Some of the best smoothies are vegetable smoothies. Green vegetables, that is.  Green, leafy vegetables!


Summer is here and inTexas the blueberrie are plump, juicy and ripe for picking!  So are the peaches!!
Last week my family and I visited a Hamm's Farm outside of Dallas and loaded up on peaches, blueberries, fresh tomatoes and okra.  I have been eating between 6-12 peaches a day easily and the blueberries have been long gone in this house!  


Some of the best smoothies I enjoyed making (vegetable smoothies, of course):


Peach Fuzz


2 small fresh peaches
1 head Romaine
1 Tblsp. chia seeds
2 c. water
juice 1/2 lemon




My Blue Heaven
1 c. blueberries
1 c. black berries
1 large, ripe banana
2 c. water
3-4 leaves lacinato kale, de-stemmed (or other variety)
1/2 bunch parsley
stevia to taste


Yum, yum, yum!  I have thoroughly enjoyed drinking my meals lately!


Here is a tip for summer liquid meals: If you like to drink your meals, drink the best smoothies you can!  Add in some fats like avocado, esp. if you are craving proteins or sugars.  The good fats help satiate that hunger for sugar and protein. This is especially great for those of you cutting down or cutting out the animal protein!  Vegetable smoothies, chock full of leafy green vegetables are the best foods on the planet and make the best smoothies. 


Drink up as much leafy greens as you can enjoy! If green vegetable smoothies are new to you, then start out light! Put only some green leaves in your smoothies and every day, have another of the best smoothie ever and add in more and more greens.  Pretty soon you'll have more greens than fruit in your smoothie and you'll LOOOOVE it! Actually, you will crave it!  How cool, huh?  to crave that which does us good.  


When introducing green vegetable smoothies to a green smoothie newbie, go easy on them!  Make it purple (by adding berries, so as to not scare them away :) and ease up on the leafy greens.  Ease them into it....make them want more that way.


Enjoy your day
In Peace,
Kirsten

Yummy, detoxifying salad!

3 Cucumbers
6 small cloves garlic or 3 large
crushed red pepper
1-2 Tblsp. hempseed oil
Celtic sea salt
fresh juice squeezed from 1 lemon (to taste)

Wash, scrub and peel the cucumber.  Use a vegetable peeler or spiralizer to turn the cucumber into long thin strips.  GO all the way to the seeds, then use the seeds for something else. (put in your next smoothie!)  Mince or crush the garlic.  Toss the cucumber strips with the garlic, pepper, oil and salt. Really do it up!  Sing a happy song while preparing and then serve right away.  If you let it sit, the salt will create a water-logged salad, so eat it right away or add the salt when you are ready to consume.

This simple salad is awesome.  Spice amounts can be adjusted to suit your taste!
Enjoy and in Peace,
Kirsten

I have been eating more skin nourishing foods trying to help my skin heal from a rash that was exacerbated by a topical medication I used.  One of the yummy things I made was this amazingly tasty, skin toning smoothie! 

Flesh and water from 1 young thai coconut
1 c. Almond Milk
1/2 small avocado
1 packet Acai
1 orange, peeled
1 banana

Blend and drink.  Awesome-ly good! 

Thai coconut water is full of potassium which facilitates cleansing of the cells.  It's electrolyte content is very similar to human blood and has been used for blood transfusions!  Very easily asimilated into our bodies, this hydrates you better than anything else. 
Almond milk adds thickness and creaminess!
Avocadoes have raw beautifying fat that is perfect for our bodies!    Full of minerals and fiber.
Acai  It is chock-full of Omega Fatty Acids that plump and nourish the skin as well as antioxidents.
Banana adds some sweetness!

Although I woke up the next morning and still have my rash :), I feel great!  Here's to trying new food!

In Peace,
Kirsten

In cold wintery days when the rain is drizzling down your windows and you need something warming, health-giving and full of flavor, opt for soup!


Here is a delicious stew that is sure to create a spark in your mouth!  (Kids love it, too.)


2 Tblsp. olive oil or grape seed oil
2 cups onion, chopped
1 c. celery, chopped
2 Tblsp. Old Bay Seasoning
2 Tsp. Thyme, powder or leaves
2 c. chopped tomatoes 
4 cups water
2 cups sweet potato, diced
1 zucchini, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
2 c. cut green beans, frozen or fresh
1 c. fresh or frozen okra, chopped
2 c. fresh or frozen corn
before serving, add
2 Tblsp. Soy sauce, Tamari or Bragg's
2 Tblsp. Fresh lemon juice


Saute the onions in the oil, add the Old bay, Celery and Thyme, saute 5 minutes more (add a bit of water if you need to keep it from sticking) Add the tomatoes with their juices, and the rest. Cook on med-low heat for 20 minutes and then turn off the heat.  Add the Bragg's and lemon juice before serving.  Yummy! 

*If you want added protein, you can serve over cooked quinoa.  Delish! 
*Sprinkle some nutritional yeast for a cheezy flavor.
*Sing positive music or say a little mantra or prayer while cooking.  This puts that vibration into your food and it will pass on to others when they eat it!  You can play good music, too.  Be happy, smile and fill your food with love and life!

Here are a few tips on getting healthy and staying healthy!

1. When you get home from the grocery store or farmer's market, wash those vegetables immediately!  Get all the greens washed and prepped for salads and smoothies.  Clean greens are WAY more appealing when you are hungry!

2. Prepare the fruits and veggies for your morning smoothies and place all the ingredients for your smoothies in individual containers.  Make enough for 3-4 days of smoothies.  That way you can wake up, hydrate, do your morning routine and then empty your one container of goodness into your blender, add water and whirl! (You can do the same for salads if you like.  Pre-make the salads.  Mix them up and have them in containers ready to eat.  I often make one GINORMOUS salad and place it in a lidded glass bowl for the family to eat on for 2-3 days.)

3.  Have a good dressing.  Have two or three!  Make your own!  If you do not have a great dressing recipe, try this on for size; it is awesome!

1/3 cup raw tahini
1/4 cup flaxseed oil (coldpressed)
1/4 cup olive oil (coldpressed)
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup Tamari or Bragg's Liquid Aminos
1 garlic clove (optional)

Blend it all up and add it to salad or dip veggies into it. YUM!

4.  Do not stock junkfood in the house.  If you buy it for your kids, stop!  If you buy it for your spouse, stop!  It does no one any good!  If your spouse absolutely HAS to have the stuff, tell them how important it is to you that you not have the temptation of junkfoods and processed foods around while you are implememting new habits that serve your highest goals.  Ask if they can buy that type of food for themself and keep it at work or elsewhere.  If they STILL must have it at home. Designate a shelf in the cupboard for that person and place those processed items there.  If it is your children that say they have to have it, remember you are the parent.  Here are some guidelines that help children learn good eating habits.

5.  Take plenty of healthy snacks when you leave your house.  Make sure your have choice.  I find if I take one snack with me, say something mroe salty, I will end up wanting something sweet.  So, take raw niuts and dried fruits (dates and pecans are a great instant sweet-tooth fix!); veggie slices and maybe a dressing to dip them in, bring a green smoothie or fresh fruit.  It may seem like alot, but packing a small sack with plenty of choices will save you money and keep you smiling all around.

There are so many ways to help yourself when it comes to staying on track.  The most important thing to remember?  If you get off track, do not beat yourself up about it!  it is ok.  Just try to make a better choice for your next meal or snack!

In Peace,
Kirsten