dairy-free

6 Tips for a Meaningful Thanksgiving Day

November 20, 2013/in Healthy Living

According to Wikipedia, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among almost all religions after harvests and at other times.

Most of us love Thanksgiving because of the delicious food which is great but we need to remember and focus on more than just that to truly enjoy the day. So here are a few ideas that make your day special and memorable.

Create a heartfelt Thanksgiving tradition with an Attitude of Gratitude! Our tradition is to allow each family member to state why they are thankful for this past year. Being in a state of gratitude helps the digestion process along with the mental and emotional benefits!
Focus on family, not food. If the turkey burns or you don’t have the “appropriate serving platter, who cares! The day is about our loved ones and spending time together. Again, it is about thanking God for all He has provided and more importantly our salvation.
Be creative and think outside the conventional high sugar and fat dessert box. Consider a nut crust instead of flour or cut the sugar amounts in half within the recipe. Traditions are nice but try a new healthier recipe that you won’t regret later. You may be surprised that it tastes even better than the traditional one. If you are searching for healthier holiday recipes, including gluten-free and dairy-free options, you can download our Healthy Thanksgiving recipes guide.
Practice moderation in all regarding food portions and alcohol. Eating numerous different foods and ingredients challenge your digestive system. Be sure to take a digestive enzyme to support the stress you may put on your internal organs.
Participate in a Family FSA (fun, sweaty activity). Ask everyone to bring their walking shoes and get out and enjoy the beauty of fall. You can burn a little off of the pumpkin pie as well.
Turn off the TV, put the cell phones down, and play cards or board games. This is great FUN and provides intellectual stimulation for all. Most importantly it is a chance to interact with those you love and maybe don’t see that often.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Turmeric Tea

January 17, 2010/1 Comment/in Healthy Recipes

What are turmeric and turmeric tea? Turmeric, an herb often used in cooking, has many great health benefits. Turmeric, a plant in the ginger family. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

Meghan Telpner, author of the blog Making Love in The Kitchen, shared the following benefits one should consider it.

Historically, turmeric was used in Ayurveda and other traditional Indian medicine, as well as in Eastern Asian healing such as traditional Chinese medicine. In India, it was traditionally used for disorders of the skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, and digestive system.

Today, turmeric is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of health conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and many others.

I love that this recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free which makes this recipe even better for the digestive system. Plus it is super simple to make.

Turmeric Tea Ingredients*

8 ounces (1 cup) coconut milk (or any plant milk)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2-inch wide round slice of ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
Dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 – 1 teaspoon honey or other natural sweeteners
Optional additions: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, etc

Instructions

Gently warm the milk on the stove. In a mug, combine the remaining ingredients. Drizzle a teaspoon of the warmed milk into the mug and mix until the liquid is smooth with no lumps. Add the rest of the milk and mix well. You can leave the pieces of ginger in the tea, or strain it out before drinking.

If you love turmeric as much as I do, check out this Maple Pecan Cauliflower recipe!

It’s so delicious on a chilly night and so therapeutic if you are having digestive issues. I’m all about supporting the gut so let me know if I can help you further. I’m one of the top Digestive Health Specialist in the Summerville, SC area but work with people all across the U.S. If you’d like to learn more about gut health, we’d love to connect!

*Recipe courtesy of Joanna Kneller.

naturopathic doctor summer squash recipe digestive health gut

Summer Squash and White Beans

December 7, 2009/in Healthy Recipes

Wondering what to do with an excess of summer vegetables–zucchini, summer squash, fresh tomatoes? Summer squash and white beans saute is the perfect solution. Protein-rich white beans and summer squash make for a delicious and hearty dish. This sauté is endlessly versatile and works well with eggplant, peppers, or corn.

Ingredients (use organic when possible)

1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 medium yellow summer squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 15- or 19-ounce can cannellini or great northern beans, rinsed (see Tip)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for non-dairy version)

Preparation:

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes.
Add zucchini, summer squash, oregano, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring once, until the vegetables are tender-crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in beans, tomatoes and vinegar; increase heat to medium and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in Parmesan.

Tips & Notes:
Tip: While we love the convenience of canned beans, they tend to be high in sodium. Give them a good rinse before adding to a recipe to rid them of some of their sodium (up to 35 percent) or opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties. (These recipes are analyzed with rinsed, regular canned beans.) Or, if you have the time, cook your own beans from scratch.

Courtesy of Eating Well