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Money Can’t Buy You Optimal Energy: Make it to the Aisle & Feel Great!

We asked our friend, celeb dietitian Ashley Koff (who you might recognize from Shedding for the Wedding) for some tips on conserving and building energy, because we remember how draining it was to juggle everything as a bride! Whether stress drives you to eat through your emotions or sends your appetite out the window, you’ll need optimal energy to get you through the marathon of wedding planning – but with a finish line as romantic as your aisle, who could resist these tips to keep your energy up for little excess cost?
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Money Can’t Buy You Optimal Energy: Make It To The Aisle and Feel Great!
by celebrity dietitian, Ashley Koff, MD.

It is time for the next stage in life, marriage, and while you are celebrating, planning and getting ready for your big day, adrenaline is not enough to keep you going. So, what do you do for energy? Something simple like grab an energy bar or drink, right? Wrong! Most of the products out there today that are seen as ‘energy solutions offer a short term solution by giving you a quick high from carbohydrates and maybe some vitamins or herbs for an extra kick, which is generally followed by a crash and burn. The secret to lasting energy is nutrient balance and the benefits of frequent eating “occasions.”

For those of you trying to lose a few extra pounds to fit in your perfect wedding dress, you may ask, what about calorie counting? The first thing you need to know is that all calories are not equal, but counting calories can be part of a strategy as long as they are properly distributed throughout the day at regular intervals or “occasions.” By paying attention to the quality and type of calorie you are eating, you can make sure the body is not receiving too much or too little of one nutrient.

What is nutrient balance? Throughout the day, our bodies need a balance of carbohydrates, quick energy, protein and fats, for sustaining energy, along with unlimited amounts of vegetables or plant based nutrients for optimal energy, at regular intervals. Carbohydrates are at the mercy of many diet debates so it is important to understand what it actually is. If you review the nutrition plan at AshleyKoffRD.com, you may be surprised to learn that milk and other dairy products, fruits and even some veggies are considered carbs and that soy, beans, quinoa and other vegetarian “proteins” are also considered carbs. Carbs are good for us and are in fact critical by providing quick “jump start” energy and allow the body and mind to stay in burning mode. It is when we consume too many carbs that there becomes a problem. The body only uses what it needs and then stores the additional carbs away as fat storage. The same goes for proteins, which support lean body mass but are also the building blocks of our hormones, which dictate how our body uses energy, so if you are not getting enough protein or the best quality protein, the messages your body sends and receives may be less efficient, which can mean less good energy. Fat, which also provide messaging, help sustain us between eating occasions, as well as signal satisfaction to the brain. If you take fat away when eating, it can be very easy to over eat on carbs because we do not feel as full.

Nutrition for optimal energy requires that most people intake one serving of a carb, protein, healthy fat and vegetable during an eating occasion, which should be around every three hours. An apple with 1-2TBSP of peanut butter can be an eating occasion with your apple being the carb and peanut butter as your protein and fat or you can try a palm-sized serving of salmon along with a fist of rice, vegetable soup and or a salad with a perfect treat being an ounce of dark chocolate. Love turkey sandwiches? For a bride on the run, why not have half of the sandwich with a salad and the other half three hours later? The worksheet on the website listed above, www.AshleyKoffRD.com, shows you what foods you can combine for maximum nutrients.

Many people, especially those watching their caloric intake, start their day with the idea of eating perfectly. The notion of perfect is best left along because it has no place in health or nutrition. Once we get over perfection, it’s easier to look at reality and think about what your body really needs. Just with a personal relationship, one must understand and accept others lack of perfection as well as your own, and nutrition is no different. Sustaining energy throughout the day and night can be simple if one stays focused on a nutrient balanced diet with eating occasions, making sure to limit the amount of stimulation the body receives from food and beverages. When having a stimulant like caffeine, it is best to watch the quantity but also what you are pairing it with. Skip the baked goodies or chocolate and go for something that is a low glycemic carbohydrates along with a healthy fat and or protein like oats with nuts, cinnamon with stevia or a turkey cheese roll up. White tea is also another great option; it has less caffeine but is a great alternative and can be paired with foods like berries and cottage cheese. Avoiding high sugar intake with our caffeine can greatly reduce the crash you may have been come accustomed to around 3PM.

The last factor one must consider when looking to maximize natural energy is maximum recovery. If we don’t unplug to recharge, we won’t. We all know how useful a mobile device is that loses its charge, well magnesium and potassium in foods, beverages and supplements as well as homeopathic supplements can help us learn to turn off our systems by working at the intracellular level or with other body systems to distress, hydrate and relax the body and mind.

What’s your favorite diet or nutrition trick? Share your best advice in the comments for an entry to win one of three Optimal Energy Bridal Happy Belly Bags, filled with delicious, health-enhancing foods and supplements worth over $100 each! If you don’t win, don’t despair, you can save 20% with special discount code BAB2011 on purchases over $100 on the Happy Belly Bags website!

{Meatless Mondays} A Broke-Ass BLT Sammich.

Put down that meat - its Monday, yo!

We here at Broke-Ass HQ like to keep lunches light, easy, cheap, and palate-pleasing… so the BLT has become a common default for our mid-day meal. But we’ve put our own special spin on this oldie but goodie, taking it from a porky classic to VEGGIETASTIC. It’s quickly become Hunter’s favorite sandwich – he begs for it on a near daily basis!

By subbing out healthier alternatives for the bread, bacon and mayo, and by adding the creamy goodness of avocado – this sammich brings the decadently creamy, crunchy and salty flavor party to your mouth, without all the narsty saturated fat!

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of your favorite bread. (We love Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Breads. The sprouting process activates beneficial enzymes which cause the grains to sprout and become living and nutrient-rich. Plus, they’re the YUM.)
• 3 slices veggie bacon (Vegan Alert! MorningStar has egg in it, but there are vegan alternatives like Lightlife Smart Bacon)
• 1/4 ripe avocado
• 1/2-1 Tbsp. Mayonnaise (We LOVE Vegenaise – a non-dairy mayo alternative that beats out mayo in taste tests among all our friends)
• 1-2 leaves romaine lettuce (has more nutrients than iceberg)
• 1 fresh tomato, sliced
• Salt/Pepper to taste

First, toss your bread into the toaster to get it nice and warm and toasty just the way you like it. While that’s running, saute your bacon slices over low-medium heat in a nonstick pan until it just slightly begins to brown on both sides. A squirt of oil in the pan will help it crispify. (Hint: the lower and slower it cooks, the better it is!)

When the toast is ready, slather one slice of bread with your 1/4 avocado, mashed. Spread the other slice with your mayo (or mayo alternative). Stack up your lettuce, tomato and bacon slices… sprinkle with a little salt and pepper… slice it up, and VOILA! A no-fuss, no-muss, healthy twist on an old favorite.

Admiring that professional construction? Using the avocado as glue for the tomatoes, and mayo as glue for the bacon, helps to hold the sammich together like a happy, tasty family.  And just look at how happy it can make a hubby! Who could resist?

Got a Meatless Monday recipe to share? Want to see me de-meat-ify your favorite? Hit me up in the comments, and happy cooking!

{Missed last week’s meatless wonder? Check out our vegan pumpkin harvest alfredo too!}

{Meatless Monday} Pumpkin Harvest Alfredo Pasta

(are you all, “meatless monday? What? why?” click here to catch up)

Vegan & Gluten-free Pumpkin Harvest Alfredo!

That’s right, we’re showing the love for fall by uniting Pumpkin + Alfredo in tasty matrimony and celebrating with a flavor party in your mouth! Adapted from Manifest Vegan‘s pumpkin alfredo recipe, we’ve made some simple alterations that pack a perfect punch. Its super simple and incredibly decadent, even though its healthy. There’s practically no telling its dairy-free! I made it this weekend, and it was a culinary epiphany. We absolutely LOVE IT!

Ingredients:

• A pack of your favorite pasta, 12-16 oz. (We used Trader Joes Brown Rice Pasta Spirals – mmmmm!)
• 1/2 bag fresh baby spinach
• 1 carton mushrooms (we used crimini), sliced
• 1/2 bag frozen peas
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt, or 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• Toasted walnuts (optional)

For the sauce:

• 1 container (12 oz.) silken tofu, drained
• 1-1/2 cup pumpkin puree (we roasted/pureed a pumpkin, but you can also use a canned variety)
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (find this at natural food stores. Its got a mild nutty, parmesan-like taste and is uber rich in vitamins)
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed, aka flaxseed meal (find this in the baking section)
• 1-1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Steps:

Get your water boiling for the pasta. Always toss a healthy hit of salt into your pasta pot for flavor. Cook the pasta according to the directions. Set aside.

Meantime, put all sauce ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth and incorporated. Try to not eat it all straight out of the mixing bowl!

Sauté mushrooms and peas with garlic until the mushrooms begin to brown…

Then add the sauce from your blender. Gently warm the sauce, but not to boil. Once it’s heated through, fold in the spinach and turn off the burner. The warmth from the sauce will wilt the spinach juuuust right. If the sauce looks too thick, stir in a bit of water until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Pour the sauce over your pasta in each serving bowl, and top with toasted walnuts, if you like it like that. Oh, we likes it like that! (To toast raw walnuts: spread ‘em on a sheet pan and roast at 350 for 8-10 minutes, but watch them closely so they don’t burn! No one likes burned nuts, hehe.) The trick to this one is that the sauce is so creamy and packed with veggies that you really only need a handful of pasta to fill ‘er out. That keeps the carbs and cals lower – cha ching! Double bonus!

Voila! A rich, creamy, and cozy autumn meal that’s way healthier than your average alfredo, and cheaper than dinner out… amped up with the power of pumpkin and fresh veggies! Even our non-vegan pals adore it. Last night, our die-hard carnivore friend said “Dana, whenever you make this, I will come eat it.” ‘Nuff said, yo! So don’t be scurred of something new. Whip up a batch and let me know what you think!

What do you think? Will you give it a try?

Got a recipe you want us to try? Hit me up in the comments, and maybe your recipe will be featured on Meatless Mondays!

{Don’t forget to check out this week’s Bargain Bash! Get a Gobble Green vegan or gluten-free home meal delivery starter kit at 44% off!}

{Meatless Mondays} Starts Today! (& its freaking delicious!)

I love to cook, a lot. A lot a lot. Like, A LAWT. Back when we were fancy, cable-having people, I watched the Food Network like it was porn and worshipped at the altar of Ina Garten. I cooked all the time.

Then we moved to a place that didn’t really have the best kitchen for cooking, and we cut the cable cord, so I slowed my cooking roll… but never stopped feeling that itch. That wanna-cook-twinge. It was always there.

So now that we’re finally in a new house with much dreamier kitchen (and Ina on hulu), I’ve been getting back in the game…. learning to better support my vegan diet requirements without leaning too much on processed foods, and LOVIN the results! Cooking at home keeps our bodies healthier and wallets heavier, (and who doesn’t want that?), so we thought it would be fun to share our favorite recipes with you in a new feature we’ll call Meatless Mondays!

You could be eating this! (yeah yeah, we’re working on our camera skillz)

While I could go on about the various health, environmental, ethical and fiscal benefits to moving to a plant-based diet, I don’t expect y’all to just give up meat and dairy just like that. It ain’t easy, I know… and its not necessarily for everyone. But I will encourage you to experiment! It doesn’t have to be “all or nothing” – try subbing out a meal or two each week with something meatless… I bet you won’t be sorry! The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone is a great starter resource that speaks to all levels of interest and commitment without judgment, but this short and sweet video from the Ted conference presents a great perspective on how every effort we each make, even if in baby steps, adds up to big results.

To celebrate kicking off Meatless Mondays, we’re amped to introduce this week’s Bargain Bash sale! Whether you’re trying to cut back on meat, or time in the kitchen, or those pesky extra holiday pounds…. Gobble Green‘s vegan and gluten-free meal delivery service is a bad-ass treat you’ll love to eat! You may remember Gobble Green from our Flab to Fab Test Lab, and we loved our month on the plan so much that we invited them to be part of the Bargain Bash!

This week (and this week only) you can score an introductory week of fresh, balanced, and delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners served right to your door, anywhere in the US, at 44% off! With tasty items like banana nut muffins, “chicken” salad, and “meatloaf” with mashed potatoes… you’ll love the healthy, yummy convenience that Gobble Green delivers. Click here to get started!

Enough with the talk now…. ONTO THE FOOOOOD! Come on by later, we’ll be showing you our Pumpkin Harvest Alfredo Pasta. Now, doesn’t that sound sexy? Watch for falling drool!

Flab to Fab {Test Lab} v2.0 – Week 5

Kicking off month 2, yo! I can’t believe its been so long. And its been such a rough month, I kinda feel like I could use a mental makeover more than a body one right now. But that’s another post for another day…

Weeks 3 & 4 went quite well, I’ve gotta say! I’m definitely rocking a whittled waist, little by little. Or should I say whittle by whittle? Ha! Let’s take a look-see, shall we?

The Food:

Gobble Green kept it real with some new and tasty morsels for my mouth… Highlights included the “steak” with collard greens and sweet potatoes (soul food goodness), and an incredibly soft and moist banana nut muffin and (gasp) even Mac N Cheese! Lowlights included the tempeh stir-fry (snoozefest) and the southwest salad (a mixture of quinoa and veggies that left me cold).  Hunter’s broccoli latkes and potato knish brought the party to his mouth, but the carrot muffin tasted like chalky pepto bismol. No bueno. The convenience of having all this food prepared is really great, and I lurve the relief from cooking in a hot kitchen and messing with all them dishes, but it is hard sometimes to “pack” a hot lunch when out and about, so we’ve had to stray from time to time.

Overall, we’re really pleased with our month of Gobble Green meal delivery. Its very sad to say goodbye to it. I highly recommend it for folks strained with a busy schedule and looking for a convenient way to keep their meals healthy without the hassle, or brides wanting to shed a few inches before their big day. Its also a great way for folks wanting to experiment with or transition to a vegan diet – you can learn a lot about balancing meals and explore the tasty varieties out there. Sometimes its hard to keep a balanced diet when testing a new lifestyle, and Gobble Green keeps things in check for you. I definitely experienced weight loss and enjoyed a more well-rounded diet without feeling deprived! Score!

They also offer catering service, which is great news for our vegan brides and grooms out there. Your guests will never miss the meat, and the variety they offer is fantastic. Thanks for everything, Gobble Green! I’ll miss ya!

I did manage to keep my diet coke consumption to a minimum for the whole month, though – which I’m pretty farking proud of. Now I’m just a weekend user, and hope to keep paring down my use until its just a once-in-a-while treat! Alls I got to say is, thanks be to jeebus for iced tea!

The Fitness:

We were challenged to find much time for workouts this time, thanks to a whirlwind apartment hunt and preparation for a 2 week trip. The good news is, we found a place! (more on that later) We did manage to work in brief forays into fitness, and Shredded it a couple times, but ultimately, we slacked it pretty fiercely in favor of work. Its just the worst when I have to choose work over workouts, but hey, only one pays the bills!

Now we’re out in Santa Fe visiting Hunter’s family, and I brought The Shred with me so we’ll squeeze in some Jillian action and long walks in the arroyo to help balance out all the delicious new mexican food we’re surrounded by. I’m shooting a TV segment in a couple of weeks and have to keep my momentum up so I don’t feel like a stuffed sausage in front of the camera! That’s pretty good motivation, even if I am on vacation. Starting tomorrow, I am determined to at least log as many push-ups and crunches as I can muster each day. I’ll be tweeting the results, anyone care to join me?

When we get back to LA, we’ll have 10 days to pack house and move, so I’m looking forward to all that activity and heavy lifting. I am such a huge puss about working out, man. It was so much easier when I had a personal trainer. I know, waah waaaaah, right?

How’s your Flab to Fab going? Hearing about your journeys is always so motivating, so keep me posted in the comments!

Flab to Fab {Test Lab} v2.0 – Week 3

Oh my… another week gone already?!? I’m seriously concerned over how quickly time is passing. Am I the only one who feels like we’re being swept along in the riptide of time? No bueno.

I’m feeling much better about progress this week… mainly because I can tell that I’ve been losing weight! My belly feels flatter, my face is definitely slimmer, and my waistline is more defined than I’ve seen her in a while. Its such a good feeling, and it keeps me wanting more… I call it deflation motivation, yo!  So now that I’m rocking some noticeable results, week 3 is going to be all about building fitness endurance and stamina… because whew man, I am out of shape!

The Food:

First of all, check this out. I saw my eye specialist yesterday for the first time in the 6 months since going vegan, only to discover that not only is my disease quiet as a mouse, but my eye pressure (glaucoma) is lower than ever before even though I’ve been off my drops for a month or so (my broke-ass ran out and they ‘spensive). Could it be the vegan diet is actually making the difference I hoped it would? Holy crap, y’all… either way it’s freaking great news.

Speaking of vegan food…Gobble Green stepped it up this week and gave us some really good grub. My favorite meal of the week was Black Pepper “Steak” with (gasp) mashed potatoes! People, I haven’t had mashed potatoes in far too long and this meal was so comforting and satisfying, I loved every bite. The other big winner? Now bear with me, because this one sounds narsty, but the lemon “fish” fillets and broccoli were mindblowingly delish. I really wish I knew how to recreate these at home. I’d eat them all the time.

I had more scrambled eggy type breakfasts this week, which I really enjoyed. Especially since I discovered these amazing condiments, thanks to this smart lady!

Sooooo delicious on evvvvvverything! Go get you some!

Other highlights include the “chicken” salad which is great wrapped in lettuce, and the banana nut muffin which rocked my tastebuds with great flavor and texture. My lowlight of the week is still the steamed vegetables (always mushy, except the broccoli stems which were tough).

Hunter had a great week, too… pancakes, a yummy steakburger and fries (!), lasagna, and a stuffed mushroom that was probably the best we’ve ever had. His lowlights? The fruit crunch breakfast (too sweet) and the fruit salad (kind of a soupy mess, but good for dipping muffin parts into). Leave it to Hunter to object to fruit.

We must be getting used to the serving sizes because we’re much less hungry between meals and feel generally more satisfied. Are our stomachs shrinking? Maybe its the 90 oz of water I’m trying to guzzle every day. Who knows? But, I’m proud to report that my diet coke consumption is a shadow of its former self!  That’s some serious diet soda detox action, but thanks to sun-brewed iced tea I barely even miss it! Have you ever brewed tea in the sun? Its the jam, you should try it. Our next Gobble Green delivery should arrive any minute, and we can’t wait to see what this week holds.

The Fitness:

Slowly but surely getting there. My stamina and patience are both pretty weak… and I have to keep reminding myself that I’m practically starting over, so I shouldn’t expect to be as strong or go as long as I used to be able to do. I don’t know why, but I always expect just to pick up where I left off. Getting hit with my monthly visitor a week early left me feeling like I’d been hit by a bus (what is that about?!)… but I’ve been working hard to keep my motivation up and take baby steps.

We’re sweating it out at Bikram yoga this morning and I think that will really help kick my metabolism into high gear after such a long, sound slumber. I’m also focusing a lot on push-ups and sit-ups to help strengthen my core and improve my scarily pathetic posture… but don’t get it twisted, I do knee-push-ups. Start small, right? But it definitely helps me feel like I’m making progress on my sausage arms.

Overall I’m feeling way more excited about the exercise portion of my plan now. That must be a good sign, right? Because for reals, I look forward to a lot in life… exercise is rarely one of them.

How did your week go? Any celebrations or setbacks you want to share?

Flab to Fab v2.0: Losing the Newlywed Nasty

….not to be confused with doing the newlywed nasty. Though that might help with my flab issue

Hokay. I just got back from sticking my ego wayyyy far back in my underwear drawer so I could come write this post.

So, where to start? Um. I lost nearly 20lbs before my wedding, with a goal looking good in my dress (‘cuz, let’s be real) but also of confronting my congenital urges to overindulge and overeat, while slowly worming my way free of the long-worn cloak of laziness. It was my millionth effort to nurture a lifestyle change toward wellness, and leave behind the repetitive yo-yo pattern that I’ve battled since graduate school (when I was last in “the best shape of my life”). And the vainer purpose of my fitness worked. I look back at my wedding pictures and think, “For once, I am proud of the way I look. I felt so good that day. From head to toe”.

Thin-spiration.

But then I was married. Sprained my ankle at my wedding. Got 2 more (my 8th & 9th) implants in my eye. Had an alien baby removed from my foot. Worked two full-time jobs. One for the man. One for myself you.

I couldn’t exercise. I felt spitefully entitled to eat. Maybe I was hungry. Probably I wasn’t. OK, acutally, I was just running away.

Know what I mean? Running away? I was working so hard to improve my life. To get out from behind that desk, working for the man and out into the world, working for myself. For my happiness. For my life. To run from the realities of our broke-assitude and my relentless health mysteries. I drowned myself in work and indulgence. “I didn’t have time” to take care of myself. “I didn’t have time” to acknowledge my stress. “I didn’t have time” to admit it was becoming a problem (even though I knew deep down all along). I drank 3-4, 44oz super big gulps of diet coke a day. I ate too much. I moved too little. I was the patron saint of excuses. The queen of allowance. The high priestess of rationalizing away my unhealthy behavior, ruling in a kingdom of denial.

So, yeah. In the year since our wedding, I gained most of the weight back. And I’m pissssssssssed. I am pissed at myself for repeating that pattern AGAIN. Pissed that my cute clothes don’t fit as well. That I, in a moment that should be the proudest time in my life, feel uncomfortable in my own skin. That I had “conquered a goal” and lost it. That I failed. I farking hate failing.

But I succeeded once. I can do it again. And its time. I have hit my personal rock-bottom with this unfit bullshit. To be a successful business owner I have to be strong. Be fit. Be present. To be a successful partner I have to be strong. Be fit. Be present. To fight my disease, to find joy, to manifest my destiny…. to be a successful Dana, I must be strong. Be fit. Be present. We even put it in our vows. And if, for some reason, I falter? I must fight within an inch of my life to get there. That’s just how it is for me.

So now, I know it. I’ve faltered. Which means the fight is on. But I need your help. So, welcome to Flab to Fab v2.0: Losing the Newlywed Nasty.  I’m tackling one vice at a time this time. Kinda.

Finding the time to shop for, prepare and cook healthy meals is hard enough. Finding time to do that and exercise is impossible. So, our friends at Gobble Green, (a vegan gourmet meal delivery service) have generously offered to sponsor a month of full meal delivery service, including a special program of calorically customized meals to help keep my intake in check…. to get Hunter and me off on the right foot. Cats pajamas! I’ve always wondered if the convenience and health of meal delivery is worth the splurge. Now we’ll know!

Here’s how I see it: we can redirect the time and energy we’d normally put into planning, shopping for and cooking, into making exercise as much a part of our routine as any other daily duty. And, I’m hoping it will relieve me from that hammeringly insistent preoccupation with food that always comes with my first weeks on a diet.

They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit, right? So here’s to that. Making fitness… no, making wellness a habit. One day at a time.

Who’s with me?

{Guest Post} How I Gave Up Processed Foods Without Losing My Mind

If you read yesterday’s post, you know I’m keen on cutting out processed foods from my diet… but I’m kind of terrified. So I asked a friend who has successfully cleaned up her plate (so to speak) to share her best tips! Meet Penny!

Penny over at Pantomime Papers is a blogger/map artist who writes about her newest map projects, cooking, health, and how to run many miles without falling over.  A reformed couch potato and junk food aficionado, she loves to encourage others to eat the best food in the grocery store.  She may or may not still sneak a sip o’ Cherry Coke now and then, however.

It’s true.  I really don’t eat many processed foods anymore.  A few years ago, I set out to lose twenty pounds via Weight Watchers.  What started out as pure vanity turned into a quest for a healthy body.  I began my journey wanting only to scootch my booty into size 4 jeans, but I slowly evolved into something more – a person who wants to respect and honor my body… and that meant no more polydextrosecelluloseHFCSsulfateheebiejeebies.  Also – no soda, but as a professed Coke addict… I have room for great improvement in that area.  Which is where the “not losing my mind” comes in!

In my past life, my weekly menu was staffed by Ramen (not REAL ramen… the 10-cent, packaged sort), spaghetti and canned Ragu, and soda.  Really, that’s mostly what I ate.  Few veggies or fruits, definitely no fish.  No wonder I felt disgusting!  Surely you’ve heard all the recent ruckus about how Americans consume way too much sodium?  Just take a look at your closest processed food, and it’s easy to see how that happened.

Weight Watchers was great for me personally because it taught me how to get enough water and fresh produce into my system, as well as how to start cooking.  Five years ago, I was the worst cook in the universe; now… I’m pretty good at it!  Once I lost my twenty pounds, I found that my tastes had changed.  I no longer WANTED soda 24/7, nor did sugary foods taste good to me anymore.  Somewhere along the line I became connected to my body in a brand new way.  Perhaps the biggest change for me was that pre-packaged foods sent my body into a tailspin.  My body knew better now – all those chemicals and preservatives weren’t welcome anymore.

I’m telling you my story to say that transitioning into a new attitude about food – learning to cook and eat fresh food – will change your life.  That processed gunk will never taste good again – your tongue will start to crave savory foods… if you don’t get veggies into your body every day, you’ll feel that something’s missing.  You’ll notice your skin and hair will start to look better – those dark under-eye circles will wane.  You’ll rarely feel bloated, and energy will make a grand return.  You will feel better than you’ve felt your entire life.  Honest to blog.

OK, that’s my spiel, now for the practical stuff.  It’s easy to let eliminating processed foods turn into crazysauce, and there is no need for that!  This is supposed to be FUN and DELICIOUS.  So let’s keep it that way, all right?

1) Don’t try too many new things at once.

[Photo Source]

For a great many Americans… cooking is a lost art.  And guess what?  If you want to eliminate processed foods, you ARE going to have to start cooking – but start slow, no need to stress yourself out about it.  I -have evolved from a cooking-hater into a cooking-lover.  Pick one night a week to cook a real, homemade, from scratch meal.  Make a date out of it!  Try a new recipe each week, and as you keep with it, you’ll learn all kinds of new skills.  You may have a few meal duds at the beginning, but remember this is not a race, it’s a journey, and the only way to get better at something is to keep at it.  Choose recipes that aren’t over-complicated… maybe a marinated piece of fish, wild rice, and asparagus with lemon and parmesan.  See?  That’s not too hard, and it’s scrumdillyumptious.

2) Change your attitude about how much food should cost, but no need to rob a bank.

[Photo Source]

The first time I went grocery shopping for the week’s meals, I about fell over.  Instead of $20 for spaghetti, ramen, and Coke, I was plunking down $70 for fresh veggies and fruit, spices and herbs.  Talk about sticker shock!  For me, I have come to the conclusion that eating GOOD food is just going to be more expensive, and it’s what fuels this body I will have for many years, so…. that $70 is worth it.  As you work up to preparing more meals yourself, rather than out of packages and boxes, you’ll learn good cost-cutting measures.  For instance, local, seasonal foods aren’t just a hippie movement… it saves you bookoo bucks in the wallet department, too.  Start hitting up your local farmers’ and mom n’ pop produce markets.  They may not look as fancy as Whole Foods, but they are significantly more affordable.  Processed foods are cheap because… they’re sub-par “food”.

3) Learn how to prepare food efficiently.

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In my career, I often work unpredictable, long hours.  I just can never count on time to cook at night, and usually I want to veg out by the time I get home!  This means organizing my meals ahead of time.  For me, I set aside Sunday afternoons for grocery shopping and cooking.  I write up my shopping list and group my ingredients by section (produce, dry goods, meat, dairy, etc) – saves a lot of time at the store!  Once I return home, I cook all my meal for the week.  I’ll pick about 2-3 recipes and spend a couple hours cooking in my kitchen.  THEN I box up the meals into single-serving Tupperware and freeze or refrigerate that shiz.  I eat oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, a sandwich and veggies/fruit for lunch, then a Tupperware of whatever meal I’ve pre-prepared for dinner.  I can just “grab and go”, and my health doesn’t suffer due to my high-octane lifestyle.  In fact, eating my pre-prepared meals ensures that I make it through my stressful week feeling good!  As a bonus, get yourself a cutie-pie lunchbox that can hold all your noms…

4) Learn to work your weekly nutrition on a spectrum, and always be nice to yourself.

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We are ALL busy.  Very few people aren’t.  However, some weeks are inevitably busier than others.  For me, on a great week, I’ll have made all my meals, including homemade bread for my sandwiches, tons of green, leafy veggies, fiber all over the place.  Other weeks, my life is atomically ruined, and I just have to “make it work”!  This might mean eating very simply… more sandwiches and oatmeal, and (gasp) a few boxed meals.  I stick to Amy’s Organics Mexican or Indian meals when I just have no other choice.  They actually taste pretty great, and my body doesn’t have a freakout afterwards.  If you have to go processed, they aren’t terrible choices.  Also, eating soups/gumbo made in-house from your local grocery or sushi can be other quick meals that you can just pick up, without going to the trouble of cooking.  Most of all – don’t be down on yourself – nobody likes a bully, so don’t bully yourself.  Just do what works for you, and take your time.  This isn’t a race, and food is meant to be a joy, not an exercise in patience!

5) The Dirty Dozen: Quickfire Hints

To get you started, here is a list of twelve easy tips – some large, some small – that will get you going as you start to make changes in your own food life:

• Lemons and limes are a GREAT way to flavor pretty much anything in a healthy and delicious way.  Squeeze that citrusy goodness over veggies, salad mixes, fish, chicken, fruits… really, anything is fair game!
• Get your lunchmeat sliced at the deli counter, not pre-packaged.  It’s worth it just to cut out the high sodium levels and preservatives – tastes better, too!
• Eat only food prepared by humans, not by a machine.  And make sure your great-grandmother would recognize everything on the ingredient list!
• It’s better to cook with a touch of real butter, sea salt, or olive oil, than with a ton of cooking spray or sodium that others have added.  Butter, oil, and salt are nothing to be afraid of – people just tend to overuse and abuse them!
• Expand your diet to include Middle Eastern and East Indian foods.  These recipes are often vegetarian, so healthy, affordable, and PACKED with flavor.  Be careful, you may become addicted!
• Another good way to get started is to try eating unprocessed fruit and veggie foods for snack and dessert-time, rather than bagged chips and crackers.
• Buy your fish from the deli counter and marinate it yourself at home.  The pre-prepared fish is double the price AND you don’t really know what extras have been added.
• Keep your food simple…  Eggs, produce, grains, plain meats, spices, herbs, etc.  Recipes with tons of ingredients or that are overly complicated often aren’t worth the effort, and can actually indicate an unpracticed hand.  Great meals are often the simple ones with high-quality ingredients.
• Fresh herbs are MILES more effective than dried ones.  Save money by planting a container garden with basil, oregano, rosemary, and dill.  Your taste buds will thank you.
• Treat foods that say things like “tastes like” or “lite” or “low-fat” with skepticism – often they are full of weird things that aren’t real food.  If you’re watching your waistline, stick to REAL foods in proper portions.  Avoid food that pretends to be something else – for instance, fake chicken, margarine, etc.  Those products go through a lot of processing.  Just eat the real thing in proper portions!
• Eat foods that will rot at some point.
• For meats, buy free-range and grass-fed.  More expensive, but tastes a lot better, is so much better for you, and is more ethical.  To offset the cost, start to see veggies as a main course, with meats on the side.  I am a meat-eater, but focusing more on produce has significantly improved the way I feel, as well as saving me moolah.  I can afford the grass-fed, free range meat because I don’t eat it every night.  Again, Middle Eastern and Indian foods are your friend here.

BONUS HINT: If you wiggle your toes into the world of non-processed foods and decide you like it, keep learning!  Any Michael Pollan book is fantastic, especially In Defense of Food and Food Rules.  Watch the movie Food, Inc if you need more convincing, AND I recently discovered the “crunchy” blog The Mommypotamus , which has many great day-to-day hints on how to lead a real food lifestyle, regardless of whether you’re a parent.

I hope this post has inspired you to explore the world of unprocessed foods!  Do what you enjoy, take your time, choose what works for you and have fun with it – I guarantee that after a few months, you will wonder how you ever enjoyed food from a box.  Food is a wonderful gift, so start eating it!

I’m Loving….

Untouched by The Veronicas: This song gets my booty moving and is the perfect “getting things done” jam.

The Young Victoria: a gorgeous film with delicious costumes, sets, acting and an unbelievably touching love story that left me in awe of history.

Le Gorg

Bikram Yoga: many studios have a $20 introductory unlimited week for new students. Its perfect for winter, since it takes place in a hot humid room, and it is kick-starting my flab to fab and mental detox intentions for 2010 (as well as my ass). We’re doing the intro week here in Santa Fe and reaping the mental, emotional and physical rewards like crazycakes!

Sweat it out, yo.

Algabar Golden Pomegranate Loose Tea: An absolutely lipsmackingly delightful blend of rooibos (a naturally non-caffeinated red tea) along with all sorts of goodness that makes a party in my mouth. My dear friend Gail created this blend and it’s just divine! Especially when mixed with a little cream and sugar. Comfort, by the glass.

Infuse this!

Sonic Cherry Vanilla Diet Cokes: this holy grail of soda can be hard to find but worth a trip to get some… crushed ice and all. Whenever I’m in Santa Fe its a daily addiction, and every day between 2-4pm its Happy Hour (all drinks and slushes are 1/2 off yo!)

Mmmmmmm, soda.

It’s a Wonderful Life: My all time absolutely favorite holiday movie. Not only does it star my first true love, Jimmy Stewart, but its an incredibly uplifting and charming tale to remind us all of the impact we have in the world, and how loved we all are (even when all seems lost).

.....and dance by the light of the moon.

What are you loving right now?