This Saturday, March 31st, the world is going to partake in Earth Hour, one hour where all lights are shut off to conserve energy and benefit the plant. I hope you will join me and the cities around the world who will be turning their lights off starting at 8:30pm. Get your candles ready!
March 29, 2012
Urgent Petition
Here is a petition for all of you to sign that will protect heritage pigs and their owners. I don't know if these pigs would be killed, but there is a possibility the farmers would go to jail just because the law is poorly worded. This only applies to Michigan, but feel free to help us out even if you're not in Michigan.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7389
There's a lot more stuff on the site, so feel free to look around. At first I didn't think signing a petition would make a difference, but I was wrong. I've already signed at least a dozen that have actually worked. A lot of them have to do with food safety, banks fee, unnecessary forclosures, and animal protection.
Other sites I constantly sign petitions for:
http://www.change.org/
http://www.credoaction.com/
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/takeaction.faces;jsessionid=52C516E7A901873B7A99DB51821DBED3.ctg-c?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_takeaction_from_freewaystohelp
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7389
There's a lot more stuff on the site, so feel free to look around. At first I didn't think signing a petition would make a difference, but I was wrong. I've already signed at least a dozen that have actually worked. A lot of them have to do with food safety, banks fee, unnecessary forclosures, and animal protection.
Other sites I constantly sign petitions for:
http://www.change.org/
http://www.credoaction.com/
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/takeaction.faces;jsessionid=52C516E7A901873B7A99DB51821DBED3.ctg-c?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_takeaction_from_freewaystohelp
Mimi Kirk
Mimi Kirk is one inspirational woman. Take a look at the picture below and try to guess her age. I believe this is the cover of her book.
Well, she's in her 70s, and part of the reason she looks so young and healthy is because she recently started eating a raw food diet, although she'd been a vegetarian for 40 years.
Here's a youtube video she made about what her fridge looks like, and although the point is on how to store stuff, it really gives you a glimpse inside what to eat. Some important things she mentioned that you should really look into are kelp noodles, nutrional yeast, fresh fruits and veggies and nuts. You can find all sorts of inspirational and informative stuff on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683taLTfc1c
Now, this doesn't mean you have to be vegetarian, vegan, or strictly eating raw or living foods (more about what the heck that is later). I just want you to put more consideration into what you're eating. The stuff you put in your mouth should have as many nutrients as possible, and things like cake, fries and candy bars just don't have that.
Well, she's in her 70s, and part of the reason she looks so young and healthy is because she recently started eating a raw food diet, although she'd been a vegetarian for 40 years.
Here's a youtube video she made about what her fridge looks like, and although the point is on how to store stuff, it really gives you a glimpse inside what to eat. Some important things she mentioned that you should really look into are kelp noodles, nutrional yeast, fresh fruits and veggies and nuts. You can find all sorts of inspirational and informative stuff on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683taLTfc1c
Now, this doesn't mean you have to be vegetarian, vegan, or strictly eating raw or living foods (more about what the heck that is later). I just want you to put more consideration into what you're eating. The stuff you put in your mouth should have as many nutrients as possible, and things like cake, fries and candy bars just don't have that.
March 28, 2012
Eating on a budget
1. Shop seasonally and locally. In season items are likely to be less expensive, and local items (from a farmer's market, for example) are usually cheaper and healthier.
2. Use up everything you already have in your fridge and pantry before going out to buy new stuff. When you do buy new stuff, buy what's healthier and on sale. Stuff like canned beans, sauce and rice is healthy and will last a long time.
3. Buy less meat. Meat costs more than fruits, veggies and beans. Treat meat as you would cake - you wouldn't eat a cake every day, and you wouldn't eat more than one slice. Your meat portion size should be the size of your fist.
4. It may take less energy to go to a restaurant, but it costs more than making a meal at home. For $20 you could buy dinner out for one person at a nice restaurant, or a meal for 2-4 at a fast food place, OR, you could get enough groceries to last four days.
5. Plan ahead and shop more frequently so you're wasting less and only buy what you need.
6. Buy in bulk, especially when things are on sale.
7. Grow your own food. Herbs can be grown in the kitchen, there are tomato plants that hang upside down, and other things really aren't very hard to grow.
This is what was in my fruit bowl lately: sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, oranges and garlic. Usually I have a bit more, such as regular potatoes, onions, bell peppers, bananas and apples.
2. Use up everything you already have in your fridge and pantry before going out to buy new stuff. When you do buy new stuff, buy what's healthier and on sale. Stuff like canned beans, sauce and rice is healthy and will last a long time.
3. Buy less meat. Meat costs more than fruits, veggies and beans. Treat meat as you would cake - you wouldn't eat a cake every day, and you wouldn't eat more than one slice. Your meat portion size should be the size of your fist.
4. It may take less energy to go to a restaurant, but it costs more than making a meal at home. For $20 you could buy dinner out for one person at a nice restaurant, or a meal for 2-4 at a fast food place, OR, you could get enough groceries to last four days.
5. Plan ahead and shop more frequently so you're wasting less and only buy what you need.
6. Buy in bulk, especially when things are on sale.
7. Grow your own food. Herbs can be grown in the kitchen, there are tomato plants that hang upside down, and other things really aren't very hard to grow.
This is what was in my fruit bowl lately: sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, oranges and garlic. Usually I have a bit more, such as regular potatoes, onions, bell peppers, bananas and apples.
March 27, 2012
What kinds of things can a vegetarian eat?
You're probably wondering what you can eat if you give up meat, snacks and pop. Here's a small sampling:
veggie lasagna
stir fry with tofu and veggies
egg drop soup
cauliflower mashed potatoes
parsnip fries
twice baked spice-only potatoes
crepes
mushroom raviolli
eggs over asparagus
eggplants pasta nests
brocolli alfredo pasta
veggie pizza
salad with cucumber, grape and apple
and most importantly... green smoothies and juices!
This tasty blackberry-strawberry-ricemilk-lettuce smoothie kept me full all morning at work, and it was so refreshing. You can make a combination out of practically anything. I once made an edamame bean smoothie that tasted like peanut butter and celery, and I have a popsicle maker which I made prune & cranberry ricemilk popsicles that tasted simply amazing. I just experiment with whatever I have on hand, with no set recipe.
Right now, that probably doesn't sound appealing to you. But there is no better way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need than a fresh fruit and veggie drink! And an easy way to see if you like it before you go out and buy a blender or juicer is to stop by Meijer and pick up a "Naked Green Machine" juice from the produce refridgerated section.
Here's an example of what I ate the other day...sweet potatoe gnocchi in red sauce and pesto (separately) and the one in red sauce had purple cabbage in it...SO yummy. It really only took about a half hour to make.
Here's the recipe: http://www.designsponge.com/2012/03/in-the-kitchen-with-simone-anne-langs-sweet-potato-gnocchi.html
And here's what I just bought today...
Tofy shirataki noodles for stir fry, silken tofu, sweet potatoes, lime, nectarines, ugli fruit, beets, apples, red and green pears, brocolli, avocado, prickly pear, mini papaya, banana, cucumber, edamame beans, parsley, celery root, mushrooms, POM pomegranate blueberry juice, rosewater, blood orange juice, Italian green beans, chickpeas, heirloom purple carrots, regular carrots, fiber one bread and dark chocolate. Yum. And all from Meijer.
veggie lasagna
stir fry with tofu and veggies
egg drop soup
cauliflower mashed potatoes
parsnip fries
twice baked spice-only potatoes
crepes
mushroom raviolli
eggs over asparagus
eggplants pasta nests
brocolli alfredo pasta
veggie pizza
salad with cucumber, grape and apple
and most importantly... green smoothies and juices!
This tasty blackberry-strawberry-ricemilk-lettuce smoothie kept me full all morning at work, and it was so refreshing. You can make a combination out of practically anything. I once made an edamame bean smoothie that tasted like peanut butter and celery, and I have a popsicle maker which I made prune & cranberry ricemilk popsicles that tasted simply amazing. I just experiment with whatever I have on hand, with no set recipe.
Right now, that probably doesn't sound appealing to you. But there is no better way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need than a fresh fruit and veggie drink! And an easy way to see if you like it before you go out and buy a blender or juicer is to stop by Meijer and pick up a "Naked Green Machine" juice from the produce refridgerated section.
Here's an example of what I ate the other day...sweet potatoe gnocchi in red sauce and pesto (separately) and the one in red sauce had purple cabbage in it...SO yummy. It really only took about a half hour to make.
And here's what I just bought today...
March 26, 2012
Adoption Day
I want to do a post every Monday on animals in need. There are so many pets without homes today that it is depressing. I'm doing as much as I can, but I feel that so many around me are ignoring the problem.
Here's Grace, from NBS Animal Rescue in Sterling Heights.
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22358218
And here's Raya, from Out on a Limb Cat Rescue in Warren
Did you know that black, brown and solid color cats are least likely to get adopted?
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22551016
And lastly, here's Snowflake. I cannot tell you how many years this girl has not had a home. It's been at least two years since she's been up on Petfinder. She's in Grand Rapids.
Here's Grace, from NBS Animal Rescue in Sterling Heights.
And here's Raya, from Out on a Limb Cat Rescue in Warren
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22551016
And lastly, here's Snowflake. I cannot tell you how many years this girl has not had a home. It's been at least two years since she's been up on Petfinder. She's in Grand Rapids.
March 25, 2012
Hungry for Change (Part II)
I had to laugh while watching the last part of this movie. I've been going through some shit in my life lately that has really stressed me out and made me cry. I've been bitter for so long I don't really remember what "nice" feels like, or what "truly happy" feels like. I learned to be mean and uncaring, not just toward others, but toward myself. I've been let down a lot, I've been hurt a lot. Only I can see that, it isn't something that other people pick up on or care about, and when I let out my frustrations it doesn't end up sounding like I've been suffering, it sounds like I'm whining. In truth, I hadn't intended to get healthy to live a long, happy life. I did it because I found a ray of light leading me toward a path with no stomach problems. I wanted to be pain free. That's why I still smoke.
So anyway, there was a point in the movie when one of the people said you have to love yourself. Instantly I was like "yeah right." It progessed to the suggestion of writing "I love myself unconditionally right now" on a sticky note and putting it on your bathroom mirror, having to recite it aloud every day until you mean it. I was totally against it, but then I thought I might give it a try, and what do you know, I started bawling my eyes out. All the crap that had been building up just leaked right out. It felt like the person in the movie was personally adressing me. My big concern was "Can I really give a **** what happens to myself?" I never paid attention to things like meditation or self-love before. I only ever take notes on food related stuff. But there might actually be something to it.
At another point in the movie someone said eating acts like a solution to a problem, whether it be a childhood trauma or current drama. Eating makes the pain and the bad feelings temporarily go away. I think there's a lot of truth in that, not that I had any childhood trauma, but I sure do have a lot of drama.
Anyway, moving on to the next part: detox. The body cannot fully detox if there are toxins coming in (alcohol, fast food, etc), but green veggies can get the job done faster and better than anything else. Things like aloe vera, chia seeds, fruits in veggies in every color, and clean water is fast, accessable, and will make you feel better and better. You will lose weight, your nails and hair will become shiny, your eyes will be whiter, and you will have more energy. They said that green smoothies and juices are the best, fastest and easiest way to do this. I'm going to try it out as soon as my juicer gets here, but I can tell you the smoothies I've been making are divine.
Last message: visualization is key. Imagine what you want to look like, the things you want to be able to do. Constantly visualizing it, I believe, will keep you motivated.
So anyway, there was a point in the movie when one of the people said you have to love yourself. Instantly I was like "yeah right." It progessed to the suggestion of writing "I love myself unconditionally right now" on a sticky note and putting it on your bathroom mirror, having to recite it aloud every day until you mean it. I was totally against it, but then I thought I might give it a try, and what do you know, I started bawling my eyes out. All the crap that had been building up just leaked right out. It felt like the person in the movie was personally adressing me. My big concern was "Can I really give a **** what happens to myself?" I never paid attention to things like meditation or self-love before. I only ever take notes on food related stuff. But there might actually be something to it.
At another point in the movie someone said eating acts like a solution to a problem, whether it be a childhood trauma or current drama. Eating makes the pain and the bad feelings temporarily go away. I think there's a lot of truth in that, not that I had any childhood trauma, but I sure do have a lot of drama.
Anyway, moving on to the next part: detox. The body cannot fully detox if there are toxins coming in (alcohol, fast food, etc), but green veggies can get the job done faster and better than anything else. Things like aloe vera, chia seeds, fruits in veggies in every color, and clean water is fast, accessable, and will make you feel better and better. You will lose weight, your nails and hair will become shiny, your eyes will be whiter, and you will have more energy. They said that green smoothies and juices are the best, fastest and easiest way to do this. I'm going to try it out as soon as my juicer gets here, but I can tell you the smoothies I've been making are divine.
Last message: visualization is key. Imagine what you want to look like, the things you want to be able to do. Constantly visualizing it, I believe, will keep you motivated.
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