Friday 28 February 2014

40 Days of Dieting Better - Prep&Planning


A few things before embarking...
There are some foods I want to incorporate that take a bit of a head start... 

Kefir - I love having Kefir around for a treat. With frozen fruit, it's the perfect ice cream replacement for my palette!
(*Note: I have seen some strict anti candida diets refuse to use milk-kefir. Water-kefir substitute would be a great replacement)
1. Keep your kefir grains in a glass jar or plastic container (NOT metal)
2. Pour while milk over the grains and let sit about 24 hours until slightly stiff (it won't be quite as stiff as yogurt. Liquids separating is normal. I use 3.25% milk).
▶Remember to take the grains out for your next batch before you use it.
▶The grains will keep multiplying so share them with family and friends! (I'd recommend at least dime-sized chunks)

Sprouts- Easy enough to grow at home, making your own sprouts will save money too! I grow mine in mason jars with mesh around the lid. They take a few days to get going so I'm starting ahead of time. I bought my seeds from my local health food store. Make us much or as little as you want! 
1. Start in the evening...Put 1-2 tbsp seeds in a quart jar and fill with water to cover the seeds and let soak all night.
2. In the morning dump the water (easiest if you have a mesh piece covering the lid. I used a small piece of screen door replacement) and rinse seeds one or twice with fresh water and let drain.
3. Sit jar leaning upside down in the sink (they don't need a lot of light) to allow any extra water to drain. Repeat morning and night for a few days and your sprouts with be growing in no time! (Mine usually take 3-4 days)
▶Once they're green and mature you can store them in your fridge. 

Sauerkraut - This is a new one for me! Fermented foods have a number of great benefits that I want to take advantage of during this challenge and beyond! Benefits to your immune system, digestion, detox, and they are packed with vitamins. Because I'm not sure how much I'll consume, bellow is 1/2 the recipe:
3 Large Cabbages
5 Carrots
1/2 qt. Celery Juice (I juice my own)
1 Large Golden Beet
2" Fresh Ginger
4 Cloves Garlic
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 Medium Sweet Potato
1/2 Large Bunch Parsley (or 1 small bunch)
1 Red Pepper
1/2 Hot Pepper
1 tbsp Probiotic Culture (I'll use my capsules)
Watch the video for this recipe here.

Snacks - I just know that eating in a different way, inevitably will leave me with the munchies! Now is the time to research and make snack recipes (preferably ones that will keep or can be frozen) so they'll be handy when you need them in a pinch.
Here I chose recipes that didn't have allot of complicated ingredients:


1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder or cacao powder
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp liquid vanilla stevia
small pinch of sea salt

Directions:
Combine all of the above ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 20 – 30 seconds or until the coconut oil is just melted through.  Stir, and pour into a parchment lined cake or pie pan.  Freeze until solid (about 20-30 minutes).  Break apart and enjoy.  Store in the refrigerator or freezer, otherwise the chocolate will easily melt because of the coconut oil.

4 Apples
Cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250. core Apple and cut into thin slices. Lay out on a baking sheet and sprinkle liberally with cinnamon. Bake 45 min. Turn slices, sprinkle cinnamon, and bake 45 min more. 


2 1/2 cups pitted dates
8 bananas
3 cups almonds - chopped in a food precessor
3 cups dried shaved unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup flax meal

Directions:
Blend bananas dates amd flax. Add almonds and coconut. Roll out mixture (between 2 pieces of wax paper would help) and cut into portion strips. Lay out (without the paper) in dehydrator on 105° for 12 hours or in the oven (how I did it) on a baking sheet on 170° for 4 hours, flipping the strips half way through. Store in an air tight cobtainer.

  My greatest challange at this moment is getting my taste buds ready. As tempting as it is to stuff my face with bread and sugar, now is the time to start cutting that down! 

Monday 24 February 2014

40 Days of Dieting Better - Intro

Finally! Coming March & April, a day by day plan that's easy to follow along with!
Over the last few years I've done allot of learning... allot from family, friends, on the web and on my own. Words like nutritious, healthy, medicinal...etc. take on a whole new meaning for me now!

Having the life of a mother and wanting to be organized along with this new found knowledge that can't be ignored has inspired me to do a project! I'm going to take 40 days* in the next two months and transform them into a time of healing inside and out!

Physical Food
I will be following a anti-Candida-based diet** (see disclaimer below) and laying out grocery lists and meal plans at approximately 1200-1300 calories per day for others to replicate.
Physical Exercise
This journey will mean the start of an exercise program as well, healing and strengthening my body.
Spiritual Food
Most importantly, I'll be relying on scripture to let the Word of God heal and strengthen my heart and soul.
*my program will run Monday - Friday for 8 weeks (5 days a week).
**I do not claim to follow a strict form of the anti-candida diet, rather, I am using it as a guideline to have an overall balance. This diet should not be followed for medicinal healing but for health maintainance.

Starting with the Basics:
Follow the Diet
   A low-sugar diet, little or no fruit or added sugars which can cause yeast buildup or Candida to grow and multiply. I've downloaded a chart of "Good"/"Limit"/"Avoid" foods from WholeApproach to tape on my kitchen wall.
Stock up on Probiotics
   Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that slow down and reverse Candida.
   Take a good quality probiotic that you find at a health food store. Acidophilus from your local pharmacy won't do the same job.
   Another great way to get your probiotics is from Kefir. I found my kefir grains on a local buy/sell website. It's super easy to "grow" and care for and I already have some started. 
• Choose an Exercise Program
   My exercise program will be suited to my needs as a new mom as well as the climate I'm live in (can't go running in -35°c today)...all I have for equipment is an exercise ball and a set off dumbbells. This program could be substituted for another, as long as we STICK TO IT! :)
Plan to Dive into Scripture
   My favorite Bible App is You Version. I have it downloaded and I'll be following a daily devotional plan called My Utmost for His Highest. Based on the best-selling book by Oswald Chambers.

1 week and counting! Next up: recipe prep for week 1...getting ready to do a grocery shop and be ready for March!