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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Narrowed Focus

I am now officially focusing my energy on guiding Moms--especially busy Moms like myself--toward optimal nutrition. Changing the health of Americans and others truly starts with Mothers--even before conception. This is not to say that Dads' roles and nutrition status do not impact the health of our children. But Women have a lot of power here. First of all, we can choose a mate who takes care of him/herself and is committed to supporting us in doing the same. In a tie for first, we can take care of ourselves in preparation for our unborn children and as a healthy model for those already with us. Moms establish the tone of the feeding relationship from day one by being sensitive to their babies' needs, making eye to eye contact and breastfeeding. Dads, Partners and family members have supporting roles in making for a good feeding relationship as well and the value of these roles are not to be underestimated. Mothers must care for themselves first so that they may be fully engaged and attentive with their children--physically, emotionally and spiritually. Part of caring for themselves is maintaining a healthy weight, which comes with optimal eating, hydration, supplementation when necessary and exercise. Knowing what optimal eating really means will ensure that Moms (and Dads AND Grandparents) are feeding their children well and establishing lifelong good habits. Understanding the difference between adult eating patterns and child eating patterns also ensures that children will be fed and nourished optimally. Unfortunately, many of us have learned eating patterns that are far from optimal, and we are in a state of needing to unlearn our current habits. This can be confusing without the right resources and experts for guidance. So many times, Parents continue the negative eating behaviors established in their childhood with their own children. Who can blame them? We teach what we know. And, of course, who do any of us look to for advice on how to feed their children? Primarily, this tends to be the very people who taught us how to feed ourselves. And so the cycle continues.
I would like to be a positive influence in the lives of Parents and Children by focusing my practice on Mothers. Locally, I am beginning a series of classes called "Gourmet Healer Healthy Moms", which have various topics that pertain to self care, weight management, pre-natal and pre-conceptual nutrition, fostering a positive feeding relationship, childhood nutrition, eating well on a budget, cooking and more. Nationally and globally, I will soon begin providing my classes via Webinar, so that I may reach a wider audience, including those who already receive my e-newsletter. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on this new journey.

Blessings and Good Health,

The Gourmet Healer

Monday, March 15, 2010

Asian Noodle Stir Fry

Fresh Asian Noodle Stir Fry
Instead of Ramen: reserve 1-serving portions of this dish and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for later use. This should be used for meals, more so than for snacks. Snacks, as a general rule, should consist of fruit and vegetables paired with 1 serving of protein. That means no breads/noodles/crackers, etc.

Noodles:
½ package Whole Wheat Angel Hair Pasta, Buckwheat Soba Noodles, Gluten-Free pasta OR 1 prepared Spaghetti Squash! You can use Brown or Black rice here, too.
Stir Fry
1 tsp real butter or ghee (clarified butter with many health benefits) OR 2 tsp oil
2 minced cloves fresh garlic
1 small red or yellow onion, chopped
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1 tsp freshly grated ginger or ½ tsp powdered ginger
1 bunch of broccoli, bite sized or 1 bag of frozen organic broccoli florets
1/2 tsp Bragg Liquid Amino (gluten-free soy sauce substitute) or Soy sauce
½ tsp Hot Pepper Sesame Oil (optional, but REALLY good)
1 tsp sesame seeds
Protein
2-3 whole free-range chicken legs, skin removed and boiled. Meat removed from bone after cool.
OR
1 pound of peeled shrimp from a good source
OR
1 package of firm tofu, cubed and marinated with 2 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp soy sauce, ½ tsp grated ginger and ½ cup pineapple juice.
Sauce
½ cup Peanut Butter
1-2 TBSP Hot Water
1 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
1 tsp Rice Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
½ tsp Soy Sauce or Bragg Liquid Amino

Directions:
1. Heat oil in pan on medium to medium-high..
2. Add onion, celery and garlic andcook for 1-2 min.
3. Add Bell Pepper and cook for an additional 1-2 min, stirring.
4. Add ginger and stir.
5. Add Broccoli, Soy Sauce/Bragg and Hot Sesame Oil and stir.
6. Cover and let simmer on low for about 5 minutes or until broccoli is getting tender.
7. Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook noodles until al dente (easily cut with a fork) or as directed.
8. Meanwhile combine sauce ingredients in a small glass bowl and mix well. Add more hot water if necessary to come to a pourable consistency.
9. Uncover stir-fry and add chicken or tofu (stir gently). If using shrimp, either push veggies to the side and cook or remove veggies, cook the shrimp and add them back. Shrimp only takes a few minutes, so careful not to overcook it!
10. Add ½ sauce, mixing evenly.
11. Add noodles and stir, adding the rest of the sauce and sesame seeds and stirring until all is evenly mixed.
12. Serve immediately with a green side salad.
13. Remember that 1 actual serving of pasta is ½ cup, so have no more than 1 cup of noodles and pile on the veggies, using just enough meat or tofu.
14. Feel free to add 1 tsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your Fresh Asian Noodle stir-fry just before enjoying, for added health benefits and increased flavor and lasting fullness!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Gluten Free Fish Tacos

Gabe's Chia (Portuguese for Aunt) Mause came to visit for the night last night, and I had one chance to live up to my reputation of being an amazing cook. So I threw this fairly simple but SO delicious dinner together. I knew she would appreciate something light and vegetal, but I wanted the flavor to be explosive at the same time. I also wanted it to be colorful. So, I decided to make fish tacos--but not just any fish tacos. Gourmet Healer Fish Tacos...

*Keep in mind that you can create your own variation of this, so don't be scared off by ingredients uncommon to you. I RARELY make a recipe I find on-line or elsewhere exactly like the original version.


Gourmet Healer Fish Tacos with Coconut Rice and Spiced Asparagus Fries

Ingredients
1.25 pounds Chilean Sea Bass (Cod will do as a cheaper substitute, but do the Sea Bass if your budget will allow)
2 tsp Organic Ghee or Butter
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cumin
Chile Powder
Coriander
2 Limes (use juice and zest)
1 package of mini sweet peppers (orange, red and yellow. Reserve 2-3, finely minced)
1 large yellow or red onion (reserve 1/4, minced)
1/4 tsp freshly grated ginger
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
Garlic Sea Salt or Sea Salt and Garlic Powder
1 pkg Organic Corn Tortillas
2 cups cooked brown rice
3/4 cup shredded colby jack cheese (or your favorite)
Bib lettuce
Edible Flowers


Turn oven on at Warm temp. Place desired amount of corn tortillas in a covered glass dish and place in oven.
Cut fish fillet into 2 inch wide pieces and cut in half. You'll get about 10 pieces. Place them into a 9x11 glass baking dish. Combine 1 tsp each of Cumin, Chile Powder, Coriander, along with a pinch of garlic sea salt in a small bowl. Dust each side of the fish pieces with the spices. Spoon freshly squeezed lime juice over fish and turn them in the pan to make sure they are evenly coated in juice and spices. Zest the lime peel over the pieces of fish. Set aside.
Chop onion, peppers (in rounds, pith and seeds removed) and garlic. Heat 1 tsp Organic Ghee or Butter in a large cast iron skillet. Add garlic when pan is hot and cook/stir for about 30 sec. Add onions and peppers. Cook and stir until they soften.

Meanwhile, remove corn tortillas from oven and set aside. Keep covered. Turn oven to 375 degrees. Prepare Asparagus (ahead of time, say, the night before will make it really easy!) and put it in the oven. Specific instructions.

Add remaining spices from spice mixture to onion/pepper mixture. Zest peel of 1 lime over the cooking peppers and onions. Add 1/4 tsp grated ginger. When the mixture begins to dry up a bit and crisp, add juice of 1/4 a lime and stir.

Move mixture aside in the pan. Add 1 tsp ghee. When ghee is melted and spread out in the pan, add fish pieces. Cook for about 4 minutes on each side. Set fish back into cleaned 9x11 dish and cover.
Move onion/pepper mixture back into the middle of the pan. Add the 2 cups brown rice and stir. Add about 2 tsp Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil and stir. Add additional Garlic Sea Salt to taste. Add juice of 1/4 a lime and stir.

Relish
In a medium bowl, pour juice of 1/4 lime. Add 1/4 finely minced onion. Add 2-3 finely minced peppers. Add about 2 tsp finely chopped Basil or Cilantro. Add 1/2 Avocado, cubed. Gently stir mixture and add a pinch of Garlic Sea Salt.
Unfortunately, I left the relish out to of the picture!

Building Your Taco

Place 1 TBSP of cheese on each corn tortilla and follow with fish. Place clean, chopped/torn Bib lettuce atop fish. Place Edible Flowers atop lettuce for amazing presentation.

Plate Rice and Asparagus . Lightly drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil over the top of the plated food and Bon Appetit!

For dessert, we all shared 1 cup of Lime in Da Coconut Gelato (locally made in Santa Fe!) with a lit match in the middle-- in honor of Chia's birthday. Hey, I didn't know her birthday was in a couple of days! I was amazed at how wonderful the gelato tasted, especially being dairy-free! I LOVE COCONUT!!

By the way, this meal was Gluten Free and Fabulous!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Going Even Greener


One of my main goals in life is to figure out how to live purely while still allowing myself to enjoy the physical and sensory pleasures of life.
I've been very interested in environmental toxins and how they affect our health for a while now, and I do a pretty good job of avoiding pesticides, dioxins and BPA. I buy organic and wash my produce thoroughly, I use a stainless steel water bottle, I use glass storage containers and I don't heat plastic. I thought my toxin exposure was pretty low. Then I found the Dirty Thirty list. There's always more to learn! This is a list of ingredients commonly used in cosmetics and toiletries that are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors (think thyroid, early puberty and hormonally-fed cancers) and neurotoxins. Many easily build up to toxic levels in the body.
When I went (a few times) to my favorite health food store, I expected to have an easy time finding cosmetics that would not contain any Dirty Thirties. Boy, was I ever wrong! I ended up teaching the very nice attendant about the List and showing her that, although there is a committee that screens cosmetics for harmful ingredients, there are still many products on the shelves that contain Dirty Thirties.
I was happy to have taught the attendant and to have learned some things myself--from the process and from her. Primarily, I learned that even though a store or company may have high standards, one still has to be vigilant in their label reading when trying to avoid certain ingredients. This applies to foods as well as non-food items.
At first, I was disappointed in that I was unable to replace some of the products I thought I needed to look my best.
I still have not identified a foundation that I can wear daily, but I'm over it. After going foundation-free for a few weeks now, my skin is breathing and coming back to life, with much fewer breakouts. And I actually think I look great without makeup! It was difficult and even embarrassing at first to show myself at work with no makeup. However, I am thankful for the opportunity to work through my self-image issues. I've learned to appreciate my natural look, and that is carrying over to the rest of my body as well. I'm actually finding it sad and dysfunctional that women feel they have to constantly "have their faces on".
I figure if I reserve wearing makeup for special occasions and nights out, I will not only decrease my toxic burden (the day in, day out is where it really counts--food included), I will decrease my rate of aging.
I must also add that, not only did I realize that my makeup needed to be changed, but also my soaps, shampoos and lotions were sub-par as well. I'm slowly working my way into changing those, but one thing at time. Change is difficult, and in my mind, one at a time is most certainly progress. That said, making these changes gives me insight into how to help my clients with behavior change as well. Ah, the benefits just keep stacking up! I encourage anyone who is interested in weeding out harmful ingredients to visit Teens Turning Green. And of course, I am always available to answer questions, based on my experience thus far.


Blessings and Good Health,
The Gourmet Healer

Monday, December 21, 2009

Winter Reflections Prepare Us For Spring

I've posted lots of recipes lately because I want to show readers easy recipes that are healthy and tasty, all at the same time. Hopefully, the recipes are tried and appreciated.
On a deeper, more spiritual note, I'd like to re-post an excerpt from Albuquerque's Noble Path Bookstore Newsletter. It reminds us that eating well, connecting with friends and family and getting plenty of rest are what we're supposed to do in the winter, so that we can be ready to carry out our creative endeavors in the Spring. We are also reminded that Meditation and Prayer are perfect avenues for the quiet reflection which is so essential to our well-being. Recharging ourselves by connecting one on one with the Divine and with Ourselves will prepare us for the times ahead.
Read on:

"As you know, Nature is now in her resting season, withdrawn, deep in the earth, and the roots are preparing for Spring. We too, may be deeper within ourselves, reflecting, replenishing, getting plenty of rest, relaxing and sleeping. Seeking both inner and outer warm, we spend more time at home with family and friends.

The observance of the solstice(s) are linked to various traditions/cultures through art, literature, mythology and religion. As the winter is the season of dormancy, darkness, and cold, the coming of lighter days after the solstice brought a more festive mood. The return of the light was a reason to celebrate that Mother Nature's cycle was continuing.

Meditation is a receptive mode, a process, a kind of awareness that is inherent in our nature. It is a state of being. Winter is related to the Water element, the emotions. When out of balance, the specific emotional imbalance associated with Water energy is fear. When in balance, the element allows fluidity, flowing and the ability to rest and nourish ourselves and others. Also, allowing for the ready expression feeling, such as love. Meditation (along with conscious breathing) brings us into alignment with our center, in the present, which creates a feeling of peace and balance."

Namaste to all of my fellow Foodies--and the World as well. May you deepen your awareness and understanding by consuming foods full of life force energy and vitality. And may these foods simultaneously bring you true culinary pleasure--your reward for honoring your Body and Nature.

Infinite Blessings,
The Gourmet Healer

Friday, December 11, 2009

Easy Gourmet Healer Breakfast Ideas


Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while something is better than nothing, why not make that something really count??
As a single mom, I know that mornings can be hectic. That's why I'm always thinking up ways to keep breakfast QUICK and EASY, but also creative and healthy.

Fancy Yogurt Parfait
Forget those sugary yogurts that have little benefit. Use plain yogurt and jazz it up on your own. We use Organic full-fat plain Greek yogurt, but I've also used organic regular plain yogurt that can be bought in large tubs and is cheaper per unit. Dish it up into a pretty champagne flute or just a regular bowl and add a dash of cinnamon, vanilla extract and 1 tsp local organic, preferably raw (for the most benefits) honey. For added color and nutrients, top with diced kiwi and pomegranate seeds. Serve it up with a whole grain English muffin such as Ezekiel brand Cinnamon Raisin or Regular (shown). Toast and spread on 1/2 tsp of ghee, such as from Pure Indian Foods and 1/2 tsp Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil from Spectrum.

Breakfast in a Crunch
Don't have time to do any mixing? Grab some banana chips, washed blueberries already waiting in the fridge and your favorite unsalted, unroasted nut from the freezer and throw 'em on the plate! Pair it with an English muffin from above. This one can even be bagged up and taken onto the bus! This is a complete breakfast--whole grains, healthy fats from the nuts, ghee and coconut oil, and fruit that's loaded with antioxidants! Enjoy!

Spiced Asparagus Fries


Spiced Asparagus Fries

Say good-bye to grandma's mushy, canned asparagus. This Gourmet Healer Original version of asparagus is sure to please your senses, soul AND cells! Here, you'll reap the heart and emotional health benefits of asparagus combined with the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory powers of Coriander, Cumin and Turmeric and Garlic. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 bunch of thin, washed asparagus, 2 TBSP Avocado Oil, 1-2 tsp Cumin, 1 tsp Coriander, 1 clove minced garlic, ½ tsp chile powder, ½ to 1 tsp Turmeric, Sea Salt to taste.

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a glass baking dish or gallon freezer bag, place washed asparagus, woody ends snapped off. Evenly distribute Avocado oil. Add spices, garlic and salt and toss. . For freezer bag, seal and rub spices and oil into asparagus. Place asparagus onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes or until it starts to crisp.

Everyone will love it AND benefit from this spicy spin on fries! We can ALL be Gourmet Healers with this one!