Green "Swamp" Wafers

Top o' the Morning, to Ye!  I hope you have a wonderfully happy gorgeous green day!

I had fun this week making another new recipe from Dr. Gabriel Cousens' Rainbow Green Living Cuisine book!

Since it's St. Patrick's Day, I figured something green would be fun!

With a dough made from almonds, spirulina, oil, and salt, these savory little treats are health-packed and unique!  I used about half the spirulina called for because I'm not a fan of that flavor, so I was being careful :)

These are odd little flaky crisps, and they seem like a versatile base!  Plain and simple, or maybe add stuff!

Here's a picture of the different things I tired:

From top left:

Raisins, organic cocoa, drops of agave

Cinnamon, maca powder, onion and garlic powder

Hazelnuts, chia seeds, and plain

I figure this lets me play around with sweet and savory!  So, I spread it out, and then put it in the dehydrator!  I don't know if my dehydrator just doesn't work that well, but it took a lot longer to dehydrate than the recipe called for.  But in the end, they had this great wafer texture, crumbly yet crisp!

All dried out!

And now I have these wonderfully healthy treats to sample for my run this weekend!

Almonds, I have discussed before - good healthy fats, calcium, proteins, antioxidants.

Salt is great for post-run replenishing sodium.

And spirulina, a blue-green algea (yeah, sounds gross, I know) but, as University of Maryland Medical Center states, "Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids (a type of antioxidant that can help protect cells from damage). It contains nutrients, including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid)." This complete potein - containing all amino acids - help improve the immune system, fight cancer, protect against allergic reactions, help with growth of your body's good bacteria, and protect yout liver!  Of course, this is a newer item to the world of research, so they say more studies are needed to know for sure what wonderful benefits this gorgeous green goodie will provide!

And to go with this savory treat, I did have some processed green drink... but no beer here!  I know it's not as good as fresh-made green smoothie, but I was short on time.  So Dave and I just enjoyed this lovely sweet drink:

Green Goodness drink for Bolthouse Farms

Happy Green Day, my friends!  I hope you enjoyed whatever you did (though, of course, I hope you took some care for your liver!)

~Katie

HAPPY NATURAL NEW YEAR!!

It's time for a fresh new start! (pic)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


Welcome to 2011, my friends!! And what a wild ride 2010 has been! (And my New Years Eve was spent, among other things, making sock puppets... but that's it's own story! Haha!)

ADDN is now 1 year old (awww, happy birthday, little blog!) It was a great chance for me to work on some of my new years goals last year - to be healthier, to get back into writing, and to get more research done on food and nutrition. (Though, admittedly, I did slack more as the year progressed and work got busier.)

But what did 2010 have for you? What good things did you do that you want to build on? (Isn't that a more positive spin on the whole "I've been bad, and NOW I'll be good for the new year"?) Hopefully we've all made strides towards growth of one kind or another. Taken time to learn ourselves, to focus our lives, and hopefully love ourselves and those around us.

I know I have many non-food related goals for this upcoming year, but in the spirit of this blog, we'll still be sticking with natural health related topics, and aiming for a more natural, plant-based diet.

Rev those engines, it's time to GO! (pic)

So what's your reason for wanting to continue a wild ride on the health roller-coaster?

To age gracefully: be healthy enough to stick around for grandchildren, decrease risk of any numerous diseases or painful conditions, maybe even turn gray hairs back to their natural color?? (More about that in a future post!)

To be healthier now: to not be huffing and puffing after a simple flight of stairs? (Hey! I used to have that problem!), run a 5K, fit into a new pair of pants, have more mental and physical energy?

To help take care of the earth: promote agricultural animal care, support local farmers, cut out processed poisons, cut down on your pesticide intake, fight for a cause you believe in?)

To have more self confidence: improve the health of your hair and skin, drop some burdensome fat, smooth cellulite, be able to say "I DID IT!"?


(pic)



And what are the things that make that difficult to stick to your goal? Time? Convenience? Taste? Not knowing how to make new recipes? Lack of family support? Share your struggles - here or wherever you can! You have my constant support! (And understanding - In this fast-paced, Food Toxic society, it can be difficult to make the effort to change your eating and exercise habits. BUT IT'S WORTH IT!!)


What direction are your first steps taking you?

(pic)



Make a plan:
What do you want and by when?
What are the first three steps you can take on your journey?
What are the three biggest barriers to you meeting your goal?
What can you do to overcome those hurdles?
And if you trip, what are three ways to pull yourself back up quickly without getting completely trounced before so?

Think about it, write it down - maybe it's a s simple "First Step" goal such as walking daily, adding a green smoothie to your morning ritual; or more general (to be tweaked later) such as losing weight, running a 5K, deepening your self understanding - and share it! With us or whomever you are comfortable. Sharing your goals makes them more real to you (instead of a passing thought to be tossed aside at the first cookie!) PLUS, hopefully you'll start to gain support from your friends, and maybe someone who can help pull you up when you fall!

What future do you hold?

Make it happen! (pic)

And well, hey, if you're indecisive about a resolution, jump over to
http://moninavelarde.com/newyears/ and have fun playing with their pre-made resolutions ;-)

(pic)

Blessed renewals, and joyous journeys!

Sending love and prayers to everyone reading this :)

~Katie


P.S: all pics have a "pic" link to the original site where I found them

Thankful Thanksgiving, and More Island Foods

*Note: I appologize for the layout issues! I am getting quite tired of blogger's frustrating layouts, and may move to another site in the future...*

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

"Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts." ~Alan Cohen

We had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving - two dinners and a Pie Night! Oi, so much food!!! So I thought I'd share some more of the wonderful (and sometimes odd) foods we saw while on island.

While the holiday was rife with heavy foods, we did take a few steps to try to remain natural. So, Dave was excited to buy some local lemons so we could enjoy our enzyme-rich morning glass of lemon water! ...but, of course, he was also excited to find Starbucks coffee for half the price they are here. (Since there are no Starbuck shops on island, they are not some big name brand, and they have to keep prices pretty normal there! It was about $2 for the 4 pack you see my dearest hubby putting in our mini fridge.) Ah well, at least he also has the lemon water in hand :)

The first odd thing... we saw these plants, and I thought they were quite peculiar looking! It wasn't until later that we learned these are Betle Nut trees! (Though, the spelling differed depeneding where we were...)

Apparently, betle nuts are a traditional "food" item among some of the locals. According to Wikipedia, "Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a Betel leaf along with lime and may include clove, cardamom, catechu (kattha), etc. for extra flavoring. Betel leaf has a fresh, peppery taste, but it can be bitter depending on the variety" This is then chewed, and gives a mild stimulating effect, similar to that of drinking a cup of coffee. And in the Philippines, chewing these is believed to help strengthen the teeth and gums



Here's Wiki's picture of prepared Betel Nuts

While I like the idea of trying new things, and experiencing culture... this was not a tradition in which I felt like partaking. The health downside: a quick PubMed search shows this habit may be linked to reproductive issues including low birthrates and premature deliveries, and possibly heart disease. And then there is the cosmetic downside: as you chew, your mouth becomes stained with the red juices! We were told you can tell who chews, because their teeth will be red. And, many people will spit their reddened saliva onto the ground. Yum, right?

So we saw these signs everywhere:



We avoided betel nuts, but I did love their bakeries!! Fresh, local bread with such a short ingredient list!



I had to wonder how true that list was, though. That bread was too soft and delicious! I couldn't help but be skeptical!

 

So, those were some of the foods we found. Then there were foods we were served. We spent one day with the staff of a nutrition clinic enjoying a wonderful thanksgiving meal, with all the traditional foods like stuffing, turkey, corn, etc. And there were a few other additions! Some salsa-like relishes and shrimp chowder.

And the next day, we got a second Thanksgiving meal with another friend who had moved from the mainlands to the island for a few years. So much food! After dinner with her family, we went to Pie Night - everyone brought their leftover pies to share! Share the calories, right?!

So, admittedly, it was not the most natural or healthy of holidays for me this time around, but it was full of love and friendship, even half a world away from our families.

Enjoying a fruit drink and fresh fruit on the beach for breakfast! What a way to start a day!

I hope you all had a wonderful, fun-filled holiday! And maybe got to take a walk somewhere in there, or had a smoothie or salad... or at least let yourself be filled with joy!

Hugs to you all :)

~Katie

Flying and Frying

So we’re back!

Dave and I got to enjoy a little over a week on a tropical island, exploring the culture, and seeing what island life is like! Oddly enough, where we went, it’s not THAT different from the norm. What began as an island of farmers and fresh produce, has become “Americanized” with fast food and buildings. Due to the war, military personnel brought in white rice and canned meat as staples, and over time, this has now become the “elite” food for islanders. Fresh produce is not commonly consumed as often.

But thankfully, it is still abundant! And hopefully, as nutrition education makes its spread, they’ll refocus their habits towards the blessings of food they have – coconuts, avocados, mangos, papayas, numerous rich leafy greens, and more!

Like being on the set for Jurassic Park!

So, how do you travel healthfully? Before we even got to the island, we had to deal with being bombarded by microbes, dehydration, and dangerous radiation!

No, this isn’t some SciFi plot or crazy takeover. This is something almost everyone faces during their lives – some people more than others.

Airplane Exposure to Dangers

When one gets on a plane, one is preparing to assault their body with many dangers. I’m not talking about potential dangers of malfunctions; I’m talking the constant dangers of germs, dehydration, and radiation.

Most of us are already aware that plane flights can be a breeding ground for disease – many people crammed close together for long periods of time, limited air circulation, and not the healthiest of snack options! So we planned about a week ahead to start boosting our immune systems with extra sleep, water, and vitamin C! (Hooray for lemon water!)

Dehydration was an issue for me on previous plane rides. First off, they swipe your water at the check in, so you have to try to find new water on the other side. This time, I grabbed two bottles, and figured I’d get the stewards to keep the water coming! Well… that worked out somewhat. I don’t know if I got stingy stewards or what, but I drained those two bottles in no time, and then was giving an itty bitty cup of water every now and then. I mean, seriously, I’m thirsty! What’s 3 ounces going to do for a 12 hour flight?! And when I’d try to ask for a bottle, they just smiled and walked away. Ugg! Lesson learned – buy even more bottles next time!

And the one that most people are NOT aware of – when you hop on a plane, you are going to be flying at heights that are affected by various forms of radiation.

Eh?

Radiation image from thegreendove.com

While we are constantly getting a “steady drizzle of rain” of radiation from space, the Environmental Protection Agency states “The atmosphere shields us from cosmic radiation, and the more air that is between us and outer space, the more shielding we have. The closer we get to outer space, the more we are exposed to cosmic radiation. This holds true when we live at high altitudes or fly.”

The Federal Aviation Administration put out a report I believe in 2000, for Aircrews entitled What Aircrews Should Know About Their Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. In it, they state “Ionizing radiation consists of subatomic particles that, on interacting with an atom, can cause the atom to lose one or more orbital electrons or even break apart its nucleus. Such events occurring in body tissues may lead to health problems. For aircrews, and their children irradiated in utero, the principal health concern is a small increase in the lifetime risk of fatal cancer. For both of these groups, exposure to ionizing radiation also leads to a risk of genetic defects in future generations. The FAA recommends limits for aircrews in their occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and provides computer software for estimating the amount of galactic cosmic radiation received on a flight.”

Wow!

Now, I’m not saying one long flight is going to necessarily have fatal effects, but low doses over time can add up. And we’re exposed to these forms of radiation constantly, just more so during flight. If they have to warn crew to limit their exposure, maybe it’s something to take seriously.

Looking out the plane window, over the Pacific

So what can you do? The EPA’s opinion says, “There are no practical ways to shield yourself from cosmic radiation during a flight. You can reduce your exposure while flying by taking shorter flights at lower altitudes. This is often not practical, and the risks from cosmic radiation do not warrant changing your travel plans to reduce your exposure.”

But what else? Hmmm… what do I always harp about?? Eat naturally, and keep yourself healthy! :)

So how did Dave and I handle these damaging assaults?

We started our morning with a big glass of lemon water to get a last little kick of vitamin C, then we made sure to get some good antioxidants in us, to help protect our cells! I wanted to do a giant green smoothie to take to the airport, but it was so early, and I ran out of time. So we just munched on some fruits and nuts. But keep it light! No sense weighing your body down with digestive needs when you want to reserve some energy for fighting off germs and radiation! ;-)

The day before our flight, I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on a few snacks: some raw pecans; trail mix of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cranberries, cherries, and other fruits; another trail mix for the way home, full of almonds, apricot kernels, golden berries, and goji berries; a bag of Coco Mole sunflower seeds (sprouted sunflower seeds tossed with agave, cayenne, and cacao powder); and a treat of dark chocolate with over 70% cacao!

Good antioxidant-rich foods, to help keep me from being too hungry! And then I tried to limit my intake of any of the airplane’s foods. Processed, heavy meals that do little to help keep your system running at its ideal level!

So that was the first part of trying to have healthy travels! And things you should consider if you fly often. Holidays are coming up, and those are popular times to travel. These are good tips for car trips, too!

Boost your immune system early; keep water on hand; eat antioxidant-rich foods but eat light. Oh, and make sure you get up and stretch to keep your blood flowing and moving all those nutrients around!

So stay tuned, there’s more Saipan to share :)

~Katie

Greetings from the other side of the Pacific!

Amazingly Creative - and HEALTHY - Halloween Treats

Yesterday I said I was going to hunt down some good Halloween alternatives, and boy did I find a good blog!

I am almost afraid to post it, because it is so much more creative than anything I post here! ;-)  But I was just so taken aback by her innovate use of shapes, colors, and flavors, that I had to email and ask her if I could share it with you!  So THANK YOU, Angela, for letting me share the joys you have concocted in your kitchen!

I hope you will also enjoy some of the delicious, clever ways Angela puts together raw, wholesome foods that any one can appreciate over the fall season!  Test some of these options, and try to limit (or totally run screaming from!) processed monsters to keep your health going through the season!

So, I now introduce you all to The Happy Raw Kitchen's Healthy Halloween edition!

Check out some of the fascinating things she's put together:

Darlin Clementine Punkin



Boo!~Nanners



Bwaaaaaainz!



Ghosts in a Graveyard



Is that not the cutest clementine you've ever seen?!  Maybe I'd feel okay about passing those out if kids come knocking this year!

So huge thanks to The Happy Raw Kitchen for letting me share her glorious works!  Check out her Halloween blog post for the recipes and assembly instructions.  She's inspiring me to try to step it all up a notch on the creative scale!  Let's face it - fun food is more fun to eat!!

So, if you happen by my haunt this Halloween, you just may see some of these treats lurking about!

Wishing you all Festive and Fun Fall Feelings! :)

~Katie