me comments as I learn from each one of you :)

Follow me on Instagram http://instagram.com/bzhealthymama and tmblr: bzhealthymama; Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

 

What I eat and How I do it in a day !!!

I would like to thank all who follow and believe in my blog :)
Please feel free to share my blog with your friends and family. I would also love to hear from you , so please write me comments as I learn from each one of you :)

A little background of my life: I work full time at a school from 7:15-2:45 , well at two schools ( I am a Speech Therapist) ! I have about 50 students on my caseload and I don't  have an aide or an assistant. I do the testing, I do the therapy, the copies, the calling, etc....
I am also a wife... My husband owns his own business ! Check him out if  you are in Southern California www.coar.co (best mechanic in town )! Seriously ;)

I have an 8 year old son and a 2 year old daughter. 
My son has:



My family :)

1.  Hip hop on Mondays from 4:00-5:00( www.artisticdancemurrieta.com)
2. Music ( Piano) on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 (http://temeculavalleychildrensmusic.com/)
3. Swimming on Thursdays from 4:45-5:15 which started at the end of May.

In the fall, he is starting flag football so we might quit dancing for now , we shall see;)

My daughter has swimming on Thursdays from 4:45-5:15. 
I have to be at work at 7:15 AM and my son's school does not start until 8:50 AM. So here is my day....

• I wake up at 5:30 AM and go downstairs. I get the kids' lunches ready which is usually two servings of fruits and it's either pasta or rice for my daughter. At my daughter's school they can warm up her food so I store it in a small glass container and send a plastic bowl so she eats from it. She has broken three glass containers so I learned my lesson.  For my son , it can be a salad or nitrate free ham sandwich with spinach, non gmo organic cheese etc....But it's always two servings of fruits and some veggies for him. Do they eat it all? Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't ,just like any child.
• Then on to my meals...I fill up my glass water bottles with filtered RO water - I pack at least 1.5 liters of water (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis). Next, I prepare my smoothie which I will drink for breakfast ( I will post recipes in another post) and get my lunch ready. It can be another smoothie or fruits or a salad it depends what I am in the mood for. I always make sure my breakfast is between 800-1000 calories and my lunch at least 500-700 calories. If I don't have enough fruits, I always take dried fruits for snacks. While I am preparing my food, I drink a glass of warm water.
• After I am done preparing my meals , I take everything to the car , start it and go upstairs to get ready.
• After I get dressed, I wake the kids up... I don't dress them up because it is still too early. So by now it is 6:30-6:40 AM.
• I take the kids to my parents where my dad greets the kids and takes them inside... my daughter still cries to this day wanting to stay with me but sometimes she stays asleep . My mother dresses the kids up and dad takes them to school... I am so blessed with the best parents and grandma in the whole wide world.
• On the road, I pray the rosary in the morning ( I am Catholic) on the way to work.
• I get to work at 7:15-7:20 AM and start my day. I finish a 0.75 L of water and start drinking my smoothie about 8:30 AM in order to finish it before lunch lol my smoothies are huge (64 oz)
• I take my lunch around noon unless I am not done with breakfast ( It has happened before LOL)
• I leave work at 2:45 PM, pick up the kids from my parents and we go to the activities listed above...if we have time we do homework , if not we do homework when we get back home. Usually we are home by 5:30 PM unless it's Tuesday then we are not home until 7 PM. I am very glad that we have all week and weekend to complete my son's homework. He brings the packet home on Monday.
• While we are home, I pick up and put things away then prepare dinner.  On Monday, I write the dinner menu for the week and print recipes if needed. Our dinners are 90% of the time vegan. It's always a salad and another cooked dish. I get my recipes from www.allrecipes.com  I am not creative so I follow the recipe LOL . My son is not picky at all and eats everything I make, as for my daughter she recently started eating a little itty bitty of the salad which is a blessing. If you have little ones, try not to force them to eat their greens. Lead by example and they will follow, I promise :) She usually eats her greens either in a smoothie or cucumbers....cucumbers are the only vegetables she will actually eat .
• After dinner, I clean the dishes, make sure downstairs is tidy and we all go up, take a bath and get dressed for bed. My son sleeps on his own but I sleep next to my daughter... I tried everything, I read a lot of books about sleeping. Both my son and daughter wanted me to sleep next to them. I am sure it is a habit taught accidentally by me ;) I used to dread bedtime because I didn't want to waste my time sleeping next to my daughter. Then I started embracing the moment and loving it... I love being next to her now because she is only gonna be this little for a short period of time so I am enjoying every moment.
• After she falls asleep, it is time for me to hit the sack :)

Please note this is my schedule when we are at school...now we are off for the summer and we are not as busy. 

If I can do it, if I can live this healthy lifestyle , anyone can!  Believe me!!! It is all a matter of will, commitment and consistency.


Prepared by my sister

I recently started incorporating more exercise in my life... My goal is to increase exercise because it is so important for the body and mind. 

Please feel free to share my blog with your friends and family. I would also love to hear from you , so please write me comments as I learn from each one of you :)

Follow me on Instagram and tmblr: bzhealthymama; Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMamasHealthyBabies?ref=hl

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

Sam's club, do you really have to poison us with your bread?

I was planning on writing about another health related topic; however, few days ago my husband went to Sam's club ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sams_club) and bought the white dinner rolls... Please check out who Sam's club is by clicking on the link!
They look fresh and they smell so good and I had the nerve to look at the ingredients... You would think a simple bread should not require TONS of ingredients !! Then , the SHOCK... Please see for yourself. 
I was able to read few ingredients and the majority I thought to myself "am I reading a chemistry book or just the ingredients in the bread my kids and my husband are about to eat?"

The few ingredients I researched are:

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup

Why do we need high fructose corn syrup in bread? This stuff is used in candy and processed sweets.  High Fructose Corn Syrup is cheaper than sugar so now it's being used in mostly everything that is processed for the "taste" !! It's contributing to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many more. Don't forget the GMO ( genetically modified organism) in the corn. This syrup is not found in nature and it is not derived from a non gmo plant; therefore, it cannot be consumed by human  beings who were designed to eat what comes from nature without being heated, processed or whatever done to it.

ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_phosphate

This is a chemical , in medicine used as an antacid and industrially used as the basis of adhesives, binders and cements.  So because you put corn syrup in the bread and other ingredients I couldn't read, you figured I would get a heartburn or indigestion so AHA we will put the antacid in there so they don't feel it!!! Really now? Are you serious?

It is used as the basis for cement...."Our body is a temple" NOT a construction site. We really don't need stuff that is used in cement .... oh I guess it helps with the baking huh???

AZODICARBONAMIDE:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide

This is the stuff that Subway used in their bread until they were called on it and now they removed it. Subway even advertises that they don't use it anymore. So if it is good for us, why didn't Subway continue using it in their bread? If it's good for us, why is it banned in Europe and Australia?

This is the stuff used in the production of foamed plastics as a blowing agent.  So is this bread for humans or for things? I am really starting to wonder now!!!This ingredient  ( I really should not be calling it ingredient), this substance has been identified as the cause of asthma , respiratory illnesses and allergies. Just ask how many kids or adults you know have asthma and allergies nowadays?? PLENTY!!!

I am not a baker, I am just a concerned mother who cannot see these substances being put in bread...the food that lots of people eat daily! So I looked up another brand just for comparison.

http://www.alpinevalleybread.com/organic-dinner-rolls.php

This is what this company has on their website :

Ingredients

Organic Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Organic Wheat Flour, Water, Organic Evaporated Cane Syrup, Organic Honey, Organic Cracked Wheat, Organic Soy Oil, Organic Flaxseed, Organic Cultured Wheat Flour, Organic Vinegar, Sea Salt, Yeast, Wheat Enzymes
Contains: Wheat, Soy
Manufactured in a facility that handles wheat, milk, eggs, soy and tree nuts.
We do not use GMOs in our products. No artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no artificial preservatives.

 

The ingredients can all be read by humans ! We don't need a dictionary or Wikipedia to look up flaxseed or wheat flour. 

Now of course the rolls from Sam's are way less expensive than the 6 dinner rolls found in the Alpine Valley brand; however, just ask yourself do I want to eat chemicals or bread?

Even better make your own bread, if you don't know the recipe google or YouTube one.  If you don't have time like myself to bake bread, just read the ingredients and choose wisely.

One person can make a difference because our kids and our bodies deserve better. So please make a difference in your life . 

I totally wish Sam's club and all the other big companies would remove all these substances from their bread ... let's get back to the basics !

 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of the original author.These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Alpine Valley Bread which was picked because this is what the blogger uses in her household. This subject is strictly for comparison and it is not being paid for by Alpine Valley Bread. 

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner of bzhealthymama.blogspot.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

 

 

Benefits of a healthy lifestyle

I would love to sit here and write: your face will clear up, your digestion will be superb and you will get over all your problems once you start.  However, I would not be realistic.
I suggested in my previous post baby steps because not everyone can jump cold turkey into a healthier lifestyle . Let's be real!!! After years of eating doughnuts, hot dogs, steaks, bread etc.... you are not gonna stop over night. You may succeed for a week or so but after that you will start dreaming about junk , literally dreaming about it LOL
When I cut down all junk from the house cold turkey, my son started taking money and buying school lunch without telling me .... Therefore, my husband and I took a step back and let him have junk "once in a while" until we faded it again and now there is no more "once in a while."
Let's get back to the topic ;)
Some people may start benefiting right away, for some it may take weeks, months or years... The key is to be patient which is super hard but I always choose a good quality of life. I know we have one life and we are gonna die anyway but why drag ourselves fatigued and depressed!!! Let's live this one life energetic and light !

Here are the benefits that I experienced and continue to do so :

1. Better digestion...I suffered from constipation ALL my life and I used to stay without a bowel movement for a week ( which is super unhealthy).  At the beginning of this, my digestion started to get better, then it plateaued then better again... I still have room for improvement. 
2. Clearing up of the skin: Again it is not clear all the way and I am not there yet and will NOT give up... at the beginning I broke out SO bad then better then on and off LOL Now I only get few pimples before my period. I also have to tell you that I don't exercise like I should and I don't sweat enough.... I read that our skin is our largest organ.
   "your skin is your body's largest and fastest-growing organ. Skin is your body's coat. It protects you. It helps you stay warm when it's cold, and cool when it's hot. Your skin keeps all your insides in, from your heart and lungs to your blood and muscles. And unless it's cut or damaged, it keeps stuff out, including germs and water. You also feel things through the nerves in your skin." http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/for-kids/about-skin Therefore, exercising and sweating is essential so the skin gets rid of all the toxins in our body. I do exercise way more than before though ! I also use the sauna at least once a week ... I am working my way up and again I am all about taking baby steps until you reach your ultimate goal.
3. Less headaches:  I used to get migraine and sinus headaches if not everyday , every other day. It was horrible :( My migraines were so bad that I had to leave work and just go home and sleep. One time I was at the mall and I couldn't see anymore, the lights appeared to be so bright and I had blurred vision , it was so scary!  Since I started a healthier lifestyle , I stopped getting headaches and I don't take medicine. I used to take Tylenol and/or Advil every day ( I am not kidding) , now I don't and I feel way better.  Even if I get a headache now which is very rare, I drink lemon water and eat fresh peppermint or just put it in the water. I totally feel free that I don't have to take medication. 
4. No more heartburn... I used to get heart burns all the time especially if I ate something canned like canned tomatoes or tomato paste. I used to take tums, prevacid or zantac. Now I don't get heart burns at all because I am always eating fresh food.  My husband still does get heart burns because he does eat fast food during the day , he does not take medicine though. He takes baking soda in water which relieves the heartburn or indigestion in no time. 
5. Clearer mind. I think this is the most important one. A healthier and clean lifestyle makes you want to clean your whole life not just the food you eat and the products you put on your body. It forces you to love yourself. I think you also start seeing people for who they are and you are not blinded by fog. Like I mentioned before, I started praying and meditating more, reading inspirational books and quotes all the time. I am learning to slow down and enjoy my kids. This clean lifestyle made me see myself from outside like a third party.   I used to be in a rush all the time, now I prepare myself and force myself to slow down and enjoy the NOW. I am reading The Power of Now by E. Tolle.  For example, I am a clean freak ( just like my mother, she is way worse than me though )! So now if I leave the kids with my husband because I am going out with the girls, in my mind I prepare myself " don't freak out if the house is a mess, you went out and enjoyed the company of your friends and now a little clean up is not gonna hurt) The kids and hubby are helping way more. 
6. Develop love of other beings.... Like I said , I started this for my health and my kids' health and little by little I just started developing love for the animals...It is not like I hate animals but I didn't pay attention to them because I was selfish.  Now the kids don't kill the spiders or the ants in the home, they just take them outside to nature to be where they belong etc.... I did not watch the movies about how animals suffer actually how much human inflict pain on animals to use them for fur, leather , or food!! I don't have to... I know humans are selfish, evil and would do anything to satisfy their needs...

I may not have touched all the benefits....and again I am not a professional. I am a regular person who is talking about her journey and experiences. I hope you are enjoying them...
We need food and water to survive but we need a clear mind and love of self to survive peacefully....  I am discovering myself and my strength while I am on this journey. Some days are harder than others and  I do get upset and frustrated (sometimes too much) but I am learning and accepting.

I wrote this post on 05/26/2014. Now it is 08/11/2015 and my skin is clear !! I don't have acne HOORAY
I keep improving and I developed a love for cooking...If I can do it, ANYONE can I promise

Easy Steps to transition to a healthier lifesyle

In the summer of 2011 I started transitioning to a healthier lifestyle and here are some steps that helped me. Give them a try, you have nothing to lose but a lot to gain.

Step 1: Educate yourself, you spouse and your kids. 

Before I jumped into anything, I started researching, reading books, watching YouTube videos, and following people on Instagram and Facebook. I shared everything I learned with my husband, kids and immediate family. 

Step 2: Remove and Replace:

Then I started removing processed foods, canned foods, foods high in sugar from the home and replacing with fresh fruits, vegetables and grains.  I replaced table salt and cane sugar with sea salt, Himalayan salt and real non gmo sugar. I added spices like oregano, ginger, cumin, etc... to my spices cabinets.  I started reading the labels if I couldn't read the ingredients I didn't buy it. We started buying food with less ingredients such as the bread and pasta. I added organic coconut oil, unfiltered olive oil and grape seed oil and took away the canola oil.  We added more raw food and decreased our cooked foods.  I started with breakfast then added lunch. At this moment, I am raw till 4...where I would eat raw breakfast and lunch and high carb cooked vegan food for dinner.  I decreased animal products and little by little took it away completely. The kids and my husband do eat organic antibiotics free chicken and ground beef. They rarely eat sea food. However, due to me being vegan and cooking at night, most of their dinners is vegan.
I replaced processed ham and turkey with nitrate free and organic ham and turkey for the kids and husband.  I only buy non gmo cheese and we have our own chickens now so the kids and husband eat our fresh eggs. 
The rule of the things we buy : can't read the ingredients, we don't buy. We also buy as much organic as we can.  I think about 90% we buy organic and non gmo project verified i.e., chips, popcorn, snacks for the kids, dried fruits, pasta, bread, chocolate, tea, candy, etc....
I also replaced all shampoos, body wash, deodorant, lip balms, toothpaste with all naturally handmade, fair trade, cruelty free, non gmo bath products. 
I removed our Teflon pots and pans and replaced with cast iron pots and pans.
We didn't eat out as much or we made to go to a place with more organic and vegan selections.
We started supporting small businesses on Etsy and farmers markets. 

Step 3: Lead by example and don't give up.

After few weeks of this, I started feeling way better and then I plateaued.  My face broke out more, I got irritated more and then I realized I wasn't eating enough calories.  My face and digestion are slowly healing. I stopped putting expectations when I am gonna feel like the other raw vegan people out there. I haven't given up and I continued educating my kids and leading by example. When they see me drink a smoothie or eat a salad they want one too.  My little 2 year old daughter way less than my 8 year old son.
I abused my body for years over 25 years, It is not going to heal in 2 days or 2 months, or 2 years .... it is gonna heal whenever it is going to heal but I will not give up.

Step 4: CLEAN

I started cleaning up my life...people who don't belong in my life had to go! Those were the people who are negative, envious and jealous.  I started cleaning out my soul , reading more inspirational quotes, praying, going to church more, praying with the kids etc....


I can write and talk forever.... I also started exercising more and going to the gym more.
Leading a healthy lifestyle is not just eating right, it is thinking right, letting go of the past, staying positive and accepting yourself for who you are.  We can't change others but if we change ourselves, others will follow.