Quick Tip

I could be hours away from having a baby! Yesterday was my "guess date", so really, any time now we will welcome our baby boy. Today I have time for a quick health tip.

You may have heard the term "probiotics" and not known just what they are. They are incredibly important to your health. Here is a definition: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria (sometimes referred to as "friendly germs") that help to maintain the health of the intestinal tract and aid in digestion. They also help keep potentially harmful organisms in the gut (harmful bacteria and yeasts) under control. Most probiotics come from food sources, especially cultured milk products. Probiotics can be consumed as capsules, tablets, beverages, powders, yogurts, and other foods. Click HERE for more scientific info.

You can find probiotics in food sources such as yogurt, Kiefer, kelp, and certain fermented preparations. Today's quick tip is one that I read recently in a health magazine. Did you know that your body needs prebiotics to properly use probiotics? If you are reaching for your favorite yogurt or other probiotic preparation, here is an easy way to insure you are getting the full benefits of that yummy cultured treat. Add a teaspoon of ground up flaxseed meal. Flax naturally contains prebiotics, so by pairing it with your favorite probiotic beverage or food, you can be sure the healthy bacteria will be at work in your belly.

Although many food sources contain probiotics, be sure to get enough of these helpful bacteria in your system on a daily basis. Even if you eat cultured foods, it is a good idea to pick up probiotic capsules at your local healthfood store and take them regularly.

Here's to a healthy gut, and here's to your health!

Divinely Decadent French Toast

Many of the wonderful recipes I have made and occasionally post here come from other blogs, my own version of something I read in a magazine, or a healthy cookbook. This one is all mine. It is not complicated, but I will take credit for the inspiration. If you are having overnight guests for a holiday or just want to please the kiddos on the weekend, this is sure to be a hit. I must admit that it does not quite follow the guidelines of super "healthy living" for all you strict eaters out there...so I will post two versions, one for those who might like to indulge a bit once in a while. I know I do!

DIVINELY DECADENT FRENCH TOAST

egg (s)

almond milk (or other milk variation)

vanilla

cinnamon

Alvarado St. sprouted sourdough bread

Mascarpone cheese

mixed berries

berry flavored yogurt

agave syrup

grapeseed oil

There are no specific measurements for this recipe, since you likely have made French toast before...just eyeball it. About one egg is required per 4 slices of bread you will be serving. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whip with a fork. Add almond milk (I add a bit of water since almond milk can be rather thick). Add a splash of vanilla to your liking, then sprinkle in a generous amount of cinnamon. Now you are ready to dip your bread. Place pan over medium heat and pray a small amount of grapeseed oil into pan. You can use another healthy oil, like coconut oil. I happen to like the neutral flavor of grapeseed oil. Coat slices of bread with egg mixture, then transfer to pan and brown on each side.

You can stop there if you want the healthier version. Add a pat of butter or butter substitute, swirl with agave, a pinch of cinnamon and serve. Keep reading for decadent, divine, oh-so-yummy version...

Okay, so you have your French toast. Now for the toppings. Scoop out a dollop (or two..or three) of Mascarpone cheese and put it on the toast. Add a couple tablespoons of a thin berry yogurt (I like "O Organics" raspberry from Safeway). Add fresh mixed berries if you can find them. Thawed-out frozen berries will work too. Top with a generous swirl of agave syrup and a pinch of cinnamon sprinkle. Voila'! The most divine French toast!

What I like about this kind of indulgence is that it doesn't completely stray away from my healthy lifestyle. I mostly gave up cow's milk a while back and it breaks that rule. For those who don't do cow's milk, you can use Toffuti Better Than Cream Cheese instead of the Marscapone and try So Delicious Coconut Milk yogurt in blueberry. The rest of the ingredients truly are healthy, but you won't know it when you taste it. It's the breakfast version of dessert! I served this to a girlfriend of mine and now she just HAS to have it when she pays us a visit. She unpacks her suitcase and politely asks if I will serve it EVERY morning of her stay. Watch out. Your guests may not want to leave!

Here's to an amazing holiday breakfast, and here's to your health!

It Feels Good 2 Give!!

Here is a super easy way to give to those in need and it won't cost you a penny! Go to http://www.good2give.com/ and find out how your everyday purchases at your favorite retailers can make a huge difference in the lives of others. I am loving this! Top retailers have teamed up with Good2Give....retailers like Amazon, Macy's, and many more. Can you make a difference? Yes, you can. Bookmark this page and get to shopping!

Here's to giving and here's to your health!

About My Last Post

Okay, I am going to write a little disclaimer in reference to my last post, Not Just a Cow. As soon as I hit "publish", I knew I might get a few interesting responses. I got an anonymous comment (which I chose not to publish) addressing the mistreatment of animals, the killing of animals, etc. Ultimately, there was a link attached advocating a vegan lifestyle.

I absolutely agree, that there are problems with the food industry, and for many, a vegan lifestyle is the healthiest choice. I, however, believe that you can still eat meat and be healthy...and you can do it responsibly, by choosing grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, etc, etc, that are humanely treated. This is not an area I choose to debate on this blog. My previous post is about an organization that is trying to help people in severe poverty and hunger change their lives, with the milk, not the meat, of a cow.

That being said, and clarified, I pray that no one is offended by my post. I believed it to be information worth sharing...so I shared it.

Here's to your health!

Not Just A Cow

Tis' the season for giving, right? For sharing with others. Few people have been untouched by the current situation with our economy. I know we have had our struggles. But despite that, when I look at situations elsewhere, across the globe, I am so grateful that I still live with great abundance in comparison. We have been richly blessed and I strive to instill this truth in my little one's heart all year long, but especially during the holiday season. Is is just holiday tradition? Or is that this time of year causes us all to come together? Whatever it is, the older I get, the more I enjoy the giving part. How about you?

Each year, my daughter helps me pick out items to put in our boxes for Operation Christmas Child, we collect food for local food drives, and her favorite...putting change in the bucket as a volunteer rings, and rings, and RINGS that bell. I am glad she enjoys helping others. And when I come across another way to get involved and make a difference in others' lives, I want to check it out. Then I want to tell others all about it.

This morning I received information from Crosswalk.com that grabbed my attention. If you are looking for ways to make a difference that lasts, please take a look at this short video clip from Heifer International. I wanted to embed it here, but it was not an option. So click HERE to see how one cow (yes, I said cow) can change many, many, many lives.

Here's to the gift of giving, and here's to your health!

Is My Fish Truly Fish??

You may have heard about genetically engineered foods and have likely read about them here. Now there is a movement you should know about, a movement to stop the genetic engineering of fish. Yes, fish. The Center For Food Safety has been fighting against the agenda to genetically engineer foods for many years. While many fruits and vegetables in our country are currently being genetically engineered (GE), there has yet to be an approval by the FDA for an animal intended for food. However, there is currently a strong consideration by the FDA to approve a GE salmon and we need to be informed about the potential risks.

The human health impacts of eating GE fish are completely unknown, not to mention the potential risks for wild salmon and the entire marine environment. If the FDA decides to approve it despite the risks and public opposition, mandatory labeling required by the FDA will be the only way to protect the public's right to know what exactly is in our food. Currently there is no label for genetically engineered food. I believe this should change. Please take the time to watch the following clip for more information on GE salmon. Then go to http://www.ge-fish.org/ to see how you can make your opinion count.

GIVEAWAY from Clean Well

Clean Well is giving away cases of their yummy smelling orange-vanilla sanitizer wipes.

Visit the CleanWell Facebook Page and upload a photo of you, your kids or even your pets in their Halloween costumes and then encourage your friends to join our Facebook Page to "Like" your photo. The 5 photos that receive the most number of "Likes" will win a case of Orange Vanilla Canister wipes!

Click HERE for full details.

Flashback Friday

If you are wondering what to do about that enormous candy stash your little ones will collect tomorrow, here is my post from last year that will give you a few ideas on how to cut down on sugar intake:

Tweak the Treats!

Today seems to mark the official beginning of our season of special treats. Whether you participate in this holiday or not, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and more are right around the corner, and there will be goodies o' plenty at every turn. So, what does this healthy livin' mommy think about all of the sugary treats?

Well, tonight we will be attending an event at our church, and there will be plenty of candy involved. I cannot hope for my little one to say "no thank you" to all of those yummy sweets. Of course I want to limit her sugar intake, but I want her to enjoy herself.

When it comes to special days like this, birthday parties, etc, I don't fret too much. It is only one day, and since I am doing my best all throughout the year to keep nutritious, healthy food in our diets, I can shrug my shoulders and let my kiddo have a good time. But do I want my three-year-old consuming all of her giant candy loot? No way. So here are a few ideas to help parents put a lid on the candy intake!

• Buy their candy! Let your kids choose a handful of their favorites and "buy" the rest from them. Set a price of 5 to 25 cents per piece of candy, depending on the size of their collection (and their age). Then let them put that toward a special toy or other item they've had their eye on. OR instead of using cash, buy them out with stickers or other fun stuff!

• I read about one mom showing her kids "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and then allowing them to keep a portion of their candy, and offering the rest to "the Great Pumpkin" (in reality, it's daddy, who hauls the loot off to work on Monday morning!)
  

• Make a trade! Let your kids keep a few pieces in their bag, and trade the others for some healthier options. Here are a few ideas for replacements that are not necessarily "healthy", but are a better alternative to the more common treats filled with hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors and colors.
  

1. Fill a small bag with trailmix, carob chips, raisins, pretzels, or one of their other favorite snack foods.

2. Yummy Earth organic lollypops (my daughter's favorite)

3. SunSpire's natural candy bars and Sundrops- colorful "m & m"-like chocolate treats

4. Cliff Kid Organic Twisted Fruit

5. Annie's Organic BunnyFruit Snacks
(can all be found at Whole Foods and other health food stores, and Amazon)

These are just a few ideas to make your holiday a little bit healthier, but just as SWEET!

Here's to your health!

Clean For a Cause

As you all may know, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you don't know someone who has battled this terrible disease, it is likely you know someone who has been affected by it in some way. Mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends, aunties. So many lives lost each year, but we can hold on to the hope for a cure!

The month is more than half way over, but I want to share this link from Clean Well. There is still time to purchase their Clean For a Cause spray. Fifty percent of proceeds will go to Cancer 101, founded by Monica Knoll.

Click HERE for details!

Here's to the fight against Breast Cancer!!

Better Than Cream Cheese

Well, I haven't been blogging much this last month or so. The hard-drive in my laptop is shot, we had family in town, and oh, there is that pregnancy thing. Life has been busy. I have many things I want to write about, yet the time just isn't available for me to do so. Tonight, I have time for a quick recipe. With pregnancy comes food, lots of food. And cravings! I am not one of those pregnant ladies who eats pickles and ice cream. Pickles, yes. Ice cream, yes. But not together!

I do have plenty of cravings though. Who wouldn't when much of your day is consumed by hunger? The other day I thought of a sandwich I hadn't had in years. There is a great little place in southern California called The Gypsy Den. They have this cool, vintage setting, a mish-mosh of furniture and art displayed, and shelves of books to sit with if you have nothing else on your agenda for the day. And they have fresh, yummy food! I love all their food, but the other day, all I could think about was their Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwich....so I made my own version of it.

I have tried a few cheese substitutes and find them okay, but not great. Recently I have tried a couple of really amazing substitutes. It is hard to tell the difference! One of those substitutes is Tofutti's Better Than Cream Cheese . Since I have mostly given up dairy, it is great to find a creamy, yummy spread for this sanBetter Than Cream Cheesedwich craving of mine.

Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwich

Sprouted grain bread (toasted)

Cream cheese or substitute

Cucumber slices

Sliced black olives

Toast two slices of sprouted grain bread. Spread layer of Tofutti cream cheese on one or both sides. Add sliced olives to one side, then add the cucumber slices. Assemble sandwich. Yum! For added nutritional value, you may add some baby spinach leaves or sprouts.

Here's to your health! Enjoy!

Hunger Action Month

Did you know that more than 49 million Americans struggle with hunger? That is 1 in 6 people! September is Hunger Action Month. There is still plenty of time to participate this month, and of course, all year long, helping those in need. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:

• Take the Hunger Action Month pledge at HungerActionMonth.org

• Donate-Your contribultion makes a big impact; $1 helps provide 7 meals to those in need.
  

• Raise awareness in your community by spreading the word. Tell your friends and neighbors and reach out to legislators.

• Volunteer-Contact your local Feeding America food bank and learn how you can help.

You can also take action with Feeding America partners. There are several listed on the website. For example, The Cheesecake Factory invites guests to pledge in the fight against hunger in America. If you donate just $5 or more through the Cheesecake Factory Hunger Action Month microsite, you will receive a certificate for a FREE slice of cheesecake. Yum! Also, Macy's hosts Shop For A Cause on October 16. Buy a savings pass for $5 at any Macy's store this month; a portion of each pass sold benefits Feeding America.

To learn more, go to www.HungerActionMonth.org

Here's to helping out!

Free Lunch Sack!

Funny thing. Someone posted a comment on my last post, complaining that I was posting about a product's sale. I don't know about you, but I love a great bargain...especially on health products. If I find a sale worth noting, I'm going to share it with you! Who doesn't need to save a little money these days? So, here is another great deal...and it's FREE. Well, with a purchase of two Annie's Homegrown products. I already buy Annie's Homegrown, so this isn't a stretch for me. Click below for details on how to receive a free reusable lunch sack!

Here's to a great deal and here's to your health!

Sheer Miracle Sale!

One of my favorite mineral makeup companies is having a sale. Sheer miracle has great foundations, and now you can buy one get one! Click the picture below to enter their site. Here's to healthy skin...on a budget!

Flashback Friday!

Here are some healthy grillin' tips I posted last year right around this time. Have a great Labor Day weekend everybody!

With Labor Day right around the corner, you may have one last chance for a summer BBQ. Of course, since we live in beautiful Hawaii (sorry to rub it in), we cook out all throughout the year. Here are a few tips for healthy grillin'.

If you're grilling up burgers, choose grass-fed beef. What is the difference between grass-fed and corn-fed? Well, put a cow out in the pasture and what does it eat? Grass. Due to a very high number of cattle being raised for food, ranchers began feeding cows corn to try to reduce damage to the land from overgrazing. Well, cows don't digest corn so the result is fattier beef, higher in cholesterol and saturated fats, which as you know, are linked to coronary heart disease. A better solution for the industry might be to raise fewer, healthier cattle....but that is another discussion. I like to feature local Hawaii companies when I can, so if you are here in Hawaii, try Northshore Cattle Company. One serving of grass fed beef has about the same Omega-3 essential fatty acids as a serving of fish. That is great news for burger lovers!

A cook-out just isn't the same without a Dawg! Hotdogs are the all-American food. I get nostalgic when I eat them-they bring back lots of childhood memories. I have tried many healthier versions of the hotdog. Whether turkey or chicken or beef, I always ended up a little disappointed...until I found Applegate Farms' all-natural, organic, nitrate-free, grass-fed beef hotdog. Reminiscent of the classic hotdog of my youth, this one of the yummiest and healthiest dogs around. AND they are the only ones that don't leave me regretting that I chose to eat a hot dog...if you know what I mean.

If you're serving one up for me, don't hold the pickles. I was craving pickles a while back as I shopped at Whole Foods and came across a brand I hadn't heard of before-Bubbies. They are excellent! Bubbies are crunchy, kosher, delicious pickles that have a little spicy kick. And they have something other pickles don't-live, active cultures. A pickle that is yummy and good for you too?

Last, but not least are the sauces. I'm a sauce kind of girl. I like to load my goodies with ketchup, mayo, and mustard. There are some great, healthier choices at health food stores. I choose Organic Ville ketchup because it's organic and it's sweetened with agave syrup instead of high-fructose corn syrup. I also recommend Westbrae Naturals mustard, Miso Mayo, and Vegennaise (instead of mayo).

Quick tip: When you're cookin' on the grill, be sure the grill has been cleaned thoroughly from the last time you BBQ'd and avoid charring your food because it can create carcinogens.

Here's to fun, healthy grillin'!

Finally...Safe (& Green) Cookware!

Are you concerned about non-stick cookware? Maybe some of you are not even aware of the health risks. If you are not aware, non-stick cookware contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a synthetic chemical used in production that creates a soap-like slipperiness and non-stick finish. I have known the risks for years, and switched to stainless steal pans long ago. But I must admit, I hung on to one or two of my non-stick pans for cooking eggs and French toast. I was careful not to heat them past "medium", however not everyone in my house did the same...my hubby does not always pay close attention to those little details.

It just takes one or two times overheating your non-stick pan to burn it, leaving it not so non-stick anymore. More importantly, even on lower heats, these pans are known to "off gas" dangerous chemicals and heavy metals into your food and into the air. I don't know about you, but I don't buy grass-fed beef and organic veggies with the intention of spicing them up with toxins. What's the point of buying healthy food if you aren't preparing it in the healthiest manner possible?

We try to eat a lot of raw,organic foods throughout the day. But when I am cooking, I want to know that I am still doing my very best to keep it healthy and safe for my family. I have been doing some research lately and I discovered a line of cookware that may just be exactly what I have been looking for. I discovered it on Dr. Mercola's website. Not only was I very impressed with the cookware offered, but also with this website. A lot of very valuable information about health was presented, and in a manner that was easy to understand.

Of all the options out there, I am very excited to try Mercola cookware. After hearing the information presented on the site, I think this cookware is a best buy. I was aware of the leaching in non-stick cookware, yet I was not as educated on some of the other options. I was surprised to find that my high-end stainless steel cookware could possibly be leaching a variety of heavy metals. And my tea kettle? Also a high probability that it is leaching!

What is a mom to do? Well...her best, of course. So now that I have found Mercola cookware, I think I just might be making the switch. Check out Dr. Mercola's website for more information.

Here's to your health!