Mother Nature is Medicine

Mother Nature is Medicine
MOTHER NATURE IS MEDICINE. The Creator has given us everything that we need. It is all here on this Earth and in the Universe. It can be found in the Earth, in the Sky, in the Waters, in the Air. Often times, we, as humans, tend to view nature as something that is "apart" from ourselves. We talk of spending time "in nature." We, in a sense, distance ourselves. In reality, we ARE "a - part" as well. The Great Spirit put us here and blessed us and our ancestors with this beautiful earth. Embracing the Creator and the natural blessings is food & nourishment for the body, mind, and soul. Nature is medicine. ~Peace and Blessings~

Saturday, February 4, 2017

7 Food tips to stay Warm, Healthy, & Satisfied this Winter

1. Lentils|Vegan Soups

One of the things I love about lentils is that they are so versatile. You can make all different types of soups, stews, dahl, etc. with them. Plus, if you're vegan, you're going to love this! I love trying different cuisine and foods from all over the world, but often I like to make vegan alternatives to dishes so I still have that delicious flavor and abundance of nutrients, just without the added meat.

Lentils are full of protein and fiber as well. Fiber can help with constipation, as it aids the digestive system, pushing everything out! This is very important because those toxins cannot stay in your body. They can cause skin and other health issues. So be sure to get in your fiber. It is said that detoxing can also aid in weight loss. Winter can be rough so anything that can help you feel better (and regular, which = more healthy, daily bowel movements) is great!

Winter Lentil Soup, with a spicy, chili flavor
This lentil soup that I made was spicy and warm to my stomach. Some of the spices that I used were similar to ones used to make chili, like cumin and chili powder, so this soup tasted like chili, just without the usual ground beef. I also added veggies like green pepper and onion. This particular soup isn't "vegan" as I added plain non-fat Chobani yogurt to it. Yogurt is used a lot in Indian dishes and makes for a creamier consistency. But the yogurt is completely optional.



One of my favorite things to do during the winter is to make a big batch of soup or stew and store extra in the freezer to have later. It saves time and is a great way to get in your veggies and other nutrients on days that you don't feel like cutting up a salad, or chopping any vegetable for that matter.
Sometimes I use empty talenti gelato ice cream containers to store food in the freezer. They are sturdy and freeze well. Just don't put them in the microwave!


2. Stir Fry Veggies 

I really like stir fry, especially when I don't feel like having a cold salad, but still want to get in my veggies. Stir fry is hot and delicious, and many people crave those warm, comfort foods during the winter, so stir fry away! This simple dish is also diverse as you can have fun mixing up different vegetables of your choice. You can add rice or noodles like I did.

Veggie Stir Fry with rice noodles. Also complements as a side to lentil soup.



3. Stews

Stews can be very hearty and filling. Similar to number one, veggie beef stew (for the meat-eaters :) ) is yummy and can include almost all of the "food groups." You can replace beef with chicken, or even fish like shrimp if you like. Rice, noodles, beans, or other legumes can be included as well.

4. Muesli or Oatmeal

Muesli is literally one of my most favorite foods ever. I usually have it for breakfast with hot water or hot unsweetened almond milk. It contains a lot of good fiber which  helps keep you regular, as well as satisfied for many hours. Oatmeal is also good for fiber and for filling you up.

Muesli with frozen berries (thawed) and cinnamon
Berries can be expensive, but I find that a bag of frozen berries can be cheaper and easy to use, as they have a variety of berries all in one bag. You can also use this to make smoothies, a topper for waffles and pancakes, or mixed with yogurt. Berries are full of antioxidants and fiber so they keep you healthy during the winter. And berries are low-glycemic so they are okay to eat as a snack, dessert, or part of a meal at night because they won't spike your blood sugar. (Yay strawberries!) I love cinnamon and like to add it to so many different foods. Cinnamon is also known to help with blood sugar.



5. Tea, Honey

Ah tea. Tea, tea, tea, how I love thee..haha! We all know the health benefits of herbs and tea. There is a wide array of different teas, some that are geared toward specific health problems. Sometimes, especially when I am feeling under the weather, I add honey to my tea, which is known for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Green Tea with honey
 


6. Lots of Fruit & Veggies!

A lot of people tend to get sick in the winter time and when you are sick, your immune system is down/weakened. This is why it is extremely important to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables as they contain vital nutrients that can help you to get well sooner. A well-rounded healthy diet overall can also aid in prevention of more sicknesses. Your body is craving the healthy properties from these foods and needs to get in as much nutrients as possible so that you will feel at your best again.




7. Lots of Water!

The winter is very beautiful and magical, but it can be very cold as well, so around this time of year, we tend to stay inside a lot. However, without a humidifier, the heater can dry the air in your house. So outside, it may be dry, cold air, but inside, the air is hot and dry still. We need to keep moisture in our body and drinking lots of water can help with that. Drinking plenty of water can  prevent a lot of different problems too. If you're interested in weight loss or simply portion control, water can help to keep you full and to keep you from overeating.



I hope you enjoyed these few tips and ideas for staying happy and healthy in the winter!

Stay warm, stay happy, and stay healthy.

Peace and Blessings 💮

Lisa
xx






**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, nutritionist, dietician, or any health professional. The views expressed on this blog are based on my own individual research. Some views may result from opinion, experience, and recurrent observations.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

gomacro Macrobar REVIEW




Morning Harvest Apples and Walnuts Bar

I got this bar at a store when I was in NYC a while back, and have been meaning to mention it in one of my posts. I don't know what other stores carry it, but I have been hearing more about it recently.  
It's Gluten-free, Vegan, Macrobiotic, non-GMO, with mainly organic ingredients. Very nutty, more nutty than apple flavor. It's good for on the go (ate it up on the bus from NY). Pretty packaging as well.

What kind of healthy, vegan bars do you like to take with you on the go, or as a snack?

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Spicy Hot Tomato Grilled Cheese

Here is an easy-to-make spicy hot grilled cheese sandwich that will warm you up during the wintery months!

All you need is:
2 slices of wheat bread (I used Cobblestone Co. "Knead for Seed" - it's soo good)
2 slices of Provolone cheese
Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese
Shredded Taco Blend cheese
7 cherry tomatoes, chopped
Red onion, chopped (just a little since this is only for 1 sandwich :)
Minced garlic, about 1/2 tsp.
Onion Powder
Paprika
Parsley flakes
Crushed red pepper flakes
Olive oil, 2 tbsp.
Butter (I used the non-dairy Smart Balance Olive Oil "butter")

Mix all of the ingredients except for the bread, cheese, and butter in a small bowl. I don't normally measure how much of the spices to use, unless there's a specific dish I am making or if I am following a certain recipe. So, depending on your preference, add what you like. I like a lot of spice :)

The mixture should look like this:


Heat this spicy tomato mixture in a pan on medium heat, pressing down the tomatoes with a spatula, until the onions are cooked and the tomatoes start to lose form.


Take this mixture out of the pan and put back into the small bowl. This will be used as a spicy tomato paste for the bread.

There should still be some oil in the pan, but you might need to add more, or some butter, if you like.

Spread the tomato mixture onto both slices of the bread and then place 2 slices of provolone cheese on one slice of bread. Add the other cheeses and make into a sandwich. Then, using the same pan to use up all of the delicious flavors, grill to perfection!


This sandwich tastes great dipped in spicy brown hot mustard and served along with some tomato soup, pickles, and carrots.

Stay warm this winter!


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Easy Peesy Sweet Potato Fries





Here is something that I made last summer, but will fit well with the Winter months also!


Ingredients:

3-4 Sweet Potatoes
Canola Oil
[Optional: Salt, Seasoned Salt, or Creole Seasoning]

Directions:

- Peel Sweet Potatoes
- Rinse Potatoes
- Slice into strips, desired thickness
- Heat oil in pan on medium heat
- Cook sweet potatoes till tender and until golden on some parts
- Drain excess oil from potatoes on paper towels

Tastes great as it is - sweet and tasty! Doesn't need salt!
If you're the kind that loves seasoning as much as I do, I suggest Lawry's Seasoned Salt or Tony Chacher's Original Creole Seasoning. Or just use plain grounded salt.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Nouvel An!

I may not have said before, but I study French (among other languages...) and to make a longer story short, things have kept popping up in my life that relate to French or France in some way, which is something that I have realized over the past few years, even looking back to my childhood, I've seen French. And consciously or unconsciously, I have incorporated some of French culture into my life. So for this new year, I decided to start it off in French, with some sort of bread/pastry for breakfast with hot tea (not coffee for me because I don't drink much coffee at all). I still enjoy my big and hearty American breakfast and my "French" breakfast was not anything new to me, but it's just something else that I wanted to do, for my first breakfast of the new year!


Caramel Apple Rooibos tea with natural sugar and cream with a warm Apple crescent roll.
Radio City Music Hall mug that I got for my birthday last year in New York City!  

And one other activity to start my new day of my new year - running! Yes, running in the brisk chill air (coughing, runny nose - hey, I'm used to running in hotter weather or in the air conditioned gym) and cardio as well, breathing in the peacefulness of God's light and grace! 

Would you like to know my fortune for the new year? My family's tradition of Chinese food every New Years' Eve.