Feeling stuck in a rut and want to feel energized and happy? Want to dive into Spring feeling awesome and charged? Join me on a 21-day cleanse! It's really not like the others. You will learn how to feel amazing via eating really good food and tweaking your lifestyle a bit. It's fun and totally worth it! Sign up through Yoga Garden and check out these frequently asked q's. Sign up before March 1 and get a lil early bird special- and ps- it sounds far away but March 1 is in FIVE DAYS! Ask me anything... xoS
Hello, brand new year! I'm so grateful for all the blessings of 2010 and look forward to a new year full of good cheer.
I spent most of Christmas break nestled in my parents' home in Los Angeles, mainly photo journaling and documenting a lot of my mom's great recipes, including 4 different types of homemade kimchi! Stay tuned for a classic Korean recipe coming soon...
New Year's Eve was pretty cozy and special as it was spent alongside some of my favorite friends in our home in San Francisco. Finger foods were definitely in order, which included among others, goat cheese-stuffed figs, macaroons (which I did not make as I'm not much of a confectioner yet), and these easy baked sweet potato chips:
To make these, a dehydrator would be ideal. But baking works too:
2 medium sweet potatoes, mandolined or sliced thinly.
Lay potato slices on a baking sheet, drizzle over very evenly Olive Oil, and sprinkle over some sea salt.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until browning occurs. Careful not to burn, although some of the really well done ones are crispy good...
I'd like to thank all my wonderful readers, clients and friends for all your support of Prana Wellness these past 6 months, for all your kind words, thoughtful questions, comments and emails that have and continue to help me carry out my mission as a Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach.
Look forward to more exciting recipes, more features on eco-products, an herbal guide for weight loss and skincare, a post on organic DIY home remedies for bodycare, and much more!
Hope your new year is off to a radical start and that the rest is happy happy happy. A great quote that struck me recently was something along the lines of "Happiness isn't a station that you get off at; it's a manner by which to travel"...
xoS
To learn more and sign up, go to Yoga Garden's Website.
A new look, for a new season... I hope you like it as much as I do!
Today's recipe is a heart warming, delicious, subtly sweet soup that you'll fall for.
Apple Coconut Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut Squash, halved and baked face down for 35-45 minutes till tender
1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
1 small Apple
1/2 tablespoon Sea Salt
1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 tablespoon Vegan Butter (try Earth Balance)
Once squash is baked, let cool for 10 minutes, peel and discard skin, and throw flesh into blender. Add in Coconut Butter, Oil, Salt, and Apple. Add water to achieve desired consistency. Transfer mixture to a pot and stir over low heat till hot. It's ready to serve. Garnish with Black Pepper or Parsley. Enjoy!
 Don't cringe at the word "detox". My 21-day Fall Detox program is not about depriving yourself or being hungry all the time. Never! It's about "rebooting" your system and taking a break from our bad eating habits that tax the body. To do so, I'll introduce you to a world of delicious and nutrient-dense food that you'll enjoy, that will help you feel more energetic, healthy and clean. You'll get nearly 50 recipes, group/community support and in-person meetings, constant check ins and email correspondence, and a final dinner party to reward and celebrate your efforts with new friends. Learn more!
Changes you can expect to see as a result of detoxing:
*More energy
*Weight loss
*Cessation of digestive ailments
*Clearer skin and eyes
*Break from addictive habits
In person meetings will be held on 3 Saturdays at Yoga Garden:
10/23, 10/30, 11/6 at 2-3:30pm
Final Dinner Party: Friday 11/12 at 7pm
Sign up through Yoga Garden here! $125 before 10/9; afterward $145.
Join me on this journey. You don't have to be perfect. No one is.
Questions or concerns? Ask me anything!
This just in--- New York State Governor just signed into law a ban on baby/children's food related products containing BPA (Bisphenol A). Under this new law, sippy cups, baby bottles, straws or pacifiers containing BPA cannot be sold in NY State.
BPA is a chemical used in polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers and in resin linings for cans. BPA is associated with a host of health and developmental issues such as early onset puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome and breast and prostate cancer. Because children’s bodies are smaller and metabolize more rapidly than adults, toxins build up in their bodies quickly, and infants have been detected with high levels of BPA in their bodies. BPA has also been linked to obesity, infertility in males and females, brain dysfunctions, learning disabilities, thyroid disruption, heart disease, and diabetes.
It's huge for a state as large as New York, both in population and economy to pass such a ban. NY joins Connecticut, Maryland, Washington, Vermont, Minnesota and Wisconsin. California has pending BPA legislation...
In general- a good rule of thumb to look for the BPA-free label, like these awesome water bottles that I wrote about in this older post. It's not just baby related; watch out for canned foods, microwave popcorn, and toothpaste bottles. Not to mention, ATM receipts, CDs, shower curtains, bike helmets, car seats, eye glass lenses all contain BPA or Bisphenol-A (all at varying levels from high to trace amounts). Yes, a lot of these are hard to avoid, but make small steps. Switch the shower curtain to fabric, decline the receipt, use pyrex and more glassware, ditch the canned food items for Organic veggies, and use parchment paper bags to get produce from the store. One day at a time...
Hey San Francisco!
Whether noon is your lunch break or you're just starting your day, do it right and drop by Yoga Garden for a relaxing yet fun hour of Vinyasa Flow Yoga, every weekday (Monday thru Friday), 12-1p! Talk to me about class deals and discounts!
Yoga Garden is conveniently located in the Lower Haight. This beautiful and cozy garden retreat will make you happy. Map it!
All levels welcome. See you there!
xoS
Confused about what/what not to buy Organic?
Limit your exposure to pesticides and other harmful toxins by buying the Organic version of the Dirty Dozen. Meanwhile, save $ on the Clean 15 and buy them non-organic. These items have tough layers that you can peel away, thereby being less affected by chemicals.
Why buy Organic?
The USDA-certified 'Organic' label means that veggies and fruits were not treated with chemical pesticides, fossil-fuel or sewage-based fertilizers, or genetically modified seeds. Pesticides are gross, dangerous, and harmful to your body if constantly ingested. Studies show associations of pesticides to degenerative disorders and illnesses, not to mention childhood obesity, ADD, autism, and diabetes in young kids.
Yes, organic items cost a little more than its non-organic counterparts, but choosing sustainable and healthy practices that keep you away from the hospital saves you bundles in the long run.
The chart above is the latest Dirty Dozen list published by the Environmental Working Group. Remember, not everything you buy has to be organic. Just remember the Dirty, dirty dozen. Your body (and the farmworkers) will thank you!
Check out this CNN vid where Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks pesticides.
Hi Friends,
I'm so excited to finally bring you my blogsite, Prana Wellness, where I'll be sharing valuable information on nutrition, recipes, food facts, cooking tips and much more with my community. It's also a place where I can document my own experiences as I move towards a more balanced lifestyle, especially through eating healthfully.
Since I've become more conscious of what I eat I've easily done away with most refined and processed foods, gluten and some dairy. Although not completely, I've come a long way... and I can't help but notice a natural surge in energy levels, better skin, sharper focus, less anxiety, and a more toned body.
Now I must disclaim that I am not a doctor. I do not diagnose, treat, or cure. Rather I coach and counsel, which means I give advice based on what I find compelling, and what works for me personally. The profession of a MD is a noble one, but I must differentiate between prescribing drugs to treat illness vs. prescribing a lifestyle to prevent ailments. I don't believe in 'spot-treating' symptoms or conditions. The whole person must be examined to fully understand why 'something' is wrong or off, and further, to help formulate a lifestyle that suits his or her bioindividuality.
Yes, practicing good health takes a bit of time, effort and energy, but it never has to arduous or annoying. Rather it can be totally fun! My goal here is to show you- particularly through my food journaling, how my experience with practicing good health is indeed fun and exciting.
The best thing one can do is to be good to the environment and be good to your body. If you can achieve both in one shot through your food choices, then you're the most sensible being in my book and I madly respect you.
Please feel free to chime in by leaving comments or contacting me directly.
Looking forward to this journey!
xoS
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