Right Path

Just finished watching Food Inc. Seriously if you want your world rocked, and you want to understand why Bonfire exists, why it matters where you shop and what food you eat. Watch it. I dare you. Its free! Go get a free trial with Netflix and its one of the play now options and you can watch it right on your laptop. It was just another great reminder we are on the right path. Actually tomorrow night I get to share my "testimony" of sorts at a Bonfire party that is going to be filmed for the website! I am super pumped. I just have seen such radical changed in my health and life, and I honestly am so thankful and willing to share with anyone who will listen!

Also did a crossfit workout today. WOWIE! It's been a while. I kinda took a break and thought I could get away with it. I was reminded how much of an impact moving really has on my body. I was thankful to be able to do it again. You can bet I will be sore tomorrow:
5x5 Press
5 rounds of
30 Box jumps
40 Double Unders
20 kettle bell swings.
I was sweating and it took me 18 minutes. Not great. But ready to get back to where I was!

Here is an awesome smoothie recipe for these hot days we are being thrown. Tastes as good as a milkshake....actually better, and everything in it is good for you.

1 Banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup Almond milk
1/2 cup of Coconut dream bare coconut frozen dessert (dairy free)
You can add protein powder if you want a kick.
But blend and its delicious and creamy treat for hot summer days!

Let me help you understand....

So I get questions a lot about certain choices I'm making due to Bonfire. Unfortunately although I read a lot of info and understand it I just simply cant explain it as well as my lovely Chiro team can. So here is a link to a few post's that I think can help answer your burning questions (I know you have them...) about dairy, sunscreen, soy, grains, and workouts! So click click click away my friends. This is important info that can help your health and your child's health. Let's just say I am soooo glad I have learned what I have learned before getting preggo...I want to give my kids the best start I can.

Dairy

Sunscreen

Workout

Stress

Supplements (ie: Fish Oil)

Soy

Recipe Fun

Here are some yummy recipe's Bonfire/Paleo approved.
Pumpkin/Almond Butter Brownies

1 cup of Almond Butter
1 Egg
1/3 Cup of Honey
3/4 cup of Pumpkin
1 tsp of Baking Soda
1 Cup of Almond Flour/Meal (I added this to make it more cake like)
Chopped Walnuts
Chocolate Chips (I added these to spice it up)

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until knife comes out clean

These are delish and even got Caleb's kid approval!



Stuffed Baked Apple
Core an apple
mix together a combo of Oats, cinnamon, ginger, walnuts, agave nectar, and some coconut oil and shove in the middle of the apple. Pour a little agave all over the top of the apple. Bake at 350 till apple is soft.

If you are not seeking to do Paleo or Bonfire you can substitute brown sugar and butter for the agave and coconut oil.
Enjoy! More to come

Not another one of those....

Yes it is. Another post about food and disease. Ok so if you have no interest in this subject and maybe might get annoyed you can stop reading! I honestly don't want to annoy anyone. I just simple desire to share the information I have found to be valuable in my journey towards health. I have been following Bonfire for 9 weeks now, and have noticed a total transformation in my health, body, and eating habits. So my goal is not to belittle people or make them feel awful, but instead share my experience and the things that I am learning. So again if you have no interest that is totally fine! But I warned you. This is a top 10 list of the worst foods for you that cause sickness and disease. And at the bottom an awesome recipe for Carrot Flax Muffins that are GRAIN free!

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

So, one of our first concepts you must embrace is "out of sight, out of mind". If it’s in the the house or on your plate, you’ll eat it? Then remove it from your world; get it off your radar. This means that if potato chips, soda pop, candy, bread, ice cream, … whatever you’ll eat if it's in the house – get rid of it, NOW!

Just go through your cupboards and refrigerator(s) with a trash can or trash bag at hand, and toss out all the following disease foods. These are also foods that may contain one of the following as an ingredient:

1. Artificial sweeteners: Aspartame (i.e. Nutrasweet) and Sucralose (i.e. Splenda), Saccharin (i.e. Equal)- neurotoxins that cause brain tumors and increased cravings for sweets leading to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease and obesity (yes, contrary to popular belief, 'diet' or 'sugar-free' foods make you fat)

2. Hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils - cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity

3. Fried foods (this includes chips) - cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity

4. Pasteurized and homogenized milk and milk products (butter, ice cream, yogurt, etc.) - cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity

5. Soda pop (Diet and/or Regular) - leads to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease and obesity; also, the phosphoric acid leads to calcium depletion, which leads to osteoporosis.

6. White flour foods (breads, pasta, cakes, cookies, crackers, etc.) –Processed grains cause to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Gliadin, one of the two main protein components of gluten, is very pro-inflammatory.

7. Cured meats (bacon, sausages, and lunch meats - anything with nitrates, nitrites) - nitrates and nitrites cause cancer (especially leukemia in children)

8. MSG (monosodium glutamate - i.e. hydrolyzed yeast extract, hydolized protein, etc.) – MSG is a neuroexcitotoxin which hyperstimulates brain cells causing them to burn out and die leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

9. Sugar leads to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity. We must look at refined sugar as the poison it truly is

9. High fructose corn syrup (found in many foods - too many to list; see "HFCS" article library at www.drkratka.com) - leads to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity

10. Artificial Food Colorings Red, blue, and yellow dyes are used widely in many foods. Like, MSG, they are neuroexcitotoxins and a contributory factor in attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivitity

This list has helped me a ton, and little by little adding well food into my life and removing toxic food has helped me a ton.
Instead of Splenda or sugar, I use Agave Nectar in my coffee, and baking! It's Delish!
Here is a great recipe made with all whole foods that make delish muffins that are flour/grain/sugar free. DELISH!

Carrot Flax Almond Flour Muffins


Dry Ingredients

1 C almond flour (Trader Joe's Common Crow or Whole Foods)
¼ C raisins or currants
2 Tbsp shredded organic coconut (Trader Joes or Whole Foods)
⅓ C walnuts chopped
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Flax Mixture

1 ½ Tbsp freshly ground flax seeds (you can buy them as flax meal or blend them yourself in a coffee grinder or a Vita Mix high speed blender.)(Trader Joe's or Whole Foods)
⅓ C unsweetened organic apple juice (or Apple Cider works)
1 tsp vanilla

Wet Ingredients

2 Tbsp coconut oil (can get at Whole Foods, Common Crow, or Publix/Shaws)
1 1/2 C finely shredded carrots
5 tablespoons raw honey

* Preheat oven to 375F.
* Lightly coat a cupcake baking pan with coconut oil spread evenly with a paper towel. Combine apple juice and ground flax.
* Let mixture sit to get sticky, while grating carrots and prepare the remaining ingredients.
* Add all dry ingredients to a large mixing bow and stir well.
* Add the wet ingredients to the flax mixture and stir together.
* Add wet and dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
* Pour/spoon batter into muffin pans and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Turkey Day

So this Thanksgiving is going to be different, and special. Seeing as none of us Seminary students have any money to fly home we are having thanksgiving together! The lovely family I nanny for is going away and is graciously letting us use their home for the day!!!! We get to have a fireplace, big tv for the thanksgiving parade and football, and lots of counter space, and.....A DISHWASHER! Something none of us have. Anyway we all split up the food items and I am in charge of the turkey. NERVOUS! I have only roasted a turkey once in my life, and lets just say it was a source of stress that day with Josh's dear family(Come on I was newly married and had the pressure of cooking the turkey on my first thanksgiving with His family? It was stressful!)So needless to say I have done my homework and actually have a schedule all ready to go so this thanksgiving will be Stresssss free. I am following the instructions of the lovely Pioneer Woman (if you haven't checked her out you simply must!)
She reccomends Brining the turkey so that is what I am doing! So Here is my Turkey Day Schedule!

Wednesay

11:00 pack and bring everything to the Faris house
11:30 start cooking brine solution and let cool
12:00 pop that bad bird in the solution
1:00 cut up celery and onion for Stuffing put in bags in fridge
1:30 rip up bread for stuffing
4:00 Make Pecan Pie
6:00 Matt and Kristen come to set up table put up white lights on windows, get house ready!
7:00 p.m relax with my hubs maybe build a fire! WHOO HOO!

Turkey Day!
6:00 am remove Turkey from Brine and get ready for oven!
8:00 am cook celery and onion in butter for stuffing
9:00 am put on that Macy's thanksgiving day parade!
10:00 a.m baste turkey with butter ever 1/2 hour and back in oven!
& lovely friends arrive with their goods!
11:00 am assemble stuffing and put in oven & watch thanksgiving Friends episode!
1:00 make gravy
2:00 Eat our lovely dinner!
2- whenever: relax by the fire, football, miracle on 34th street, oh and give my friends their big surprise!

It's going to be a great Thanksgiving. And that Bird better be Beautiful! Wish me LUCK!
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your time with Family and if your like us Your Friends that have become like Family!

Eating Well Can Taste Good!

So I am on week 3 of the new renovated Bonfire Health Program! It's awesome! You sign up for 1 dollar for 3 months! It asks you a series of questions to find out where your eating and exercise and thinking habits are and places you in a level. You then get meal plans, recipes, workouts and journal assignments! It's simply awesome and my Chiropractor and His team are amazing! I highly encourage you to check it out Here! Especially if you want to make it through this cold and flu season a healthy person. There are vital things you need to do. This program will give you a jump start on healthy living. You only have one life, one body, take care of your temple!

In the mean time here is a recipe for an amazing Turkey Soup. Its delish and so good for you. Takes no time at all to make.

Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup
2 lbs ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, diced
1/8 cup olive oil
1 28oz. can chopped tomatoes
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 medium zucchini , chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 head broccoli including stem, chopped
8 oz. spinach
3 qts. organic chicken broth (Costco)
sea salt
fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

* Use a large stock pot (at least 12 qt.)
* Saute onion and garlic together in the olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes
* Add chopped vegetables, except spinach and cook for 6 minutes
* Add turkey meat and cook for 6 minutes
* Add chicken broth, bring to gentle simmer
* Add seasonings and cook for 15-20 minutes on low
* Add spinach and cook for 2 minutes
* Serve as is or over brown rice

The Truth About Dairy

Ok so I think I have told you before of my slight weakness for cheese. This has been the hardest thing for me to reduce and eliminate from my diet as I seek to grow in the well people program. I have had a few of you ask me before what is the deal with diary? I have tried to explain it but still don't know all the answers my self. My beloved Chiro has answered this question on the good ol' Franson Family Blog. Wanna check it out? Click right Here. And then go over Here and read this article it was written from.

And then go grab you a box of Almond Milk. That will really do your body good.

Paleo in a Nutshell

So here is a good video that sums up what my .

Chiropractor(check out the blog) teaches about food. He is a christian though so he starts with the belief that God created us to eat this way, not that we evolved to eat this way, as do I. This video comes from an evolution prespective but sums up the whole idea very well!
I desire to live this the best I can. Its hard, but coming from the perspective of having a mom with MS, I want to do all I can to prevent that in my own life. There have also been some breakthroughs in this diet helping to treat MS. That is very exciting to me and my mom. Check it out.

First Date

Your first date is always a bit nerve wracking.
But after you bite in, you realize there was nothing to be nervous about...he he.
No really I like to have a sweet treat sometimes. Usually after dinner.
Some one put me on to dates. Have you ever had a date? They are incredibly sweet!
Slather a little almond butter on there, and you got your self a healthy treat that is delish!

I also put this concoction together for a sweet smoothie for breakfast. Better than sugar cereal for sure.


1 Banana
1/2 cup Almond Milk
2 Dates
1 Tablespoon of Almond Butter (I add a little extra to make it nutty!)
Ice

And Blend!!!!

That will hold you till lunch time for sure.

You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat...what goes in effects everything.
It is first and foremost important to get things right with God if you have an overeating problem and learn to replace a love for food with God which is what I touched on in the last Post.

It is also important to look at food as fuel. You wouldn't put Slime in a car that needs gas, you would put the right fuel in the car to help it run properly. The same thing is needed with your body. We need to figure out what our body best needs for fuel and feed it the best thing to keep the engine running. Right now you may say, well I eat what I want and I am fine! I have no health problems. Well the check engine light is on my friend, and even though you don't sense any repercussions right now if you don't take care of yourself you will have many problems down the road.

By now you know my feelings about processed/fast food. I beg of you to think about what is actually in these microwave meals, and food from the fast food place. If you need some convincing go read This Post from one of my Chiropractors.

I am learning more and more about whole foods and why it is important to take care of my health for my future children. On of the other Doc's at my Chiropractor's office had some great words for me. I asked him how he stops eating foods that taste good to him and that he desires. For me one of these foods is Cheese. (Now if you have a cow from a farm and you are getting fresh cheese from it. Go for it! But most of the cheese we come across is highly processed and full of not so great things for your body.) So he proceeded to ask me a question. If there was a plate full of cheese, and bread, and ice cream and no one was around and you were really hungry would you eat it?
Yes! I said. Well what if I told you this food was laced with poison would you eat it then? No! because it has poison in it! Exactly! he said. If you change your thinking about the foods you want to eat, and you realize they really are full of poison that will give you cancer, diabetes, ect, it's a lot easier to say no.

Not to say that he doesn't partake in treats once in a while, or eat the food someone prepares for him at their house, its just not his staple, his main food intake.

The purpose of this post is really to give you some links I have found helpful in this journey of wellness and well eating. I really do hope you check them out. I want you to have a happy healthy family!

The Blog of Franson Family Chiropractic - My beloved Chiro!
Especially This Post on Spring Cleaning Your Pantry!

The Real Health Truth Blog- one of the Docs at my Chiro

Cheese Slave - A woman full of whole food recipies on a budget!

The Nourishing Gourmet- Joshua Harris' wife. Also Budget friendly

Eat Wild -A website about the importance of eating local wild food.

Happy Reading! And Stay tuned for a yummy Date/Almond/Banana Smoothie sure to hit your sweet spot!

The Food Addiction

Food food food....what a problem in America (and Canada). We are in love with it. For some of us this rings true more than others. If your like me food is constantly on your mind. You worry about it, try not to indulge in it, and then feel consumed by it. Overeating is a problem for many people and some don't even realize it.

This is your only body. You got once chance to glorify God with it, grow babies in it, live life with it. If we are we are in love with food, its not just an physical problem it is a heart problem. I believe that gluttony is one of those things the church hardly talks about. Adultery, divorce, swearing all these things are on the big no list, but digging in for 3rds at the church pot luck is just fine. Who cares if your not honoring God with your body? At least your not a prostitute right?

I am writing this as someone who struggles with the balance between loving food and my body too much. I think its important to take care of yourself, but not ok to be consumed with yourself. Anyone can loose weight, get in shape and love themselves, but its about Glorifying God with all you are, including your eating habits. I have had this struggle for many years, and I am thankful that God is bringing freedom to my heart bit by bit.

Here is a resource for you. If you are like me and food is one of your thorns I encouraged you to check this web site out. Its a free online course to help break free of food struggles.Setting Captives Free It's a 60 day course called The Lord's Table. Its very biblical and very helpful. And hey its free!

If you are not someone who struggles with food, PRAISE GOD, because it is such a common struggle among women, but I am sure you know someone who does. I encourage you to share this site with them. It really can make a difference. Let's stop being complacent about this sin. It saddens God's heart when we look to anything but Him to fill us up. Food can never satisfy, only God can.

Next time I'll share some links and ideas for spring cleaning for your body from my great Chiropractor!

Health in a Glass

I went for a run today! OUTSIDE! It was sunny and the birds were chirping. Mind you there was 2 feet of snow on the ground around me. I carefully stuck to the well shoveled sidewalks less I fall and make a big - o- fool of myself.
Anyway. I am excited to hear birds chirping. It means this long, snowy, New England winter is ALMOST over. I do see seagulls every day all through the winter, but those fat, selfish birds wouldn't leave this fish heaven of a town if it was -40.

So I have a new BFF. Actually 2. Gwyneth Paltrow & Tracy Anderson. I recently came across Gwyneth's web site Goop and fell in love. She is a wellness seeker, and a great chef! Who knew? I got the idea for the detox from her site. She lists many recipes and ideas, many of which I just couldn't do because of the fact I am not an A list movie star with money rollin' around. Some of her ingredients were expensive! Here is an idea of a menu of one of the days of the Detox I adapted with things I can afford!

Morning - Glass of room temp lemon water
Breakfast- Oatmeal
Mid Morning- Herbal Tea
Lunch - Kale Smoothie
Snack-Carrot, Apple, Beet & Ginger Juice
Dinner - Broccoli and Arugula soup

Unfortunately I do not own a juicer, so I went to Organic Harvest an awesome organic cafe and juice bar in Beverly. It was delish! I was surprised at how good it was and how full I got off of it. It was like Health in a Glass.

Now for the Broccoli Soup recipe. I was expecting this to be not so great because well its part of a Detox but you must try it even if you are not going to do the detox it is a healthy, cheap way to get some good veggies.

Broccoli Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow onion, roughly diced
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets (about 2/3 pound)
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon each coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup arugula (watercress would be good, too)
1/2 lemon

Heat the olive oil in a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for just a minute or until fragrant. Add the broccoli and cook for four minutes or until bright green. Add the water, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover. Cook for eight minutes or until the broccoli is just tender. Pour the soup into a blender and puree with the arugula until quite smooth. Be very careful when blending hot liquids; start slowly and work in batches if necessary (you don’t want the steam to blow the lid off). Serve the soup with a bit of fresh lemon.

So I will fill you in on Tracy Anderson next time. I hope this finds you all WELL! (ps. I am feeling much better thanks to vigorous water drinking! It works! annnnd if anyone has a juicer lying around they don't want I will take it gladly!)