Healthier Version of Oatmeal - Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup honey (or pure maple syrup)
1/2 cup canola oil (grapeseed oil or butter)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 egg
1 1/2 cups oats (or granola)
1 cup of whole wheat pasty flour (or 1/3 cup of almond meal and 2/3 cup of flour)
1 cup raisins (omitted)

Special additions:
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (omitted)
8 ounces silken soft tofu instead of oil
1/2 cup of carob chips

Heat oven to 375. Combine all the ingredients except the oats, flour, raisins (or any of the special additions) and mix thoroughly. Stir in the oats, flour and your special additions of choice (I used chocolate chips). Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown. (I set the timer at 11 minutes but by the 3rd dozen, I dropped the timer down to 8.)

Recipe found in the "The Healthiest Kid on the Block" book by Dr Bill Sears.

Healthy Substitutions

As a busy mom, I used to thoroughly enjoy the Kraft Foods "Food & Family" magazine but not so much anymore mainly because the ingredients they promote almost always have HFCS. Some of the recipes are still good but substitutions are required. I received the Comfort Foods edition today and I went through the recipes and dog eared the ones that I would like to try. 

I have an upcoming wellness talk on "Beauty Becomes You" and will be serving healthy refreshments. I found a recipe in the magazine titled, "Mediterranean Stacker" and it looks pretty good; however, I will be using Trader Joe's wheat crackers in place of Wheat Thins Flatbread crackers and skipping the Oscar Meyer ham for Trader Joe's nitrate-free ham. I'm not much of a meat eater but my guests enjoy it so I'll make some with meat and some without. The other ingredients are hummus and cucumbers. For the meat-free stackers, I'll most likely add shredded carrots. 

Hummus is a healthy food and very tasty! It actually made two recent lists on what foods your [kids] should eat and what foods are best for healthy skin and they are as follows.  Happy Eating!!

‎5 Foods Everyone Should Be Eating by Joy Bauer, Nutritionist of the TODAY show:
1) Seafood - cold water fatty fish (ex. Salmon), 2) Beans (try Hummus), 3) Oats (use instead of bread crumbs), 4) Eggs and 5) Spinach.

6 Best Foods for Healthy Skin By David Zinczenko of Men’s Health, Aug 16, 2010.

1)      Salmon (Omega 3s). Why? “[They] are the essential fats that, along with bolstering the cognitive powers of your brain, concentrate in the walls of your epidermal cells to help lock in moisture.”

Other Omega 3s: Sardines, Walnuts and Flax Seed

2). Carrot. Why? You’re inviting beta carotene “to nestle into your skin, fill in blotches, and give you a healthy glow”.

Other beta-carotene foods: red bell pepper, sweet potato, and red grapefruit

3). Avocado. Why? They have […] B vitamins, which also help to keep your skin looking vibrant and smooth. 

Other natural B vitamins found in: olive oil, almonds, and peanut butter

4). Beans. Why? They have “isoflavones—potent antioxidants—concentrated in the beans resulting in 20% fewer wrinkles over time (paraphrased, Zinczenko).

Other isoflavone potent foods: tofu, alfalfa, and tempeh

5). Grapes. Why? They have antioxidants called “polyphenols […] keeps middle-aged skin from sagging. That’s because polyphenols improve skin’s elasticity by strengthening collagen, the primary protein in skin’s innermost layer”. 

Other polyphenol enriched foods: grape juice, blueberries

6). Water. Why? “Water is the strongest weapon you have against lifeless skin; all the body’s processes rely on hydration, and it creates a measurable increase in the capillary blood flow to your body’s outer layer.”

Other water rich foods: Watermelon, peaches and celery

Family

This post is a tribute to my grandparents. May they rest in peace. Both passed this month and although I'm sad to not have them here anymore, I am happy that they are together again. My pops passed on the 7th and my grams passed away today. They lived a full life. They were married 60 years this past June and left behind 4 children and 9 grandkids and 2 great grandkids. My son being one of the great grands met them last month ffor the first time. What a blessing! I have such fond memories of my grandparents.

Family is important. Spend time with your family and if you cannot because you live out of the state/country then call them, email them, send them a just because card. Do something to show them you care and do it often! Time waits for no one. Be well.

Favorite Pita dish

I had an enjoyable lunch the other day but did not take a picture of the dish. Wish I had so I could show you how wonderful it tasted! 


I have no title for the dish but here's a description:


Whole wheat Pita bread (Mediterranean style is best), hummus (pick your flavor; I used Spinach Feta Hummus), Tex-Mati Pilaf Medley (for an additional filler), and your choice of veggies diced and seasoned with fresh lemon juice and Herbamere. Veggies I used: red and yellow tomatoes, red bell pepper and cucumber. Heat pita bread in toaster oven for 1 minute or in microwave for 25 seconds. Spread hummus over one side of the entire pita. Fill half of the pita with a thin layer of rice and follow with a thick layer of veggies. Voila! Bon Appetito!!

August Newsletter

I recommend you signing up for the free weekly newsletter from Fruit & Veggie More Matters. They have great nutritional tips that are easy to implement into busy lives. Just today their tip discussed "rules for the road" providing smart and sensational summer snacking. As some of you know, we came back from a couple week trip, we were in the air or on the road frequently and it was important for us to pack healthy and low sugar snacks.

Talking about sugar, have you seen Men's Health latest "Eat this, not that" segment on the 20 Worst Drinks in America? Oh my!! I am very happy to say that I've never drank any of the mentioned. Whew! But, if you do, remember moderation is key but even more importantly, finding an alternative would be ideal. More information on the drinks can be found by clicking this link.

I am planning two wellness talks this month. The first is Thursday, August 26 at 6:30 to be held in beautiful Wine Country Temecula. My friend, Jan Tucker, will be hosting it at her home and she will provide education on skin/home care going beyond "green" with quality ingredients. She'll give you tips on how to identify what chemicals are toxic and how to avoid them all together. I will be addressing nutrition on how it will help achieve sustained internal health while growing your hair and keeping your skin aglow. This wellness talk, I am spearheading a Drive for Dress for Success San Diego and we are looking for new women's business shoes and handbags in excellent condition. These items are tax deductible and they will go to help local disadvantaged women get back into the workforce. Your in-kind donations are appreciated!  Please contact me for details. 

The other talk will be held on Monday, August 30th on Pregnancy. There will be several guest speakers and will be held at Beautiful Life Ultrasound in Murrieta. Both events are free. Come mingle, learn, and enjoy some refreshments. 

Last week, I conducted a wellness talk on Nutritional Label Reading. It is shocking that many people do not know how to read labels and /or identify the ingredients that are red flags and this is one of the reasons I enjoy doing these talks. I can show people. It doesn't cost them a thing - just their time. I am appreciative to my sponsor for providing a plethora of nutritional resources that I use at my talks. I am also connected to many medical professionals in this organization that provides endless tips on eating healthier. Eating whole foods is just one of many things that we can do to enhance our lifestyle and live a long and satisfying life. 

At this Label Reading talk, I did a sugar demonstration illustrating how much sugar, in teaspoons, are found in everyday consumables, many of which are marketed to be healthy, like Yoplait Yogurt or Yogurt fruit snacks. Learning to read labels and avoiding specific ingredients, one quickly can discern which products to buy in the store. Some red flags to avoid: high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors (dyes), and anything hydrogenated. Your label may tell you 0% trans fat but when you read the label and it has hydrogenated oils, it certainly does include trans fat. Natural News put out a new but brief article on label reading.

Did you know that "A study at Harvard of 80,000 women showed for each 2% increase in the amount of calories from trans fat, a woman’s coronary risk jumps 93%!".  Do you think it's worth eating those Ritz crackers? Many of your favorite crackers have hydrogenated oils AND high fructose corn syrup. That's a recipe for weight gain among other ailments that can lead to diabetes, heart problems, and high cholesterol.

Are you subsidizing your illness or investing in your wellness?

Handbag and Shoe Drive for Dress for Success & Wellness Talk

You may participate in the handbag and shoe drive by attending our free, fun, and transformational event -OR- by dropping your items (new shoes and purses in excellent condition) to a Coldwell RE office in Murrieta by the 27th of August. If you wish for a tax receipt, you'll need to sign in with your full name and address when you drop the materials off. ** If you're out of the area, you may mail in your items to the undisclosed address including your name and mailing address.

Come learn how to look and feel your best inside and out!

Being truly natural is transforming! 
* Learn why and how to detox your home, body and life with healthier, safer, truly natural products that are beyond "green" yet economical (includes cosmetics, personal care items, cleaning methods and more). 

Being truly healthy is a gift!
* Learn nutrition tips to encourage your hair and skin to glow and grow in addition to promoting sustained internal health.

Giving back is truly loving!
* Feel good by participating in an optional shoe and handbag drive for Dress for Success, a non-profit organization promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women. Bring tax deductible donations: new women's shoes (no sandals), purses in excellent condition, or cash donations (checks payable to Dress for Success San Diego). 

The location of the wellness talk will be in beautiful wine country of Temecula. (Address will be provided when you RSVP. Please annotate in your RSVP if you'll be participating in the drive only.)

Location of RE office - leave comment below. 

Dress for Success is an awesome organization that I have supported in the past. Several years ago while I was attending a community college, I co-founded an organization called Women on Campus and we held a Victorian Tea for Women's History Month (March) and raised over several hundred suits for Dress for Success. It was a SUCCESS for sure! I would like your help to raise the items that the San Diego office needs currently - handbags and shoes. Let's rally together and help women get back into the workforce and with their best foot forward. 

Thank you in advance for your participation in the handbag and purse drive and if possible, attendance at my wellness talk. 

If you need any further information, you may contact me by posting a comment.

Sharing a recipe, HFCS-Free of course!

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Pasta Blend, Rotini

Grass-fed, Hormone and Antibiotic Free Chicken Tenders

Organic Diced Tomatoes (Can, 14.5 oz) Italian Blend (or make your own)

Bread Crumbs seasoned with various Italian spices

Parmesan Cheese

Organic Mushrooms

Medium Yellow Onion

Rosemary

EVOO

Egg

Combine bread crumbs, your choice of seasonings and parmesan cheese. Dip chicken in egg lightly beaten and then into heated frying pan with EVOO. Cook 5 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Boil water for pasta (or use rice, quinoa, etc in place of pasta). In separate frying pan, add EVOO, onion, mushrooms and tomatoes. Sprinkle dried rosemary and heat until thickened.

Drain pasta, add chicken and cover with sauce.

Buon Appetite!!