Farm to Table! And everywhere in between.
I LOVE going to the farmers market.
It's seriously a major highlight of my week.
Call me crazy, or lame, but please resist until you try it!
You get to:
- Buy & support local people and families
- Support a great cause!
- Buy Fresh
- Buy seasonal
- SAVE $$$
- LIVE, enzyme packed foods
- Tastier, more vibrant foods
- Taste SAMPLES
- Find New, unique, interesting foods for new, unique, and interesting recipe ideas
- Find Organic food that hasn't been doused in pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, wax, and hasn't been transported from... across the world.
- Experience a Fun atmosphere, great culture
- And the list goes on!
You really don't have to feel bashful about asking people if their produce/products are home-grown and organic, grass fed, pasture raised, without the use of pesticides, etc... The ones who have no hesitation to answer your questions with a smile are the majority of the vendors there and take pride in what they do. Conversation is appreciated and helpful! Everyone needs positive affirmations and reassurance that they are doing a wonderful thing for their community.
Fresh, Live, Organic, Unprocessed, Undenatured, Non-GMO food
is HEALING food
Freshly picked/harvested food are loaded with active enzymes, proteins, fats, antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals that are in their natural state that provide a tremendous health benefit. Fresh food even contain enzymes to aid in proper digestion! You might as well get the full benefit of your veggies and fruit. Not to mention you'll aid your natural detoxification systems and not further add to the problem from toxic foods.
There really is no point in going through ALL the benefits of eating raw, organic, local foods, as I really can't think of any downsides... especially if you go about it in the right way.
You WILL notice a difference; physically, mentally, emotionally.
Expressing HEALTH from the inside out!
Interesting articles of those who have utilized the power of REAL food
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/08/hudson_county_physician_open_farm-based_practice_in_long_valley.html
http://livefreelivenatural.com/you-wont-believe-what-this-hospital-is-using-as-medicine/
Anyway, how about cooking up some of your fresh veggies you snagged from the farmers market??
http://www.naturalnews.com/046624_curing_cancer_Gerson_therapy_natural_medicine.html?utm_content=buffer16f80&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#ixzz3BbEF8NJ4
The healing properties of just Beets!!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/08/16/reinventing-food-system.aspx?e_cid=20140816Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140816Z1&et_cid=DM53643&et_rid=625187496
http://www.naturalnews.com/046624_curing_cancer_Gerson_therapy_natural_medicine.html?utm_content=buffer16f80&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#ixzz3BbEF8NJ4
The healing properties of just Beets!!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/08/16/reinventing-food-system.aspx?e_cid=20140816Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140816Z1&et_cid=DM53643&et_rid=625187496
Preparing your goodies
I really try to favor more on the side of eating more RAW veggies (~75% of my veggie intake in the RAW)
It's really easy to get creative with just doing different salads. You can even throw in different seasonings and herbs to really change things up. Obviously be careful of those dreadful dressings. Be a label reader if you choose to buy bottled dressings, most are treacherous, so, I save time, money, and frustration by making all of my own dressings.
It's really easy to get creative with just doing different salads. You can even throw in different seasonings and herbs to really change things up. Obviously be careful of those dreadful dressings. Be a label reader if you choose to buy bottled dressings, most are treacherous, so, I save time, money, and frustration by making all of my own dressings.
RARELY do I ever follow a recipe,
that's why it's hard for me to make them and post them.
Cooking is always an adventure; filled with twists and turns, absolute disasters and mind-tingling masterpieces that would make Chef Ramsey kiss you.
That's why I love it when people experiment and share what they come up with! If you're a bit inexperienced, there's no need to fret, you'll pick it up quick. Making REAL food is actually much easier than using fake, toxic, disease causing ingredients. You just have to be ready to open your mind and get a bit creative.
BUT, you need the proper mindset before starting this new endeavor, and soon to be obsession ;)
Yes, it does start with the food you put in your fridge and pantry, but then what?? You gotta prepare it! And do so in a way that won't DESTROY all this delicious food that will be instilling health throughout your body, mind, and spirit. After all, you did take the time and money to go out and forage for it!
As far as veggies go, there are few ways you can go about it...
- RAW
- Steamed
- Baked
- Sauteed
- Grilled
- Fermented
Again, I tend to stick to eating about 70-80% of my veggies RAW, and cook the rest at night as it tends to require more energy to digest. I believe there are benefits to most forms of preparation, and some of us will do better with one or the other. I would preferably steam veggies I decide to cook, as it retains the nutritional value to the greatest extent. But sometimes it's nice to just throw everything in a pan and mix in your spices and herbs for a quick, healthy, healing meal.
Ideally when cooking raw foods, lightly steaming is best, and then lightly sauteing at a lower temp with a stable oil is fine to add flavor/texture.
Don't friggin use the microwave!! For example, lightly steaming broccoli has been shown to reduce the antioxidant content by about 10%, while microwaving may reduce the same antioxidants by as much as 97%.
Ideally when cooking raw foods, lightly steaming is best, and then lightly sauteing at a lower temp with a stable oil is fine to add flavor/texture.
Don't friggin use the microwave!! For example, lightly steaming broccoli has been shown to reduce the antioxidant content by about 10%, while microwaving may reduce the same antioxidants by as much as 97%.
Cooking with Healthy Oils and Fats
- Coconut Oil (Refined: 450 F Virgin: 350 F)
- Avocado Oil (~520 F)
- Grapeseed Oil (~480 F)
- Grassfed Butter (Unrefined 300 F, Refined: 480 F)
There are others out there, but from what I've gathered, these oils are not just great for you, they have a higher smoke point, making them deem-able to cook to a higher temperature without going rancid. Avocado oil may not be the best option of these, but works great in some dishes and is an alternative to other much more unhealthy options. In terms of their fat content, they each provide a wide spectrum of variations in the type of fat provided. So using these oils interchangeably would be your best bet!
Please don't cook with Olive oil. Yes, I made that mistake for quite some time.. And Yes, it is great for you in its natural, unheated state. Especially if the oil has been consumed within 6 months of being picked and produced (highest and most potent antioxidant content)
Coconut oil will have the strongest, unique, sweet smell with a hint of a sweet taste. Great with certain dishes where it pairs well with other sweeter flavors (especially desserts!). Avocado and grapeseed oil tend to be less noticeable, and do go well in dishes you wish to bring out the natural flavors of the food and/or spices/herbs.
Apple cider vinegar and lemon will also help protect the veggies and especially meats from producing free radicals and potential carcinogens when being heated. These oils will also have a synergistic effect in protecting your nutritious food.
Things to Implement
- Don't cook at extremely high heats
- Bake : ~350-375
- Grill: ~Medium or lower
- Sautee: ~Medium or lower
- Protect those veggies
- Healthy oils n Fats
- Lemon/lime
- Apple cider vinegar
- Red wine
- Prevent charring/blackening
http://tv.greenmedinfo.com/veggie-cooking-guide-infographic/
NO, canoloa oil is NOT ok. Just don't do it. GMO, inflammatory, aka rapeseed...
I'd rather not put something in my body that requires a high tech meth lab to produce. I'd rather not put something in my body that you can run a car on (and yes, i do like to treat my body like a ferrari.. not an old diesel beater..) I'd rather not put an oil in my body that is named after Canada, and Oil. I'd rather not wreck the health that I strive so hard to maintain and improve upon. Each and every one of us has been created to be absolutely marvelous, incredible machines, so fuel them right!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/08/31/trans-fat-saturated-fat.aspx
https://gerson.org/gerpress/a-nutritional-history-of-the-potato-why-it-doesnt-deserve-its-bad-reputation/
http://drjockers.com/2011/06/make-your-barbeque-healthy/
http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/oilchart.html
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