Tag Archive for: juice plus

Gut health specialist chocolate peppermint energy bites

Chocolate Peppermint Energy Bites Recipe

/in

Chocolate Peppermint Energy Bites will help you stay energized and fully enjoy all the holiday cheer minus the sugar and chemicals.  It’s my natural version of a peppermint patty. You can make the balls or bites as big or small as you like. I like to make them small so I can pop them in my mouth or eat them on the go. As always, use organic ingredients when possible. As you may have heard me say, we aren’t necessarily overweight, we are over-toxic. If you want to find out which foods are contributing to toxicity in your body, check this out.

 I’ve even found organic candy canes at my local Earthfare store.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as our family does. Let me know in the comments.

Ingredients:

1 cup of raw almonds

2/3 cup pitted dates (approximately 12)

4 Tablespoons chocolate protein powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Instructions:
  1. Place candy canes in a food processor, pour into a bowl, and set aside.
  2. Put almonds in a food processor and chop lightly.
  3. Add the dates and blend well.
  4. Add the chocolate powder, half of the crushed candy canes, and vanilla extract. peppermint extract, and coconut oil. Blend all together until starting to combine. Add a few of drops of water if needed, one at a time if necessary, to help it blend easier.
  5. Take a heaping teaspoon of the mixture in your hand and roll it into a bite-sized ball. The coconut oil will soften and it will be a bit messy. The warmth of your hand will allow the coconut oil to help bind the bite together. You will end up pushing it more together than actually rolling it.
  6. While it is still warm press and roll in the crushed peppermint candies to lightly coat.
  7. Allow the finished bites to set in the fridge for 30 minutes to re-solidify the coconut oil.

Serve and enjoy with family and friends. Store in the refrigerator. Makes approximately 24.

My 3-day Cleanse Journey

/in

It’s day one of my 3-day cleanse which started with a 2.5-mile walk on July 4th. What a perfect day to celebrate freedom from toxins! Instead of focusing on what I won’t be eating, I’m focusing on the benefits such as mental clarity, focus, and increased energy.

I prepared my body by eliminating meat and increased my consumption of fresh, raw organic fruits and vegetables. If you consume alcohol, caffeine, or dairy on a regular basis, I  would eliminate these products a few days before as well. Except for an occasional (organic) ice cream, I swore off these vices years ago. However, with dark chocolate, I still have issues!

I typically make my own juices but due to time constraints and the fact I sold my juicer a few years back (in lieu of a Vitamix), I purchased the organic juices from a local company called Sunshine Juice. I’m not being paid to endorse their products, I just wanted to share my experience with others. Their cleanse consists of seven juices per day which you consume every two hours.

It’s been several years since my husband and I fasted. He is a great support as he offered to join me…with modifications (as he tossed the pound of grass-fed beef back in the freezer). His modified liquid diet will consist of using our favorite plant-based powder, Juice Plus Complete, with almond milk. We’ve used the shakes for several years (love them) and this is what I will transition to prior to starting back on whole food.

I remember how much fun with had with it last time as we started to get a little slap-happy around the second and third day. Watching television wasn’t a good idea as we realized almost every commercial promoted food! Even though most of it isn’t stuff we would ever eat, it all started to look good. We decided that reading was our best bet and I spent lots of time in prayer and meditation.

For me, this isn’t about weight loss, although I put on a few extra pounds over the winter. Cleansing is more for the emotional and spiritual aspects of my life. Spending time with my creator without distractions is my ultimate goal.

My Dog Drinks Green Smoothies (or My dog eats better than most people)

/in
Beau is focused on his green smoothie

If you haven’t met Beau you would love him.  He is our 10 year old boxer.  Many of my friends and clients have because he works with me daily.

Beau was diagnosed with cancer (mast cell tumor successfully removed) about 5 years ago and since then, we’ve changed his diet drastically.  He has a clean bill of health now! We were feeding him the vet recommended food which when reading the ingredients I realized wasn’t all that healthy (cereal based not protein). So Beau started his wellness journey.

He now drinks about ½-1 cup of Green Smoothie daily which is basically whatever I’m drinking that day. Today was a kale, cabbage, celery, broccoli, blueberry, banana, and apple mixture. Therefore, it was more blue than green!

Most dogs (and cats), like people, need live or raw foods because they contain enzymes. Enzymes in humans assimilate nutrients and break down our food so our cells can use it. Enzymes are the key to life and what is essentially missed in most people’s and animals diet. Once food is cooked or processed, the enzymes are destroyed.

Well, that’s not all my dog eats and drinks that most would think unusual. He also eats cod liver oil and organic yogurt daily, and uses essential oils. Plus he consumes a grain-free holistic dog food. We’ll touch on the benefits of cod liver, essential oils and yogurt in future blogs.