Eggs ... which one?

Which egg is "Organic?" 

So it's Easter time and all the little eggs are out ... chocolate, marshmallow, Cadbury, etc.  I happen to love eggs ... they are such a great source of protein as we all know.  If I do eggs in the morning ... or even lunch as I just made an awesome spinach, tomato, feta cheese omelet ... I feel very happy!  Personally those breakfasts that are just carbs ... not protein, do absolutely nothing for me as I burn carbs up and feel horrible.  My blood sugar is way too unhappy :(

Anyway, I just had to share this photo I took of these two eggs.  I only buy organic eggs that say their chickens are "cage free."  If you've ever seen what goes on in a factory full of chickens, it will gross you out big time and you'll never eat a chicken or an egg from there again!  And you shouldn't!  They are sickly and full of antibiotics, fed garbage and then you're supposed to feel good from eating them or their eggs?  Not happening.  So I ran out of eggs and happened to be at our local hardware store.  He raises chickens ... yes, here in Northern NJ where it's pretty unusual to have anything other than domestic pets (and the uninvited furry folks like the bears who come out to see if you have anything good in your garbage cans, and the families of foxes and turkeys).  His eggs are gorgeous ... all different colors and sizes.  The yolks above are different colors and sizes.  You guessed it ... the bottom one is from 1/2 mile from my house.  Why is it so orange and big compared to the Lancaster County "organic" store bought one?  Because he feeds it real food, they scratch on the real dirt, ingesting minerals found in the soil and it hasn't been sitting on a shelf for long at all!  Good stuff.

I'll cut to the point of my story as I am on my way out to pick up kids from school to begin the long awaited Spring Break!  Yes, you should buy organic ... I truly believe we need to know where our food comes from and what it has been fed, what if any pesticides have been used, and honestly how far it had to travel to get here!  Your body is your temple ... after learning all that I have about toxins and how it can harm your body, believe me, you don't need more of that stuff to harm you or your family.  Here's the good thing about our Spring and Summer season approaching:  There will be many farm stands popping up around us!  Go and talk to the farmers and growers.  Ask them about their food.  Most of them cannot afford to apply for the official "organic" label but do not use chemicals or pesticides because they know how to do it without big business watching over them.  NO GMO's!  You need to know what you are eating to keep your body "clean" and functioning at a high level.  So now that the weather is changing, get out there and enjoy the weather and try to eat locally.  Your kids will love the visits to the farms ... and start thinking about what you are planting this season!

Aren't they pretty?  I love the blue ones!

Happy Easter if you are celebrating!  Here's to rebirth and new beginnings!
Be Well,
Krista

Happy Healthy Dog!!

Happy Monday All!  With sunshine and the start of a new week, I wanted to get my greens in right away this morning ... but my fridge drawer had other things in it besides the usual overabundance of greens!  I guess I've been slipping in checking out inventory so I decided to use what I had to juice instead.  I love juicing for that reason ... just use what you have and presto - there is a glass full of vitamins and good stuff waiting for you!

This is what landed in my glass:  2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 head of romaine lettuce, 1 lemon.  Nice and sour with a bit of sweetness.

When I juice, my dog Karma is always waiting for a handout.  I guess not all carnivorous dogs turn their noses up to veggies and fruits ... maybe she knows what I'm about by now!  Anyway, I crack up when I see her getting excited for her veggie treats!  Btw, if you don't have a juicer, you are left with the "pulp" of the fruits and veggies and I always think it is a shame to throw it out so I hand it to her.

Just wanted to pass that along to you dog owners with juicers!  Of course you don't want to overload them with too much and remember no grapes or onions for our furry friends!

Be Well!!!  Only 16 days until Spring ... the Vernal Equinox!  Yippee!!!
Krista

How Do You Eat?

I've just been to the mall ... yes, on a Saturday.
A few observations ... first it was like Christmas shopping by the time my daughter and I left the mall!  Is it always like this on a day in March?

As I approached my car, I noticed a paper note stuck into my side view mirror ... this vehicle next to the driver's side was soooo close to me I could barely get into my car. I had parked far away from everyone!  I opened the note and this is what it said:

Ummm, I didn't make you park that close to me did I?
Thank God, with all my sensors and back up gadgets I made it out without a scratch!  But, what do you make of that note?  I guess I'm glad they wrote it but seriously, did you have to pick that spot?

Anyway, I digress ... at the mall - this was the Short Hills Mall where it is full of upscale, ridiculously expensive shoes (but oh did Jimmy Choo's pink sandals look yummy!), Range Rover Epoque in the center of the mall and the list goes on, I noticed people eating.  Not so much sitting down and eating, but walking and eating, eating while reading,  and eating while on their laptops (you know those men who bring their wives there to shop and they sit in the center court).

Did you ever notice when you eat in this manner that you tend to be hungry an hour later?  Do our bodies even notice we ate a meal or a snack even though our bellies are full?  Sometimes I am guilty of this ... inhaling a meal while I'm alone.  It's like our digestion didn't even know what hit it!  Anyway I've started trying to consciously really enjoy my food!  Try it if you're doing the "eat and read", "eat and play your ipad", "eat and watch tv" method ... chew your food!  Count the bites.  Each bite counts and helps your digestion function properly.  Start with 20 bites and work up to 50.  It will help you feel good and enjoy what you're eating!!

In Wellness,
Krista

PS ... If you wrote the above note please know I did not even touch your Lexus with my fingertip!  Hope the next car in didn't either!

A Dinner to Enjoy ... sunshine, palm trees and a little reggae to boost!

My kitchen is a happening place lately.  More than the usual meals that are quite honestly starting to bore me ... and maybe it's a little bit of winter doldrums setting in ... but the family has been busy with  taste testing each night!  Last night was a big hit with the first time ever, "JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN!"  (Have you seen that new VW commercial for the Super Bowl yet?  Makes me happy!)  Anyway I'm experimenting with some new recipes because I'm rolling out a new program for the month of March that will be full of fun stuff!  Stay tuned for the details in the next week ... but here's the recipe from last night ... yes, it is a slow cooker recipe but on days that are yucky out, it's a really nice smell to come home to.  And seriously, put some Bob Marley on and everyone will be in a good mood even if you are rushing out the door to a game!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

prep time ~ 25 minutes

slow cook time ~ 5-5 1/2 hours low

                              2 1/2 - 2 3/4 high

Ingredients:

1 20 ounce can of pineapple chunks (fyi I used frozen pineapple with some added water)

2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs

1 15 ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 small jalepeno pepper (I cut mine in large chunks so my kids could pull them out)

2 T red wine vinegar

1 T dijon style mustard

4-6 t jerk style seasoning (see seasoning mix below if you don't have jerk seasoning)

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ground fresh pepper

1 orange, peeled and sectioned

2 cups of hot rice or couscous 

green onions for garnish (optional)

1.  Drain pineapple, reserving liquid.  

2.  In a large slow cooker, add the following:  pineapple, chicken, beans, and jalapeno pepper.

3.  In small bowl, combine pineapple juice, vinegar, mustard, jerk seasoning, salt and black pepper.  

     Pour into slow cooker.  

4.  Cover and cook on low for 5 to 5 1/2 hours or high for around 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Serve warm over

   hot rice or other grain your family loves! Add orange slices and green onions if desired.

Makes 6 servings

Per serving:  378 cal, 6 grams total fat, 110 mg of cholesterol, 621 mg sodium, 50 grams of carb, 7 gram fiber, 35 grams of protein.

jerk seasoning recipe

1  1/2 teaspoons ground  allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/4 t.  ground cloves

1 1/2  teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground thyme

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

I didn't use this entire recipe ... I did a dry rub on the chicken and saved the rest for next time!  Do not use more salt and pepper than this recipe (above lists salt and pepper separately if you use pre-made jerk seasoning from the store).

UP! by JAWBONE A cool little accessory!

UP by JAWBONE
I absolutely love this product!!

I've only been wearing this for a week but I am amazed at how it really changes your thinking and awareness on so many levels!

What does it do?  Well, keeps track of everything for you.  What you do with that info is up to you!

Here goes:

• Sleep tracking (tells you how long it took you to fall asleep, hours of deep sleep, hours of light sleep, if you woke during night...add in a smart alarm and a power nap feature and you are covered.
• 24/7 activity tracking ... you set a goal for how many steps you want to take a day and it counts them up for you giving you bar graphs during the day ... and calories burned, distance covered along with a stopwatch mode and an idle alert.
• Food and drink tracking ... helps you keep track of what you ingest ... you can either type it in, use their library, or scan the barcode in for nutritional info. (See my photo below)
• Insightful information and trends you have demonstrated in neat little graphs.

You can get this product online (I think mine came from Amazon for $129.99) and use it with IOS5.1 or greater, iPhone 3GS or later, iPod Touch 3Gen or later or the iPad.

Personally I am fascinated by the sleep features ... I had no idea what my night consisted of while asleep!  It breaks it down to see when you are in deep sleep, light sleep, etc.  I feel much better when my light sleep is less and my deep sleep is longer.  I'm also on a mission to reach my steps for the day goal of 10,000 as I've been barely moving in my usual speed with being under the weather ... but it makes me want to move and walk the dog even if the weather is cold and damp!  

Ok, I could go on on about features but I thought maybe some of you who have heard about them might be happy to hear they are very cool.  Go buy one and start tracking yourself!! 

www.jawbone.com/up

Enjoy,

Krista

Here is a shot of today's nutritional breakdown ... my sugar is high!  I think that's because my green smoothie had a nice batch of fruit and veggies that do count as a sugar ... even though it is a natural source of sugar.  Just something to watch and be aware of as we all tend to over do it with sugar of some sort.  

Yerba Mate!

This is quite a tea!  If you are a true coffee lover but are trying to figure out what to drink to avoid the "coffee stomach" but would like to include something that helps you focus with even more benefits than green tea, you have found the answer with yerba mate.

I am currently trying to get back to 100% after the flu virus and bronchitis.  Just an annoying cough is left so I am drinking lots of tea to help.  I love this yerba mate because it does help me stay grounded and of course hot tea is always good for the soul this time of year whether you're sick or not!

Here is a website from one of the company's that makes tea bags and loose tea:  www.guayaki.com
You can buy it at Target, Trader Joe's, and probably most grocery stores.


Benefits of yerba mate:

1. Antioxidant powerhouse!  (Incredibly high levels of polyphenol concentration)
2. Vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex
3. Minerals:  Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc
4. Additional Compounds:  Carotene, Fatty Aids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.
5. Theophylline, theobromine and caffeine  (85 mg on the caffeine meter v. 120 coffee)

And as an added bonus, if you are trying to lose weight, this tea can be used to help in that area!! Yippee!!

Check out the website for more details but I have to say it is a great addition to your day ... stay tuned tomorrow I'll go over some benefits of real honey!!

Stay Well!
Krista

Flu got you down ... I'm with ya ...

I am sitting here in my bed ...

It's been a crazy busy few weeks ... the Christmas prep, the ski equipment roundup, the trip to Colorado...

Friday I was all set to get back to accomplishing my daily goals, work on marketing my book, my business, and of course have some normalcy again.  I wish I could tell you that because I eat very carefully, take umpteen immunity boosters and carry around anti-bacterial hand gel in the airport to be slathered all over my family that I wouldn't get sick.  Oh yeah, I'm down with the flu.

I really don't do doctor visits ... I try to heal myself without drugs.  However I knew something was up with this one when I had a houseful of kids over and I hid in my room!

Anyway, the only reason I'm writing (I mean I really am sick ... not trying to get out of kid rearing homework projects, runs to Michaels - local peeps ... you know that science t-shirt project? and the historical marker project?  My husband has seriously got more patience than I do by far!)  is because
a) I'm bored out of my mind ... with horrible aches and pains
b) I did get a new MacBook and I trying to experiment and
c) not for nothing, but have you ever noticed the minute you finally slow down your pace, sometimes your body thinks it's ok to get sick?  

Those of you who know me are about to roll your eyes at me ...

I think it's a signal that we have to listen to our bodies and stop when we need to stop.
Yes ... I also believe that someone sneezed on me or coughed in the plane too .... (eeew!!)  but my immunity was compromised from weeks of non-stop doing.

Someday I'll learn!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2013!

Krista

Here is my favorite pic of our trip ... my family doing the ski thing together!  No matter how cold it was, we were still together which in itself a simple and happy place!