Supplements For Healthy Vegan Pregnancy: The Best Options Out There

September 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you’re vegan and pregnant, or just pregnant and want to provide your body and your growing baby with the best nutrition possible, here are my top supplements and book on childhood nutrition for moms-to-be. Just click on the image to order yours!

My Favorite Prenatal Vitamin For Healthy Moms-to-be:

(click on the image to order!)

DHA Supplement:

This veggie derived DHA, sourced from microalgae, provides the beneficial omega–3 fatty acid of fish oil without the fish. DHA Purity now comes in an all–new, purified liquid form of very highly concentrated DHA so that it can be digested easier and hidden easily in food. The children’s dose is just one drop (measurable with a built–in graduated dropper) and easily disguised in their food, soup, drink or oatmeal. Just a few drops delivers a daily dose of essential omega–3 fatty acids (DHA). (I put the drops in my son’s breakfast beverage or mix it in his oatmeal – here’s the recipe!)

DHA

Disease Proof Your Child by Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Dr. Fuhrman illustrates how eating his nutrient–rich diet during childhood is the most powerful weapon against developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders in the future. Disease–Proof Your Child, provides nutrient–rich dietary recommendations for children, and even offers guidelines and recipes that get even the pickiest eaters to enjoy healthy food. (My kid loves the recipes in this book!)

Choose your FREE copy of Dr. Fuhrmans Healthy Times Newsletter with purchase! (click on the image to order!)

Filed Under: healthy vegan pregnancy, recommended brands

Neal Barnard's All-Day Seminar in NYC 10/2!

September 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Winning Weight Battles and Conquering Cravings

Urban Zen presents Neal Barnard , M.D., founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine  (see my review of his latest book here) for an all-day seminar on losing weight, feeling great, and getting healthy. This in-depth seminar will cover everything you need to know about tackling not only weight, but the conditions that come along with it. You’ll learn the best ways to beat diabetes, cut cholesterol, control blood pressure, and boost your energy. Alongside Dr. Barnard will be cooking instructors teaching you how to cook delicious, healthy foods—and you’ll taste some too! If you would like to trim down, conquer food cravings, and get healthy, don’t miss this program!

The program includes:

  • Lectures by Dr. Barnard with time for questions and problem-solving
  • Cooking demonstrations and delicious, healthy foods
  • A complimentary cookbook to all who preregister

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Urban Zen, 705 Greenwich St. , New York , NY 10014
COST: $60 if you preregister before Sept. 17, $80 if you register after Sept. 17.
REGISTRATION: Please visit www.UrbanZen.org. For more information, please call 212-414-8520 or e-mailrsvp@urbanzen.org.

Filed Under: Amazing Events!, book review

Neal Barnard’s All-Day Seminar in NYC 10/2!

September 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Winning Weight Battles and Conquering Cravings

Urban Zen presents Neal Barnard , M.D., founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine  (see my review of his latest book here) for an all-day seminar on losing weight, feeling great, and getting healthy. This in-depth seminar will cover everything you need to know about tackling not only weight, but the conditions that come along with it. You’ll learn the best ways to beat diabetes, cut cholesterol, control blood pressure, and boost your energy. Alongside Dr. Barnard will be cooking instructors teaching you how to cook delicious, healthy foods—and you’ll taste some too! If you would like to trim down, conquer food cravings, and get healthy, don’t miss this program!

The program includes:

  • Lectures by Dr. Barnard with time for questions and problem-solving
  • Cooking demonstrations and delicious, healthy foods
  • A complimentary cookbook to all who preregister

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Urban Zen, 705 Greenwich St. , New York , NY 10014
COST: $60 if you preregister before Sept. 17, $80 if you register after Sept. 17.
REGISTRATION: Please visit www.UrbanZen.org. For more information, please call 212-414-8520 or e-mailrsvp@urbanzen.org.

Filed Under: Amazing Events!, book review

Osteoporosis Fears? Win "The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones"

September 27, 2010 By 41 Comments

When I discovered my health was dramatically improved by following a dairy and meat free diet, I realized I had to learn how to cook all over again.

I fumbled along experimenting with recipes, searching out cookbooks, and seeking teachers. I discovered a strong passion for cooking and health-supportive foods that I didn’t know existed, and wanted to make it a bigger part of my life. I was lucky to find a world-renowned culinary school right in my backyard; attending the Natural Gourmet Institute, founded by Annemarie Colbin, in New York City marked the beginning of my culinary and health counseling career.

Annemarie Colbin’s newest book The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones is a treasure trove of tested information and recipes that guide the reader through learning about body chemistry, supportive foods for building a healthy skeleton, and foods that can actually destroy your bone health. If you are at risk for osteoporosis or other diseases of the bones, you must read this book.

Women’s modern lifestyle habits are often dangerous for our bones. This book offers easy to understand recipes, tips, and lifestyle suggestions for how to make your skeleton strong.

Colbin’s book brings together decades of holistic teaching and cooking knowledge to offer a complete program for stronger bones. You’ll also discover how exercise and finding personal balance can improve your health and prevent fragility fractures, menopause-related bone loss, and osteoporosis. The book also includes many real-life examples and personal stories that help bring the information to life.

This book offers a holistic approach to understanding:

  • What puts you at risk for bone fracture
  • Why medication and estrogen therapy may not work for you
  • How the nutrients in whole foods build bone mass
  • That your bones are living parts of your body, affected by what you eat

I reached out to Annemarie recently, and she was kind enough to offer a signed copy of her book to one of my readers!

I’ll be choosing  a winner on Friday, October 1st, so leave a comment here on my blog about why you need to own this book!

(Look at my list of favorite cookbooks and books on health here!)

Here’s to your health,

Alexandra

Filed Under: book review, Win Free Natural Health Care Products, Women's Health Tagged With: ,

Osteoporosis Fears? Win “The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones”

September 27, 2010 By 41 Comments

When I discovered my health was dramatically improved by following a dairy and meat free diet, I realized I had to learn how to cook all over again.

I fumbled along experimenting with recipes, searching out cookbooks, and seeking teachers. I discovered a strong passion for cooking and health-supportive foods that I didn’t know existed, and wanted to make it a bigger part of my life. I was lucky to find a world-renowned culinary school right in my backyard; attending the Natural Gourmet Institute, founded by Annemarie Colbin, in New York City marked the beginning of my culinary and health counseling career.

Annemarie Colbin’s newest book The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones is a treasure trove of tested information and recipes that guide the reader through learning about body chemistry, supportive foods for building a healthy skeleton, and foods that can actually destroy your bone health. If you are at risk for osteoporosis or other diseases of the bones, you must read this book.

Women’s modern lifestyle habits are often dangerous for our bones. This book offers easy to understand recipes, tips, and lifestyle suggestions for how to make your skeleton strong.

Colbin’s book brings together decades of holistic teaching and cooking knowledge to offer a complete program for stronger bones. You’ll also discover how exercise and finding personal balance can improve your health and prevent fragility fractures, menopause-related bone loss, and osteoporosis. The book also includes many real-life examples and personal stories that help bring the information to life.

This book offers a holistic approach to understanding:

  • What puts you at risk for bone fracture
  • Why medication and estrogen therapy may not work for you
  • How the nutrients in whole foods build bone mass
  • That your bones are living parts of your body, affected by what you eat

I reached out to Annemarie recently, and she was kind enough to offer a signed copy of her book to one of my readers!

I’ll be choosing  a winner on Friday, October 1st, so leave a comment here on my blog about why you need to own this book!

(Look at my list of favorite cookbooks and books on health here!)

Here’s to your health,

Alexandra

Filed Under: book review, Win Free Natural Health Care Products, Women's Health Tagged With: ,

Vegan Cheese Challenge Week 2: Homemade Almond Cheese Spread

September 23, 2010 By 4 Comments

Many of my readers are dairy-free because they either can’t digest animal foods well or they don’t want to eat animal foods for environmental or compassionate reasons.

Still, people loooooove cheese. It’s one of the hardest foods for dairy-free-ers to leave behind.

I’m reviewing different dairy-free cheeses over the next few weeks to help those people find good replacements for when the cheese-cravings strike! Here is an easy almond cheese spread recipe for you to take the edge off those feta-cravings. It takes a couple of days to prepare, because you soak the almonds overnight, then allow the finished product to sit in the fridge for another night, but your actual “cooking time” will be about 20 minutes.

I love almonds because they’re a good source of healthy fat, fiber, complex carbs, vitamins and minerals like calcium.

Try this simple, satisfying almond cheese recipe and vive la difference!

Almond Cheese Spread

2 cups almonds (skins removed*), soaked overnight and drained

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste)

Juice from 1 lemon

1 clove garlic, minced

Up to 1 cup water

Directions:

Put everything except for the water in a food processor and pulse for 20 seconds.

Scrape down the sides, add 1/4 cup of water and blend for 20 seconds.

Scrape the sides down again and blend until smooth and creamy, adding more water to reach desired consistency.

Once the almond is in a paste, scrape the entire mixture into a small colander or fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Twist the top and hold with a rubber band or chip clip, then place the entire colander in the refrigerator on a plate overnight. This allows the flavors to develop overnight.

The next day, remove from the refrigerator, and unveil the cheese, which has now been shaped into a ball.

This cheese will keep well, refrigerated for up to 3 days.

* If you have raw almonds with the skins on, you’ll want to remove the skins. Here’s how to do it:

Boil a few cups of water over high heat. Add the almonds and cook them for 30 seconds. This is called “blanching” and loosens the skins. Drain the almonds in the sink, and rinse them with cold water to cool. Pop the skins off of each almond with your thumb and index finger. You can toss the almond skins on your compost pile! Now, soak the almonds overnight and proceed with the recipe.

(This is a fun step for kids to help with! They love popping the almonds out of the skins, although you might lose a few under the stove as some go zipping off into the atmosphere.)

My rating over all:

A big dairy-free gold star!



Share



Filed Under: gluten free vegan recipe, Recipes, Special Diets, Vegan Cheese Challenge Tagged With:

Caffeine Addict Breaks Free: My Detox Member Tells All…

September 21, 2010 By 2 Comments

“Hi Everyone!

Alex inspired me to write a testimonial on my experiences recently
giving up caffeine. It’s now 5-6 weeks that I have been caffeine
free!
I used to drink at least 2-3 large black cups of coffee every day. It
was my first destination in the morning (no breakfast, just coffee),
for an energy kick just to get moving for the day.  I thought there
was NO way I would ever be able to get moving without it.

What I found after giving up coffee completely in the first 2-3 weeks
were some unexpected benefits.  Every morning I drank a tall glass of
water and ate an energy-stabilizing food like brown rice porridge.  I
felt so much more energized without the coffee! Best of all, it was
very mood enhancing.  Instead of feeling dread about going to work and
stress, I felt a lot more positive about being able to tackle the
day.

The first 3-4 days are challenging. This was always the period for me
before when I would give in, and fall back into old routines.  I did
get headaches.

I can offer a few tips that I personally found really helpful in
quitting for those first few days/week.
First,  I got rid of the coffee machine on my counter. When it’s
really inconvenient to dig it out of the cupboard in the morning, it’s
a lot harder to cheat.
Second, I switched up the route that I took to work. I often stopped
at the Dunkin Donuts en route to my job to pick up a coffee fix, so
instead of being tempted, I bypassed it altogether.
Third, decafinated tea!   I never liked tea before, but now I love
it!  It helps when you are used to a warm beverage.

I hope this is helpful for any of you trying to quit caffeine!  It is
well worth the few days of discomfort and seems like it was so quick
in retrospect!

Best wishes to all!

J.”

**My favorite product for ending the caffeine addiction cycle? Teeccino! It’s delicious and coffee-like, but totally caffeine-free.

Filed Under: Food-Mood Connection, inspiration for women, Natural Energy Tips, recommended brands, Women's Health

High-Fiber Oatmeal: Sun-Powered Taste & Nutrition!

September 21, 2010 By 3 Comments

A high-fiber diet is what keeps humans going…not to be gross. But it literally makes our digestion healthier by gently cleaning the intestines, adds bulk to our meals so that we don’t eat quite as many calories, and helps our liver get rid of toxins.

I’ve never been completely satisfied with a bowl of simple oats. I always need something extra to add protein and fat. Nuts are good, but sometimes the smooth texture of plain oats is what I crave.

I’ve devised a simple recipe to add more fiber, more protein, and more minerals to oatmeal while retaining the smooth texture – and my son loves it! Little does he know how healthy it is. Oh, and this can be gluten- and dairy-free easily! Just use Bob’s Red Mill certified gluten-free oats.

By adding ground sunflower seeds to the oats, I’m adding a high quality protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and several B-complex vitamins. Sunflower seeds also contain a trace of fluorine, which helps build strong teeth. I store my raw, shelled sunflower seeds in the freezer until I need them.

High-Fiber Oatmeal with Ground Sunflower Seeds:

1 cup enriched rice milk

1/2 cup oat bran or rolled oats ground in a spice grinder

1/4 cup sunflower seeds ground in a spice grinder to a find powder

pinch pink himalayan salt (you can use sea salt of course)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup organic raisins and chopped dried apricots

Directions:

1. Heat the milk in a small pot over medium heat. When the milk starts to simmer, whisk in the oat bran or ground oats.

2. Whisk in the ground sunflower seeds, salt, and cinnamon until smooth. Turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Cook for 5 minutes.

3. Stir in the dried fruit and serve.

Filed Under: detox diet, gluten free vegan recipe, healthy recipes for kids, Recipes, Special Diets

High-Fiber Oatmeal: Sun-Powered Taste & Nutrition!

September 21, 2010 By 2 Comments

A high-fiber diet is what keeps humans going…not to be gross. But it literally makes our digestion healthier by gently cleaning the intestines, adds bulk to our meals so that we don’t eat quite as many calories, and helps our liver get rid of toxins.

I’ve never been completely satisfied with a bowl of simple oats. I always need something extra to add protein and fat. Nuts are good, but sometimes the smooth texture of plain oats is what I crave.

I’ve devised a simple recipe to add more fiber, more protein, and more minerals to oatmeal while retaining the smooth texture – and my son loves it! Little does he know how healthy it is. Oh, and this can be gluten- and dairy-free easily! Just use Bob’s Red Mill certified gluten-free oats.

By adding ground sunflower seeds to the oats, I’m adding a high quality protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and several B-complex vitamins. Sunflower seeds also contain a trace of fluorine, which helps build strong teeth. I store my raw, shelled sunflower seeds in the freezer until I need them.

High-Fiber Oatmeal with Ground Sunflower Seeds:

1 cup enriched rice milk

1/2 cup oat bran or rolled oats ground in a spice grinder

1/4 cup sunflower seeds ground in a spice grinder to a find powder

pinch pink himalayan salt (you can use sea salt of course)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup organic raisins and chopped dried apricots

Directions:

1. Heat the milk in a small pot over medium heat. When the milk starts to simmer, whisk in the oat bran or ground oats.

2. Whisk in the ground sunflower seeds, salt, and cinnamon until smooth. Turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Cook for 5 minutes.

3. Stir in the dried fruit and serve.

Filed Under: detox diet, gluten free vegan recipe, healthy recipes for kids, Recipes, Special Diets

Vegan Cheese Challenge! Weekly Musings on Dairy-Free Products Week 1: Rice Vegan Slices

September 20, 2010 By 5 Comments

The one food that most vegans and lactose-intolerant folks miss is cheese. Gooey, fatty, and creamy, cheese does things that few other natural foods can duplicate. It melts, holding things like bread and tortilla chips together. Great national cuisines have been built on the back of cheese: think Italian Mozzarella, French Brie, Wisconsin Cheddar.

The only thing is, many MANY people are lactose intolerant, or their guts get clogged up by cow’s milk products, or they just think it’s gross to drink the milk from a hormone-fed bovine.

The brilliant, and possibly diabolical, food scientists of the world have been coming up with dairy-free cheese replacements for years now, but only recently have quality, tasty, meltingly yummy products hit the market. Since I like playing with my food and enjoy making “healthy junk food” every once in a while, I thought it would be fun for me, and my readers, to explore the world of dairy-free cheeses.

Not only will vegans appreciate the reviews, but also all those lactose-un-lovers. The great thing about vegan cheeses is that there’s NO cholesterol, making these foods healthier for people concerned about heart disease.

First up: Rice Vegan Slices

Made by Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Rice Vegan blocks and slices have been on health food store shelves for a while now. Both dairy and soy free, these cheeses have added calcium for a nutritional boost.

My recipe: Grilled “cheese” sandwich

I decided to go with the old standard, the grilled cheese sandwich. I was hungry enough to want more than nachos, and besides, I was out of tortilla chips.

2 slices Food For Life Sprouted Ezekiel bread

Veganaise

Earth Balance

2 slices each Rice Vegan Pepper Jack and Cheddar

Directions:

Preheat your skillet or panini press. My favorite toy in the kitchen this week? My cuisinart Griddler

(on sale here, by the way)

Slather the inside of each piece of bread with enough veganaise to cover. Layer the vegan cheese and form a sandwich. Lightly “butter” the top of the sandwich with Earth Balance.

Then take another 1 teaspoon dab of Earth Balance and melt it on the heated Griddler. Set the sandwich, “buttered” side up, on the griddler, and press down. Cook on medium heat for 4-5 minutes. You can check after 3 minutes to see how much the cheese is melting, and this Griddler give you nice even grill marks.

The Results:

This sandwich was pretty good. The cheese didn’t melt all the way through by the time the bread was done grilling. This could have been avoided by grilling the sandwich in a cast iron skillet on both sides for  a minute and then baking in a 350 oven for 5-10 minutes.

Pro’s:

Added Calcium, Pre-Sliced for easy preparation of sandwiches and snacks, this brand also offers organic vegan cheeses which are hard to come by.

Con’s:

Doesn’t melt quite as well or taste quite as good as some other vegan cheeses

My rating overall:

A Big Vegan Silver Star

Filed Under: diet for heart disease, Recipes, Vegan Cheese Challenge Tagged With:
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