Comparing Granola Bars. Good vs Bad.

As I was strolling through Kroger I cut though the granola bar isle and to my surprise there were so many different kinds.  There are crunchy, chocolate, low fat, strawberry, nutty, Greek yogurt, etc.  I decided to look at the ingredient list and was pretty surprised.  I had just got my Larabars which usually contain no more than 5 ingredients. Well these 'low fat' granola bars have probably no less than 15 ingredients.  (I didn't count... but I took pics to prove I am not exaggerating.)  Less is more... esp when it comes to ingredients.  There are good choices out there.  Don't you worry. 

Thumbs Down...
Quaker Chewy- 25% Less Sugar (Notice BHT preservative towards the end)

 

Nature Valley Sweet and Salty

NutriGrain (Notice the last ingredients are food coloring... avoid avoid avoid)

 

 

 

Special K Red Berries (Has the BHT preservative)

 

NutriGrain Greek Yogurt (Greek Yogurt! Yay! It HAS to be healthy.  Not true.)

Two Thumbs Up!
Now on to my favs.  Lara bars are the cheapest at Costco where you can get a large pack of them.  They are typically sweetened with dates, honey or occasionally brown rice syrup.  The ones at Costco are much more basic however Kroger carries fun flavors that are 10 for $10 sometimes.  You can mix and match which is nice to get some tasty different flavors like Cherry Cobbler, Key Lime, a lemon one, and chocolate ones too.  Here are the pics and ingredients of some of my personal favs.  NOTE: Not good for anyone on Candida Clear.  You want to stay away from dates and honey which Larabars are sweetened with.  You can have them when you are done with the cleanse.  I will have to upload a homemade recipe for anyone on Candida Clear.   

Cherry Cobbler

Apple Pie

 

Lemon Bar (Delicious!!)

 

Key Lime Pie

These are such a quick easy treat and perfect for kids.  Great for on the go, traveling (I always take the big box from Costco when I travel for a quick breakfast or snack because you never know when you will need one), or a quick pick me up in the day.

Sausage and Gravy... Seriously Easy and Delicious!

Okay so this may be my favorite recipe so far.  I know I have said this before... but I am NOT joking.  This was so incredibly easy and so tasty.  Sausage and gravy is such a classic Southern food that  I thought would be hard to duplicate, let alone with only 3 ingredients.  Try it and be amazed like I was.  I made my fiance look at me when he tried so I could see his expression... and it was a good one! A must try!!!!!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup raw cashews
2 cups water
1 pound of sausage (make sure it has no preservatives in it- nitrates, nitrites, sulfites, sulfates)

Soak your cashews in warm water the night before.  I just took a mason jar and filled it with my cashews and the warm water to sit overnight.  It does not matter how much water you soak them in as long as they are all submerged.  In the morning drain the water out and put the cashews in blender or food processor.  (I used a food processor.)  Put 2 cups of fresh water in with the cashews. Blend until creamy.  It took about 30 seconds in my food processor and the recipe online called for 2-3 minutes in a blender. 

Cook your sausage on medium heat.  When done drain excess grease.  Then put pan back on medium or low-medium heat and add your cashew gravy. Stir until warm.  (You can also add more water at this time to make it less thick but I didn't.) 

That is it!!!  Add pepper or any other seasonings you want.  Try it and feel free to be skeptical like I was but I do not think you will be let down.  This opens up the door to making gravy for potatoes, turkey, chicken, quinoa, etc... I am pretty excited about it as you can tell :)  Enjoy!!

Cobbler! Easy to make!

Now that Thanksgiving is just around the corner I am experimenting with some desserts. Today cobbler. Tomorrow pumpkin pie? (I also just found a recipe for sausage and gravy... cross your fingers that its good!) So here is the recipe for berry cobbler and some changes I would make at the end.

Ingredients

• Fruit (Recipe calls for 2 pints of blueberries. I only had a pint of strawberries at my house so those worked great! You could also use could use raspberries or blackberries... yum!)
• Xylitol or Honey (Xylitol for those on Candida Clear)
• 1 1/2 Cup Almond Flour
• 1 Egg
• 2 TBS of Coconut Oil
• Cinnamon

Directions

• Wash and dry fruit.
• Grease baking pan with coconut oil and put berries in it.
• Drizzle xylitol or honey on top of fruit. (I didn't have my smaller baking pans cleaned so I used 2 Pyrex containers.)
• In another bowl mix almond flour, egg and coconut oil together. (I would add some honey or xylitol in this as well to make it sweeter.)
• Sprinkle the almond meal mixture over berries and sprinkling cinnamon on top.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes on 350 degrees until almond mixture turns golden brown. (And simply for pleasure occasionally open the oven to get a good smell of what is baking. It smells sooo good!!!)

My notes: The 'crumble' topping wasn't sweet at all (which is not a problem but most people would say it was bland). I didn't add any xylitol or honey and I think that would be a good addition in the mixture to give the 'crumble' a little taste. My crumble was more like a thick batter. I pulled it apart and put the chunks (not an appetizing word but I can't think of any other word now) on top of the fruit. It just wasn't a dry crumble like typical berry cobbler. It could be that I added to much coconut oil to the almond meal mixture. Mine also was pretty watery after it was cooked and it could have been the strawberries... but it was still tasty!!

Try different fruits and even drizzle with honey, pure maple syrup or xylitol right after you take it out of the oven. Enjoy!

Stawberries drizzled with honey before the crumble topping!

All done!

Recipe from: http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Blueberry-Crumble-Paleo-Friendly/

Theirs turned out much prettier than mine :)

Switching out the Plastic

I am working on a 'Christmas' list for people.  Not that it has to be a Christmas list per say, but instead things to slowly switch in your household to make it healthier and chemical free.  There is one simple thing that you can do now... for free (in red)!  One of the major chemicals/toxins we are constantly exposed to is plastic.  (As I sit here and type this I have a plastic water bottle next to me.) Plastic water bottles, plastic wrap around our deli meet, cheeses, Tupperware containers for all our left overs, mixing bowls, cups, plates, toothpaste containers, juice bottles, etc.  I mean the list really goes on and on.  You can't get away from it however you can really change a few things that will make a big difference.

1) Stop storing left overs in plastic containers like Tupperware.

2) If you have to store in plastic containers (which there are cheap easy options so you don't)... do not heat your leftovers up in it.  (First the microwave is problem number one but I understand that's all people have at work.  But don't heat your leftovers up in the plastic!)  I bought a hot plate that Lori and I heat food up with or keep things warm.  It works great and you can put a ceramic bowl over it with your food and heat it up slowly (Add coconut oil if appropriate to keep things from sticking.  Plus you get your coconut oil in for the day!).  I know most of you won't be able to bring this to work with you but its a option.  It takes time to heat things up and doesn't zap anything to make it warm in 30 seconds (which is a good thing)!

Our hot plate at the office. 

I think it cost around $20 at Target. 

Plastic particles (especially when heated) leak into whatever product you have.  When you pour your hot leftovers into a plastic storage containers or heat them up in plastic it seeps into the food.  You don't taste it but that doesn't mean it doesn't do any harm.  Plastic actually mimics estrogen in your body and plays tricks on your endocrine (hormone producing) system which has been linked to endocrine disorders, infertility, early puberty, and even cancer.  Read this great article about dangers of plastics.  Click here. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1) Get Pyrex containers to store all your leftovers in.  They have all sorts of shapes and sizes.  Pyrex containers are fantastic because they can go from hot to cold and not shatter.  If you are going to reheat anything up, say at work, use these!!!  I have found they are cheapest at TJ Maxx but you have more options at places like Target, Kroger, Kohls, etc.

2) Get glass reusable water bottles. (I am being a hypocrite right now but I got it on the go... However at home most of my cups/reusable water bottles are glass or ceramic.  I just have a few left I need to weed out.)

3) Save left over glass containers/bottles.  I have ones from tomato sauce, apple sauce  salsa, jam, almond butter- all of which are glass.  Peel off the label, throw it in the dishwasher and bam! you have a perfectly good glass storage container. (Just don't use these to heat up anything real quickly... use Pyrex containers.)

4) Buy yourself some mason jars to store leftovers in, drink from, etc.  They are perfect for storing soups, quinoa, cooked veggies, etc.  You can buy these virtually at any grocery store and I have even picked up some at Salvation Army.  (Just don't use these to heat up anything real quickly... use Pyrex containers.)

5) Get glass mixing bowls.  This is what inspired me to write this.  I still have my plastic ones (which are getting switched soon!) and I was mixed something hot in it.  It hit me that this is no different that cooking something hot in plastic.  Ah!  I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner... but regardless go get some glass mixing bowls like me!  And donate your plastic containers :)

There are so many other things you can switch in your household but just start slowly by getting rid of what you store and heat food up in.  Then move on to getting reusable water bottles and to-go coffee or insulated mugs (Get ceramic or double insulated glass ones... Teavanna makes them). Then move on to switch your plastic cups, plates, bowls, etc.  Then go to your mixing bowls and cutting boards (get wooden ones).  Then get rid of those plastic spatulas (and get wooden ones). Baby steps. Baby steps. Baby steps.  :)



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Trader Joe's Trip!

I finally made it up to Trader Joe's this weekend... after driving in circles trying to find a parking spot.  I thought I would upload some pictures of things that are great buys there.   (Especially with people on Candida Clear.)  I am more of a visual person so this may appeal to all of you people out there too!  If you shop there and have other items you love let me know!

Organic Tomato Basil Marinara

With NO added sugar!! Yay!!

 

 

Almond Meal

I always stock up on this and get questioned every time I leave with why I need so much.

 

 

Light Coconut Milk

It's just coconut milk and water but great to use in recipes (especially sauces and baking).

 

 

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (Peppermint)

Great Price.  I use it for hand soap (best with a foaming hand soap container) and clean my showers and counters with it (diluted with water of course).  You can also use it for body wash or face wash.  Liquid works best if you are using loofah and the castile bar soap works best if you bathe with wash cloth.  (Just for lathering purposes)

 

 

Cashew Meal

I haven't seen this at Trader Joe's before!  I don't have any experience using it but I will keep you posted how it goes!

 

 

Sliced Goat's Milk Cheese

Tastes great!  Perfect for burgers or to make little wraps with turkey for lunch.

 

 

Fresh Salsa

I double checked the Hot and Mild for sneaky sugar or preservatives and good news... I didn't find any. Yay!  Great on quinoa, over chicken, with taco salad (without shells), etc. (I am working on a tortilla chip recipe...)

 

 

Cauliflower

Great price!  At Kroger it was around $5 so this was a steal compared to that.  Steam it, mash it up like you would potatoes.  You can also put in a blender after it is steamed to make smooth textured 'mashed potatoes.'  They taste really good I promise especially loaded up with coconut oil and sea salt.  For the recipe click here.

 

 

Frozen Kale

Perfect for smoothies!

 

 

Dried Mango

Personal Favorite (But not good for people on Candida Clear... sorry.)  No added sugar and preservatives like most of the other dried fruits... and I am so addicted to these.

 

Thankful (Part 2)

Nov 6
I am truly grateful for Nature Sunshine's Silver Shield.  It is a tasteless liquid that is an amazing antibacterial and antiviral.  (Even antiparasitic!)  It is safe to use internally (swallow), use in the eyes, ears and up your nose too (in a nasal spray bottle of course)!  When I get the first sign of something I start taking a sip of it every hour or 2 until about half the bottle is gone or more.  75% of the time or more it knocks whatever I have right away.  Its great to put a drop or 2 in your ears with garlic oil (Nature Sunshine has this in perles where you poke it with a needle to get a drop out) at the first sign of an ear infection.  Silver Shield is great to spray up your nose for sinus infections and put a couple drops in your eye for any type of conjunctivitis (pinkeye or eye infection) or a stye!  Even dogs can take it.  Louie was really tired and his little paws and armpits were hot.  I gave him 3 tablespoons that day and 1 the following day and let me tell you he was back to his normal self plus some.  He was full of energy the day after he was feeling sick and didn't seem to miss a beat.  Great Stuff.  (Side note... what makes Nature Sunshine's so fantastic is that it is 99% bioavailable.  Meaning it has a 99% absorption rate which tops other brands.  If it is not bioavailable the 'silver' part can actually do more harm than good.  This is why I would never advise anyone to make their own colloidal silver.  Yes it may be a little cheaper but you do not want silver getting trapped in your body creating more harm than good.  Buy top quality colloidal silver.  It makes a difference and worth the investment.)

Louie and his Silver Shield

Nov 7
I am truly grateful for Lori.  First she is the best co-worker anyone could ask for.  She is smart, knows her stuff and such a caring and compassionate person.  She is great at answering patients questions and concerns and the first person to help encourage patients when they are going through hard times.  She has such an uplifting spirit and presence (and a very talented Zoomba instructor too!!). 

Your work environment is where you spend a lot of your time and energy.  If it does not have good energy it can really reek havoc no only on your work but also personal life.  We try to maintain a peaceful and encouraging environment for our patients and Lori is the one of the main reasons why.  I am so so so so lucky to get to work with her.

Nov 8
More of a personal story... I have a couple supplements I could not do without.  One of them being Chaste Tree by Mediherb (Standard Process's herbal line).  This helps to naturally raise progesterone levels when they are low.  There are a whole host of stereotypical low progesterone symptoms and mine was acne.  I have done multiple cleanses (candida, parasite, liver, full body) and the acne would still creep up.  Chaste Tree made a world of a difference.  My skin still goes through little phases and its not perfect by any means... however it is SO much better.  Chaste tree in my case is the reason why.  It doesn't work on everyone and not everyone needs it.  Usually if there is a hormonal issue (not all the time) in women it is because they are estrogen dominate and progesterone deficient (for many reasons but one being due to stress).  Chaste Tree helps to naturally raise those levels and get women feeling better... and clear up my skin! (Watch me have a really bad break out tonight now that I announced this to everyone...)

Nov 9
I am excited and thankful for the new product by Nature Sunshine called AnxiousLess.  It literally does what the name says... helps you to be anxious less.  I have had great results with it in the office and have my fiancée on it too.  When he would be done from a long day at work (which his job has a lot of stress... like most people's) I could tell the difference between when he took his supplements and when he didn't.  AnxiousLess makes him more calm when he is done versus taking a longer time to wind down from work.  Try it.  You can start with just one a day or use it as needed (I give my fiancée one at lunch).  It can even be used with kids starting at 5 years of age! (But sad to think those little ones are stressed or anxious at that age.  Life should be fun and exciting...)

AnxiousLess

Helps quickly ease anxiousness without drowsiness

Promotes a feeling of confidence and security

Improves your mood while helping reduce fatigue

Offers safe, non-habit forming relief

Nov 10
I am sooooooo grateful for patients who 'get it.'  They just trust the process and understand their body and what true health means.  It doesn't mean listening to all the propaganda and advertisements out there.  It doesn't mean feeling like you have to be on medications or that it is the only option.  Your health does not go from point A to point B but instead a journey and lifestyle to work towards.  Yes there will hiccups and bumps along the way but that is okay.  You are not going to feel like a million dollars all the time.  That's okay.  That's what we are here for.  To pick you up when you need it and see whats going on.  Sometimes it is just nice to have patients that understand the road can be bumpy at times... and also understand how good they can feel! :) (But I like putting up fights too!  Just not everyday :)  Its all about education.)

Nov 11
A great product that I personally take on occasion (and use a lot on patients with sleep issues) is Min Tran by Standard Process. This is a great general relaxer and full of minerals... hence the name Min (minerals) Tran.  It's basically like food for the adrenal glands (aka the ones that deal and cope with stress).  It is great for those on the verge of a panic attack or those who struggle turning off their mind at night.  2 or 3 of them around bedtime can help tremendously or 1 to 2 before or during a panic attack.  I am typically not an anxious person but sometimes I have trouble just relaxing enough to fall asleep.  If I take 2 to 3 Min Tran I notice I stop tossing and turning pretty quickly and before you know it I am asleep.  Its one of the cheapest products we have and worth trying out for anyone who struggles with falling asleep because their mind keeps going and going. (Start with 2 and work up to 5 before bed.)

Nov 12
Another great product that many of my patients are thankful for is Parotid PMG.  I use it most frequently for detoxing/eliminating out any type of toxin.  It could be a heavy metal or could be any type of chemical lingering in their body.  Parotid PMG is great because its safe on pregnant women too! Anyways... if you are or know someone who struggles with strong smells that instantly throw them into a headache, this may be worth a try.  It aids your bodies natural detoxing abilities and prevents you from being thrown into that funk/migraine/dizziness when you smell strong perfume or cleaning chemicals for example.  I know people struggle walking through the grocery store cleaning isle, walking through Macy's because of all the perfume and fragrance, or even going to church because all the fancy perfume and cologne.  Take 2 ahead of time (even more) if you know you are going into one of these situations to help lessen or even stop any of those symptoms from happening!

Nov 13
I am grateful for... Garlic!  Yes you may be (well I always am) a little bit garlicky after using it... but that's okay!  It is an amazing antibacterial (great for whats going around) and antifungal (aka anti-candida).  Eating it raw is the cheapest way. You can cut it up and swallow the cloves or I have been recently taking it easier by grating it into a glass with a little bit of water and drinking it quick!  If you are prone to burping it up and would rather do anything than take garlic raw there is a great product by Nature Sunshine called High Potency Garlic which is coated in chlorophyll.  The coating prevents the 'after burp.'  Either way you are getting great antibacterial benefits and it can even help with yeast infections, reducing high blood pressure, decreasing arthritic inflammation, and even put a drop of garlic oil in your ear with Silver Shield to help with ear infections or Swimmer's Ear.

High Potency Garlic

1 Tablet = 1.2 Cloves of Fresh Garlic

Nov 14
I am thankful for getting sick sometimes (key word. sometimes).  I know this sounds a bit crazy but do you know what I mean when you don't know how good you felt until you got sick.  Well I was full of allergies and congestion from Sunday till about Wednesday.  Finally I can breath and smell everything... yay!  And it makes me truly appreciate how good I was feeling and am feeling now.  We take our health for granted and just want to be better all the time.  Maybe there is a reason we get sick... maybe its to slow down our busy lives and let our bodies get a breather.  Now I am not saying being sick is fun.  But it surely does make you appreciate feeling good!