Ginger

So it's getting into the summer months and things are busier than ever! I have a new job (I'm a Princess, it's pretty awesome!) So forgive my last two weeks without a post but life happens and I just gotta roll with it! Also I have a personal trainer Friday Mornings so that takes up some of my Friday time! BUT HEY it's Food and Fitness Friday so it's all good!

I wanted to talk about one of the most amazing roots you can find an incorporate into your diet: Ginger! No, not that red head you know (my husband is a red head so I had to get cheesy). It's a great cleansing root.

Food Matters lays out 10 awesome benefits of Ginger:

1. Haven’t been feeling hungry? Eat fresh ginger just before lunch to stoke a dull appetite and fire up the digestive juices.

2. Ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.

3. Ginger clears the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

4. Feeling airsick or nauseous? Chew on ginger, preferably tossed in a little honey.

5. Can’t stop the toot-a-thon? Gas—oops—guess what?! Ginger helps reduce flatulence!

6. Tummy moaning and groaning under cramps? Munch on ginger.

7. Reeling under joint pain? Ginger, with its anti-inflammatory properties—can bring relief. Float some ginger essential oil in your bath to help aching muscles and joints.

8. Just had surgery? Chewing ginger post-operation can help overcome nausea.

9. Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion. And when there’s a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater!

10. Bedroom blues? Try adding a gingery punch to a bowl of soup. (Psst...the Ayurvedic texts credit ginger with aphrodisiac properties)

THEN they give us some practical ways to use it:

1. Ginger & Herb Rice

Cook basmati rice. When you take the lid off the pan, quickly stir in finely chopped garlic, ginger, green chilies and fresh cilantro leaves—the burst of flavor and fragrance will drive your senses crazy with desire!

2. Ginger In Your Juice

‘Grate’ idea: grate some ginger root and put it in your juicer, along with carrots and apples and a little lemon juice. Totally yummy and, of course, so good for you!

3. Gingery Dessert

Even a smidgen of grated ginger on your vanilla panna cotta or strawberry sorbet can wake up the flavor!

Personally I use it more often it tea. I shred it up into a mug, throw a tbsp of raw honey and a few shakes of cinnamon and run my Kureg and let it steep, then drink away. 

It has many more benefits than 10, such as help with weight loss, relieves tired muscles, helps your body absorb nutrients, helps with arthritis, inflammation and circulation. It does SO much more but I recommend making this apart of your regular diet especially if you are trying to loose weight.

Psalm 31:19

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Hide the Veggies

I have been getting a lot of people asking how they can get their husbands and kids on board with the veggies and that is a great question!

Simple answer. Hide the crap out of them! They will never know vegetables are in their foods! Easiest foods to do this with are spaghetti sauce, smoothies, and meatloaf.

Puree peas, spinach and carrots into spaghetti sauce. Throw it in a pot while it's warming up and stir Wal-Ah!* Side note switch to Quinoa Noodles and your husband and kids will not be able to taste the difference AND they look like regular noodles!

Smoothies are easy, put a about 1/4 of a beet into the smoothie or juice it if you have a juicer. Throw in bright red berries and a handful of spinach, even broccoli again they will be none the wiser!

Meatloaf, chop up carrots, onion, bell peppers, spinach, kale, you name it (as long as it's finely chopped) and throw it in the meatloaf mix and bake as you normally would. (Make sure to use organic ketchup that is made without high fructose corn syrup, trust me they make it).

Fries! What kids doesn't love fries!?! Make homemade sweet potato and carrot fries! Cut like fries and drizzle with olive oil salt and possibly chili powder paprika and pepper depending on your kids tastes and bake. (Pinterest has lots of recipes and again make sure to use organic ketchup that is made without high fructose corn syrup).

Wilt and finely chop spinach up and mix into shredded cheese before grilling.

Another idea for your kids is start a garden and let them help. Studies show that kids that helped in a garden more than doubled their intake of vegetables.






Once you have hidden them successfully a few times tell them what they have been eating and MAYBE (at least your husband) will have a change of heart toward the veggies, or just keep hiding them and come up with more creative ideas as you go!

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Glazed Pecans and Summer Salad

I created a video blog for you today:




Pecan's are full of antioxidants that help prevent heart disease, More than 19 vitamins and minerals. The have proteins, fiber, no sodium and no cholesterol. They actually can help lower cholesterol and help with weight loss because they increase the metabolic rate in your body. They have heart healthy fats, so no transfat! Over all it is just an amazing nut and a great idea to consume a few handfuls daily. (http://www.seedguides.info/pecans/)

Also this is the brand I choose to buy for coconut sugar and they list out it's benefits on the website.

1 tiny thing I forgot to mention in the video is about the salad I make constantly, it goes great with crumbled goat cheese!

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11,12 ESV).