Superfoods

they are the apples to my oranges, the peanut butter to my jelly,
and the better half to my sweatpants
I have eaten healthy for several years, but not until I became pregnant did I really look into the effects of diet on the human body.  Food can be the source of nutrients but can also be the cause disease and lower energy levels.  I rely on my diet to provide me with the energy I need to chase after my 1 year old son.  Superfoods provide my body with the nutrients that I sometimes lack and I try each day to eat some with every meal. 
What are they???   What can they do???
Superfoods are “whole” and “natural” and their nutrients are easily absorbed by the body
they can satisfy the Recommended Daily Allowance when eaten regularly
they contain disease-fighting nutrients (phytochemicals) and help strengthen the immune system
they are high in fiber and antioxidants
But what are they???  (This is my list of Superfoods that I try to include in my diet as much as possible)
nuts   heart healthy, antioxidant, high fiber and protein content
berries   low calorie, high water content, satisfy sweet cravings, contain antioxidants and phytonutrients
                (blueberries lead the way with their availability and high antioxidant content)
beans   heart healthy, loaded with fiber, assist in lowering cholesterol, low fat protein source, and are often substitutes for meat/poultry
superfruits   these fruits are sometimes difficult to find but have extremely high phytochemical content 
                (blueberries, acai, cranberries, mangosteen, pomegranate, goji)
others   flax seeds, quinoa, coconut oil, avacado, leafy green vegetables (kale, spinach)
Popeye was strong because he ate his spinach…Wimpy was wimpy because he ate hamburgers!
I keep nuts in the freezer to maintain freshness and use them for raw recipes, salads, and as a quick snack
I prefer Nevita Naturals Dried Goji Berries and use them in energy bars, smoothies and salads

Chocolate Chip Cookies

these cookies rival any others I have had…and they’re vegan!

2 cups of unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
¾ cups of vegan chocolate chips
¾ cups sugar
½ cup coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup soy milk
preheat the oven 350 degrees
1. in a large bowl mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and chocolate chips
                Make a hole in the center of the dry mix
2. in a medium bowl mix sugar, oil, vanilla, and milk
3. pour the wet mix in the center of the dry mix and mix together but do not overwork
4. spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet (no need for spray or extra oil due to the coconut oil in the cookies)
5. bake for 5 minutes, rotate the pan 180 degrees and bake another 4 minutes (you can add a couple minutes until done, but approximately 10-12 minutes should be enough).  They should be slightly brown on the edges.
The batch should make about 30 cookies, depending on how large you make them. 
These cookies bake perfectly every time!!!
                specific brands I use for baking
*flour – Arrowhead Mills Organic
*salt – Himalayan Sea Salt
*sugar – Organic Turbinado Sugar
*oil –virgin, unrefined coconut oil
*soy milk – Silk regular or vanilla, depending on your taste preference

I’m Not A Hippie…

I’m not a hippie…
More recent than not, I posted something on my Facebook page about health and organics.  A friend’s husband asked me when I had become a hippie.  Although I dont believe being a ’hippie’ is a negative thing, I was not so sure it was an accurate description of myself.  What I am is a young woman whose life changed when I became pregnant, and continued to change once I had my baby.  I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.  I love the outdoors, fashion, home decor, laughter, health and the concept of ‘superfoods,’ spending time with my family and friends, exercise, and, most importantly, making sure I live each day to its fullest.  My son is now almost a year old and I have a completely different outlook on life than I did one, two, ten years ago.  I couldn’t be more grateful…
I ask myself a lot of questions throughout the day.  Thus, I spend a lot of time researching and reading.  I have learned a lot about many things while sitting in a good, comfy pair of sweats.  So, as I sit here (likely in a pair of my favorite sweatpants), I would like to share what I have learned with you…