Hydrogenated oils or partially hydrogenated oils can be hazardous to our health. Be a label reader and avoid products with hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list.

Hydrogenated oils are oils that are often healthy in their natural state, but are quickly turned into poisons through the manufacturing and processing they undergo. They take these naturally healthy oils such as palm, kernel, soybean, corn oil or coconut oil and they heat it anywhere from five hundred to one thousand degrees under several atmospheres of pressure.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/024694_oil_food_oils.html

Benefits of Maca Root: Find More Energy and Hormonal Balance

Maca is a nutritionally dense super-food that contains high amounts of minerals, vitamins, enzymes and all of the essential amino acids. Maca root is rich in B-vitamins, which are the energy vitamins, and maca is a vegetarian source of B-12. To boot, maca has high levels of bioavailable calcium and magnesium and is great for remineralization.

A teaspoon of Maca is great in hot tea.

Coffee – 3 tricks to make it super healthy

consider trying some added cinnamon to your coffee (cinnamon can help control blood sugar and has many other health benefits).

Its delicious.  Lots of other good tips in the article.

My daughter was looking for something sweet to eat so she asked me to make banana chocolate chip muffins. I wanted them to be as healthy as they could be and still satisfy her sweet tooth! Here is the recipe:

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 3/4 Cups of Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
2/3 Cups Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/3 Cup Applesauce
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons soy milk
2 very ripe bananas mashed
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/3 Cup Chocolate Chips

Blend all ingredients together with a mixer except for the chocolate chips. Add the chocolate chips and stir with a spoon. Spoon into lined or greased muffin tins (2/3 full.) Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min.

The hardest thing about my dairy free diet is going to social events and not eating a thing because the food tends to be loaded with butter or cheese. What a huge bummer for me.

Anyway, I am on a quest to make tasty, dairy-free appetizers I can eat.

Recently I tried something new: Healthy red pepper pesto squares and my husband loved them.  You can make them in 4 min. from start to cleanup and they are delicious.

Ingredients

• 12 thinly sliced squares of Super Firm Tofu
• 12 1/2 inch slices of Red Pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp of basil pesto sauce (enough to lightly cover 12 crackers)
• 12 Organic Wheat Square Crackers

Yes, my meat and potato husband wanted more, if can you believe that?

I don’t eat out very often these days since I have to be on a dairy free diet.  I know it is a treat for my family so tonight we went out to eat.  I told the server I was on a dairy free diet.  I was about to order Onion Rings- (I know so bad but I never have them and love them dipped in ranch.)  Guess what- couldn’t get them because there is milk in the batter and off course I knew no more ranch either.

That started a downward spiral of things I couldn’t have: the bun was buttered, the onions were sautéed in butter and so on.  The server brought the dessert menu and I just sort of gave him a look like ” ordering dinner was exhausting enough.”  The server was very friendly but just wanted to let everyone out there know- if you are on a dairy free diet you need to ask questions.  The attached article gives tips for eating out. Good luck and stay positive!

Go Dairy Free | Casual and Fine Dining Tips

I made a delicious asparagus recipe from Weelicious.  The website has a lot of amazing, healthy recipes for kids and the entire family.

Check it out:

Italian Asparagus Sticks

Jan. 22nd Angie O’ Sullivan, acupuncturist, will be at my Self-Care class.  She will teach us Qi Gong exercises to ease stress and tension.  She will bring needles to show how they are inserted and answer any questions about acupuncture.

At the class you will:

•  Schedule exercise, family, cleaning, social and me time
• Get a complete meal list, recipes and shopping list for the week (no more thinking about what is for dinner, finding recipes and making a shopping list- it is done for you!
• Create a goal for the week
• Meet a new friend to check in with during the week
• Sample different items each week
• Learn health tips and fabulous ideas from guest speakers

Where: 1530 Meridian Ave. Suite 200

When: Sunday Jan. 22nd. at 4p.m.

Just a quick reminder about the first self-care Sunday class.  The class will begin at 4p.m. so arrive a few minutes early if you plan to attend.  The class is located at 1530 Meridian Ave. suite 200  across from Hyland bikes. There is a parking lot on the other side of the building.  This Sunday’s class is free!   I Look forward to seeing you there and supporting you with your new goals!

At this class you will:

•  Schedule exercise, family, cleaning, social and me time
• Get a complete meal list, recipes and shopping list for the week (no more thinking about what is for dinner, finding recipes and making a shopping list- it is done for you!
• Create a goal for the week
• Meet a new friend to check in with during the week
• Sample different items
• Learn how to prevent and fight colds
• Learn warm ups, stretches and self-care for massage from our guest speaker