HEALTHY SNACKS WITH A WARM-WEATHER ZING

Simona Stepancic BSc, RHN, ROHP

 

Healthy snacks are an important part of a balanced diet. Eating something nutritious every few hours keeps your glucose levels healthy, maintains mental and emotional stability, boosts your energy and provides nutrients that your body needs.

 

 

5 EVERDAY ESSENTIALS

 

GREENS Drink green food concentrates first thing in the morning. They are nourishing and easy to prepare. Mix them with water or your favourite juice to embellish the flavours. Green drinks detoxify the body, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and give you abundant energy and stamina.

 

PROTEIN Take a protein drink every day to repair and build the body tissues. Protein keeps you energized, alert, balances blood sugar, and is needed for healthy cells, maintenance of lean muscle tissue, and formation of happy hormones. Arugula, maca, chlorella, bee pollen, hemp seeds, goji berries, spirulina are all good protein sources. You can also use rice, hemp or whey protein in shakes. Mix it with water, and add some berries.

 

NUTS and SEEDS Bring along a bag of almonds, sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds to snack on in-between meetings or on a long drive. They nourish the brain and contain protein, fibre, vitamin E and calcium. Make your own pâtés with almonds, parsley, lemon, green onions and olive oil. You can also use arugula and watercress instead of parsley. Filling and nutritious, use them on whole grain bread and crackers. You can also use pâtés in wraps, such as rice paper, kamut pitas and raw nori sheets.

 

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fresh berries, whole apples, papaya, mango, pineapple and banana can provide energy. They’re refreshing and packed with nutrients and fibre. Eat fruit as a snack at least 30 minutes before a meal and two hours after a meal.

 

Prepare a convenient salad-in-a-jar. Make a dressing from olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon and Celtic sea salt and pour it in the bottom of the jar. Add in radicchio, romaine, green leafy lettuce, collard greens, red cabbage, napa cabbage, kale, dandelion, endive, watercress, and parsley. Toss in some ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds or dulse.

 

SEA VEGETABLES Include seaweed, daily, such as dulse, wakame, arame, kombu, spirulina, and chlorella. They are a good source of organic minerals – alkaline-forming to buffer the acid ashes of proteins and grains. They remove toxic chemicals and metals from the body. Toss them on salads or use in sandwiches and wraps.

 

 

 

I recommend a step-by-step approach, in order to be successful in your journey to conscious eating habits. Start incorporating new food choices one week at a time. If possible, eat at least 70 to 80 per cent of raw, live food every day. Write your daily and weekly menus for snacks on paper; it will help save you time, and prevent impulse shopping.

 

 

Sexy, Fit and Fabulous for 2014

How many times have you said to yourself, “I have to lose weight”, “I have to go to the gym more often”, “I have to eat healthier”, I want to look sexy, fit and fabulous.

We tend to do the same resolutions every year, but nothing happens because we are simply not ready. We know that at some point we will have to decide what we really want. We want to look sexy, fit and fabulous!

What we think, believe and do is a reflection of our internal balance and harmony with ourselves. When we become conscious of that it becomes easier to make proper food choices.

The approach to healthy eating is a slow transition.

1.            LOVE YOURSELF

Find a quiet, peaceful moment in your busy schedule. Create a personal space using candles, incense, flowers and stones in your favourite room. 

Think about all the good things that happened to you lately – especially when you feel down or caught in negative feelings. Be grateful for everything you have: health, people that you love and that love you, your parents, your spouse, friends etc. Write down your affirmations. Visualize what you would like to create in your life and sense it as if it is happening right now (health, sexy, fit and fabulous slender body, happiness, harmony), and practice love, peace and compassion.

2.            LOVE YOUR FOOD

Listen to your Body. How do you feel emotionally, physically and spiritually after ingesting certain foods?  What are your cravings? Incorporate one food at a time and experiment with it. Prepare your food with love, as it will aid in digestion. Create your own recipes in order to develop a relationship with food.

3.            LET IT GO

Our body needs natural food, rich in nutrients and enzymes without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and that has not been irradiated, packaged, processed and genetically modified. Eliminate them!  Remember what you put in your body is what you become. If you put junk in your body, your body becomes a junk yard, and if you put superfoods in your body you become healthy, happy,sexy, fit and fabulous in body, mind and spirit. A work of art! 

 

 4.            EAT SUPERFOODS

Superfoods will detoxify your body and nourish and rejuvenate the cells. These life-force foods include fruits, vegetables, and raw or sprouted seeds and nuts. Think about live, organic food taken from the garden and solar-powered with the sun’s energy. When we eat this food, this energy is transferred into our body and gives us energy, youthfulness, and well-being.

SEA VEGETABLES: Eat spirulina, dulse, wakame, arame, kombu, or chlorella on a daily basis. They are packed with trace minerals, and they remove toxic chemicals and metals from the body. Toss them on salads or use in soups.

VEGETABLES: Make your own salad with radicchio, green leafy lettuce, arugula, and dandelion. You can add beans or radishes and sprinkle on some ground flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, or dulse.

WHOLE GRAINS: Eat fibre such as basmati brown rice, amaranth hemp seeds, kamut breads and Quinoa. They are important for digestive health and efficient bowel movements.

GOJI BERRIES: Packed with nutrients and fiber, eat this fruit at least ½ hour before your meal. Have a bowl of fruit in the morning. Mix apples, papayas, mangoes, pineapples, bananas, pears and sprinkle with Goji berries.

SEEDS AND NUTS: Eat almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and brazil nuts. For better digestion soak seeds and nuts over night.

SMOOTHIES: Mix hemp or rice protein with almond milk in a blender.  Add some maca and/or bee pollen, as well as frozen bananas. It is so yummy and filling.

WATER: Drink water that has gone through reverse osmosis.  Make sure that you get at least two litres of water a day to help your body remove toxic waste, especially if you drink coffee and alcohol, which are diuretics and promote fluid loss.

GREEN TEA: Drink this instead of coffee. It is a potent antioxidant, contains flavonoids, helps regulate blood sugar, and is anti-inflammatory.

LEAN PROTEIN:  Fish, eggs, and chicken are very good for non-vegetarians.

 

5.            EXERCISE

There is no weight loss and fit body without exercise. Adding 30 to 45 minutes of gentle physical exercise such as walking, cycling, and dancing will promote cleansing of the blood by stimulating circulation and perspiration. It will increase strength and well-being, and reduce stress. Be around people that exercise regularly and eat healthy!

Treat your body, your temple, the house of your soul with care and respect. You want to make the best choices for your body; you want to eat the best food available on the planet and we want to be sexy, fit and fabulous.

HERB BROCCOLI SALAD

2 cups broccoli, chopped in florets

1 yellow red bell pepper, cubed

2 tbsp capers, sundried

1 lemon, freshly squeezed

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic, minced

½ tsp marjoram, dry

½ tsp sage, dry

Celtic salt to taste

Sunflower seeds

 

Combine broccoli, red bell pepper, capers, lemon, olive oil, garlic, marjoram, sage and salt in a salad bowl

Marinate the mixture for ½ hour

Sprinkle with sunflower seeds

 

Vaccine Fillers and Ingredients

By   Dr. Mercola

In addition to the viral and bacterial RNA or DNA that is part of the vaccines, here are the fillers:

 

aluminum hydroxide

aluminum phosphate

ammonium sulfate

amphotericin B

animal tissues: pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain,

dog kidney, monkey kidney,

chick embryo, chicken egg, duck egg

calf (bovine) serum

betapropiolactone

fetal bovine serum

formaldehyde

formalin

gelatin

glycerol

human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)

hydrolized gelatin

monosodium glutamate (MSG)

neomycin

neomycin sulfate

phenol red indicator

phenoxyethanol (antifreeze)

potassium diphosphate

potassium monophosphate

polymyxin B

polysorbate 20

polysorbate 80

porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolysate of casein

residual MRC5 proteins

sorbitol

sucrose

thimerosal (mercury)

tri(n)butylphosphate,

VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells

washed sheep red blood cells

LIVE BLOOD CELL ANALYSIS – NOW AVAILABLE in Toronto area

Nutrition House: Humbertown, Burlington

 

A small drop of blood taken painlessly from your fingertip is viewed with a high magnification microscope that transfers the image to a monitor. We analyze the immediate test result together, revealing subtleties which cannot be seen by standard laboratory tests!

 

Find out what’s REALLY going on in your body.  Recognize imbalances, detect early signs of serious health conditions, and maintain optimal health!

 

Life blood cell analysis can reveal:

­ Nutritional deficiencies

­ Digestive issues – incomplete digestion of fats and proteins

­ Liver stress

­ Bacterial and fungal levels

­ Circulatory problems

­ Blood PH – Acid/Alkaline balance

­ The condition of red blood cells

­ Folic acid, B12 and iron deficiencies

­ Hormonal imbalances

­ Environmental sensitivities

­ Chronic fatigue syndrome

­ Compromised immunity

Seeing your blood live on a TV screen is one of the most exciting and beneficial experiences you will ever go through.

Simona Stepancic, Restired Holistic Nutritionist, Orthomolecular practitioner and Raw food coach

www.wholeimagenutrition.com

 

 

 

After a long hot summer we are back to work and ready for a new journey of conscious eating.

Our busy schedule might prevent us from thinking about the healthy food that’s best for us each day. But with planning ahead, our lunches gives us confidence and security. When shopping for particular food, ask yourself:  “Do I want this food to become part of my healthy body cells?”

Think about your total nourishment of the day. We need to eat (I would like to encourage you to eat) every three to four hours to balance blood sugar in order to maintain energy and focus.

I always recommend green drinks first thing in the morning. Drink them on a bus or train if you don’t have time at home. Mix greens with water or your favorite juice to embellish the flavour. If we don’t fuel our body properly in the morning, we will feel grumpy and moody, and will not be able to think straight.

Be creative when preparing a meal or a snack for work. Use different colours, shapes and textures of organic fruits and vegetables.

Serve celery sticks, radishes, cucumbers, carrot sticks, and chopped fennel with home-made spreads. You can also prepare your own cream cheese by mixing pine nuts, lemon, celery and a little water in a blender or food processor. Dips and spreads can stay for a week in the refrigerator.

You can use wraps such as rice paper, kamut pitas, and raw Nori sheets. Fill them with hummus or choose from a variety of home-made raw spreads, and add fresh vegetables such as radishes, cucumbers, sunflower sprouts, etc.

Make your own salad of radicchio, green leafy lettuce, arugula, and dandelion. You can add beans, radishes and sprinkle some ground flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, dulse or whatever you prefer. Bring your own salad dressing made of extra virgin olive oil, lemon and Celtic sea salt.

Munch on Goji berries, which are packed with nutrients and fibre.  Have at least two apples a day. You can also make yourself a smoothie made of parsley and mango, which can be prepared ahead of time.

Take a protein shake with you if your work hours are long and you are heading to the gym after work.  You can choose from hemp, rice or whey protein; just mix them with water and add some fresh or frozen berries such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. Protein shakes will keep you energized and alert and you will be able to work out longer.

 

And remember to drink water! Recommended is at least ten glasses of Reverse osmosis water every day. The amount depends on climate, stress and exercise. Have a bottle with you every day.

Many of us eat lunches away from home. Here are a few suggestions to choose proper food when eating out.

• Choose a restaurant with healthful dishes on a menu.
• Eat a salad or other vegetables with your chicken or fish if you have to have a meat
• When having a salad, order dressing on the side, such as olive oil and lemon.
• Skip the bread and butter.
• Avoid deep fried vegetables; ask the server to steam your vegetables.
• If you have allergies and intolerances to food always ask your server for the ingredients and method of preparation of your particular dish.

The transition to a healthy diet and lifestyle can be easy. Once you make the change, you won’t want to go back.  The rewards include improved memory, clarity, and focus.

 

Simona Stepancic, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Orthomolecular practitioner, Raw food coach

Foods that Romance

 

Have you ever thought about planning a romantic candlelight dinner for two in your home?

I encourage you to plan one as an expression of love, gratitude and connectivity to your loved one.

Let your spouse know that he or she is important to you and write your own invitation with a date and time of your romantic night. Be creative and place the invitation on mate’s pillow or in the pocket or send it by mail.

Bring romance into your life and feel the passion; buy yourself a sexy dress and buy flowers, candles and essential oils ahead of time.

 

ROMANTIC TABLE

 

Setting the mood on your table is as important as the food on the plate. Set the table in front of the fireplace with a pretty tablecloth. Light the candles on your table preferably from beeswax. They are natural, clean burning and healthy for you. Pure beeswax candles smell pleasant and the smell will not interfere with the smell of your wonderful delicious nutritious meal.

I like white tablecloth; it goes very beautifully with gold. You can use gold chargers and white plates and sprinkle some white or yellow rose petals on the table.

Play the soft music to set the right mood. Use pure organic essential oils such as vanilla, lavender or mandarin to fragrance the room.

This is a celebration of love; it is angelic.

 

 

LOVE FOOD

 

Express the love that is in your heart by choosing the most exquisite romantic food that will nourish your senses, body and soul and bring attraction to each other.

Food affects us how we feel and good nutrition is the foundation of our sexual vitality.

Excessive sugar, saturated fat, processed foods affects our sexual desire, our mood and energy level.

Foods that are fresh and live such as leafy green vegetables, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, nuts and deliciously rich chocolate made from pure cacao will boost your energy and stamina.

According to ancient wisdom tradition there are foods to be edible aphrodisiacs.

 

Fruits of the Gods:

 

Strawberries are heavenly fruit. Seduce your lover with red heart shape strawberries. They are perfect fruit for dipping in chocolate (raw cacao sauce)

 

Banana is favorite fruit of the sages. Banana is sweet and rich in potassium, vitamin C and pectin. It is essential to sex hormone production and provides energy and stamina. Dip banana in chocolate and feed your lover.

 

Mango is exotic tropical fruit. It strengthens the heart and provides energy and stamina. It contains vitamin C and E, potassium and magnesium. Mango has a sweet fragrance and is perfect fruit to share with your bellowed. Use your imagination…

 

Raspberry is sexy fruit. Raspberries with its shape and texture are perfect for finger feeding your lover.

Raspberries are sweet-and-sour fruit. They are a good source of vitamin C, magnesium and potassium.

 

Figs are luscious soft plump fruits rich in folic acid, iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and potassium. Figs are considered aphrodisiac because of the shape and fig’s pink flesh…

Use figs in salads, as a snack or for dessert.

 

Avocado is sensual fruit, powerful stimulant and aphrodisiac. It is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E and B complex. Avocado is a traditional remedy for erectile dysfunction. It is also a good source of beta carotene, potassium and folate, nutrients good for circulation and heart.

Avocado contains monounsaturated fat that helps maintain levels of good cholesterol.

 

Raw Cacao is considered by the Aztecs nourishment of the gods. Raw cacao is a super food high in sulfur, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorous, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, B, C, D, and E. It is super rich in antioxidants (the richest source of any food)

Raw Cacao is an aphrodisiac, high in feel good hormone serotonin and also dopamine and anandamide which increase feeling of well-being.

 

Asparagus has long been used as an aphrodisiac; because of its phallic shape and also because it increases circulation in the genito-urinary system.

Asparagus is packed with nutrients such as vitamin E, B, C, iodine, potassium and zinc. It also boosts vitality and is needed for healthy hormone production.

Feed asparagus to your lover by hand.

 

Celery is an aphrodisiac rich in folic acid, beta carotene, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica and fiber. It is a blood purifier, helps neutralize acids in the body, freshen your breath and cleans your teeth.

According to the research celery contains androsterone a potent male pheromone which is released through perspiration after eating. Androsterone is thought to attract females.

Eat a lot of raw celery and you could increase your natural production of pheromones.

 

Sunflower seeds contain zinc needed to produce testosterone in the body. They are excellent for strengthening the nervous system, lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Sunflower seeds build energy and increase sexual vigor in both men and women.

 

 

Vanilla is best known as an aphrodisiac. Vanilla has a powerful scent which is believed to arouse sexual desire.

 

Below are my delicious recipes made to induce romance and spark love between you and your partner.

Invite your partner to prepare dishes with you. Imagine kissing and hugging your partner while they chop veggies or preparing other dishes and desserts. Pour some wine or even champagne in glasses or make something alcohol free such as refreshing piña colada made of fresh coconut meat, coconut water, agave nectar and fresh pineapple chunks. It can be sensual experience.

 

Indulge yourself with a scented bath or a massage using bath oils later or after a meal.

 

Love requires care and nurturing and to plan a romantic meal at home more often is a beautiful way to symbolize love.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

 

RECIPES

Black Mission Figs with Arugula and Macadamia Ricotta

 

6 – 8 Black Mission figs, halved

2 cups arugula

Extra virgin olive oil

1 cup macadamia nuts, raw

Celtic salt and pepper to taste

 

 

In a salad bowl toss the arugula with olive oil and sprinkle with lemon, salt and pepper.

Place arugula on the plate and arrange figs over the top.

Sprinkle with macadamia ricotta

 

Macadamia Ricotta

 

1 cup macadamia nuts, raw, soaked 2 hours

½ lemon, freshly squeezed

Celtic salt to taste

Water to a smooth consistency

1 tbsp chives, finely chopped

1 tsp. oregano, fresh, minced

 

Mix all the ingredients in a blender.

 

 

Preparation:

 

Spoon 4 tablespoon of chocolate cream into a small bowl

Insert bananas into chocolate cream in a bowl.

Top it with whipped cream and sprinkle with pecans or other preferred nuts.

 

 

 

Celery Boats with Orange Ricotta Cheese

 

 

Serve this as the perfect beginning to your meal

 

5 – 10 Celery ribs

½ cup raisins, soaked 1 hour

1 cup macadamia nuts, raw, soaked 2 hours

1 orange, freshly squeezed juice

1 orange, flesh

Chives, fresh, to taste

 

 

Soak raisins for an hour before they are needed

Mix together macadamia orange ricotta cheese, freshly squeezed orange juice, raisins, and orange pieces.

Wash celery stalks. Cut stalks into 1 to 2 inch lengths.

Spread orange ricotta cheese onto celery pieces.

Place celery boats on a plate and top with celery leaves to garnish.

 

 

Strawberries Dipped in Raw Cacao

 

1 cup raw cacao or carob powder

½ cup agave nectar

¼ tsp Celtic salt

¼ cup coconut oil

10 to 15 strawberries

 

Mix raw cacao or carob powder, agave nectar, coconut oil and Celtic salt in a bowl until silky smooth.

Place in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes to chill.

Place parchment paper on a large tray.

Hold the stem and dip each strawberry in the raw cacao or carob mixture.

Place strawberries on the large tray and put the tray in the freezer for 15 minutes before serving

 

Asparagus Salad with Oranges

 

1 bunch (15 spears) asparagus, trimmed

 

 

Orange Mustard Sauce

 

½ lemon, freshly squeezed

1 orange, freshly squeezed

Extra virgin olive oil

Agave nectar to taste

1 tsp mustard powder

Celtic salt and pepper

 

 

Arrange asparagus spears on a plate, drizzle with orange mustard sauce and sprinkle with pepper.

 

Note: Try to get thin spears as thick stalks tend to be woody.

 

 

Raw Banana Split

 

Chocolate Cream

 

½ avocado

2 bananas

¼ to ½ coconut water or to desired consistency

2 tbsp carob powder

 

In a food processor blend all the ingredients until smooth.

 

 

Whipped Cream

 

2 cups cashews, raw, soaked for 3 hours

Agave nectar to taste

Coconut water

1 tbsp vanilla extract, liquid

1 tbsp almond extract, liquid

 

Mix all the ingredients in a food processor to a smooth and creamy consistency.

 

 

Preparation:

 

Spoon 4 tablespoon of chocolate cream into a small bowl

Insert bananas into chocolate cream in a bowl.

Top it with whipped cream and sprinkle with pecans or other preferred nuts.

 

 

Angel Hair Pasta with Pistachio Pesto

 

Pistachio Pesto:

 

1 cup pistachios, shelled

2 cup basil, fresh

½ lemon, freshly squeezed

2 garlic clove

Extra virgin olive oil according to taste

Celtic sea salt to taste

 

Using food processor, mix all ingredients together to a crunchy consistency.

 

Angel Hair Pasta:

 

5 small zucchini, peeled and cut on half

Bragg aminos to taste

 

Using “Spiralizer”, slice zucchini into angel-hair noodles.

Place angel-hair noodles in the mixing bowl, add some bragg aminos, and sprinkle with lemon and olive oil.

Toss the pistachio pesto with the zucchini and serve.

 

 

 

 

Did you know that each food has a different energy vibration level?

Kirlian photos of food showing their energy levels. According to Brian Clement raw sunflower greens and wheat grass, have large auras, 2 feet around them, and the aura has the colours gold, white and purple. The same items, after being cooked have no aura.

According to the Max Planck Institute about 50% of the protein is coagulated when any protein is cooked, so soy and other legumes that need to be cooked are for this reason not the best protein as compared to nuts, seeds, and grains which can be eaten raw or sprouted.