Money-wise Tip: Bulk is better.

 Is cereal becoming less and less affordable to choose healthy options? If you look down the breakfast aisle, you'll notice right away that the sugary cereals cost a lot less than the more healthy alternatives. This is because the majority of the ingredients contain corn or corn by-products which is the most mass produced vegetable in the US. Sadly, genetic modifications and effects have been greatly overlooked, and there's no way to tell what you're really ingesting.
My tip: Look on the bottom shelves near the end of the aisle. Here you will find large bags of bulk cereal. The most nutrition for your buck would be to get "whole puffed wheat", which not only contains dietary fibre, but also contains Iron and Calcium, and contains some potassium. These bags are WAY cheaper for more; usually MAX $4 a large bag, and if you can't get over the "plain" taste, try sweetening it with honey or agave instead of refined sugar.

Killer Recipe: Grapefruit Granita Sorbet

Today, I've got my favourite dessert recipe of 2011:

An icy cold vegan granita recipe, similar to a sorbet, 

made with just a few simple and easy ingredients, including fresh grapefruit.




Check it out, I hope you enjoy some healthy indulging!
More to come!

Satisfy Your Brain: What You're Really Craving

Keep Everything running smooth with Good Fat 

  The first step to losing weight or just plain eating healthier is losing your addictions to the food you eat; we all have cravings. We crave things for a reason, usually our body "needs" something. Unfortunately, with all the delicious temptations out there, our eyes crave what our body might not. Your "sweet tooth" might really be your mind associating an unhealthy food with something it needs, such as vitamin C. Time to re-train your brain. Your "fast food" craving might actually be your body telling you to eat more "fat". (ie. omega3&6)
    Many people are still fearing fat, yet fat has many benefits when used in a diet correctly. Cutting it out all together will only trick your body into storing more of it. Instead, try reducing your overall fat intake and replace "bad fat" with "good fat".. that way your body and mind are still satisfied, and you can focus on your workout instead of snack time.
So, here are some really easy and tasty ways to cut down on your fat while leaving your mind and palette satisfied! feed your body what it's really been craving all along!

• Avacado & Sea Salt (more potent flavour, less needed) instead of Mayo (sandwiches)
  (try it in cottage cheese!)
•  Instead of buying pre-cut fries full of trans-fats, Toss Home Cut Fries in Olive oil and Bake them, don't fry! (way healthier option that only takes a few moments) (suggestion: while tossing cut fries in olive oil, add garlic powder, oregano and a little sea salt for a delicious restaraunt-style fry)
• Nuts are a good source of Omega3 fats and a better alternative to the crunch you'd get from chips.
• Whole Grain Crackers are also a good alternative to the usual bag of salty snacks.
• also try cooking with sesame oil or olive oil instead of vegetable and canola oil, fewer calories and it doesn't skimp on the flavour! You won't miss cooking with butter!

   Switching sinfully fatty foods to good fats has not only caused me to have more energy and healthier cravings, but my skin has also benefited. Good fats are equally good for the skin because, instead of causing acne like many fatty foods, it actually helps heal & protect the natural moisture barrier of the skin, and my cellulite is gone!  I don't crave fast food at all anymore, I'd be much happier to have an avacado and cottage cheese than some deep fried French Fries! MacD's doesn't hold any power over me!
What other reasons do you need to make a few changes?

Money-wise tip: Bean it up!

   Did you know that eating too much red meat is bad for you? The opposite is also true, a lot of us now skip out on meat at mealtime, thinking they will lose weight.
  What we really need is more beans in our diet. This protein-rich food may not seem appealing by itself, but it adds depth and texture to any recipe. It is the cheapest form of protein & fibre found at the Grocery store, only a buck or two, and that's not all it's good for! Beans are also high in fibre, which slows digestion, leaving you feeling full, longer! One last and important thing, beans are high in phytochemicals, easier put, antioxidants, which rid your body of the toxins you subject yourself to daily. ..
   -(themoreyouknow): Beans will not give you gas if you chew your food thoroughly, which benefits you no matter what you eat, because it aids in the transport of nutrients throughout your body instead of loosing most of it through the waste removal process! It also keeps the food in your mouth longer, satisfying those hungry tastebuds!

My secret: Chic peas (garbanzo beans) in spaghetti. Add it once your sauce gets hot. (I also use ground turkey or chicken in replace of beef, due to the fact that it is easier to digest. Anyone with mild acid reflux or IBS can eat this spaghetti, try looking for low-acid tomatoes!)

What this blog is all about:

   Lately I've been wondering why childhood obesity rates are still on the rise when there is so much emphasis on healthy eating. It's really not that hard, whole foods are good, and processed, have all sorts of issues that are only still being discovered now. Is it because the majority of people have passed on their bad habits or inherited insensitive taste buds? Possibly, but maybe it's because they there is no "healthy food" available? Could it be that some people just don't understand what is and isn't as healthy as they think?
  I wanted to start this blog to show people that despite money or access to fresh produce all the time, you can still improve your diet -and health- every time you eat.
  Being someone who suffers from multiple medical conditions, I needed to change my diet to make my life work. Whether you have a digestive problem, immune-deficiency, mobility problem, or you just want to eat healthy to increase immunity, stay fit & live longer, I've got plenty of tricks and tips to get the most out of every meal. I come from a large family where my mom had to feed 7 of us on a tight budget. I'd like to think I've learned from the master.
 It's time to go back to the way our parents (or grandparents) viewed food, where you know you can't trust it if it's not a natural ingredient.

ps. We've reached the 7million+ mark in population, it's due time we talk some sustainability.