Juice FEASTING!

FINALLY! Some pictures!  I had to take these pictures with my iPhone because apparently my hubby took our camera to camp.  I don't know if capturing memories with our children is more important then my blog but, I'll handle him when he gets back :)

I had a question from one of my MANY followers about the juice fast that I am currently on.  So, I thought why not make a post about it on the blog...

Juice fasting or juice feasting (as some call it and I tend to agree with because you are drinking sooo much damn juice) is taking in all your nutrients and calories in the form of juice.  So, yup no actual eating!  The length of a juice fast is a personal choice, and I think knowing that you are in control of your fast is an important source of strength as you embark on this journey.  I am currently on Day 3 and I am attempting to go 10 days.  Your objective of the fast will help determine how long you fast.  I am currently fasting to well... to experience a fast.  I feel that the fast is a long lost technique in finding wellness and I am preparing to prescribe a fast to a client and I felt that I needed to fully understand what I was asking from her.  (My previous fasts have only been about 3 days, which I don't believe is long enough to experience the full affects of a fast).  I am also looking forward to the detox this fast will bless me with as well as a small bit of weight loss as I have hit a bit of a plateau.  

In regards to my last objective of weight loss... juice fasting is NOT about STARVING yourself to be thin.  I do NOT recommend fasting for anyone that is currently underweight and I would not attempt a fast without consulting your doctor if you are on any medications or if you have any chronic diseases or sickness.  

Now that the disclaimers are out of the way...

A fast is a way to let your body rest and process what your body has already stored.  

Before you fast I would recommend taking a few days to eliminate any unhealthy foods or habits from your diet.  So no alcohol, nicotine, caffeine etc...  Also, eliminating all animal products and eating a diet of mainly fruits and vegetables will help you transition.  And on a side note you will want to stop all nutritional supplements you are on while fasting.  They tend to upset the stomach without solid food and many supplements need food to be properly absorbed by the body anyway.  

I have read and also personally experienced that the first 3 days is the hardest.  I had a very bad headache last night and I was rather irritable but, I'm feeling much better this morning and I was actually looking forward to my morning juice.  It seems that the busier you are the easier it is to fast.  So take a walk, read whatever you enjoy to keep your mind off eating.  I have not found that I am particularly hungry on the fast, its more the act of eating that is hard for me.  I feel like, "It's noon, time for lunch" not really thinking, "It's noon, time for lunch... wait, am I even hungry".  I'm sure part of this eating on "schedule" is because I have little children and they need to eat on schedule and whenever they are hungry and in between :).   Another reason those first few days are the hardest (other then breaking the "habit" of eating) is because your body is detoxing.  Getting rid of lots of "junk" in your body.  You may experience headaches, tongue coating even skin breakouts.  This is all normal and will pass.  The important thing is too get plenty of varied juices and water to help your body cleanse.  

As I stated previously the length of your fast is up to you (or rather your body) so listen to your body.  You will obviously feel some hunger in the first few days but, that hunger will dissipate after that point.  If you feel a very deep seated hunger return after day 7 or so it is possible that your body is telling you it is ready for food again.  Another indicator (although not foolproof) is tongue coating.  With fasting your tongue may become coated with a white, yellow or gray film.  This signals your body's cleansing process and your tongue will usually clear when the detox cycle is complete.  However, not everyone's tongue will coat.  Finally if your energy level or your weight falls to low it is time to come off the fast.  Listen to your body it will tell you what it needs.  

Breaking your fast needs to be done slowly.  You have just given your body a much needed break and running out and eating an indulgent meal will probably give you a rather bad stomach ache.  So chew your foods well, stick to fruits, vegetables and broth.  Include some foods that will keep your bowels moving (I know gross!), so eat some prunes, grapes, cherries etc.  Eat some salads, steamed veggies, you can include some brown rice after the second day and then progress slowly into grains, nuts, seeds, beans etc.  I will not recommend a time frame for when it would be appropriate to add animal products back into your diet as I feel the most healthful way to eat is to abstain from all animal products.  And you may find that you feel so incredible without the rich proteins, saturated fats and cruelty that its unnecessary to add that crap back in at all.  

Oh, and one last thought... you do not have to do an Organic Juice Fast, but if you can find and afford the organic fruits and veggies I would do so.  In healing your body it is important to give it the most nutrient rich food available and juicing fruits with a side of cancer causing pesticides somewhat defeats the purpose :)  I do not live in an area that places much, if any importance on organics so initially my juice fast was approximately 90% Organic and 10% Funk.  Then I was like screw that, I will just juice what I can find that is organic... which means lots of beets, apples and kale!

Here's to health! Cheers!

Recipes to follow in the coming days...

So pictures would make this more interesting...

I know, I know... blogs with pictures are so much more interesting. But, sometimes it's the not having pictures that keeps me from blogging... I PROMISE I will upload some pictures soon. Besides this is just a quick post to tell you all I started my juice fast today. The hubby and the older kids are at summer camp so its just me and the babies for the next 8 days, so I figured what better chance will I have to juice fast (and actually follow through). So I juiced a lot of beets today and even my 2 year old got in on the action. She told me that my beet, carrot, ginger juice was yum :) I think I did relatively well if you don't count the glass of red wine I just had... but thats grape juice right???? Updates to follow! Wish me luck! Maybe I'll upload some recipes with those pics... we'll see, lets not get too ambitious :)

Seriously...

I'm so not a damn blogger... I have failed my 3 followers. One in particular who actually had a request for raw food recipes and it took me 7 months to even publish his comment. Why can't I get going on this? I believe in it... I want to do it... I can find a hundred a one excuses... But, that won't get a blog written.

Soooo I have been busy. Two toddlers, a dog, a puppy, a husband, two pre-teens and school! Which by the way I'm almost finished with school. I have about 9 months left and I will be a REGISTERED Holistic Nutritionist! So excited. I am going to do private consulting to start. The name of my consulting business is HOLISTIC HEATLH and the business cards are on the way!! I am classified now as a Holistic Nutritionist but being registered will be nice. I can be recognized by the board blah, blah, blah.

As far as an apology goes... How about a REALLY YUMMY recipe?!

NOTSO CHEESE DIP (vita-mix not required but definitely recommended)

2 cups water

1/4 cup cooked white beans, drained (cannelloni etc.)

1/2 jar of roasted red peppers

1 cup nutritional yeast

3 Tbls cornstarch

1 Tbls lemon juice

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 heaping teaspoon cumin

1/4 cup salsa

1/8 teaspoon chili powder

Put all ingredients in vita mix and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into medium sauce pan and heat whisking constantly until mixture thickens.

SOOOO easy SOOOO yummy!! Use it as a dip for corn chips or use it as a cheese sauce for vegan nacho night.

Hope you enjoy! Hope to be back soon!

Also, a friend of mine and fellow vegan just started her own blog http://planthappylife.blogspot.com. Check it out for other yummy recipes!

Long time no blog...

So I have been super busy helping the hubby out with his blog www.theveganfirefighter.blogspot.com , but I wanted to let my 3 followers know that I will be back soon. I have lots of fun new things to share with you! Including but not limited to skincare, makeup, documentaries, recipes... quite the eclectic mix I know! But, isn't that what chatting with your friends is??? Bouncing from one subject to the next, solving all the worlds problems over a cup of coffee and a rich vegan chocolate cake... sounds like my kind of an afternoon! Talk to you soon!!!

Vegan Bodybuilding

I found a GREAT way to celebrate Father's Day for my hubby! A few months ago my husband, I and our two youngest children made a trip to Farm Sanctuary for their annual Hoe Down. It was an amazing experience! So many wonderful farm animals that are truly happy and healthy in a natural environment was just incredible to see. UNBELIEVABLE food and intriguing speakers... I could go on and on but I will save that for another post. But, while we were there we met Robert Cheeke. Who is like the most well known vegan body builder out there...but, we didn't realize that at the time. We just thought he was a really nice guy that was very personable and sweet with the kids. On the way home though I stumbled across a web posting about him and told my husband who he was. His reaction? TOTAL disappointment and not having known that when we were at the sanctuary. You see my husband is very athletic, loves to work out etc... and finding out he missed an opportunity to speak with Robert about this common interest sucked for him. Soooo, being the awesome wife that I am I found out what his speaking schedule was for his new book Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness was and when a date came up to see him at Animal Acres on Father's Day I jumped on it.Well, the hubby enjoyed seeing Robert speak and he was amazingly thoughtful. I had emailed Robert about us coming down to Animal Acres and he brought a bag of vegan protein powders and other vegan bodybuilding goodies for Cory (that's the hubby's name). He also told us about a new documentary that is due out this year... FORKS OVER KNIVES.

Forks Over Knives...

So excited for any documentary revealing the truth of food!

I have shared this in my own small circle of friends and family as to not be "to activisty" (as my husband puts it) on my blog but I just couldn't help myself... I had to share it with everyone!

This film is said to not be about animal welfare (who not all my connect with), but about our profound ability to take control over our own health (something we all connect with). As humans, as mothers, as fathers, brothers, sisters, children we all want to live a long and fulfilled life. I hope that as more of these documentaries and more information on becoming vegan become available we will all be able to see that the ticket to that long and fulfilling life is to eliminate animal products from our diet if not entirely in your lifestyle. As more people are made aware of the fact that we can find our protein without saturated fat and cholesterol, that our calcium sources do not need to be laden with antibiotics, growth hormones and suffering and that there are soooo many delicious and amazing foods out there that we do not experience with our traditional Americanized diets we WILL see a shift in our health. The need for medication management will drop drastically, children suffering from diabetes and obesity will be no more. And losing a loved one too early to heart disease, cancer and many other degenerative diseases does NOT have to be... If you are not the type of person that listens with your heart to the suffering of animals then be the type of person that listens with your head to the proven science of how your diet is ABSOLUTELY connected to your health.

I have to post my sisters thanks that she sent to Forks Over Knives as I found it to be incredibly well said-

"Please know we have kind regards for those who put life work and effort into something of this magnitude! It is a lifestyle change desperately needed across the globe! For the sake of all earthlings, human born, animals...etc, the cause must be expressed clearly and accurately. I am so excited to see the film and thank you to all who are vested in the film in advance."

Quickly, before I sign off... Forks Over Knives may not be out yet, but Earthlings is available on DVD and for a lighter look at the animal for food industry check out Food Inc. Also, The China Study written by Dr. T. Colin Campbell is a great if you are looking for data and the Food Revolution by John Robbins for how our diet affects the world around us is also a great read!

To birthdays...

I'm an all-star blogger let me tell ya. Last night I celebrated my birthday with family which was wonderful. We had my absolute favorite dinner, veggie sushi! And some seriously sinful chocolate cake. I was so excited to share everything with you...visually. And guess what? I forgot to take pictures!

But, in the interest of blogging here are some sushi ideas and some easy side dishes...

Scratch that! I am an all-star blogger! Put the post on hold for a few days so I could post with a picture.

So I have eaten sushi three days in a row now and I'm thinking I might have a problem. My favorite sushi rolls have avocado and cucumber in them but we always fix up quite a few veggies so everyone can create the roll of their heart's desire.

Veggies-

Avocado (yes!)

Asparagus

Bamboo shoots

Carrots

Cucumber

Mushrooms (I like portobello)

Snow peas

Wait! That list is totally accidentally alphabetized! That would be helping with the homework of a certain fifth grader's fault!

With the veggies you can really go crazy. Whatever is in the refrigerator, whatever you like. I suggest peeling your cucumber and blanching any of your more firm veggies like carrots and asparagus before using them in your veggie sushi.

We also jazz our sushi up with Tofutti cream cheese and a variety of sauces. Trader Joe's makes an AWESOME sauce (thank you Angie for introducing us to it) called Soyaki. Its a ginger and garlic infused soy sauce. I LOVE wasabi paste mixed with a little soy sauce. And of course just a plain low sodium soy sauce works well also.

For side dishes my husband usually makes a fried rice. His secret is yummy and deceiving as he uses tumeric to color the tofu "egg", add in a bit of shredded carrots, broccoli, soy sauce and ginger and its ready.

Last night though my hubby wasn't home so I threw together the Asian pasta salad you see in the picture. My aunt made this for us last Easter and it is so easy and beautiful I had to tell you about it. Its a cold salad made with orzo pasta (1/2 box), 1/3 diced red pepper, a handful of sugar snap peas sliced on the bias (yes those are green beans in the picture.. I was out of the snap peas), 1 medium diced carrot and a some crispy chow mein noodles. You just toss all that together with this quick homemade dressing:

Shake together:

6 Tbl unseasoned rice vinegar

4 Tbl soy sauce,

4 tsp hoison sauce

2 tsp sesame oil (or peanut oil)

1 Tbl sesame seeds

2 tsp agave

Once that is mixed slowly add 1/2 cup of canola oil and shake well.

Pour 1/2 of the dressing over salad and mix. Then add more to taste.

The picture shown is just a quick shot of my lunch today. Usually we serve everything up on little square plates with chopsticks and small dishes for your sauce of choice. It makes dinner just a little more fun when you serve it up pretty!