Cauliflower Power!

        

You may be noticing there’s more cauliflower now at your farmer’s markets or in the grocery stores.  This is the season for it as cauliflower likes cooler temperatures.  Growing up, I wasn’t a big fan - but I am now.  Not only have I discovered a ton of ways to make it, and make it taste GOOD, but I’m a huge fan of the health benefits!

Don’t let this low key vegetable deceive you – it’s a true nutrient dense powerhouse.

Cauliflower is low in fat, and contains some of the important B vitamins - B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folic acid). It also contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K. It serves as a good source of proteins, phosphorus and potassium, and is also a source of vitamin C and manganese, which are both powerful antioxidants!  Did you know just one serving of cauliflower contains 75% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C?  It’s a great vegetable to add into your diet now that we are getting into cold and flu season.   

Here is a super easy cauliflower soup recipe I made this week.  Oh – and it is kid approved by a picky 14 year old ;)

Vegan Cream of Cauliflower Soup

2 tbsp olive oil

2 leeks chopped - white and light green parts only

2 cloves of garlic chopped

1 medium head cauliflower chopped

6 cups vegetable broth

1 cup cashews, soaked for 1 hour

1 tsp nutmeg

sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Saute the leeks and garlic on medium heat until soft. Add the vegetable broth and cauliflower and simmer for about 30 minutes, until cauliflower is completely cooked and soft. Drain the cashews and add to the soup. Blend the soup in batches in a high speed blender. Transfer back to pot, add nutmeg, sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Garnish with additional nutmeg and fresh chives if desired.

This soup is perfect if you are on the Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  Enjoy!

Don't give up on your body just because it's fall.  If you have weight you would like to release or you would just like to detox and push the "reset" button, I have the perfect program for you!  Oh - and did I mention you EAT on it?

Clean Burn Shape - click here to learn more!

Some comments from past cleansers:

This was the easiest cleanse I've ever done. Thanks, Pam! - Rebecca, Chicago

Thanks so much for recommending this!! I feel awesome!!! Totally re-energized and lost 5lbs in 10 days!!! I can't believe how easy it was! - Nicole, Chicago

Pamela Schmidt
Raw Chef and Living Foods Instructor
Certified Holistic Health Coach
pamela@food2live4.com
www.food2live4.com
CleanBurnShape
312-802-1433

Thrive With Pam !: Your Comfort Zone

Thrive With Pam !: Your Comfort Zone: My Food2Live4 partner Jennifer posted a great quote in our cleanse group this morning.  "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothi...

Your Comfort Zone

My Food2Live4 partner Jennifer posted a great quote in our cleanse group this morning.  "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there."  Unknown.

Love that!  Your comfort zone is just that:  comfortable.  There's no adventure, no excitement, no growth - you may choose to stay there out of boredom and fear or lack of confidence.

There's another great quote I love.  "The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step."  As a health coach, I help people take the initial small steps towards reaching their larger goals towards better health - in all aspects of their lives.  

Is your goal to eat better?  Choose an apple over chips.
Is your goal to reduce clutter?  Take 10 minutes (set a timer) and clean out a drawer.
Is your goal to have more spirituality?  Set a timer for 5 minutes and sit in quiet and meditate.

Starting my health coaching business has taken me WAAAY out of my comfort zone.  I have always worked in business and sales and have had SOMETHING to sell.  Working for myself, I am selling myself and my reputation.  I had to ask myself - what positive things would happen if I stayed in my comfort zone?  Umm. . .nothing :(  But what positive things would happen if I put myself out there ???  So I started talking and sharing and posting and blogging and low and behold my business has been growing.

It's not always easy, so find yourself someone who loves you and will support you on your journey, whatever that may be.  And I'm always here if you need some guidance on your journey to better health and wellness.
And . . .speaking of being out of your comfort zone. . . in one of my last blogs, I posted a before and after picture of me in a bikini.  AACK!  I was terrified, but the positive response has been tremendous!  Between my partners and I, we have over 30 people on their weight loss journey with Clean Burn and Shape with Orenda.  We will help you choose the right program for your weight loss goals, provide you with meal plans and recipes, and provide support throughout the cleanse.  Email me at pamela@food2live4.com or find me on Facebook!

Some comments from past cleansers:

This was the easiest cleanse I've ever done. Thanks, Pam! - Rebecca, Chicago

Thanks so much for recommending this!! I feel awesome!!! Totally re-energized and lost 5lbs in 10 days!!! I can't believe how easy it was! - Nicole, Chicago

Some thoughts on the passing of Robin Williams

Many of you may not know this, but I'm a survivor of suicide.  Robin Williams passing affected me very deeply - as does any suicide  I hear of.  My husband took his life in 2009. It is a loss I grieve every day.

People desperately want to know - WHY?  That is the big unanswered question.  Believe me, I have asked myself that a million times.  Were we struggling financially?  Yes - but then why don't more homeless people do it?  Did we have issues in our marriage?  Yes.  But people get divorced all the time and don't do it. Did my husband have a lot to live for?  HELL YES. For me, there would be never a good reason.  But for the person living in the dark world of depression - suicide is the only relief from a life of pain.

The saddest thing about depression and suicide is the person living in that darkness is unable to see the lives they touch and the people that love them so deeply.  So, I ask you, don't judge.  It has taken me a long time to come around to the belief that suicide is not a selfish act, but is much like death from any other illness such as cancer or heart disease.  I hope out of this comes some good.  Awareness is key.

As for myself, I have come out on the other side.  And, for survivors, there is life on the other side.  Living through that experience has taught me not to take life for granted.  I experience joy on a completely different level, I love deeper, and don't sweat the small stuff.  My daughter tells me "it will all be ok in the end.  If it's not ok, it's not the end."

If you or someone you know suffers from suicidal thoughts or severe depression, I URGE you to get some help.  1-800-273-8255 is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

I pray Robin Williams has found the relief and peace he was seeking.

Thrive With Pam !: Post Cleanse Pics!

Thrive With Pam !: Post Cleanse Pics!: Um . . .you know when you get the blue screen on your computer? Well, that happened to me this week and that is why this post is late.  FORT...

Post Cleanse Pics!

Um . . .you know when you get the blue screen on your computer? Well, that happened to me this week and that is why this post is late.  FORTUNATELY I backed up!  And I'm not always good at doing that.  So - if you  haven't backed up in a while - here is your friendly reminder :)

I had promised a post cleanse picture.  I lost 5 lbs this time around (I lost 8 the first time around).  But for me, it wasn't so much about the weight loss as to how I feel.  Cleansing every so often is soooo good for the body.  We take in various toxins EVERY DAY and while our bodies are very smart and work very hard to keep clean, sometimes a little extra help is needed.  The Clean Burn Shape program from Orenda is an excellent way to detox the body and get it back on track.  The have a 10 day program that is great if you have 10 lbs or less you would like to release or a 10+30 program if you have have a bit more to lose.  I provide meal plans, recipes, shopping lists, and coaching for my clients that use the Clean Burn Shape.  The thing I really love about this program is that you get to eat - clean eating!  You will have energy again and less of those pesky cravings.  If you want to lose weight, have energy, and see immediate results, email me at pamela@food2live4.com.  I look forward to working with you!

Thrive With Pam !: Toxicity and Cleanse Results!

Thrive With Pam !: Toxicity and Cleanse Results!: I will get a post cleanse picture tomorrow.  I ended up with a 5 lb weight loss!  I didn't really have a lot of weight to lose, but just...

Toxicity and Cleanse Results!

I will get a post cleanse picture tomorrow.  I ended up with a 5 lb weight loss!  I didn't really have a lot of weight to lose, but just wanted my jeans to fit, you know?  I have to say post detox I am feeling great.  More energy, sleeping well . . .there is something to cleansing the body.

Yesterday I started listening to the Detox Summit hosted by The Institute for Functional Medicine.  Some of the top doctors and health experts in the world are discussing toxicity.  Not only is it tied to weight gain, but a host of other issues, like autoimmune disorders, infertility, mood disorders . . .the list goes on and on.  If you are interested in learning more - you can sign up here:  http://thedetoxsummit.com/ 

If you are interested in learning more about Orenda products and how they can not only help with toxicity, but boost immunity, please contact me!

Today I started a juice cleanse with Peeled.  I swear I'm not a crazy cleanse person !!!  I had ordered the juice cleanse and forgot about it.  I had to pick it up on Monday.  So - 3 days of juice!  You can learn more about the Peeled cleanse here:  http://peeledjuicebar.com/  If it's something you think you want to do, keep your eye open on Groupon - they have a great deal.  $97 for a three day cleanse.

I have to say the juices are very good!  A bit sweet for my palate, but better than I expected.  If you're looking for an easy way to reset your digestive system, this would be a great start!

Thrive With Pam !: In the Home Stretch. . . well, not quite . . . Day...

Thrive With Pam !: In the Home Stretch. . . well, not quite . . . Day...: I hope everyone had a happy Monday.  I have received some great feedback on my cleanse journey and I appreciate that!  It's day 9 of my ...

In the Home Stretch. . . well, not quite . . . Day 9

I hope everyone had a happy Monday.  I have received some great feedback on my cleanse journey and I appreciate that!  It's day 9 of my Orenda Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  It's definitely been challenging as I've had more than my normal number of social commitments.  A few cheats here and there, but overall I have stuck to the plan.  I'm feeling great and definitely craving more of the good stuff - whole foods.  I enjoy being creative with the shopping list provided and I brought a couple of my dishes to a party last night.  They were a hit!  It's nice when other people discover eating healthy can also mean eating tasty.  

Here is an interesting change of plans  . . . I will be following up this cleanse with an unexpected, well really more forgotten, juice cleanse.  I had ordered a Groupon for the Peeled 3 day juice cleanse a while back.  Ordered my juice and forgot about it.  Well, today was pickup day!  So tomorrow, I am starting a 3 day juice cleanse.  Now, normally, I wouldn't recommend doing something like this back to back, especially with someone who has never done a juice cleanse.  I have done plenty of them and I'm sure I will be fine.  If you're in the Chicago area and like fresh juice, check out Peeled http://peeledjuicebar.com/.  They often run Groupons which are a great deal.  I usually make my own juice and I will post my review on Peeled in a couple of days.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a recipe with you.  It's a variation on a Gabriel Cousens recipe.  I hope you enjoy!

Veggie Medley

8 stalks asparagus

2 tomatoes diced

handfull of green beens, trimmed and cut in 1 inch pieces

2 cups broccoli chopped

1 yellow or orange pepper cut into slices

1 red pepper cut into slices

1 fresh bulb fennel, chopped

1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Sauce

3-4 fresh tomatoes

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 of lemon, juiced

1/4 cup water (more if needed)

1 inch piece fresh ginger

1 tsp italian herb mix

fresh ground pepper and sea salt to taste

Heat oven on lowest setting

Combine the first 9 ingredients in a glass bowl or baking dish.  

In a high speed blender, add the sauce ingredients and blend until smooth.  Pour over the vegetables.  Place in dehydrator and heat until warmed or place in oven on lowest setting for 30-45 min or until warmed through.  Veggies should still be crisp.  

This was a hit at the party I took it to!

Thrive With Pam !: Your Friend Comes to Town and You're Cleansing? D...

Thrive With Pam !: Your Friend Comes to Town and You're Cleansing? D...: Day 5 of my Orenda Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  I am still feeling great. And even though I said I wouldn't weigh myself until the end, I ...

Thrive With Pam !: Eating Out on a Cleanse Day 4

Thrive With Pam !: Eating Out on a Cleanse Day 4: It's day 4 of my 10 day cleanse.  I'm still feeling great - lots of energy.  In fact, I am having a hard time eating enough calories...

Thrive With Pam !: Pizza on a Cleanse? Yes, please! Day 3

Thrive With Pam !: Pizza on a Cleanse? Yes, please! Day 3: Day 3 of my Orenda Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  Today I felt the detox.  A bit tired, a bit headachy.  I drank a TON of water and by dinner I ...

Thrive With Pam !: Summer Vegetables and Day 2 of Cleanse

Thrive With Pam !: Summer Vegetables and Day 2 of Cleanse: Well, I am almost through day 2 of my 10 day cleanse.  I had a bit of a slow start to my day, but my energy DEFINITELY picked up after break...

Thrive With Pam !: Sorry I've Gone Missing and SUMMER CLEANSE!

Thrive With Pam !: Sorry I've Gone Missing and SUMMER CLEANSE!: I just signed in to discover I haven't written anything since April!  How time flies . . . I have been busy getting my house ready to se...

Thrive With Pam !: Cleanse Day 8 Where the Heck Has She Been???

Thrive With Pam !: Cleanse Day 8 Where the Heck Has She Been???: Hi all !  I have been a busy girl!  I did a day at Lollapalooza on Friday.  I am going to tell you right now I did  my damn best to stay per...

Cleanse Day 8 Where the Heck Has She Been???

Hi all !  I have been a busy girl!  I did a day at Lollapalooza on Friday.  I am going to tell you right now I did  my damn best to stay perfect on my cleanse, but I didn't.  I did the good college try though!  Packed my stuff for Lolla but some of the stuff they had there was too tempting to pass up and I am all about living life, you know?  But here is the lesson:  You can fall down, but you have the choice if you get up or stay down.  I chose to be a bit naughty on Friday, but I didn't let that keep me down OR keep me from finishing my cleanse.  On Saturday, I started right back up!  Clean as could be.  And here's the thing I noticed on Friday.  When I ate naughty, I IMMEDIATELY felt bad.  Seriously.  I went to go see a mellow band, laid out my mat and took a little nappy.  At Lollapalooza.  Surrounded by 200,000 people.  After eating so clean, that small bit of gluten, fat sugar, etc. really affected me!  I will say though, we had a really awesome vegan lunch before the festival at Karyns on Green.  If you're in the Chicago area, check it out!  And . . .I did go prepared . . .

Drank my Orenda Shape Shake waiting for Interpol.

So here we are Sunday.  I love Sundays because its usually the day I prepare for the week to come.  I did my grocery shopping, made a couple of yummy dishes for next week and I am anxious to share one of those with you.  This tasted great right after I made it, but what I love about this dish is that is tastes even better after it has a chance to marinate in the fridge.  It keeps a couple of days.  Enjoy!

  Mediterranean Salad with Garbanzo Beans

1 15-ounce garbanzo beans

1 cup chopped broccoli

1 cup grape tomatoes halved

1 cup finely shredded kale

¼ cup finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons chopped Kalamata olives

Dressing

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small garlic clove minced

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and chill about an hour before serving.  Will keep for several days in refrigerator.  

Your Friend Comes to Town and You're Cleansing? Day 5

Day 5 of my Orenda Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  I am still feeling great. And even though I said I wouldn't weigh myself until the end, I cheated and did anyway.  And the good news is . . .  I lost 3 lbs!  I don't have a lot of weight to lose, but I can tell you my jeans weren't fitting and I wasn't feeling so good about that.

Today my Food2Live4 partner Jennifer is in town and of course we went out to dinner.  We were very good and ordered vegan food - brussels sprouts, lettuce wraps.  But . . .I did have a cheat.

Gluten free - but nevertheless, a beer.  But I'm not going to beat myself up!  Tomorrow is back to the cleanse.  And tomorrow's blog should be a good one because somehow I am going to manage this at Lollapalooza.  Wish me luck!

Eating Out on a Cleanse Day 4

It's day 4 of my 10 day cleanse.  I'm still feeling great - lots of energy.  In fact, I am having a hard time eating enough calories because I'm just not hungry!  But I can tell when I exert myself, I get wiped out easy.

Today was a lot of running around and even though eating clean is easy to do, I frankly didn't feel like making anything tonite and my daughter wanted Thai.  So we went out for dinner.  Most ethnic restaurants are good choices for eating healthy.  Thai restaurants typically have a lot of veggie dishes and if you ask, they will prepare pretty much how you want.  I had this lovely plate of vegetables :

Your recipe today is one of my favorite smoothies!  Smoothies are great in the morning - that's pretty much all I ever have for breakfast.

Pear and Apple Smoothie

1 pear, seeded

1 apple, cored

1 avocado, pitted

2 cups spinach

1 Tbsp coconut oil

1 to 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond or coconut milk

1 scoop hemp protein powder (optional) I like chocolate hemp protein  or Juice Plus chocolate protein powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Throw in a few ice cubes if you want it cold.  Enjoy!  

Pizza on a Cleanse? Yes, please! Day 3

Day 3 of my Orenda Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  Today I felt the detox.  A bit tired, a bit headachy.  I drank a TON of water and by dinner I was feeling much better.  I don't mind feeling a bit off - that's my body's way of letting me know it's doing its thing!

I have heard about cauliflower pizza crust for a while and have always wanted to make it.   Since this is a clean eating cleanse (no gluten!) I decided to try it.  I am really glad I did!  Easier to make than I thought and super yummy!  Even my daughter ate some.  Yes, my 14 year old picky eater daughter.  So you know it's good.

Vegan Cauliflower Pizza Crust

1 small head of cauliflower, chopped
3 tablespoons flax seeds, divided
6 tablespoons water
1/2 cup almond meal or chickpea flour (I like almond meal)
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp italian herbs
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Line a baking sheet with parchment and preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Process the cauliflower in a food processor fitted with an S blade and pulse until the cauliflower is a rice like texture.  Put the cauliflower in a large sauce pan, cover with water and bring to a boil.  Then reduce heat and allow to cook for 5 minutes.  Drain as much liquid as you can and then put the cauliflower in the freezer for about 10 minutes to cool.

While you are waiting for the cauliflower to cool, make your flax "egg".  Grind 2 tablespoons of the flax seeds and mix with the water.  Allow to sit and it will thicken.

When the cauliflower has cooled, put it in some cheesecloth or a dish towel and squeeze out the excess liquid.  Put the cauliflower in a large bowl, add the almond meal, flax "egg", the additional tablespoon of flax - ground, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper.  Mix very well and press into the parchment lined baking sheet.  I would recommend using an offset spatula to spread out evenly so there aren't any thin area.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden and dry to the touch.

When the crust has cooled and its dry, top with your favorite toppings and pop back in the oven for a few minutes to warm.  I made mine with marinara, spinach, yellow pepper, fresh tomato and sprinkled with nutritional yeast.

Summer Vegetables and Day 2 of Cleanse

Well, I am almost through day 2 of my 10 day cleanse.  I had a bit of a slow start to my day, but my energy DEFINITELY picked up after breakfast.  I had amazing energy all day - felt like I had several cups of coffee (but I had NONE).  I love eating clean.  Don't know why I fall off sometimes and let the naughty stuff in!  Anyway, I made a yummy summer veggie dish for dinner.  I had it as my dinner, but it would make a great side dish too.  The original recipe called for parmesan cheese on top, but I healthified it by putting nutritional yeast on top.  If you have never tried nutritional yeast - you are missing out!  It's like taking a B complex vitamin.  It also packs a punch of protein and fiber.  And the best part is . . . it tastes CHEEZY.  Yum.  Try it on popcorn.

Here is the recipe:

Braised Summer Vegetables

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tsp dried Italian herb mix
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 lb green beans trimmed (or untrimmed - I used French green beans)
1 yellow squash halved and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
nutritional yeast to taste

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and herb mix and cook until onion is soft.  Add broth and green beans and cook for 5-8 minutes until beans are cooked, but still crisp.  Add squash, cook 2 - 4 minutes more.  Add tomatoes and cook until warmed.  Season with salt and pepper.  Sprinkled with nutritional yeast.

Sorry I've Gone Missing and SUMMER CLEANSE!

I just signed in to discover I haven't written anything since April!  How time flies . . . I have been busy getting my house ready to sell, buying another home, finishing my health coach program through IIN and getting a new health coach business off the ground.  It's all good and I am having an interesting journey.  I'm slowly learning to get out of my own way and let the Universe do it's good work.

Packing, moving, transitions can be so emotional and it's been very emotional for me.  And, even though I know better, I am an emotional eater.  I completed a very successful cleanse in April and lost 8 lbs.  I wish I had measured myself because I lost inches too.  I went down 2 jean sizes.  Even though afterwards I felt AMAZING I went back to my old emotional eating habits and here I am again - low energy, put a few lbs back on, so I decided to do another cleanse to get myself back on track.  I thought I would document so that I was accountable.

The cleanse I am doing is Clean Burn Shape through Orenda.  It's 10 days of detox at a cellular level along with super clean eating.  Why cellular level?  Well, toxins are fat soluble - meaning they like to store themselves in fat cells.  That's one of the reasons so many people lose weight only to put it back on.  The body is smart - it likes to have those toxins spread out.  If you lose weight, the toxins are concentrated - so they eventually work themselves back to be more evenly distributed - and the weight comes back.  We live in such a toxic environment that I recommend to most clients to detox at least quarterly.  For clients with more than 10lbs to lose I recommend a 10 + 30 day cleanse.

Ok - I am really putting myself out there.  I am posting a pic of me in a bikini (ACK) and I will post one of my recipes I am eating on the cleanse - and I will also post my "after" picture.

 I will keep you all updated daily and any and all support is appreciated.  If anyone would like to learn more about cleansing, feel free to email me at pamela@food2live4.com.  We provide recipes, meal plans and shopping lists for our clients interested in doing the Clean Burn Shape cleanse.

Happy Sunday!

UnTuna Salad

1 can garbanzo beans

3 tablespoons veganaise

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

2 stalks celery chopped

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

2 tablespoons lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Romaine lettuce leaves

Pulse beans in food processor until just chopped – don’t over process, you want it to be chunky.  Mix in rest of ingredients.  

Spring Break Travels

So this week I've been road tripping for spring break and  I can tell you it isn't easy eating healthy and travelling.  There are soooo many temptations.  And frankly, finding healthy foods on the road is challenging.  I will admit I have a few cheats here and there - I am on vacation after all!  But I also get some good stuff in as well.  Here are some of the things that work for me:

• I pack my own food - gluten free crackers, hummus, veggies and fruits
• I bring all my supplements and make sure to take them every morning
• I drink lots of water!  Sorry to the rest of the people in the car - we make a lot of stops for me :)
• When I get to my destination I get more fruit - bananas, oranges - things that don't really need refrigeration
• I make lighter choices when eating out 

I also pack my gym shoes and get out a walk a bit.  It's easy to lay around on vacation, but for some reason, that just makes me more tired!  Ironic, huh?

Am I perfect?  HECK NO!  Being healthy is about what you 80% of the time and I want to enjoy my vacation after all.

I hope all of you are getting a taste of spring and enjoying your spring travels.

And . . . don't forget about the Food2Live4 21-Day Cleanse Balance Thrive program coming up next week!  If you want to jump start your spring weight loss/detox - this program might be for you.  We start on Tuesday April 22.  Visit our website at http://www.food2live4.com/events/cleanse-balance-thrive/ to get more details and feel free to email me directly if I can can answer any questions.  The best investment you can ever make is in yourself and your own health.

Spring Cleaning!

I always welcome the warmer spring weather.  It's a chance to open the doors, air the house out and it makes me feel like doing some spring cleaning - home AND body.  This year my spring cleaning is a bit different. While I always go through and purge my house, this year it's a 14 year purge.  I'm getting ready to sell my house and downsize.  It's bittersweet.  I LOVE my neighborhood and have made some amazing lifelong friends here.  I also love my home - it's super cute and cozy.  But - it's time in my life to make a fresh start.  My husband passed in 2009, so it's just me and my daughter and this house is too much for us.  Also, my daughter is starting high school and I'm ready to move on from the Chicago Public School system.  

Are you in a similar spot?  Purging and/or moving??  I have found it helpful to make "piles."  
Pile 1 - Things to keep.  These are the things I can't live without. Pictures, furniture and items I cherish and will definitely pack and bring with me.
Pile 2 - Donate.  These are things that still have some value, but probably aren't saleable.  Things like old clothes, old glasses, magazines etc.
Pile 3 - Sell.  These are things I can sell quickly.  I'm using a combination of a local "garage sale" on Facebook, Craigslist and eBay for the more valuable things.  

Now - for the body cleanse.  If I am going to be packing and moving, I need to get my body in shape!  Even though I eat relatively healthy, the reality is when it's cold out I want warm cozy food.  Now that the weather is getting nicer, I am craving more fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.  So, to spring clean my body, I am going to give it a break from the rich foods I've been eating.  I know it will give me more energy and help with my concentration and digestion.  

I can't help you with your home cleaning, but I CAN help you if you are interested in cleansing your body. Starting April 22, Food2Live4 is doing another round of Cleanse, Balance, Thrive!  

The Food2Live4 21 Day Cleanse, Balance, THRIVE plan is three weeks of menu plans, shopping lists, and simple recipes that show you what to eat, every day. The program begins with a gentle easing into healthy eating and ends with a week of raw & living foods and a juice fast. But you won’t be left on your own to stick to the plan! Twice weekly conference calls with my partner and I will answer your questions, provide support, and coach you through any rough patches. Calls are recorded so you must miss a session, you can dial in later and listen. You will also have a private Facebook page available only to 21 Day Cleansers with additional tips and support.  I hope you will choose to join us for this spring cleanse.  Click here for more info:  Food2Live4 or email me at pamela@food2live4.com.  

Happy Spring Cleaning!  

Coconut Bacon? YES! Absolutely!

Ok - so for those of you who don't know - I am a partner in a company, Food2Live4.  It was started by one of my besties, Jennifer and her sister Heidi.  We started this as a raw food business to basically teach raw food classes.  However, now that we have all gone through the ups and downs of dietary theories and through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition Program, our business model has changed.  While we still continue to teach classes here and there, we work more now doing individual and group coaching.  Why this long-winded story you ask?  My recipe today comes from my talented partner Jennifer!  She was trying to come up with a recipe for coconut bacon and found most of the raw recipes contained liquid smoke - which doesn't sound too tasty.  So, she came up with her own genius recipe for coconut bacon.  It's damn good if I do say so myself!  Oh - and it's super duper easy.  Try it yourself and post your comments below!  I would love your feedback.  

3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
3 tablespoons wheat free tamari, Bragg’s liquid aminos, or Nama Shoyu
1 tablespoon maple syrup, agave, or coconut palm nectar
1 tsp. Hungarian or smoked paprika
½ tsp. smoked sea salt (optional)

Whisk tamari, maple syrup, and spices in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add coconut flakes and toss to coat evenly. Spread on a large baking sheet brushed with coconut oil. Bake at 300 degrees 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Keep a close eye on the coconut because it will go from perfect to burned very quickly! Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet. The coconut will continue to “crisp”. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks.

How to enjoy this yummy, chewy “bacon”?  It is delicious sprinkled on salads, over sautéed greens, as a pizza topping, and on sandwiches!
 

Avocado and Coconut Bacon Salad with
Lime Vinaigrette

Dressing

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to combine.
Salad

• 1 large head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
• ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup fresh raspberries
• ¼ cup coconut bacon
• 1 avocado, pitted and sliced

Divide lettuce between 4 plates, top with tomato, raspberry, avocado, and coconut bacon. Drizzle with Lime Vinaigrette.  Serves 4.

Also - if you have a chance, check us out at www.food2live4.com.

Thrive With Pam !: Raw Vegan Waldorf Salad!

Thrive With Pam !: Raw Vegan Waldorf Salad!: So - I get a weekly produce box and I'm always trying to come up with clever recipes to use what I get.  In last weeks box some of ...

Raw Vegan Waldorf Salad!

So - I get a weekly produce box and I'm always trying to come up with clever recipes to use what I get.  In last weeks box some of the items included honey crisp apples (my fave), celery and grapes.  I was thinking . . . . hmmm . . .what can I do with these things and thought if I threw in some walnuts I would basically have a Waldorf Salad.  I loved Waldorf Salad as a kid.  Traditional Waldorf Salad is made with mayonnaise, but as a kid I also had it with whipped cream.  I knew I could come up with a vegan version and here it is:

1/2 cup soaked raw cashews
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp raw honey
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp chia seeds

1 apple cored and chopped
1 cup of grapes, halved
1 large celery stalk, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts chopped

Place the cashews, water, lemon juice, honey, vinegar, and chia into a blender or high speed blender and blend until smooth.  Toss with salad ingredients and serve.  Should serve about 2-3 people.

How do I know this is a good one?  I tested it on two picky kids eaters and they LOVED it!  Enjoy and I would love to hear your comments !

Welcome

Hi and welcome to my healthy blog!  Health is my passion - but that wasn't always true for me.  My journey really began when I was 31 and pregnant with my daughter.  I knew I would only have one child and decided a healthy child was pretty important.  So . . . I picked up the John Robbins book The Food Revolution.  That book changed my life forever.  I changed the way I ate overnight.  Literally.  Since then, I've been on a mission to learn all I can about health.  Healthy food, healthy mind, healthy body, healthy spirit and healthy planet.  The more I learn, the more I want to know.  I've tried a lot of dietary theories - Atkins, vegetarian, vegan, macrobiotic and raw - just to name a few.  I was most passionate about raw and still eat high raw.  But what I have discovered on my journey is that not one diet fits all and that for me, each diet had a point of diminishing returns.  And I also learned that being healthy is not just about the food you put in your mouth.  It's also about what you feed your mind, body and spirit.

After years in the corporate world, I decided to pursue my passion and enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and pursue a health coaching certification.  I want to teach the world what I know!  I look forward to getting to know you and hope I can be a part of your healthy journey.  I would love to hear any comments and ideas on any topics.

Peace Love and Health