Lucid Nutrition

A Raw Vegan Thanksgiving

Yesterday I attended 'Holiday Celebrations', the Debut Gourmet Raw Food Preparation Class at Beets Cafe in Austin Texas. It was taught by the creative Chef Alicia Ojeda of EZRawFood101 and Chef Elaina Love of Pure Joy Planet. They taught us how to prepare some of our favorite fall and winter holiday meals in a whole new light. Each recipe was prepared with organic, raw, and vegan ingredients and prepared using a Vita Mix blender, a Cuisinart Food Processor, a Food Dehydrator, and an Ice Cream Maker. No cooking involved! 

Here is the list of recipes they demonstrated:

Sparkling Apple Ginger Ale

Rich Holiday Nut Nog

Creamy Spinach Dip with Caraway Rye Crisps

Cranberry Relish

Marinated Broccoli with "Butter" Sauce

Wild Rice Pilaf

Waldorf Salad on Arugula Greens Sprinkled with Candied Pecans

Mashed "No-Tatoes" with Savory Gravy

Zucchini Mushroom Croquettes

Elaina's Fantasy Stuffing

Pumpkin Flan with Creme Anglaise

Pumpkin Ice Cream

Special Guest was Dr. Rita Marie Loscalzo (pictured above) about to enjoy her delicious meal. If you are interested in preparing your own Raw Vegan Holiday Celebration and were unable to attend the class, you should get a copy of Rita Marie's Thanksgiving E-Book.

The Fresh 'n Fun Thanksgiving Feast e-book is filled with delicious Thanksgiving Recipes.

• More than 20 delicious recipes, made exclusively with with fresh, gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free and vegan ingredients, with raw and cooked options
• A shopping list to take to the store and use to purchase the ingredients needed to make the complete menu
• An equipment list
• Detailed step by step preparation timetable so you can prepare and make dishes in advance and have everything ready in time for your Thanksgiving meal
• Ideas for re-connecting to the attitude of gratitude around which this holiday is based
• Everything you need to allow you to enjoy your Thanksgiving feast, knowing that your taste buds and your entire body are being nourished and delighted

  

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them". ~JFK

Beets Living Foods Cafe. Austin, Texas

Nourish your body and soul. Celebrate Life. Honor the Earth. A new addition to Austin's restaurant scene, Beets Living Foods Cafe features an upscale raw food dining experience. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack or dessert, and take pleasure in discovering how delicious healthful cuisine can be.

I am so glad to have another place in town to enjoy raw vegan living foods! We vegans deserve an upscale place to enjoy our meals and not just holes in the walls that reek of patchouli and eighty year old furniture. This place is unique and well designed. The menu is beautiful and it is so hard to choose what to order.



Thanks to our friendly waitress, my partner and I opted to split the daily special. Out came two good sized enchiladas with tex mex cabbage salad (cabbage, tomatoes, green onion, and peas marinated in sundried tomato powder, olive oil, garlic, spices, and crystal salt) It also came with a  small side rainbow salad topped with seasoned seeds and a sweet yet tangy cilantro lime dressing. So fresh!!



We also ordered a cup of curried carrot soup, a velvety blend of carrot juice, orange juice, miso, garlic, lemon, spices, pine nuts, crystal salt. It is hard to believe a cold soup could be so warming! It had just enough kick to make it addicting. To drink we ordered a 'Green On Me' Juice (kale, celery, romaine, parsley, lemon, and ginger) and a Grapefruit Fizzy Lizzy :)

Even though I was satisfied after about three bites (all those nutrients tend to set the hunger switch off) we still decided to have something sweet. Naughty!? ;) For dessert, we ordered the oatmeal cookies. Next time we will try the 'I-Scream!' If I wasn't so full then, I would have went for it. Did I mention they gave us complimentary bites of chocolate cheese cake? It was divine. Totally worth the $6.95 a slice. People don't realize how much work and time goes into preparing raw vegan desserts. It takes practice and is a high form of art!

Overall, it was a wonderful and fulfilling experience having lunch at Beets Cafe.  We even got to meet the owner Sylvia Heisey and the super creative Chef Alicia Ojeda. They were both so approachable, friendly, and informative. They have a great selection of raw vegan books by Victoria Boutenko and dvds by our own local raw foodist informer Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo who I had the pleasure of meeting last year at her Magic in the Kitchen cooking class.

Beets Cafe will have their grand opening on Saturday, November 14, 2009

Time: 2:00pm - 10:00pm

2:00pm--Rip Esselstyn speaks about the benefit of a "plant strong" lifestyle
3:30pm--Cheryl Lynn Van Kirk demonstration Organic Food Grade Cosmetics and Hand Facials Star Flower Essentials
4:30pm--Dr Ritamarie Loscalzo speaks about fresh n fun living
5:30pm--On View "The Meatrix" http://www.themeatrix.com
7:00 pm-- Alicia Ojeda Culinary Demonstration
8:00 pm-- Live Music, Organic Wine, Signature Beet's Treats

I'll be there early. Come say hi!

Hours are Monday- Wednesday 8am to 8pm
Thursday-Friday 8am-9pm
Saturday 10am-9pm
Closed on Sunday

Location: 5th Street Commons
               1611 W 5th St. Suite 165
               Austin, TX 78703
               512-477-BEET (2338)

Go in and experience the vitality of living foods. Your body, soul, and mind will thank you.

Raw Food Dolmas Recipe

Dolma (also known as dolmade) is a family of stuffed vegetable dishes in the cuisines of the Middle East and Mediterranean region. Perhaps the best-known is the grape-leaf dolma, which is more precisely called yaprak dolma. Common vegetables to stuff include zucchini, eggplant, tomato and pepper. I must say, that I truly love "cooked" veggie dolmas but I thought I would try the uncook method based on Ani Phyo's Raw Food Kitchen. I think the only difference is that I processed my filling for a smother consistency as opposed to just mixing the ingredients in a bowl and throwing it in the leaf. Here's the recipe. Try it. It's easy! :)

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes soaked until tender

2 tbs fresh dill chopped (i used dried dill, about 1 tsp)

2 tbs raisins

1/4 cup pinenuts (soaked a couple of hours)

1 tbs olive oil

pinch sea salt

Collard Leaf (de-stemmed)

Use a food processor and pulse until you reach desired consistency. You might have to add a little water. I left my filling a little chunky as you can tell from the pics above. You don't want to over process it. Also, if the collard greens are too tough for your liking, you may want to blanch them in some boiling water for a few seconds so they are easier to work with. Of course, that would not be considered raw...but hey, it's vegan at least. I really liked these dolmas with a lemon dill sauce made of about 1/2 cup of pre-soaked cashews, the juice of a lemon, water for blending, and a dash of dill. YUM! 

Healthiest Foods in Mexican Cuisine

Mexican food, like the culture, is intense, spicy and full of variety, sometimes even being referred to as mestizaje, or "mixing." While corn, and particularly corn tortillas, plays a fundamental role in most all Mexican cuisine, there are many other ingredients in Mexican cooking that add not only characteristic flavors but also incredible nutrients.

1. Avocados

Avocados are probably most well known in the States for the popular guacamole dip, but in Mexico they're also used in salads, soups and main dishes. Avocado, sometimes called the "alligator pear," (yes, avocados are a fruit) comes from the Aztec word "ahuacalt."

Health Benefits: Avocados are an excellent source of the healthy monounsaturated fat oleic acid, which may help lower cholesterol and protect against breast cancer. They also contain the highest amount of the carotenoid lutein among commonly eaten fruits, along with high amounts of other carotenoids and vitamin E, which together have been found to inhibit prostate cancer growth.

Plus, because healthy carotenoids are fat-soluble, consuming avocados, which are naturally rich in monounsaturated fat, might enhance your body's ability to absorb these healthy nutrients from other vegetables.

2. Hot Chili Peppers

Fresh and dried chili peppers are what give Mexican dishes their characteristic spice, though specific peppers are used for flavor while others are used for heat. Some popular varieties include jalapeno, poblano, serrano, guajillo, chipotle, pasilla, habanero, ancho, mulato and cascabel.

Health Benefits: Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers, giving them not only their spice but also their health benefits. In fact, the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. This spicy compound has been found to:

• Fight cancer

• Provide pain relief

• Prevent sinusitis and relieve congestion

• Fight inflammation

• Relieve intestinal disease

• Protect the heart by reducing cholesterol, triglycerides and platelet aggregation

• Help your body burn fat and lose weight

3. Pinto and Black Beans

Beans are another major staple ingredient in Mexican cuisine, perhaps second only to corn. While a variety of beans, like pinto, lentils, kidney beans and fava beans, are used in Mexican cooking, we're focusing on pinto and black beans because they're more common in Mexican cooking and they offer a unique nutritional benefit -- lots of antioxidants. Typically, Mexican beans are served boiled or refried.

Health Benefits: Pinto and black beans are rich in antioxidants, both making it into the top 20 antioxidant-rich foods list, according to a 2004 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Plus, beans are high in dietary fiber, which is an excellent cholesterol fighter, and the complex carbohydrates they contain help keep your blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day -- essential for staying alert and feeling energized.

4. Cilantro

Cilantro, sometimes referred to as Mexican or Chinese parsley, has a strong flavor that people usually love or hate. In Mexican cuisine, it's a popular herb used in guacamole, salsas and sauces.

Health Benefits: Cilantro is rich in beneficial phytonutrients, flavonoids and active phenolic acid compounds, which may be responsible for many of its health benefits. Cilantro, and its seeds, have been found to help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol and fight inflammation and free radicals. Cilantro may also have antimicrobial properties.

5. Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes are the backbone of many Mexican salsas and, mixed with chilies, they're used in everything from soups and salads to sauces, meat and seafood dishes.

Health Benefits: Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid with potent antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. Lycopene protects cells from oxygen damage, fights colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers, and reduces your risk of heart disease. Studies have found that lycopene works synergistically with other phytonutrients in tomatoes to provide these benefits. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamins C, A and K.

6. Papaya

Fresh fruit is popular in Mexico, particularly for breakfast, and papaya -- said to have been called the "fruit of the angels" by Christopher Columbus -- is commonly eaten alone or as an addition to salsas and sauces.

Health Benefits: Papaya is full of antioxidants, B vitamins, folate, pantothenic acid, fiber and more, which work in synergy to provide a range of health benefits. Papaya has been found to protect against heart disease and colon cancer, fight inflammation and macular degeneration, and support the immune system.

It also contains papain, an enzyme that's good for digestion and is also used to treat sports injuries and other trauma and allergies.

Source: 6Wise

Best Common Sense Advice From "Top" Diet Plans

 It's 2009. Almost February.  You are still trying to keep up with your new year's resolutions, aren't you? You want to lose serious weight fast, learn to eat healthier, and how to exercise, but don't have time to read every diet book out there. Well, Health.com has saved us time. They have put together a list that encapsulates the best tips from some of the top diet plans out there—for free—so you can start putting the helpful advice into action ASAP. Swimsuit time is just around the corner and so are all the weddings you've been invited to. 

Skinny Bitch: Best Tip: Read the ingredients. Don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce.

 The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter: Best Tip: Try circuit training. The effective, total-body workouts will help you lose weight and inches, as well as boost your metabolism, strengthen your bones, and may even make you more resistant to stress.

French Women Don't Get Fat: Best Tip: Add “petit” and “peu” to your French vocabulary; you can have a little of everything if you stick to small portions.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person Best Tip: Differentiate between cravings and hunger. If you can tell the difference between wanting to eat and needing to eat, you can cut out unnecessary calories.

The Thrive Diet: Best Tip: Eat less processed food. Sticking to whole, fiber-rich foods will help you lose weight.

You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management : Best Tip: Pick a range for your ideal weight instead of fixating on a particular number. You’ll feel guilt-free when faced with the small fluctuations that occur naturally day-to-day.

Dr. Phil's The Ultimate Weight Solution Food Guide: Best Tip: Reduce your exposure to unhealthy foods and to the cues that cause you to eat. You can’t eat what isn’t there! (in other words, stop buying junk or fast food when you know it is not worth your money)

The advice above also includes a "Worse Advice from Top Diet Plans" (according to Health.com) but some of those "worse tips"...I actually agree with...with some flexibility. For instance:

The Thrive Diet: Worst Tip???: Eat raw. Didn’t the raw food trend already come and go?

My answer to that question is NO NO NO. I mean does the girl in the picture above look like she is gonna give up that celery stick? The raw food 'trend' should not be labeled as one in my opinion. Every BODY needs whole raw unprocessed foods. I am not saying that one must eat ONLY raw foods, but I think it is so important for us to eat a greater amounts of fruits and veggies in their raw state. Fiber, Nutrients, Detox, Energy. Need I say more? Check out Dr. RitaMarie's Recipe E-books if you are new to raw foods. They will come in handy.

Skinny Bitch: Worst Tip???: You must eat vegan. The dairy- and animal-products-free lifestyle is just too extreme for many dieters.

Well, I don't think anyone must absolutely follow a vegan diet, but being a vegan since 2004 and feeling great makes me a lil' biased. So I will let you decide. I think you should try it for a month at least.  See if it makes a difference in the way you are feeling physically and the way that you think about animals. Here is a link to a great vegetarian starter kit which is always in my sidebar. Also, you should read World Peace Diet by Dr. Will Tuttle and see if that won't turn you into a vegan :)

You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management : Worst Tip???: Eat the exact same thing for lunch—and breakfast too if you can stand it—every day. The lack of variety may bore you to the point of giving up on your diet.

I am not so sure this is a bad idea. If you were to eat the same thing everyday for breakfast and lunch which includes a colorful array of mixed vegetables, fruits, and grains... how could it bore you? You get satisfaction every time you eat. You look forward to your bowl of oats in the morning, your blueberry on mixed greens salad for lunch. And whenever you do have other (healthy) foods, your taste buds will be soooo stoked. You will learn to appreciate your taste buds and the cravings for the unhealthy junk will most likely be obsolete; vanished. Also, you might be just like my guy who actually LOVE's eating the same thing everyday for breakfast: Bowl of oatmeal, slice of HealthNut lightly buttered, with a whole banana and a cup of fresh squeezed juice, sometimes a small apple.

The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter:: Worst Tip??: Start your own competition à la Biggest Loser, complete with group meetings and registration fees. If you’re into the kitsch, go for it, but without producers, camera crew, and a six-figure salary, it’s not worth the trouble.

I think the underlying point here is to create a support system of people who can encourage one another to stick to their healthier diets and lifestyles. Beyond the registration fees and winning a lump sum of money in this silly tip, is the notion that humans are by nature compassionate beings who will oftentimes do a better job of achieving their goals with the help of a community (even if it is only you, your best friend, and your sister on the healthy transformation mission) For the record, I've never seen an episode of The Biggest Loser, so I might be completely off here.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person Worst Tip??: Just say, “Oh well.” If you’re really dreading going to the gym, or just dying to have a few more fries, are you really going to be able to just say, “Oh well,” and stick to the rules of your diet?

Here's is what I take from this tip. Do NOT get so down on yourself when you give in to a temptation, craving, or the sweet pressure in Grandma's kitchen for pan dulce or homemade buttery tortillas. Just DO NOT let it happen as frequently as you let it before. It's all about finding a comfortable balance for you and staying focused. No person, book, or TV show can tell you exactly what you should be eating and when. A magazine, blog, not even a doctor, can know your body the way you do OR are learning to.

I think it's safe to say that  people can begin to suffer from serious mental illnesses (i.e. depression) all because of their supposed dieting failures. Many people start to feel like they have no control over their bodies and lose touch with the reality that they DO indeed have the will power to switch from bad eating habits to GREAT ones. Many people (men, women, and sadly children) have turned the comfort, joy, & energy food brings us into an addiction. The problems escalates. Pounds & toxins added to the body makes a person less likely to work out, to feel their bodies. I think it is natural for a person to want to lose excess weight gain. Your body can not handle being sick anymore. It wants and needs to be free. You are your body. You want to be free. 

And If you don't feel like exercising today or tomorrow, you may be lacking some key nutrients. Eat more greens. Drink more water. Nothing from a box. Nothing from a bag. Unless of course you picked up some nuts, seeds, or dried fruit (in moderation). Tell me if I am missing something...is there anything else that is TRULY healthy that comes from a bag or a box? I dare you to come up with something

Good food makes us happy. Healthier food makes us happier. Bring awareness to your plate. Be a lucid eater.

Raw Food Cooking Class

Yesterday I attended a raw food cooking class in Austin Texas taught by Dr. RitaMarie Roscalzo. She titled the name of the show "Magic in the Kitchen" and gleefully donned her favorite wizard tee for the occasion. :)

Wait, what do you mean, Raw Foods?!

The raw food diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed.

Heating food above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and "life force" of food. Typically, at least 75% of the diet must be living or raw. 

Proponents of the raw food diet believe it has numerous health benefits, including:

Increased Energy, Improved Skin Appearance, Better Digestion, Weight Loss, and a Reduced risk of heart disease...

The raw food diet contains fewer trans fats and saturated fats than the typical Western diet. It is also low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, folate, fiber and health-promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals.

These properties are associated with a reduced risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. For example, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consumption of a raw food diet lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Source: Cathy Wong

I believe eating more raw foods will help you live as lucid as you can live. The ingredients are fresh & alive, not burned or on fire. But what the hell is a raw foodist supposed to eat then? No bread. No pasta. No tofu chicken. No nothing? No.

BACK TO CLASS

Before the event Dr.Ritamarie asked us to clean out our refrigerators and bring in items (still fresh) that might typically be found in our homes. I brought in rainbow chard, fresh spinach, a yellow bell pepper, a large juicy mango, cilantro, fresh ginger, and lemons. Her mission was to take our grocery bags full of.....whatever we stuffed inside of them, and show us how to turn them into a quick healthy "raw" meal. What followed was the tastiest Thai "Soup" ever.

If you have a food processor or high speed blender this can work for you to. Try it.

Chop one large mango and lemons and add to blender to form a juicy base. The lemon juice counteracts the bitterness of some greens. Chop or tear pieces of rainbow chard, spinach, cilantro and add to blender. Add chopped yellow bellpepper and a good size chunk of fresh ginger. In come the secret ingredients: Add about 2 tsp of coconut butter, 3/4 tsp tumeric, and 1/2 tsp dulse (optional). You can also add a kefir lime leaf or lemongrass for the ultimate thai flavor. Now all you do is Blend It until you reach a desired consistency and enjoy. It is so savory and deliciously Green! As Green and Simple as it gets actually.

With what was left of  the greens I brought in, she made a simple salad. She chopped the rest of the rainbow chard and spinach, added lemon, and then massaged the greens with her hands. Finally she added olive oil and a lil sesame oil to give that Asian flavor, tossed on some sesame seeds and passed the salad around for us all to partake. A few women suggested adding ground nuts or ginger juice to top it off. It thought it was great as is. I never realized how easy it was to make a soft Asian salad.

Did I mention we also learned how to make the most delicious chocolate frosting in the world AND also witnessed a fabulous recipe redo: lemon fluff delight. Yeah, you can have it all raw. It is amazing how much creativity goes into this way of preparing food and the joy you get when eating it. With all the right equipment, and information abut what ingredients you will need to have in your kitchen, you will be all set.

If you are at all interested in learning more about raw foods, I highly recommend a visit to Dr. Ritamarie's website and blog. It contains an awesome collection of FREE articles, e-books, green cleanse videos, and all the inspiration you need to transition to living a healthier lifestyle. Also, if you are in Austin, consider attending a raw food POTLUCK. 

One farmer says to me, "You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make the bones with;" and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying himself with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.  ~Henry David Thoreau

Voices for Animal Rights: To Become a Vegan

The following excerpts are from an interview by David Horton with Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, for Abolitionist-Online.

This animal thing, some get it, others don’t. Is it lack of compassion or is the prospect of making such a radical change to (vegan) eating ( as opposed to just what you feel like) too much to take on board?

The more I’ve studied this, David, the more I feel that it’s a minor miracle that anyone is able to question our culturally-imposed eating habits deeply enough to go vegan. Across cultures, and across species, all animals take what their parents and culture teach them is their proper food very seriously. What’s true is that our culture’s meals strongly contradict our inherent compassion, so we need early and constant pressure to force us to see certain non-human animals as food rather than as fellow beings we would naturally respect and care about. It’s the example of other vegans, especially vegan communities of one kind or another (even on-line communities), that provides the most powerful psychological and cultural force for healing and liberation.

In your book, you explain how animals have a purpose, how they establish social order and express their natural intelligence. If we don’t acknowledge their sentience and sophistication is it because we eat them and support their exploitation?

Yes, this is a basic psychological mechanism that we automatically engage whenever we find ourselves in a position where we are knowingly harming others. Our natural compassion can’t stand it. So if it’s “food animals,” then we have to psychologically distance ourselves from them, using all kinds of stories that are supplied by our culture’s institutions (religion, science, education, family, government, media, etc.) that these animals were put here by God for us to use, that we’d die in 24 hours of a protein deficiency if we didn’t eat them, that they don’t have souls, and so forth. We do the same thing for “enemies” we think we have to kill in wars – reduce them to mere “insects” or “vermin” in our minds so that we can harm them. Same with people we enslave. In The World Peace Diet I refer to this as our culture’s underlying mentality of reduction and exclusion. It is ritually injected into us through our culture’s daily meals and all the stories surrounding our routine mistreatment of animals used for food.

Chapter 7 is about the Domination of the Feminine and you cite two prime examples: the hen and the cow. “Dominating others requires us to disconnect from them.” Is that what men do when they try to dominate women? Is it the arrogance of our species, the ease with which we are able to disconnect? Is this the biggest mistake of our species?

Yes, I think that this is probably the biggest mistake we humans make. And yes, it plays out in relationships between men and women, and also in many other ways as well. Domination requires disconnection and also reduction. Most women know how it is to be looked at as “meat” and as men, we are taught early on to look at women in that way, as we are taught to look at certain animals as well. I would not say, though, that it is easy for our species to disconnect. We’ve got to remember the ferocity of the programming we endured!! It’s tremendously powerful! From the time we lose our mother’s breast, we are forced to eat the flesh and secretions of brutalized animals two or three times every day, in the most important, relentless, ongoing rituals in our culture: our daily meals. We are taught continually to disconnect the reality on our plate from the reality that it took to get it onto our plate. Yes, we are masters at disconnecting, but only because we have been forced to practice it rigorously and religiously since birth. We could also be masters at connecting if we were taught those skills! The wealthy elite only maintains its power because the masses eat foods of death, disconnectedness, and enslavement, and reaps its own enslavement. We will be liberated when we liberate those who are at our mercy!

There’s more toxins coming into our bodies from animal products than from plant foods. Why?

That’s a big question! Animal foods concentrate physical toxins. For example, the legal limits on pesticides sprayed on crops fed to humans are stricter than on crops fed to animals. All pesticide residues concentrate in the fat, flesh, milk, and eggs of animals, especially the way animals are forced to eat slaughterhouse waste and the feces and flesh of other animals in today’s factory farms. Fish concentrate toxins to an even greater degree, as I explain in my book. On top of all that, there are the heterocyclic amines, carcinogenic substances formed by cooking animal flesh. In addition, there are the basic components of animal flesh: saturated fat, cholesterol, and acidifying animal protein, all three being now understood to be basically toxic to our human physiology. On top of all that, there are what I call in The World Peace Diet the metaphysical toxins: we are eating the vibrations of grief, terror, anxiety, despair, and panic. No wonder the biggest demand for pharmaceuticals is not just for statin drugs, digestive drugs, insulin, and other drugs to fight the physical devastation of animal-sourced foods, but drugs for depression, rage, and insomnia! We become what we eat and what we practice!

All through your book you come back to this one matter of the vital connection we all have with our culture and the natural world in the food we eat. “It all begins with our most fundamental social ritual: eating”. Can you say something about our meals and the way they hold us back?

Our meals of hidden violence are devastating our earth, torturing millions of beautiful and sensitive animals daily, and laying waste the inner landscape of our thoughts and feelings. The wars, diseases, neuroses, and crimes we see around and within us have their genesis in the wars, diseases, neuroses, and violent crimes we inflict on billions of animals routinely and completely unnecessarily. The basic sense of disempowerment people feel to change “the system” stems from their daily meals, which are the rituals that keep us as domineering commodifiers, enslaved ourselves!

I am seeing more and more people “get” the message of The World Peace Diet and begin to share it with others, and this is the foundation of the healing of our world and of our culture and ourselves. We will continue to be merely ironic in our quests for peace and justice and wisdom until we make the connections that are on our plates and authentically come into alignment with our true nature of compassion and share this uplifting and liberating understanding with others. I encourage everyone to teach a community course on The World Peace Diet, and to spread the message of compassion, not just for ourselves, but for all living beings and all future generations. As they say, “We are the ones we are waiting for!”

Oprah Finding Her Way

First of all, I don't watch television. But the other day when I was at the gym I went for the lightest magazine on the rack to help get me through my elliptical climb (it was too hot outside) and I had to avoid glancing up at Fox News blaring on the screen above me. How could I resist Oprah's beaming smile on the cover of the May 2008 issue? I know, I know, it's so mainstream. But you know what? I read it from cover to cover and shhh! I even took it home with me. I was astonished to find legit ways for provoking a personal health transformation. I'm not just talking about those Get Skinny Quick Tricks, but more about the subtle ways the articles were leading to  peace in innermost states. I thought "Yay, Finally!" and "Wow! The global healing phenomenon is accelerating so rapidly."

I was happy to think that there was something in this magazine that my busy bee Mother might pick up on. Or an article my country life Grandmother Hazel would cut out and give back to me. Or possibly, even just one sentence that could stick in my nonchalant sister Nova's head.

You see, I already know this movement is strong digitally. It's everywhere online. People are waking up and sharing ways to do so. But NOW it's on the tele AND right where it needs to be: Oprah Winfrey. No matter what you think of her, this can not be a bad thing. She has a huge following!

Guess what? A couple of days after I read the May edition, Dr. Will Tuttle sent out a newsletter stating his enthusiasm for Oprah's 21 Day Cleanse in accordance with Kathy Freston and inspired by Eckhart Tolle. For the record, I have never read either of their works. Anyway, Will asked me to publish the letter to his web blog. (I edit, post, and add pictures to WorldPeaceDiet.com) You should Read it.



I think Will and his wife Madeleine are passionate beings, true to their cause, and doing an outstanding job of spreading the words, energy, and motivation for people to eat spiritually healthy for increased social harmony. They are constantly on the road giving lectures. When will they be in your area? Overall, they help people bring consciousness to their dinner tables. To bring awareness to it all...This, is what Lucid Nutrition is about, so I support 100% of their generous efforts.

The question is: Can Oprah Winfrey tolerate ALL the truth about food? Would reading The World Peace Diet change her forever? Or will she carry on after her 'cleanse', back to her same ol' eating habits? I honestly think not. We are all ever evolving.

Good Luck Oprah Winfrey. You have finally caught even me.

15+ Tips for Dealing with Rising Food Costs

How will a country with astounding rates of obesity deal with rising food costs? I just read about a woman who can no longer afford milk but has decided to give her children soda to drink instead? I personally do not think either one of those options is good for a child. Can we as a nation (taxpaying) even afford for health to worsen? Of course not.

So why are food prices soaring?

• Ethanol. The ethanol boom has driven corn prices up 70% in a year. Now more land is planted in corn, and soybeans, wheat, oats, and barley are all up from 5% to 35%. Plus, higher corn prices mean higher prices for animals in the food chain that eat it - such as chickens, cows, and hogs. Corn is also a key ingredient in a long list of processed foods like breakfast cereal, and so far, producers have been able to pass these cost increases on - another sign of a fundamentally inflationary environment.

• Higher distribution costs. Energy hits on two fronts: It costs more to process food and it costs more to move it all to market.

• World demand. The "China effect" on energy prices has been well documented. But it also affects food. Food exports have grown as living standards in China, India and other growing economies have risen. That's good for the economy but not for prices.

How to deal with rising food costs: (in any order)

1. Don't be embarrassed to use coupons. Find them, Clip them, Save them, Share them. 

2. Leave the junk food on the shelf. It makes no sense whatsoever to buy food that will not nourish you. Limit your caffeine and muffins, doughnuts and candy.

3. Learn the shelf life of the foods you buy. Pick out the healthier stuff that can last. The shelf-life of food will depend upon the food itself, packaging, temperature, and humidity. Some examples:

Veggies:
Most fresh vegetables may be stored up to 5 days in the refrigerator wrapped or covered in moisture-proof bags. Root vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, etc.) and squashes, eggplant should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place between 50°F and 60°F. Tomatoes continue to ripen after harvesting and should be stored at room temperature. Removing the tops of carrots, radishes, and beets prior to refrigerator storage will reduce loss of moisture and extend shelf-life. Lettuce should be rinsed under cold running water, drained, packaged in plastic bags, and refrigerated. Proper storage of fresh vegetables will maintain quality and nutritive value.

Fruits:
Ripe eating apples should be stored separately from other foods in the refrigerator and eaten within one month. Apples stored at room temperature will soften rapidly within a few days. Remember to remove apples that are bruised or decayed prior to storage in the refrigerator. Do not wash apples prior to storage.

Green pears and apricots should be ripened at room temperature and then stored in the refrigerator. Expect a 5-day refrigerated shelf-life for these fruits. Unripe peaches may be ripened at room temperature and eaten after 2 days. Store ripe peaches in the refrigerator but consume at room temperature. Grapes and plums should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten fresh within 5 days of purchase. Store unwashed grapes separately from other foods in the refrigerator and wash prior to consumption. Ripe strawberries can be stored in the refrigerator separately from other foods for approximately 3 days. Strawberries should be washed and stemmed prior to consumption.

Citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and ripened oranges, can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. Grapefruit may be stored at a slightly higher temperature of 50°F. Melons, such as the honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and watermelon, may be ripened at room temperature for 2, 3, and 7 days, respectively. Store ripe melons in the refrigerator. Avocados and bananas should be ripened at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Never store unripe bananas in the refrigerator, since cold temperatures will cause the bananas to rapidly darken.

4. Cook the food you purchase. If you don't think you and your family will really eat something before it spoils, don't buy it. Research shows the average family wastes nearly $600 a year on food. Don't buy and cook food for the garbage can.

5. Learn to grow your own fruits and veggies. What a great hobby it could be and also it's good for the body. Learn your Plant Hardiness Zone to know what to plant and when to plant in your area.

6. Find your local farmers market in town. There, you can typically find fresher produce at better prices and you might even be able to negotiate for those apples. Find or add a place to The Eat Well Guide.

 

7. Take turns and share costs. Host Healthy Dinner Night parties with family and friends. Well, maybe its not such a good idea as people tend to eat more food in the relaxed company of others. What do you think?

8. Ditch the alcohol. It lowers your inhibition and makes you eat more, talk funny, and will eventually lead to some serious problems mentally and physically.

9. Quit smoking. Save your money, you might need it.  I'm not trying to wag my finger at anybody here. Just a friendly lil' reminder that we quit and haven't given up on you.

10. Ride a bike. It's liberating and somehow and in someway, it will make a big difference.

11. Forget drive-thrus. Detox from fast food. I remember when Happy Meals used to cost $1.99. Who knows how much they are now? And you've heard the story, it makes you fat.

12. Become a Vegetarian and I guarantee you can save some bucks. Unless of course, you go splurging in the tofujerky, tofuturkey, meal replacement bar industries. Don't fall for it.

(Pictured below is a delicious vegetable medley of sweet potato, black beans, and zuchinni cooked over fresh diced onion and minced garlic and spiced with a bit of cumin, pepper, and curry powder. It was served with warm pita bread and quite delicious. Try it.   

13. Understand the Nutrition Facts Labels and make it a habit to read them.

14. Eat Enough, But Less and live longer. Try using smaller plates. Eat slower. And get your fork into something green. Anything with a high fiber content is a great way to fill up and be sustained throughout your days. Tips: Oatmeal for breakfast. An apple as a snack. Spinach in your salad. A handful of mixed nuts.  Whole grain breads and pastas.

15. Money left over? Not worried about the rising food cost phenomenon. Congrats! Can you please consider chipping into to your local food banks? There are hungry people (and don't forget the children) all over the world. Riots and instability are spreading as food prices skyrocket.

Second Thoughts:
Read Some Good News on Food Prices
Listen to NPR: World Bank Chief says Biofuels are Boosting Food Prices.

The Homely Potato as Part of the Solution
AGFLATION: The Real Cost of Food Prices- MAP

MEATOUT 2008

Meatout is an international observance helping individuals evolve to a wholesome, nonviolent diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains. The purpose is to expose the public to the joys and benefits of a plant-based diet, while promoting the availability and selection of meat and dairy alternatives in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations.

On (or around) March 20 — the first day of spring — thousands of caring people in all 50 US states and two dozen other countries will host informative and educational Meatout Events. Activities will include colorful 'lifestivals,' street theater,  lectures, public dinners, cooking demos, food samplings, leafleting, information tables called 'steakouts'. Visitors will be asked to "kick the meat habit on March 20 (first day of spring) and explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains." 

This occasion known as The Great American Meatout, is the world's largest and oldest annual grassroots diet education campaign. Every spring, thousands of Meatout supporters educate their communities and ask their friends, families, and neighbors to pledge to "kick the meat habit (at least for a day) and explore a wholesome, nonviolent diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains."                        
Why MeatOut?

"Kicking the meat habit" holds lasting benefits for consumer health, world hunger, resource conservation, environmental quality and animal welfare.

Kicking the meat habit reduces our risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases that cripple and kill nearly 1.4 million Americans annually.

Kicking the meat habit decreases our exposure to infectious pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, which kill several thousand Americans annually and sicken millions more.

Kicking the meat habit raises our energy level, lowers our food budget, and simplifies food preparation and cleanup.

Kicking the meat habit frees up grains and other foods that can be used to feed the world's hungry. Animals are extremely inefficient "protein converters;" it can take up to 16 pounds of grain to make 1 pound of beef.

Kicking the meat habit preserves our topsoil, water, and other food production resources vital to the survival of our children and their children.

Kicking the meat habit protects our forests, grasslands, and other wildlife habitats from encroachment by cattle ranchers while reducing the polluting effects of methane, soil particles, manure, and pesticides on our air and water.

Kicking the meat habit saves animals from caging, crowding, deprivation, drugging, mutilation, manhandling, and agonizing slaughter. Each person who adopts a plant-based diet saves over 80 innocent, sentient animals each year. Over a lifetime, an individual can save more than 6,000 animals just by going vegan.

Find MeatOut activities in your area or plan on organizing your own event. If nothing else, why not try an animal free recipe? And, if you happen to be in the Houston area, join the Society of Peace, a very kind and active organization for the "Earth, Animals, Compassion, & Enlightenment". Happy Spring!

More: The World Peace Diet