We all know that nutrition is important. It's the foundation of our health and well-being. But the education provided about nutrition in public schools and by mainstream "experts" is not always accurate. Scientists and nutritionists have been trying to for many years to make changes to what is being taught because the science is very clear on certain things. But there are some industries that pay a lot of money to keep their foods or pseudo-foods on the market and much of it is touted as healthy or at least, not that bad.
So how are we to know what is good for us, and what is not?
For me, the first thing I look at is whether it is a whole food. The more something is processed and the farther away from nature it is, the worse it is for our bodies. If you have a choice between a whole food and a similar processed food, the whole food will always be the winner in a nutrition competition. This means packaged items - you know, the ones in boxes or bags with a ton of ingredients listed - are off the table as a good food choice.
The "funny" thing is that those packaged foods actually sap our energy, while many whole foods boost it. We all have choices - to eat healthy or not - but too often we don't realize how those choices will affect us in the long run. Eating processed foods might be convenient in the short-term, but in the long-term they take a toll on our health. That's why it's so important to make sure that we're getting enough nutrition from whole foods.
What are Whole Foods?
Whole foods are unprocessed and unrefined foods that are free from additives or other artificial substances. They are often organic and locally grown, which helps to ensure that they are of the highest quality. Whole foods include fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Eating a diet rich in whole foods has been shown to improve overall health and well-being.
Why Eat Whole Foods?
There are many reasons to eat whole foods. For one, they are more nutritious than processed foods. Processed foods often have their nutrient content stripped away during processing, leaving them lacking in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Whole foods retain all of their nutrients and fiber content, making them more nourishing for our bodies. Additionally, whole foods tend to be lower in calories than processed foods, making them ideal for weight loss or maintenance. And finally, whole foods are generally more satisfying than processed foods, meaning that you'll be less likely to overeat if your diet consists mostly of whole foods.
What will you choose?
If you're looking for a way to improve your overall health and well-being, eating more whole foods is a great place to start. Not only are they more nutritious than processed foods, but they're also lower in calories and more satisfying. So next time you're at the grocery store, make sure to stock up on plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds! Your body will thank you for it!
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in children that often continues into adulthood. If you are the parent of a child struggling with ADHD, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to best manage their symptoms. It's even more difficult if you have ADHD and your child has ADHD, too. The good news is that there are many natural ways you can help your child manage their ADHD (and these work for adults, too!).
Diet and Supplements for ADHD Management
One of the most effective ways of managing ADHD is through diet and supplements. A well-balanced diet as found in "Disease Proof Your Child: Feeding Your Kids Right" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, with plenty of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help keep your child’s blood sugar levels stable throughout the day, helping them maintain focus and concentration. Adding specific supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and magnesium can also help support the brain as recommended in books like “Healing ADD” by Dr. Daniel Amen. Supporting the gut microbiome with probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes is also incredibly beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms naturally. It is essential to remove dyes, fast food, processed food, refined sugars and refined grains from the home. (Yes, this means no candy!)
Essential Oils for Focus & Calm
Essential oils have been used for centuries to improve mental clarity and emotional balance. The scents from essential oils move through the olfactory system and go straight to the brain. For those living with ADHD, diffusing essential oils like vetiver, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint, and frankincense can help immensely with focus, calmness, and sleep while you are healing from the inside out through diet and supplements. These can be applied topically, as well. Find my "Focus" roller recipe here. My daughter loves how these oils make a difference for her concentrations levels. It is best to use these morning and night - breathing for several minutes at a time, and then breathing them during study times.
Environmental Management & Routines
Eliminating dyes (especially artificial colors), refined sugar and flour products (like candy bars or white bread), fast food meals or any other processed/junk food from your home will make a huge difference in your child’s behavior and overall health.. Keeping an organized environment with labels on things like drawers and shelves can also be helpful in providing visual cues to help them stay on task throughout the day. Also, establishing a daily routine where expectations stay the same each day helps provide structure so they know what to expect throughout the day which helps alleviate anxiety associated with change or unpredictability. Finally, lists of daily tasks to be checked off can be very effective to help both parent and child see progress throughout the day.
Living with someone who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder does not have to be overwhelming if you take actionable steps towards managing their symptoms naturally through diet changes, specific supplementation as suggested in the books above, using essential oils, eliminating certain dyes, and avoiding refined sugar/flour products & fast food/junk food meals. You can keep it under control through keeping a clean organized environment, providing visual cues, and maintaining routines that provide structure and predictability throughout each day. These things will all contribute towards successfully managing your child's ADHD behavior naturally! Taking these proactive steps may seem daunting but trust me when I say it is worth it! As a holistic mom who deals with ADHD in myself and several of my children daily, I understand how difficult this journey can be but I assure you that these strategies work! Good luck!
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When any member of my family is feeling under the weather, there are a few things I turn to that help shorten that feeling. Food is one of those things. I am not a fan of feeding sick kids desserts and junk to "help them feel loved." That is the antithesis of love since it lengthens the time they do not feel well. Let's let food be our medicine, because it really is!
So when my daughter asked me to make her soup because she wasn't feeling on top of her game today, I happily obliged. Here is my "Get Better" Soup!
8 cups vegetable broth
1 large onion (chopped fine). (Find my favorite food chopper here.)
1 red pepper (chopped fine)
3 tablespoons garlic (2 full heads of garlic) (chopped very fine)
2 cups lentils (soaked for an hour)
2 cups broccoli (chopped small)
2 cups potatoes (diced small)
2 cups kale (chopped small)
3 cups tomatoes (diced)
1 cup mushrooms (chopped small)
2 teaspoons basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 bay leaves
water to cover
Directions:
Sauté onion, pepper, garlic in 2 cups vegetable broth until onions are clear.
Add 6 cups vegetable broth and soaked lentils.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Add potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, and spices with water to just cover.
Bring to boil and then turn down to simmer for 30 minutes.
Add kale and simmer for 10 more minutes.
Serve hot!
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Super Chilli
I love a good blog, but when it comes to recipes, I just want the recipe! So here it is!! Hope you love it as much as I do!
Sauté:
2 medium onions (chopped)
2 jalapeño peppers (chopped) (optional if you like the heat)
3 medium green peppers (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
vegetable broth
Add:
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chilli powder
1 date
2 cans kidney beans (drain and rinse)
4 cans pinto beans (drain and rinse)
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
Add these after heat is turned off:
1 bunch cilantro (chopped)
1 bunch spinach (chopped)
2 limes (juiced) (optional if you like lime)
3 drops lime essential oil
vegetable broth
Add:
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chilli powder
1 date
2 cans kidney beans (drain and rinse)
4 cans pinto beans (drain and rinse)
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
Add these after heat is turned off:
1 bunch cilantro (chopped)
1 bunch spinach (chopped)
2 limes (juiced) (optional if you like lime)
3 drops lime essential oil
Enjoy!
For more plant based recipes plus a community of support in healthy eating,
join our Veggie Up!! Challenge here. Look in the Guide Section.
You will find daily education and support!
You will find daily education and support!
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I am visiting my brother and he made pizza! He has been teasing the rest of the family with videos of his pizzas which he makes quite often, so I took videos and insisted on the recipe! Enjoy! It is delicious!
1 Cup Warm Water
1 Packet of Yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
2 T Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Sugar
2 1/2+ C Flour
1/2 C of mixed spices and seeds (Flax/Chia/Hemp seeds, Flax seed powder, Basil, Chives, Parsley, Italian Seasoning, Garlic powder)
1 Packet of Yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
2 T Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Sugar
2 1/2+ C Flour
1/2 C of mixed spices and seeds (Flax/Chia/Hemp seeds, Flax seed powder, Basil, Chives, Parsley, Italian Seasoning, Garlic powder)
Mix water and yeast and let stand for 5 min
Add Salt, Sugar, and Oil
Stir in 1 C of Flour
Stir in Spices/Seeds
Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 C Flour
Once the dough is ready, set it in an oiled bowl, oil the top of the dough and let it rise for about an hour
Once the dough has finished rising, cut it in half, makes 2 12in pizzas
Add Salt, Sugar, and Oil
Stir in 1 C of Flour
Stir in Spices/Seeds
Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 C Flour
Once the dough is ready, set it in an oiled bowl, oil the top of the dough and let it rise for about an hour
Once the dough has finished rising, cut it in half, makes 2 12in pizzas
Toppings:
1 small onion
1 small zucchini
1 bell pepper
1 container of sliced mushrooms
15 black olives
15 green olives
1 can of black beans
1 chicken breast (if desired)
Mozzarella (if desired)
Pizza sauce
Individually saute each of the veggies (Onion, zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper) and the chicken.
1/2 of the toppings go on each of the pizzas (mix toppings together, then pour on pizza)
1 small onion
1 small zucchini
1 bell pepper
1 container of sliced mushrooms
15 black olives
15 green olives
1 can of black beans
1 chicken breast (if desired)
Mozzarella (if desired)
Pizza sauce
Individually saute each of the veggies (Onion, zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper) and the chicken.
1/2 of the toppings go on each of the pizzas (mix toppings together, then pour on pizza)
Preheat oven and oiled pizza stone to 480 degrees.
Roll out dough on floured surface/board
Spread pizza sauce, toppings
Slide pizza onto pizza stone and bake 10 minutes
Try not to eat the whole thing by yourself, 😂!
I make mine plant based with no cheese or meat. Nutritarian all the way!!
Check out Dr Furhman's website for tons of recipes! 👇
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