Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is over...sigh...time to detox before Christmas. Ha Ha just kidding, I seriously don't know if I will have anytime to think about detoxing during these three weeks before Christmas Break. But I know that eating right, getting enough sleep (which never happens), and exercising (again--hit and miss) is all I need to do to keep my body feeling great!

I had two Thanksgivings this year. One with my family and one with my husbands family. Both were DELISH and I have to admit that I ate foods I wouldn't normally eat and probably shouldn't have eaten. In fact my husband and I stuffed ourselves so much on Thanksgiving (not pleasant) that we did not eat at all on Friday until the evening meal and then we only felt like eating vegetables, I was very surprised, but I felt great the next morning!

I made some dishes to bring so I could make sure my Thanksgiving dinners were more light and healthful. I wanted to share these recipes with you so you can have an idea of what to make for Christmas--everything was soo yummy!

For my family's Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving I brought the Detoxinista's vegetable stuffing which really is a winner! And a yummy sweet salad of my own devising. I will give the recipe soon, but it included cranberries, kale, pomegranates and a sweet maple dressing...

Then for my husband's family's Thanksgiving meal I ended up making Celery Root and Cauliflower Puree with Garlicky Greens...

Also really yummy! the only thing I added to this dish was about 2 cloves of garlic to the food processor with the celery root and cauliflower. I think that adding roasted garlic cloves would have been amazing too.

Then I made roasted red potatoes specially for my husband who wanted nothing else this year :)

For the potatoes I used about 8 red potatoes chopped into chunks threw them in a baking dish and tossed them with olive oil, about 3 chopped garlic cloves, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Then I roasted them in the oven on about 400 degrees for about 30 to 45 min. They were just what my husband ordered!

Finally, I made several healthy desserts...

Gingerbread Bars (detoxinista.com)

Vegan Pumpkin Bread in the shape of muffins and with added chocolate chunks (detoxinista.com)

Peanut Butter Gingerbread Chocolate Chunk Cookies made with almond butter and almond flour (chocolatecoveredkatie.com)

And not pictured Vanilla Bean Coconut Ice Cream (cococakeicecream.blogspot.com) Which was a huge hit with my brother-in-law who, mostly, steers clear of my healthy food like it was the plague (except for raw cheesecakes).

I hope you enjoy this list of healthy holiday food and that you stay healthy this holiday season!

Happy Juicing!!!

10/20/30 Day Revive, A real food plan to Reshape, Repair, Restore

I asked my mom, Susan, creator of this last cleansing plan I did, to write a guest post for my blog. She really is a great inspiration to me! I love my mom and I am so glad she is around so I can bug her with all of my health questions. She has inspired me to be a better person, not only in health, but also in my personal life. You can find her at www.susandupper.com she has just begun her health coaching journey, but she has been on her own health journey for as long as I can remember. Look her up she has so much wisdom to share and she loves to help people in their own personal journey.

My Dad and Mom on top of Poughkeepsie Gulch

Me, my mom, and my sister Courtney holding on in the back of my dad's cruiser.

VALUE AND WARM, FUZZY FEELINGS

Did you know you are a perfect, valuable person?  Have you ever thought of yourself in that way before?  Let’s talk about how valuable you are so that when you think about yourself, you will have this warm fuzzy feeling and be able to share that with others around you.  In order to truly love and care for those around us, which some women have this gift naturally, we do need to love ourselves.  I’m sure you’ve known someone who is very self -absorbed and cannot reach outside of themselves.  Most likely this person does not like him/herself very much.   Now I’m sure you know how you don’t want to be so let’s talk about your value and how to truly value yourself.

Value yourself enough to eat well, sleep enough, nourish your spiritual life, move your body, excite your brain power, care about someone.  You alone have the power and the freedom to make a change.  While you are still breathing, there is hope and since you’re reading this, you are still breathing!  Yay!  Now, how to accomplish this in a fast-paced, busy, “there’s just not enough time in the day” kind of life.

EAT WELL

          1)       Make a salad or soup your first priority when planning a meal.                               

          2)       Drink water before eating a snack.

          3)      Only eat fruit and vegetables for snacks.

          4)      Read Alissa’s blog and make her recipes!

          5)      You’ll feel better about yourself!

SLEEP ENOUGH

1)      6-8 hours/night.  

2)      Go to bed and get up at the same time every day if possible.

3)      If I wake during the night, I like to pray, it calms my soul.

4)      You’ll get more done during the day!

NOURISH YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

1)       Take time to detox from noise every day.

2)       Tune out and turn off electronics for a while every day.

3)       Find a group to be nourished by and to nourish others.

4)       Listen!

5)       You’ll feel more compassionate!

MOVE YOUR BODY

1)       Love yourself enough to exercise 3-7 days a week!

2)       You don’t have to run a marathon to call it exercise!

3)       The people that live the longest, healthiest lives walk every day, and garden!

4)       Choose something YOU like to do not something someone told you to do!

5)       You’ll have more energy!

EXCITE YOUR BRAIN POWER

1)       Read to yourself or someone else.

2)       Memorize something.

3)      Sing or play an instrument!  Music makes you smart and happy!

4)      Breath deeply every day.  Your brain needs oxygen!

5)      Learn a new skill!  You’ll feel smart and powerful!

CARE ABOUT SOMEONE                                                                                                   

1)       Give a hug to someone in need.

2)      Water a plant!  Even plants need love!

3)      Make delicious healthy food for someone!

4)      Keep silent!  Show someone you care by just listening!

You probably know all this but maybe you can look at it a little differently by seeing your value first and then seeing the ripple that this shift can make around you.

RECIPE ALERT!  RECIPE ALERT!

Now here’s my favorite go-to, fast, easy, healthy and tasty recipe to delight you and your taste buds from 5 Leaves and 2 Wishes health coach!

EASY MEXICAN SWEET POTATOES

Sweet Potato – done to perfection in the oven.  Wrap in foil and bake 45 min. to 1 hr.  Then slice in half and take a moment to look at the beauty of that deep orange.  So beautiful and delicious!  Microwave without foil if you’re in a real hurry!

Black Beans - 1 can or 2 cups, cooked

Salsa - 1-2 cups fresh or cooked, your favorite kind will do

Combine beans and salsa in a sauce pan and heat thoroughly until desired temperature.  Pour over sweet potato and enjoy with a tossed salad.  A beautiful, colorful, vegetarian, complete meal.  Did I mention fast and easy?  Oh, and cheap too!

Susan Dupper      

Proud Mom, Health Coach and Fitness Trainer, 

5 Leaves and 2 Wishes                                                                              

Author of the 10/20/30 Day Revive, A real food plan to Reshape, Repair, Restore (A work in progress)    

Susandupper.com

Happy Juicing!!!

30 Day Cleanse Update

Today would mark Day 15 on the cleanse, the middle day, almost finished right? Well, I decided that I couldn't be on a diet anymore--I needed a break--I was done (I've technically been on a "diet" for a month and a half). A lot has been going on in my personal life since Wednesday, more than I want to talk about in a public blog. Doing this cleanse began getting in the way of work and personal relationships in a way that should never happen. Last week I became obsessed with my weight and how my body looked. To top it off I was having horrible cravings, I was super cranky, and extremely tired of planning so much and not being able to enjoy meals away from home with my extended family. Part of cleansing and losing weight is to become happier and more at peace with yourself and when a cleanse becomes more of an obsession than a 'cleanse' it is time to stop and focus on what is really important. I recently read a blog post that really brought this message home to me and I realized I was focusing more on my body and my food than my relationships and my work. If you have a chance to read Marlena Torres's blog Health Through Indulgence she really has some good advice on how to learn to love yourself instead of judging.

Now, after saying all of this I want to first say that I loved the cleanse I was on and I will probably do one or two or all three of the phases again one day, when I have the time to focus on it. I really like this cleanse, which my mom has recently named "10/20/30 Day Revive, A real food plan to Reshape, Repair, Restore" because the diet is easy to follow and it is also easy on the budget. There are no expensive super foods to buy, you just use what is available and in season (like cucumbers). Also it is not too extreme. I have gotten pretty extreme in my eating habits, but this is a diet any one could implement and it can be customized to fit any person no matter what they are used to eating. I will say though if you are addicted to carbs and sugars you will have some major withdrawals when you begin this diet because the sugars are almost completely eliminated. Which is excellent to get anyone eating healthier for life.

Just because I have gone off serious dieting to focus on my spiritual life, work, and relationships doesn't mean I am not going to eat healthfully. Nor does it mean I will go silent on my blog. I want to go back to my own version of a 80/10/10 ish / rawish diet. I loved how the focus on fruits made my cravings almost completely disappear and so that is what I will be shooting for. I want to eat peacefully and enjoy my food without obsessing about it. What you see above is my dinner from last night, stir fry on top of a roasted spaghetti squash and topped with raw Napa Cabbage from my mom's garden. It was so yummy I stuffed myself (which is also something I am trying not to do). I will be sharing periodically some more recipes and what my husband and I both eat so, if you are trying to eat healthy, but have to cook for more than yourself you can get some good ideas. I also have a guest post planned from someone I admire very much and this post is definitely something you do not want to miss. I have some good stuff planned for you and some more recipes coming your way very soon!

Happy Juicing!!!

Have you ever decided to 'diet' by not dieting? How did you feel? 

 

30 Day Cleanse: Day 12

Today was a good day. I was happy with the kids, I got some testing done (which I can't wait till I'm finished with it) and I got to spend some time with my husband. All in all a good day with little to report.

I am not going to do another juice cleanse though...its too cold and I hate juicing in the cold. I have even changed the time I drink my morning juice so I can be warm in the car while I drink it. (I drive to work at around 6:30 in the morning so I can be at school at 7:00) So anyway...

Yummy eats

20 oz beet, carrot, lettuce juice with dandy blend, cinnamon, cacao powder, and stevia
Raw Tomato soup with sprouts
32 oz carrot, orange, avocado, spirulina, cinnamon smoothie

Coconut lemongrass soup and 2 crystal rolls with peanut sauce (oops, tofu is not on the diet and I am sure it had sugar) from Swing Thai.
Raw chocolate dipped in almond butter
Almond butter mixed with coconut butter and cacao nibs
And I am going to finish the night off with some hot canela (cinnamon tea).

Happy Juicing!!!

30 Day Cleanse: Day 11

Today was a really down day for me. I am not sure what the problem was...maybe I ate too much last night, maybe it was weighing myself, maybe the weather is changing,  maybe it just carried over from the bad night I had last night. Whatever it was I was pretty depressed today. I juiced during the day, but just felt like I needed something tonight so I ate some leftover soup and that seemed to do the trick. I feel a little better now, but I really need sleep so I'm gonna keep it short.

Today's eats

8 oz hot lemon water
24 oz "Waldorf Salad" Morning Cleansing Juice
24 oz "Fall Harvest" Midday Cleansing Juice (really yummy!)
24 oz carrots, kale, ginger, apple, cucumber, lime juice
1/2 bottle of homemade berry kombucha
Daikon radish and asparagus soup
a couple of the cookies I made last night
fudge brownie chocolate protein bars (which are very good, I didn't put protein powder in them and I used agave for sweetener. But the vegan chocolate chips probably are cheating. I probably won't eat much more of them because I don't think that black beans are very nice to my system.)

Happy Juicing!!!

30 Day Cleanse: Day 10

Yeah! First phase is finished and on to the second phase. I can eat nuts now...So excited, but first a three day juice cleanse :)

Today's eats (oh I did cheat today. I ate organic ketchup, mustard, and I forgot my stevia at work so I sweetened my cleanse-ok cookies with agave.)

8 oz Hot Lemon Water
Lots of tea
16 oz beet carrot ginger orange
Jicama with All-Veggie Hummus
16 oz kale, lime, apple, cucumber, lettuce, ginger
3 baby carrots
1 pear
Leftover kale salad

Lentil Cauliflower Burger wrapped in lettuce, with raw onion rings (Ani Phyo) and raw daikon radish fries.

To end the night I made some quinoa spice cookies, which I will post the recipe when I finish tweaking.

Happy Juicing!!!

30 Day Cleanse: Day 9

I am almost finished with the first 10 days!!! I am so excited! The first phase will be finished and I will eat a little almond butter and cacao :) Not that this past 10 days hasn't been full of good eats...but I am definitely ready to eat more like I am used to eating.

On another note...I need to remember that weight loss does not only hinge on food. I also need sleep, exercise, and reduced stress and working all day then making food and juices all evening does not help weight loss. Someday I will learn...baby steps, right?

Today's eats...

32 oz Low Sugar Creamy Strawberry Smoothie
1 pear
Jicama and all veggie hummus for snack
1 pear
More Jicama and hummus

Carrot-Ginger Sauce (Detoxinista) warmed with chopped broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini on top of daikon radish noodles (not my favorite noodles). After we ate this dish I added some soy milk and arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce and my husband really liked this cooked version.

2 apples baked with apple pie spice and dipped in spiced vanillacado

Happy Juicing!!!