and chopped ginger- chopped garlic is optional. It is kind of like what you would get with spring rolls if you were out to eat. It's super easy to make and delicious with a spicy, sweet, sour combination. The tomato, basil, garlic salad is a summer staple in my home, it is so versatile also, because if you have any left over it is better the second day. At our house I always prepare a lot when it is something that will keep or flavors will be enhanced the second day. This is important because I feel like the biggest reason that people make poor food choices (when they have the knowledge to make a better choice) is that they are looking for something quick and easy. If you have foods on hand that are healthy and you can just grab that will make you less likely to choose an unhealthy snack or meal. My snack that I ALWAYS have on hand is trail mix that I make just by combining a variety of raw nuts,seeds and dried fruits. Nuts may include almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, hazel nuts, and pumpkin seeds. Dehydrated fruits include prunes, raisens, mangos, bananas, goji berries, cranberries, cherries, etc. Please read the labels if you are buying dried fruits, many companies add sugar- which makes no sense to me because dried fruits are naturally sweeter. Also companies add sulfur dioxide-now that does not sound appetizing does it? Trader Joes has a pretty solid selection of dried fruits and raw nuts and seeds at the right price! Peace up to all and Bless! Giving thanks for the blessings, as well as the shortcomings daily! Those shortcomings teach us A LOT! GIVE THANKS!!! ONE LOVE
I only had a quick second to snap this photo before this meal was totally devoured! Seeing it now I wish I had a better shot however at the time all I cared about was giving thanks by digging in:) First of all I want to say that this meal is super easy to prepare- Dinner was ready in less than twenty minutes. You couldn't drive to taco bell and be back in that short of time- The ingredients should all be staples in a healthy eaters home as well. This meal has a little bit of cooked food however it is mostly raw and full of protein, flavor, and benefits! To the right in the pot is "the Mother Grain", Quinoa. Hailed as "the supergrain of the future," quinoa contains more protein than any other grain. It's considered a complete protein because it contains all eight essential amino acids. Quinoa is also higher in unsaturated fats and lower in carbohydrates than most grains, and it provides a rich and balanced source of vital nutrients. Quinoa can be eaten just as you would rice- it is adaptable to breakfast, lunch and dinner also! It's lighter than rice and prepares very quickly. Behind the quinoa is Jamaican Jerk Veggies. I threw olive oil, diced onions, garlic and ginger in a saute pan and only cooked for about a minute just until the onions steamed a bit, turned off the heat and threw in sliced bell peppers, sliced carrots, diced celery, and lastly cubed tomatoes. The entire premise of this meal was that I was craving jerk so a lot (about 2 Tbs.)of Jamaican Jerk seasoning went on the veggies which were stirred and covered with a lid to let the seasoning settle in. The Jamaican Jerk seasoning I use is from Herbs and Spice and Everything Nice at Findlay Market. The Colonels Jerk blend contains garlic, onion, allspice, coriander, red pepper, thyme, mustard, lemon peel, nutmeg, black pepper, ginger and garlic. All of these herbs contain health benefits as well! The largest dish is the salad of course, this one is really simple- i pulled the thick veins out of two different types of Kale from the garden, rolled up the leaves and sliced thin, sprayed the leaves with Braggs Liquid Amino Acids and drizzled with olive oil. The salad is topped with avocado and heirloom tomatoes from the garden. Lastly in the small bowl is chopped parsley and cilantro. Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, it also aids the body in digestion and freshens breath after having the onions and garlic. Cilantro goes great with spicy foods. When I prepare my bowl I just let everything mix together into one big beautiful creation. This meal was soooo good. If Jerk isn't your craving this could be made with curry instead of Jerk. I think its important to point out again that all of these foods are staples in a healthy kitchen or garden; if you have the foods on hand you will be less likely to eat unhealthy. Mm..m.m! Bless up!
 |
| This is our campsite at Covert Beach Campground in MI it is on Lake Michigan and is one of the best camping spots EVER! It's important to me to take time out daily to love our Mother Earth- I do this by sleeping outside, hiking through forests, canoeing down rivers and being a beach bum! so BLESSED! |
One of the best treats I indulge in on occasion is young coconut water. Mikey opens them up- he enjoys that- and we both love to drink the refreshing water that is inside! After we drink the water I use a melon baller (because it is sharp and rounded, the meat is not really going to be sphere shaped) to scrape the coconut meat out and use it in raw cookies or smoothies or raw curries and salads. Make sure that when you choose your young coconut there are not any brown or pink spots on the outside- the water inside should be clear- not pink. It was really hard not to smile while sipping for the pic because the water is soooo delicious and you can instantly feel the health benefits from this tropical treat. Young coconut water is naturally filtered through the coconut husk. It is one of the best sources of electrolytes one can find! It is great for the skin, the blood, the mind and the heart! Enjoy young coconut water as often as you can! There are so many benefits that I could not list them all; however if you're curious I suggest you google it because you may be surprised to see all of the benefits and uses. I want to reach more people and encourage them to live in a clean vessel; I am currently trying to figure out how! We are blessed with these amazing bodies that heal and work and play and rest and so much more- but what do you do to keep your body clean (inside and out) and working its best?! Be conscious, Be aware of what you are eating and drinking, what you are washing your clothes with, the soap you are using on your body, and so much more. It is sad what is happening in the big grocery stores, schools, doctors offices and in popular culture. People look at us who are concsiously choosing a healthy lifestyle and say things like "how can you do that to yourself?" or "Ewww, it's green!" when they see us drinking green smoothies. We are making the choice to be healthy and to question popular culture of what is healthy. What I am doing to myself is rewarding myself with God's goodness! I refuse to feel like crap by putting junk in my body! When God created the Earth he gave us everything we need to survive long healthy lives- how old was Moses? 500 something years? He did not live that long by drinking protein shakes, eating energy bars, pop tarts, lunchables, or McDonalds for goodness sake! He was eating whole foods! I could go on- but I have to run- I'll get back to this another time! Peace up, GIVING THANKS!
