Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Let's Talk Food

It all started here. On January 29, 2010 I bought myself a Blendtec Blender and opened my world to the idea of drinking spinach. I was an avid green smoothie drinker for a long time (okay like 10 months) until.... I got pregnant. I couldn't even stomach the idea of drinking spinach even though I knew you couldn't taste it! Sad. Then my friend Lesley decided to change the way SHE ate, and taught everyone hew new ways on her blog. This made me really want to revamp the way I ate again (I was raised on the healthiest of foods growing up thanks to my mom, but I had veered off the straight and narrow:). But it was hard being on such a tight budget and having a slightly resistant husband (though I must say he is open-minded to most of it). So I decided to put it off again.
Then I had this little cutie pie (8 1/2 wks ago!) and she didn't seem to like the dairy (non-stop farting among other things!!!). So I went off of it (mother of the year right here<-----). All of the sudden everything I wanted had cheese or cream in it! yikes. So I did some research which turned into my new addiction---researching healthy vegan (vegan because their recipes are dairy-free) cheeses, desserts, ice-creams, etc.

And now I am in the process of totally re-doing the way I feed my family, because the more you read the harder it is to keep on eating the same way you always have.  For instance, the "Vegetables" side of my grocery list is now jam-packed. The rest of it is pretty bare and mostly just has whole foods like nuts, dates, raw honey, agave, chia seeds, spelt flour, etc.  I can't even believe it when I look at my list!

My new goal is to eat around 50-60% raw foods per day, and the rest all whole foods. I am definitely not going to be crazy about it all though. I think it is good to have moderation and to not cut yourself off from others because of your diet, when it can be helped. We are only going to eat humanely-raised meat/animals, and only 1-2 times per week (which really helps with our budget!). Anyway, sorry if I am rambling about health food on an art/craft/design blog....but:

Here are a few of my new favorite tried and loved recipes from my new favorite websites!
 flourless choc. chip cookies (gluten and dairy free naturally!)
 choc. chip cookie dough babies (like lara bars)
All from chocolate-covered katie (she has tons of super easy, yummy healthy desserts. This is where I started and I have loved every single thing I've made from her website.)
I think this is one of my favorites to peruse and read. Kind of a cheesy name ("Oh She Glows") but greaaat recipes. These pb crunch balls taste like butterfingers. But they are healthy and vegan!
Carrot cake smoothie (alternative to greens---carrots!) from RAWxy.
Gorgeous blog and delicious recipes. Vegan Tacos (the "meat" is made of walnuts ground up with other things). She is good at explaining all the nutrition behind different foods, esp superfoods. Its very educational and makes you WANT to eat all these healthy things! "My New Roots"--she also writes a recipe on mondays for Martha Stewart (Whole Living I think?) but I've never looked at it.
And lastly, Roost. (Cashew Brioche). This is maybe the most gorgeous of all the food blogs. It isn't vegan, but it is based off of some crazy (SCD) diet she and her husband have been following to get rid of the symptoms of Crohn's disease. He is now off medications he has been on for 10 yrs. Anyway, its gluten free, mostly grain free, mostly (not all) dairy free, etc. They use nuts to make up their flours, and let me tell you the desserts on this site look spectacular. I can't wait to make one of them!

And are you wondering how I've felt about not eating any cheese, milk, or my beloved Blue Bell Ice Cream (which I had been eating at least 2x a day since the middle of my pregnancy)??? I feel GREAT! I haven't been sneezing or getting any sinus infections like all the rest of my allergy-plagued friends (I normally get them too). I don't feel bloated or in any pain after I eat (I think I have always had a little issue with dairy, but I didn't really care b/c I wanted to eat it). And I don't even MISS IT!!!!  There are so many fantastic alternatives and I am having fun learning how to make "dairy" out of things like nuts.

Okay hope I haven't bored you all to death. But seriously, even if you aren't interested in changing your diet, try some of these recipes out. They are good! And if you want more ideas for healthy recipes, follow my food board on pinterest!

Oh and do any of you have healthy suggestions or links to recipes you love? Leave a comment!

9 comments:

Alice said...

Ya, we make smoothies with spinach, adding an avocado also makes it super creamy. My sister has been doing a gluten cow free diet for her son and most of the family...some of the stuff she buys is gross. have fun with all that. I couldn't eat tomatoes with Sylvia for a long time, which really sucked because most of my frozen dinners were tomato based from my garden. I wish I had your energy.

sarah / book bound bindery said...

Yum. We've been doing a lot of the same things around here. Can't wait to try these recipes!

Scotty and Chels said...

I've been seeing your vegan pins on pinterest and wondering what has happened to you! :) Good job being so healthy. I just ate a huge bowl of strawberry ice cream. (like literally just put the spoon down!) Maybe I'll have to try some of those recipes and see if I'm converted.

Poppy and Pearl Co. said...

oh my goodness, these look amazing!! great post :)

Lesley said...

go girl! love reading this. it really is amazing how much better you feel when you start eating real food. proud of you!

Tanya said...

All that food looks great! We were eating really well for a while and then stopped. We need to start again. Thanks.

Heidi Jo said...

Good for you! I am lactose intolerant so my daughter and I do some goat products and the rest nondairy. My mom has fibromyalgia and started going to a holistic health guide 10 years ago which introduced me to healthy/organic eating. I was reintroduced after I had an unknown illness for a year and cut out any not whole foods from my diet. I am not as strict these days and I still eat grass-fed beef that my dad raises, but if I am ever feeling rundown a week or so of cleaning my diet up totally helps. I've been loving your vegan pinterest pins. Im happy when anyone learns how much diet affects their body. It's amazing how the whole foods that God gave us help us thrive and the food man tries to create drags us down!

Tasha Guinn said...

Finally decided to catch up on my blog following today in what...maybe...6 months! Of course, I have been seeing your pins, but I'm glad you named all of the blogs in one place. I need to take my diet a step further and get away from all of the gluten substitutes like cookies and bread! I love that all of the recipes I have seen are healthy and not just gluten free! Would love to read more of your progress.

Mel said...

I'm a little late coming to this, but... how great! It's awesome to see other mamas raising their kids with REAL food. My little one is a non-meat eater, will take tiny bits of fish occasionally and a little bit of organic eggs & dairy here and there. She is a veggie fanatic, and doesn't really love sweets. I was vegan for a few or 5 years, until we opened our gelato business (had to taste the product, right?)... And even after that point, I was eating raw til dinner most nights. Pregnancy threw things off a bit, since my tummy wasn't loving raw veggies, and all I wanted was salt and grease for 8 months (lol). We're back to eating right, though, and it's amazing what a difference it makes. So happy for your beautiful girls. :) Good luck!