Healthy eating

 We are still working away at a good healthy diet. I have come to the conclusion that the best way to eat is to eat fresh and make everything myself.

 An example of a very healthy meal, for every serving of fruit you eat in a day you should eat two servings of veggies.

 Last night we had one of my favorite meals:

 Oven baked sweet potatoes, I've been making these for months and they are a favorite, slice fresh sweet potatoes thinly, put about 1TBS of coconut oil on your cookie sheet (I use my pampered chef bar pan) sprinkle with your favorite apple pie spice mix (I get one from King Arthur) and course ground high quality sea salt. (super important in the diet) Bake at 400 for about 20 mins, turning a few times.

 Fresh spinach salad: spinach, avocado, cucumbers, carrots, mangos, and shelled hemp seeds
 Then make your own healthy sugar free dressing: 2TBS apple cider vinegar (with the mother) 2TBS olive oil and 1TBS blackberry jelly (sugar free fruit only)  and toss... YUM!

  chicken done on my electric griddle: saute chicken with a touch of olive oil, montreal steak seasoning, sliced yellow bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. PERFECTION!

 And because they are in season right now, strawberries and of course, Evie's favorite: bananas! .

 This meal is easy, healthy and gluten, dairy, egg free!

Catching up

 I have been sick, yep, I finally came down with the virus that has been running through my home for three weeks as of today. UGH! 

Not to much has happened and yet a lot has happened since my last blog entry..

I did some experimenting with THIS recipe on "I dream about food" 

My mom suggested that it would make a good waffle recipe with some tweaking so I tweaked away and found an AMAZING waffle recipe, that is gluten free and sugar free.

 Here are the minor changes I made to the recipe:

1 cup almond flour
3 tbsp granulated erythritol
2 tbsp vanilla whey protein powder
4 tbsp flax seed meal
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup almond milk

Pour 1/4 cup onto well greased HOT waffle iron and TADA!

For the whipped cream I used heavy cream & half a jar of Strawberry Smucker's Simply Fruit Jelly (don't buy the "sugar free" as it has aspartame in it, be SURE it's simply fruit) Whip until peaks rise!

Serve over warm waffles with sugar free ORGANIC berries! (got mine in the freezer section, just defrost) 

There is some good protein in the waffles since they are made with almond flour, but you can always use more... SO, serve with a slice of warm ham... Also, not pictured here but we did have green juice this morning... BUT another good way to get veggies into your breakfast is to add sweet potatoes 

(another post coming on sweet potatoes soon!) 

Meanwhile sickness continues around here... This has been a REALLY nasty bug and it takes so long to make it's way through the whole family. But I'm rather beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  Since I was the last one to catch it... Hopefully now we can mend.

Poor Evie-lou is on antibiotics now (double ear infection)  She's such a good natured girly though, Doesn't look that sick in these pictures does she.

OH, and Carter J got a haircut today, THAT was long coming, let me tell you... could hardly see the boy for all the hair! 

I continue to work on ideas (while I've been laying on the couch coughing) to help relieve stress and work around here for my health. I am having a really hard time with all of this to be just completely honest with you. It feels SO hard to impose upon my family in order to help myself. It's contrary to everything I've always strived for. To be a servant, to have a servants heart for my family.

I know in the long run that this will all amount to a training in my children that will be invaluable. But at the same time it doesn't make it easy when you have a child who is completely reduced to a hysterical sobbing mess because his world is changing in a manner that isn't to his liking. 

The biggest change we're going to make is in the boys schooling. 

I just simply can't keep up with it on my own anymore... The idea of sending them away is just not a possibility  (nor do I think it would be right) 

SO... We are now having a school week that starts on Thursdays and runs through Sundays. With double lessons spread throughout the four days to equal one more day.

"The Boss" will be schooling on the weekends and I'll be taking the week days. This will help lighten my load considerably. (even though they are less than thrilled, I hope that eventually this will be a good thing for all of us.)

Also, my grandparents have graciously offered to pay for me to have a cleaning lady (maid) come to our home to do the deep cleaning in the bathrooms. I am beyond excited about this, mostly because for quite some time it has been beyond my abilities physically to do this often. This will take pressure off of my husband more than I can say (in his already WAY to packed load of having to care for me and work)

Also, I MUST remove ALL toxins from our home... Even the most innocent of cleaners/soaps can be full of harmful things for your family.  (another post devoted to this topic to come too.) 

Last of all, I now have "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp laying on my desk in front of me.

NEVER in my life have I been so fearful and yet so excited to read a book.

This quote on the back made me cry moments after reading it:

"One Thousand Gifts beckons you to leave the parched ground of pride, fear, and white-knuckle control and abandon yourself to the God who overflows your cup."

Food, Such a BIG deal!

 I can't describe the feelings of discouragement and failure I've been feeling lately. I really really thought I was doing a good job feeding my family healthy well balanced meals. But as I have been learning more and more about each of our specific health problems I have realized that my thinking one veggie with dinner and maybe a carrot stick with lunch was wrong. I know... Probably most of you reading this are thinking "well DUH".

 I guess I just had no idea how important what we put in our mouths is... I DID understand, but not to the fullest extent.  I have been doing organic foods for years now and we don't eat fast food anymore either (probably for about 6 months now) We are careful!

 But not careful or educated enough!

I want to take you on a walk through our FOOD for a day to point out the important nutrition information I've been learning through our DOM (doctor of oriental medicine) /nutritionist.

Breakfast:

I am learning that having veggies in every meal is essential, yes even breakfast now matter how weird that sounds!

 SO, we eat super-foods for breakfast now!

A smoothie that includes but is not limited to:

Kale: great source of antioxidants, fiber and more

Spinach: iron and beta-carotene, and it's a good source of fiber

Half a banana: contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin also is high in potassium

about a cup of frozen blueberries: is a natural and rich source of antioxidants

4 frozen peaches: vitamins, minerals, fiber, potassium and more!

one scoop of chia Seeds: source for Omega 3 & 6

two teaspoons of Primadophilus (ESSENTIAL to good "gut" health)

3 TBS of flax seed (I like the ground it cuts down on the seedy texture) Flax is good for about a thousand things, (I included a link) But the main reason I started using it was to help with joint pain

1 can unsweetened coconut milk (which I forgot to include in the picture) It builds up the immune system and the bodies defenses.

sometimes I include cranberry juice but I was out today!

Blend it all up and YUM... My kids LOVE this with either some meat (ham or such) or scrambled eggs to get the good protein into their meal.

Snack time!

celery sticks with sugar free peanut butter on them:

Lunch: 

Sweet potato fries: among many other things: Sweet potato is rich in Vitamin A(betacarotene) and Vitamin C. Both Vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that work in the body to remove free radicals, this free radicals are chemicals that damage cells.

prunes: the richest food source of protective antioxidants. contains a lot of fibers and sorbitol

carrot sticks: is known for beta carotene which gives the body Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamin E and many minerals

turkey lunch meat or on rare occasion a slice of bacon: Protein

nuts: Proteins 

Afternoon snack:

pears and cheese

Dinner:

Turkey Chili is a favorite around here!

Ground Turkey: is quite nutritious and generally low-fat

Onion:  include substantial relief from number of diseases such as common cold, asthma, bacterial infections

tomato sauce & diced:   lycopene, Vitamin A & D

Great Northern Beans:  Rich in complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals

Kidney Beans: Rich in complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals also

Brown rice: an excellent source of magnesium, iron, selenium, manganese, and the vitamins B1 & fiber

green chile: are full of vitamin C, and antioxidants

Seasonings (paprika, garlic, chili powder, onion, ect) for taste

Brown the ground turkey and add the onions

add about a cup of water

brown rice, spices 

and simmer for about 15 minutes

add tomatoes, beans and chile 

allow the entire thing to simmer for 45 mins (stir occasionally or it'll burn to the bottom!) 

Serve with a brown rice tortilla (still not sure if I like those or not!) 

And cheese and sour cream on top! (dairy is GOOD for you!) 

The only drinks I serve in our home now are Milk, water and herbal teas 

I still have the occasional chai splurge!

Caleb and Jaden have Candida so they are on a NO sugar, no whites diet... We cannot have, sugar, potatoes, white rice, white flours of any kind.  I'm learning that those simple carbs only serve to burn up fast in our bodies and cause fat cells to form anyhow.

Carter J has issues with becoming hypoglycemic which is why I have actually PURGED all the sugar out of our home. It is SO detrimental.
Taye hasn't been tested yet, but he is on the same strict diet because I imagine he has the same issues that his brothers do and even if he doesn't, I want to KEEP him healthy.

Just this week I have lost 3lbs not eating the simple carbs. But a balanced diet is IMPORTANT
only protein can lead to heart problems among other things.
We need the complex carbs, whole grains, fruits and veggies too!

King Arthur Flour

I must preface this post with a disclaimer, I don't get anything in return for how often I tell people about King Arthur Flour... But when I find a company that is truly amazing... I SHARE!

I know I shared earlier that I was very very discouraged when I discovered that I needed to go gluten free (for a month long trial) But the thought of not being able to bake amazing things anymore was AWFUL... 

I LOVE to bake and I LOVE my King Arthur supplies.

I buy everything from them, Thankfully I can get the flour locally but everything else, vanilla, chocolate chips, mint chips, flavorings, boiled cider, you name it, I order it from them. 

Their recipes and their products are tested and incredible. I  have never NEVER made a recipe from King Arthur Flour that our family didn't like.

SO, when I discovered that they have recently released a gluten free line I was excited yet skeptical.

now....

I'M SOLD! 

Seriously, I can't even tell a difference.

I made their flourless fudge cookies AMAZING

And their gluten free muffin mix which I made with coconut oil and cranberries! OH YUM! 

Then I tried the gluten free brownies... Can't even tell a difference from the normal recipe (from them) that I always make. 

 So, I just had to share... I can totally do gluten free. I can still bake, I can still have amazing food!

(my kids even scolded me for eating the brownies and were shocked when I told them it was gluten free)

You have to check out King Arthur Flour if you haven't ever before.

Organize a boggled brain.. HA!

I must say, there is nothing like discovering you have a bunch of dietary "rules" and limitations. Trying to suddenly study up and learn all about how to do something that so contradicts the way you have ALWAYS done something.  I sat here at my computer for hours and hours reading all about gluten intolerance and how on earth to make the switch over to a gluten free diet. 

I worked for long hours on trying to make a grocery list until finally I just burst into tears. 

I LOVE to cook and to bake, it is one of my favorite things to do, and it was the one thing through all of my illness over the past months I had been able to cling to "most" of the time and actually accomplish. 

Now I learn that my cooking may be the cause of illness, it's just a lot to take in.

I took a full day to "throw a fit" yes, a complete and total tantrum. I didn't want to do this...

But then I pulled myself together, thankfully and I guess sadly I have several people close to me who are also gluten intolerant, so I have had the blessing of people to answer questions, and give me a starting place as to HOW on earth to actually do this. 

I then spent time recipe hunting... Every single gluten free website I could find. AND THEN, I figured out how the "substitutions" for gluten ingredients could be made in normal recipes.

I created a binder for myself with ONLY gluten free recipes, my other beautiful well used binder for cooking is resting on it's shelf. Something it doesn't usually do more than once a week.

I like to print my recipes off the internet and then I can scribble all over them with my add ons or opinions of how to change the recipe next time to make the flavors just "perfect".

I have learned more about nutrition and our bodies in the last week than in my entire life I think!

But I have discovered some wonderful news... 

GLUTEN FREE IS GOOD.

It isn't the tasteless textureless thing I thought it would be. 

I don't really even notice. 

I am having fun experimenting with gluten free flours, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, almond flour and such. 

I haven't made a recipe yet that my family hated.  (they are having to make the switch with me because as I've been reading I've discovered that my even touching wheat flour can make me sick.)

I thought I was going to have to give up pasta which was the BIGGEST whammy of it all, but little did I know that there is Quinoa pasta, and you know what, I like it BETTER than regular pasta. I've also got some brown rice pasta in my cabinet waiting to be tried.

I thought I was going to have to give up baking, but I have baked cookies and almond bread and you know what... I LIKE them! The chocolate cookies I made (above) were AMAZING. (you can't even tell there isn't flour in them)

I love to cook, and I love to cook everything from scratch, cookies, cakes, you name it, I don't like prepackaged foods so I am MORE than thankful to discover that part of my life has not changed, it has just taken a turn where there is even MORE to learn!

I started a thread on my facebook page asking anyone with gluten knowledge to post recipes, links to recipes and blogs dedicated to gluten free. I want to share here some of those places I have found helpful:

http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/index.php/gluten-free/

http://www.glutenfreehomemaker.com/

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ (not all of these are gluten free)

http://www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/glutenfree/

http://simplygluten-free.blogspot.com/

http://www.adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com/

The pasta salad above is a base recipe I found elsewhere but changed a bit because of personal dislikes of some of the ingredients it has:

Quinoa pasta
pine-nuts, hempseed, garlic (sautéed in coconut oil)
spinach
Broccoli (steamed just until tender)
and lemon juice over the top.
VERY yummy!
I found the original recipe here:

http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/search/label/recipes