Hey New Yorkers, this one's just for you. 05/31/2010
 Announcing, the only food critic-and-nutritionist-approved Manhattan Restaurant Guide! It's a shame that healthful eating has too often been linked to images of sacrifice: lettuce, that lone pea on a plate, starving... It's also pretty tough to find a place to eat where the food's not only delicious but good for you... Not anymore. Two New Yorkers, a nutritionist and a food critic, scoured the town together to select the 75 healthiest, tastiest restaurants in Manhattan, from fine dining to fast food. Why this book? It's important to know which restaurants serve organic, local, sustainably raised plant and/or animal products. Besides, you are what you eat, so choose what you eat carefully! Tote this guide around and flip through it whenever you're craving an Italian trattoria, Organic Burrito, grass-fed steak, gourmet vegetarian dinner- free of pesticides, or juicy burger- free of hormones and antibiotics. Carnivore? Locavore? Vegan? This book is for everyone! cleanplatesnyc.com 3 Comments  These not-too-sweet cookies are filling, nutritious, and heartwarming. Perfect for people like my mom, who loves unsugary baked goods, diabetics, kids, and you! Enjoy them warm, right out of the oven with a cup of tea, and you'll be set till lunch. What you'll need: 1 cup rolled Oats 3/4 cup Oat Flour 2 cups cooked Millet* 1.5 tbsp Corn Oil 1 cup Carrot (finely shredded) 1 tsp Vanilla 1 tsp grated Ginger Water (up to 1 cup) Dashes of sea salt, sunflower and/or poppy seeds Sprinkles of currants or raisins (optional) 2 tbsp agave nectar to sweeten (optional)  In a skillet, lightly roast the oats and flour by stirring together until toasty smelling. Add in all the ingredients and mix well. Pour in enough water to get pliable dough. Use your hands to shape into cookies. Don't forget to oil your baking sheet! Bake at 350 deg. for 35 minutes. *Why Millet? Millet is a nutty-flavored and highly-nutritious whole grain, and it's one of the oldest foods known to humans. LIke Buckwheat and Quinoa, Millet is non-glutenous and non acid-forming, thereby making it really easy to digest and soothing on the stomach. It's also an amazing source of protein, dietary fiber, B-complex vitamins (Niacin, Riboflavin), Vitamin E- not to mention minerals! Loaded with Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium. And it's so good to you: strengthens the kidneys, soothes pancreas, sweetens the breath and prevents bacterial growth in the mouth, warms you if cool and cools you if warm... now that's nice. Sweet Weekend! xoS Happy Thursday, have a nice stomach. 05/27/2010
 Bag Lady 05/26/2010
It's cool to tote it. Tote bags are what it's all about nowadays. Whether it's to the store, to the gym, to hanging out, even to work. Not using plastic to bag your groceries is responsible, but you don't have to use one that screams I USED TO BE A PLASTIC BAG. Shop in style! Here are some of my favorites. Nautically. Made from recycled yacht and sail cloths, these heavy duty bags are not only super cute, but they go the distance with durability. Not to mention it's for him and her. Oh, and they're handmade; atleast 20,000 yards of sail cloths are fetched from landfill per year to create these. Comes in a few designs with different insignias. By Ella Vickers. $54 & up. Baggu It. These multipurpose and lightweight Baggus mimic the form of a plastic grocery bag, and they function the same way without harming the environment. In fact using Baggu for one whole year replaces about 500 disposable bags. 100% Ripstop Nylon. Comes in a ton of fun colors. $5-22. Old World Style. Made with 100% Organic Cotton, this versatile mesh bag is great for groceries or a beach trip. Lightweight, simple, chic and compact. By CredoBags, a Montreal based company using the latest sustainable materials to inspire a 'bag strategy'. $12. French Market. Love these hand-woven baskets made from renewable palm fibers. Great for the farmers' market, as garden baskets, home storage ( magazines), and travel. Medina Baskets. $40.  Tired of that bloated, sinking feeling after pizza? Are you allergic to wheat and gluten and/or want to lessen wheat intake in general? Here's a healthy and creative solution to one of our favorite food of all time! Why Spelt? Spelt is a wonderful whole grain that originated in the Near East about 8,000 years ago. It is a great source of Vitamin B2, zinc, niacin, and dietary fiber. This combo may just make this the best whole grain for those who suffer from migraine headaches, diabetes, and atherosclerosis (cholesterol build-up along arterial walls). Spelt also aids in digestion, colitis, and other intestinal disorders, and strengthens the spleen and pancreas. What you'll need The crust: 2.5 cups Spelt Flour 1 Teasp. Baking Powder 1 Tblsp. Olive Oil 1 cup warm water Dashes of Sea Salt Dissolve the salt in the warm water, stir in oil then flour and baking powder. Mix with your hands and form into dough, until smooth. Let it sit covered with damp paper towels for 2 hours in a warm place. Then, roll into either a big 12" crust or two smaller ones. The sauce: 1 small red beet 3 carrots 1.5 cups diced sweet potato 1 bay leaf 1.5 cups water 3-4 cloves garlic 1 tblsp olive oil Mix of your favorite herbs, from oregano, thyme, basil, parsley Boil beet, carrots, sweet potato, and bay leaf. Discard the bay leaf and puree, adding water to get 'saucy' texture. Separately in a large saucepan, saute garlic, herbs (mushrooms if you want chunky sauce) for 10 minutes. Then add in sauce, stirring everything til thick. The 'cheese' layer: 1 package of Firm Tofu 2 cloves garlic Sprinkles of Thyme & Oregano 1 tblsp tamari soy sauce 2 tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast (optional, but it works due to it's nutty, cheesy flavor) Saute garlic in oil, add in diced tofu, tamari, and herbs. For the toppings: Cut up your favorite veggies! I used Organic Mushrooms and Red Onions, enough to cover the pie. Layer the rolled out crust with sauce, tofu 'ricotta', and veggie toppings! Don't forget to oil your pan. Bake at 375 deg. for 40ish minutes... Enjoy! xoS Downward Dog, Literally. 05/25/2010
 If you've practiced Yoga before, you're familiar with the most popular pose: Downward Dog. The photo above is of my dear Cocker Spaniel, Toby, doing his daily doga. Afterall, a lot of Yoga poses (or asanas), have been inspired and created by the earliest of yogi's, through careful study of animal behavior and further, by mimicking their natural movements so that they can reach peace by connecting to nature and the world around them. So, with Toby as my inspiration, I'd like to take you through this wonderful pose: *Come to all fours, (hands and knees) *Spread fingertips wide, grounding hands into the floor. Tuck the toes and pull the hips up and back *Send the sit bones back, away from the hands *Pressing into the knuckles and fingertips, shift weight back into the heels, alleviating tension and weight off the wrists *If the heels reach the floor, lift the toes, draw the kneecaps up; this really engages all the leg muscles *Release the head and neck, relax the facial muscles, and BREATHE. Benefits of Downward Dog: Relieves fatigue, pain and stiffness in the legs and heels, increases energy, strengthens ankles, tones the legs, removes neck and shoulder tension, and rejuvenates blood flow. Lastly, thank you, wondrous and magical Animal Kingdom, for lending inspiration to the age-old tradition of Yoga, which has been preserved for thousands of years... Coconutorade, The Natural Hydrator. 05/24/2010
 So it's not neon blue or car-fluid yellow. But it contains tons of electrolytes- not to mention potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Here's an immune-boosting, all natural, cholesterol-free, mineral-rich drink: Coconut Water! Coconut Water is an isotonic solution that replaces fluids and minerals that get lost when the body is physically active. Therefore, athletes and gym-nuts should reach for this drink to hydrate and get minerals back. Did you know that during WWII when IV solutions were scarce, wounded soldiers were revived with Coconut Water? Today, in some third world countries CW is used as a blood plasma alternative method, known as the Coconut IV! Coconut Water also balances the body's pH, controls diabetes, aids in circulation, detoxifies and fights viruses, increases metabolism, eases stomach pain and vomitting, improves intestinal health and treats kidney stones. It's also completely free of chemicals, so it's safe for babies and pregnant women. As a matter of fact, CW contains lauric acid- which is found in breast milk. So, ward off some fatigue and get some Coconut Water! Some popular brands include: Zico, Vita Coco & O.N.E- all tetra-packaged to preserve nutrients. OR just buy the real deal! Look for young coconuts and open one yourself! The Little Vegan Cookie that Could. 05/21/2010
So how good can a cookie be without refined sugar, eggs, dairy, wheat, hydrogenated oils, trans fat or gluten? While at Whole Foods yesterday I picked up a sample of The No Cookie Cookie in Carob Mint... This little cookie blew my mind, and it was totally good enough to take home to the boyf (anti-vegan) who concurred it was the best cookie ever. They're made with Organic Barley Flour, Cane Juice, Carob Chips, Non-hydrogenated Margarine, Filtered Water, Prunes, Natural Peppermint Oil, Baking Soda, and Soy Lecithin. So natural, so delish, the way baked goods should be prepared; truly, vegan never tasted so good. Comes in a variety of kinds, in packs of (2) two cookies: a great deal at $2.99! This family-run No Bakery operates out of Oakland, CA. Available at your nearest Whole Foods or Wild Oats. Enjoy! xoS   This simple, quick, and yummy dish is my fav/go-to when I need a dose of hearty & flavorful! (I used two types of grains, but just one will do...) Ingredients: Cooked Brown Rice & Quinoa, tossed with Kale, Edamame Beans, Carrots, and Nori marinated in Sesame Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Shoyu, Coconut Aminos, and Lemon. I love brown rice. Why? It's detoxifying, rich in Vitamin B, soothes the stomach and nervous system, strengthens the spleen and pancreas, quenches thirst, prevents parasites, fights depression, and is hypoallergenic. Don't even get me started on Quinoa. Hailing from the Andes Region in South America this magical grain has the highest protein content of all the grains, tones the kidneys, rich in Vitamin B & E, iron and phosphorus, and get this- has more calcium than milk! I can subsist on brown rice and veggies alone, but, there are tons of other amazing whole grains. Venture into your bulk aisle and try some out! Substitute your brown rice with one of these great nutrient-packed grains: Kamut, Barley (Pearled or Hulled), Spelt, Wheatberries, Rye Berries, Wild Rice, Amaranth, Millet. Profiles on each of these grains to come soon! xoS p r a n a y a m a 05/18/2010
 Inhale. Pause. Exhale. Pause. Use your Life Force; take this simple journey and see where it takes you. The breath is the bridge between body and spirit; to master the breath is to be in control of our bodies and minds. The point of Yoga is to activate prana, our life force. Pranayama is mindful breathing, and encompasses both the physical and the contemplative. It is the first step to the ultimate goal of meditation, being totally present, and achieving complete peace of mind. If you're in the now, you'll know how... For information on private yoga sessions, see Services | 
I'm Susan... I help busy people change their diet & lifestyle for optimal balance and happiness. Follow me!    ArchivesJanuary 2012 CategoriesAll As featured in:
 
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