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The Easiest Way To Make Sprouts!

Sprouts are so easy to make and so incredibly healthy for you, that you will be wondering why you did not start making them sooner!
Why do you want to make sprouts?  Why do you want to eat sprouts?
Sprouts are most commonly made from seeds, such as mung, lentil, alfalfa, sunflower, etc. The dried seed is dormant, sleeping if you will. Once the seed has been soaked in water, it awakens, gathering all of its nutrients and energy, preparing to grow. After a few days of rinsing and gathering more energy, a tail begins to form. At this point it is ready to eat.
The raw sprout is so full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals (yes, even protein...lots of it too!) that were not readily available when it was sleeping. Now our body can easily access all the sprout has to offer!
The sprout is a delicious little powerhouse that can benefit anyone....just plan to eat them regularly! Let's do it!
Step 1: Choose the seed you wish to sprout. 
There are many to choose from.  I find green lentils and mung beans to be the easiest.  You could try chickpeas, red clover, alfalfa, broccoli, fenugreek and many more.
Here I give you green lentils.

 Step 2: Soak in filtered water overnight.

I use a large mason jar and add the seeds up to 1/4 of the jar.

Step 3: Drain water, rinse, put jar on its side on the counter.

Step 4: Rinse and drain every morning and evening.  
This is Day 2:

The sprouts are already ready to eat!  Some times it can take longer.  It depends on the size of seed, the age of the seed, and the temperature in your home.
Now all the is left to do is to eat them!  You can add them to your salads, eat them as is and even juice them!
Enjoy!

Why Eat Organic?

I have been eating Organic food for a long time now and it is just a part of my life.  I would not choose anything else for me and my family.

I meet many people who are beginning to make the transition over to organic foods and ask me questions such as,

• Is Organic food more nutritious?
• Is Organic food safe?    
• How do you afford Organic food?
• Why should I eat Organic?     
• How do I know if it is really Organic?                                                                                   

If you are thinking about making the transition, or perhaps you already have, and are wondering if it is all worth it, I will attempt to guide you to choosing what feels right for you.

Organic basically means that a food is grown or processed without the use of genetic engineering, no synthetic or artificial fertilizers, no pesticides, no antibiotics, no growth regulators, no preservatives or dyes.

Organic Food is More Nutritious
According to The Organic Consumers Association, organic foods, especially raw or non-processed, contain higher levels of beta carotene, vitamins C, D and E, health-promoting polyphenols, cancer-fighting antioxidants and flavonoids that help ward off heart disease, essential fatty acids, and essential minerals.
On average, organic is 25% more nutritious in terms of vitamins and minerals than products which are non-organic.   This increases when you eat the organic food in its raw, natural state.

Organic Food is Safer
Organic food doesn't contain pesticides.  More than 400 chemical pesticides are routinely used in conventional farming and residues remain on non-organic food even after washing. Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure. One class of pesticides, endocrine disruptors, may be responsible for early puberty and breast cancer. Pesticides are linked to asthma and cancer.
Organic food is not genetically modified.   Genetically modified foods harm soil quality, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity, among many other things.
Organic food is not irradiated. Irradiation makes your produce look fresh but in actual fact, they are not depleted in enzymes and vitamins.
Organic crops aren't fertilized with toxic sewage sludge or coal waste, or irrigated with E. coli contaminated sewage water.

Organic Food is Affordable
On average Organic food's shelf price is about 20% higher than chemical food.  This makes it actually cheaper, gram for gram, than chemical food.
Let's also acknowledge the high hidden costs of industrial food production; damage to health, climate, environment and government subsidies.  Think of the money that is spent on health care alone!
When you choose to eat organic, you will likely save money by eating out less (which means eating at home more), packing your lunch and preparing meals from 'scratch'.  Who knows, maybe you will even grow a few things in your own garden or on your balcony!

Why Eat Organic?
Besides all of the reasons above, I have a couple more for you.

1. Organic food is earth-supportive (when big business keeps their hands out of it). Organic food production has been around for thousands of years and is the sustainable choice for the future.
2. Organic food choices grown on small-scale organic farms help ensure independent family farmers can create a livelihood. Consider it the domestic version of fair trade.
3. Most organic food simply tastes better than the pesticide-grown counterparts.
4. Organic food is not exposed to gas-ripening like some non-organic fruits and vegetables (like bananas).
5. Organic farms are safer for farm workers. Research at the Harvard School of Public Health found a 70 percent increase in Parkinson’s disease among people exposed to pesticides. Choosing organic foods means that more people will be able to work on farms without incurring the higher potential health risk of Parkinson's or other illnesses.

How do I know that it is Organic?
According to Canadian Organic Regulations,not all organic standards are exactly the same.  Soil and agriculture are different throughout the world and different countries produce different products.  For instance, Canada does not have organic standards  that govern the production of coffee because our farmers don't grow coffee.  For the most part, if Canadian farmers, processors, and traders want to sell a product in the foreign market, they have to certify their product to the standard of the host country.  The same is true for foreign businesses that want to export to Canada.
When buying packaged products look for the following labels:

 When it comes to cosmetics and body care products, know that the ingredient list must say that they are organic.  The product may be called 'Organic ___" or even the company name may have Organic in it, but the contents may not be organic.  Read the label carefully!  Read the ingredients carefully!

At the end of the day, which foods or products that you purchase is a personal choice.  Only you know what is best for you and for your family.  
Listen to your gut!  (Pun intended!) :)

The Simple Way to Lose Belly Fat, Increase Energy and Feel Great!

My cousin's daughter (she is 21 years old)sent me a text yesterday.  She and her friend are doing a 28 day detox.  She wanted to know if I had some recipes to share.  Of course I do!
I did give her some more information that I thought was important to share with her.
This is what I wrote;
Dear Nienke,
I am proud of you for taking the initiative to care for your body in this way.  Not many people take the time to do this and then they wonder why they don't feel their best.
I want to share something with you that I have learned over the years.
You are probably aware that my family and I have been eating vegetarian/vegan for about 20 years.  I have always been attracted to raw foods during this time; not meat of course but fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc.  When my children were small, I often would eat about 75% of my food in a fresh, raw state.  I felt good about that.  My body was lean and strong and I had lots of energy.
When I started working outside of the home, I did not focus on my meals so much.  I focused on what my family wanted.  The meals were still vegan, organic and healthy.  I was eating less than 50% raw.  What I noticed was that I had less energy, I was influenced easily by stress and I was moody.  .  I also found myself snacking a lot after dinner.  I noticed that I had fat on my belly that I had never had before.  I had aches and pains that I did not have before and increased discomfort in my low back. I had trouble settling and relaxing.  I was still exercising regularly.  In fact, I was running about 6 km per day!
In September 2013, I had a fall off my bike and suffered a serious concussion from which, at time of writing, I am still recovering from.  Not long after, I decided that my body needed to go back to eating more raw foods.  I felt I needed my energy back.  I began eating 75% raw.  Some days would be all raw.  I am still doing this today.  I have found that quickly my belly fat disappeared.  Seriously!  I am still not back to my old self, but my energy levels are consistently increasing.  One of the symptoms of head injury is anxiety and also one is easily affected emotionally.  Everyday I feel that these symptoms are improving and I believe that my diet plays a huge part.
What do I eat?, you ask.
A typical day looks like this for me...
I begin my day, every day, with a glass of warm water and a freshly squeezed lemon.  I follow with another glass of warm water.  I wait for my bowels to work their magic before I eat anything else.  I also wait until I am feeling hungry.
Breakfast is usually fruit of some sort.  Fruit bowl or fruit smoothie.  I often use my juicer and make green juices.  Sometimes I add fruit because then I am more likely to get my family drinking them too!  I also make a lot of green smoothies.
Lunch is often a big salad with a seed pate or avocado.  I love nori rolls and they are frequently my lunch.  I spread a pate on the sheet and fill it with salad greens and grated vegetables, roll it up and enjoy!
Supper is when I prepare a healthy warm meal for my family as well as a big salad.  I  put salad on my entire plate and then top it with a few scoops of the warm meal.   I do this especially when the weather is cold and I feel the need to be warm inside.  I might serve a lentil dish, a bean soup, Indian fare, brown rice pasta with tomato sauce, rice wraps, etc.  We always have a variety.  I try to make sure that dinner is served before 6pm.  I avoid eating after dinner as much as possible.  I find that I fall asleep easier and my body wakes with more energy.  I think that that played a big part in the disappearance of my belly fat!
For snacks, I enjoy small amounts of nuts and seeds, dried fruits.  I love to make energy bars!  I love to eat energy bars!  I will also make extra smoothie in the morning, to have in the afternoon. However, I do find that my body is not asking for much between meals.  I remind myself to drink a glass of water at those moments first.  Sometimes we confuse hunger with thirst.
I encourage you to ask your body what it needs to be healthy.  Listen to your body.  Love your body and fill it with the healthiest possible foods that you can.  Of course, if your body is asking for junk food all the time, you may need to do some tweaking.  Maybe it is the texture of the food you really want or the flavour.
In any event, treat your body like a temple and it will serve you well for many years to come!

Here is a super easy recipe for a breakfast smoothie to get you started!

CHOCOLATE GREEN DELIGHT

Ingredients:

1 large mango

Several handfuls of fresh spinach or kale

2T raw cacao powder

1 tsp chia seeds(optional)

water as needed or  fresh almond mylk

Procedure:

·       In a blender, place items in order; mango, spinach, cacao and chia(if using)

·       Blend until smooth, adding water as needed or fresh almond mylk

·       Serve immediately

·       Serves 1

Adventurous Variations:

-use pineapple instead of mango

-add fresh blueberries or raspberries

-add ½ tsp vanilla

-add 1 tsp maca powder

-add your favourite protein powder

Recipes

Barbara's Breakfast Delight

  Serves 1

Ingredients:
Do your best to have all organic ingredients.
1 large apple, grated
1 large pear, diced ( or another apple, grated)
1/2 lemon, freshly squeezed
1 handful raisins
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon (or more)
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated

Procedure:

• Wash and prepare the fruits as suggested
• Mix all ingredients together
• Enjoy with someone or eat it all by yourself!

Adventurous Variations:

-if you find ginger too strong, grate it and then squeeze the juice out

-add a handful of shredded coconut

-add a handful of juicy pineapple

-use cranberries instead of raisins

-add a tablespoon chia seeds or hemp seeds
-add a small handful of chopped nuts

What Are Living Foods and Why Do I Want To Eat Them?

What are living foods?

I have found that this is a common question.  If you are wondering about this, then you are not alone.
Living foods are raw foods.  Raw foods have not been cooked, boiled, stewed, microwaved, baked, flash-frozen or steamed.  These foods have not been heated above 118 F or 48 C.  They contain food enzymes.
High temperature cooking and processing food destroys the enzymes and nutrients that allow the food to be efficiently digested.  In order for our body to make use of cooked food it must produce enzymes to aid in the digestion process.
As we age, enzyme production diminishes and so we must rely on our diet to provide them.  Stress also destroys enzymes.  Stress damages cells that enzymes in part are required to reconstruct.  Stress also inhibits the body's ability to produce enzymes.
Enzymes are super vital to achieving optimal health.  Enzymes provide us with energy and balance our metabolism.  Enzymes keep us looking and feeling young!  The foods that we want to focus on are fresh fruits, vegetables, sprouts and raw nuts and seeds.

Why do I want to eat them(living, raw foods)?

 

 

You want to eat raw foods because the enzymes in raw foods are still intact and so are a vital part of a healthy diet.  Including raw foods in your diet helps you to build and maintain healthy levels of enzymes with very little effort.  Having these enzymes in store helps your body digest foods easier and helps you absorb the nutrients easier.  This alone will give you more energy to do the things that you love to do and will help you stay young!
Eating a daily dose of raw foods, reducing stress through proper nutrition and avoiding enzyme-depleting foods are the beginning steps to looking good and feeling great!

I look forward to using this space to share great ideas on including more raw, living foods into your daily diet and also look forward to sharing more great information...recipes too!
Please let me know if there are things that you want to learn about.
Stay healthy!  Stay happy!