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Gluten-Free-Too Expensive?


This is a typical "Gluten-Free" aisle in a grocery store. As you can see all of the food is processed and in a box, bag, or a can. (Dead Food)  Fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, beans, seeds, and fish are naturally gluten free! Eat clean and you will not have to spend $6.00 on a box of gluten-free cereal, crackers, bread, or cookies! Just a tip! ;-) 

What do you mean by "clean eating?" CLICK HERE for more information or schedule a wellness consultation with me and I will lead you in the right direction! 712.790.5883




Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


www.optimumwellnessmn.com

Tasty Balls

I had a little too much fun making these delicious, no refined sugar treats for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower tomorrow! I don't like to follow recipes and the mixture ended up less solid than anticipated, so I improvised and added more coconut so they would stick together. I'm calling them Raw Chocolate Snowballs! Watch out, they are addicting!! LOL! Bet you can't eat just one! ;-) 


Raw Chocolate Snowballs

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chopped raw walnuts
Pinch of  sea salt
1 cup pitted unsweetened dates
1 tsp real vanilla
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut


Instructions:

-Add walnuts and salt to a blender or food processor. Mix until the walnuts are finely ground.
-Add the dates, vanilla, and cocoa powder to the blender. Mix well until everything is combined. -With the blender still running, add a couple drops of water at a time to make the mixture stick together.
-Using a spatula, transfer the mixture into a bowl. Using your hands, form small round balls, and then roll them in the coconut to cover. 
-Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.



Copyright, 2013, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.





Dietician's Choice?

Ok, so here it goes! This has been bothering me for awhile now! No wonder everyone is so confused when it comes to their health. I went to a well-known grocery store in the area and was appalled by what I saw. Here is what a registered dietician was promoting.  As you may know I promote things that are closest to nature. I encourage you to do your own research and not just follow the fads and what conventional medicine professionals recommend. If you want to know more I do offer grocery store tours as a service where I will take you around and show you the best foods to buy (that promote healing and health) and which ones that are toxic and full of chemicals you want to avoid. I will even travel to the grocery store where you currently shop! 




Promise, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, and other margarine spreads- I tell my clients to count chemicals, NOT calories! Have you ever looked at the ingredient label on margaine as compared to butter? Butter has two ingredients usually- sweet cream and salt. Here is a typical margarine label:



Did you know margarine is one molecule away from being plastic? Partially hydrogenated oils are trans fat!! They try to disguise it has healthy by saying, "made with olive oil".  Here is how margarine is made:

.....manufacturers begin with the cheapest oils-soy, corn, cottonseed or canola, already rancid from the extraction process-and mix them with tiny metal particles-usually nickel oxide.  The oil with its nickel catalyst is then subjected to hydrogen gas in a high-pressure, high-temperature reactor.  Next, soap-like emulsifiers and starch are squeezed into the mixture to give it a better consistency; the oil is yet again subjected to high temperatures when it is steam-cleaned.  This removes the unpleasant odor.  Margarine’s natural color is an unappetizing grey, is removed by bleach.  Dyes and strong flavors must then be added to make it resemble butter.  Finally, the mixture is compressed and packaged in blocks or tubs and sold as health food.
                     -From Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

Ants will not even touch it.



Better choice- REAL BUTTER! From grass-fed cows is the best. 

Fiber One Cereal 80 Calories- It says right on the box that it contains artificial ingredients. It is packed full of sugar and disregard the fact that is only has 80 calories! Remember what I said about counting chemicals, not calories!! 

Special K bars- same as the cereal.  I know this may be new to you, but small changes can make a big difference! 

Better choice- Steel cuts oats, protein smoothie, or eggs for breakfast. 

I would be more than happy to help educate you and make sure you are choosing the right things for your body! Please contact me if you have any questions at all!! 712.790.5883



Copyright, 2013, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

www.optimumwellnessmn.com

What Do You Mean by "Clean Eating?"


If you are a fan of my Facebook business page you will notice that I mention "clean eating" all the time!! I thought it would be good to let you know exactly what I mean by this.

When someone makes the choice to eat "clean" they are choosing to eliminate all processed foods and extra additives from their diet.  Basically, you are choosing to eat whole, unrefined foods. 

The basics of eating clean include - eating lots of fruits and vegetables.  These are straight from nature - the idea is to stay away from anything that may have been altered in any way.  I tell people to consume foods by "God" not by "Man."



Include meats, however; "whole" meats that you have chosen straight from the butcher or prepared yourself. You would be very surprised to find out what is actually in ground turkey, hot dogs, farm-raised fish.... (choose grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild caught fish, organic free range turkey)

Eat fewer ingredients - try not to purchase items with more than 4-6 ingredients in the ingredient list.  Also, be sure you recognize every ingredient.  If you can't pronounce it, you probably shouldn't put it in your body and put it back on the shelf!! Generally speaking, if it doesn't have a label, it is GOOD for you!! 


Clean Eating Guidelines: 

-Eating small frequent meals 5-6 times per day to level blood sugar and prevent hunger (listen to your body! We are all different) 

-Include lean protein, complex carbohydrates (vegetables) and heart healthy fats at each meal.

-LIMIT processed and/or refined foods (sugar, baked goods, candies, white flour, white rice, etc)

-Avoid trans fats (hidden in many things even if it says zero trans fat on the food label!)

-Limit sodas, high calorie juices and other drinks that give your body no nutritional value and lots of -unnecessary (unwanted) calories- these actually rob your body of nutrients!

-Limit high calorie, non nutritious foods (i.e. junk food)

-Drink at least half your body-weight in ounces of water a day!


If you have never eaten this way before it may take some practice and some time to get 100% "clean". Unprocessed, natural state foods have a different taste than frozen and processed foods.  Your taste buds will go through an adjustment period.



Food can be very confusing! Let me help simplify it for you!! If you would like to learn more I would encourage you to schedule a one on one grocery store tour with me at your local grocery store. Please contact me to schedule. 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com

I also have put together a clean eating recipe book that contains 30 tasty and easy to make recipes if you need some ideas! Follow this link to my website to purchase: Clean Eating Recipe EBook 

Questions? Please ask!!

Be Well!

Jackie



Copyright, 2013, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


www.optimumwellnessmn.com