Recently the ladies in my aerial yoga group purchased a liver cleanse kit. I decided to do some research first before making the choice. I acknowledge the benefits of detoxing, eating clean and improving gut health, but understood relatively little about liver cleanse.
What I learned is that you need to use natural remedies to stimulate the liver to cleanse itself.There are a number of herbs that can stimulate this process, such as turmeric, peppermint, milk thistle, chicory root and dandelion. They should be organic and processed sugars, chemicals, additives and preservatives should be eliminated from your diet for this to be effective.
I found this article to be very informative.
Liver Cleanse Information
Whilst I did not complete each step, I am improving my diet and trying to excluded all processed foods and foods with additives and preservatives from my diet.
I also drank this shot drink every day for a week
2T apple cider vinegar
2T lemon juice
1t ground ginger
dash of cayenne pepper
dash of cinnamon
It is hard to drink and you need to chase it with water, as the ginger burns your throat a bit. Alternatively dilute it with water and honey and sip throughout the day. I can't say I noticed a huge difference drinking this, but I did not spend the day on the toilet..........a side effect of the liver cleanse my yoga friends experienced. This could be as a result of the Epsom salts included in many liver cleanse programmes.
I chose a less aggressive route, but noticed my skin break out and then clear up and look better after a week. I also did not experience chronic fatigue, a side effect often noted on a liver cleanse that requires you to be near a toilet.
My advice is, read up as much as possible about the subject. Decide on what your goal is and then choose your liver cleanse programme. I don't doubt the benefits of a liver cleanse, but prefer a less aggressive approach, and am improvement in lifestyle and eating habits rather than a one off event.
Monday, July 10, 2017
What is Clean Eating?
When researching trends and peoples tastes for my blog, I often come across catch words and eating plans du jour. There is so much information out there. After a weekend spent kitchen and taste testing my gluten free recipes for my new family cookbook, I decided to have a clean eating week. What does this mean? And of course I went to the Internet to find out.
Clean eating seems to focus less on the quantity and calorie content of food and more on the origin of food. So I am focusing on eating unprocessed foods, unrefined foods and cooking them without reducing the nutritional content of the foods.
I will focus on eating as much raw fruit and vegetables as possible, and sourcing these from farmers markets to ensure freshness and possibly reduce the chemicals used on them. Eat fruit and vegetables fresh and ripe to get the best benefits. Placing fruit and veg in then fridge can alter the nutrients you get from them. This will take a little more planning and more regular shopping, but I am trying it our for a week.
I will try to limit my intake of meat to steamed and roasted white meat and fish. Reducing the amount of oil used, definitely keeps your food clean. Olive oil used to cook food at low temperatures is allowed, as long as it is cold pressed.
Need a little bit of sweetness, unrefined honey on oatcakes that are gluten and salt free may be a good snack. Home made cream cheese and sugar free jam could work too.
Oats cooked slowly over low heat to burst the flakes into a soft mouthful of goodness is my breakfast staple. I do eat over night oats made with cinnamon, soaked chia seeds and homemade yoghurt. Topped with fruit and pumpkin seeds, this is a good start to the day. A boiled egg with a few slices of tomato softened in a pan, is a great way to keep hunger at bay, Just limit the salt and pepper.
Herbs and naturally ground spices are a wonderful way to improve the taste of food. Whole spices that have been toasted and ground in a coffee mill, impart a wonderful flavour and smokiness to poached meat and soups.
My green goddess soup has no recipe, I fry some sliced courgettes in a splash of olive oil over a low heat. Once gently browned I add some broccoli and 1T freshly ground cumin and coriander mix. Then I add enough home made vegetable broth to cover it and simmer over a low heat until the veggies are tender. Then blend with 2T yoghurt and enjoy. Use this recipe for mushroom soup, fry the mushrooms and stir in cauliflower that has been cooked in broth and pureed, or for a butternut and pumpkin soup. Add herbs and/or curry paste to alter the taste or some apple puree to sweeten the butternut soup.
Super foods are a fabulous way to improve your diet. I include nuts and seeds, berries, avocado, broccoli and key greens, but I also include fresh ginger and lemon tea made from scratch. Including key spices in your diet can improve your digestion and my favourites are cinnamon, turmeric and moringa powder. Each morning I make a power bowl. This is for my health, not for taste, but I guess you could add freshly squeezed orange juice or honey to it. 1T moringa powder, 1T linseed, 1t turmeric powder, grind of black pepper, sprinkling of cinnamon, dash of cayenne pepper and 3T yoghurt. Mix and eat.
I was wondering if fermented foods are part of a clean eating diet. Opinion differs on this and so I have excluded them this week. This is why. Fermentation is the process of converting starches and sugars into acids, thereby preserving them for longer. If we are to exclude processed foods such as sugar, I thought it best to exclude foods that may contain sugar to start the fermentation process. I guess that also excludes wine?
I usually start my day with 2T apple cider vinegar, but will also exclude that this week. Whilst I acknowledge the benefits of eating fermented foods, I want to keep my eating plan simple this week. I will eat 3 meals a day and limit carbohydrate rich vegetables and foods such as potatoes and exclude rice and other grains, except oats. This is a personal choice. I am gluten intolerant so I have excluded bread from my diet already. I will also have 2 snacks a day so keep hunger at bay, one mid morning and one mid afternoon. I am an active person and find I need this boost of energy. I will limit tea and coffee, and dairy, except yoghurt that I have made from organic milk. No cheese, only homemade cream cheese that I make from hanging my yoghurt in a cheese bag over night to strain off the liquid. Add fresh herbs and enjoy.
In summary, clean eating does not involve counting calories and excluding carbs. It promotes understanding the source and quality of your food. You can make a delicious chocolate or lemon mouse with cacao/lemon, eggs, honey or maple syrup, and whipped cream or unprocessed additive free coconut milk, and enjoy it. This weekend I made a decadent banana and yoghurt ice cream with caramel sauce made from honey, cream and homemade butter. It was delicious and guilt free. But of course the honey and butter do contain calories to be mindful of.
Once again, balance keeps us on the right track and harmony of body, mind and spirit in everything we do, even food!, let's us live our best life. Have a wonderful week.
Clean eating seems to focus less on the quantity and calorie content of food and more on the origin of food. So I am focusing on eating unprocessed foods, unrefined foods and cooking them without reducing the nutritional content of the foods.
I will focus on eating as much raw fruit and vegetables as possible, and sourcing these from farmers markets to ensure freshness and possibly reduce the chemicals used on them. Eat fruit and vegetables fresh and ripe to get the best benefits. Placing fruit and veg in then fridge can alter the nutrients you get from them. This will take a little more planning and more regular shopping, but I am trying it our for a week.
I will try to limit my intake of meat to steamed and roasted white meat and fish. Reducing the amount of oil used, definitely keeps your food clean. Olive oil used to cook food at low temperatures is allowed, as long as it is cold pressed.
Need a little bit of sweetness, unrefined honey on oatcakes that are gluten and salt free may be a good snack. Home made cream cheese and sugar free jam could work too.
Oats cooked slowly over low heat to burst the flakes into a soft mouthful of goodness is my breakfast staple. I do eat over night oats made with cinnamon, soaked chia seeds and homemade yoghurt. Topped with fruit and pumpkin seeds, this is a good start to the day. A boiled egg with a few slices of tomato softened in a pan, is a great way to keep hunger at bay, Just limit the salt and pepper.
Herbs and naturally ground spices are a wonderful way to improve the taste of food. Whole spices that have been toasted and ground in a coffee mill, impart a wonderful flavour and smokiness to poached meat and soups.
My green goddess soup has no recipe, I fry some sliced courgettes in a splash of olive oil over a low heat. Once gently browned I add some broccoli and 1T freshly ground cumin and coriander mix. Then I add enough home made vegetable broth to cover it and simmer over a low heat until the veggies are tender. Then blend with 2T yoghurt and enjoy. Use this recipe for mushroom soup, fry the mushrooms and stir in cauliflower that has been cooked in broth and pureed, or for a butternut and pumpkin soup. Add herbs and/or curry paste to alter the taste or some apple puree to sweeten the butternut soup.
Super foods are a fabulous way to improve your diet. I include nuts and seeds, berries, avocado, broccoli and key greens, but I also include fresh ginger and lemon tea made from scratch. Including key spices in your diet can improve your digestion and my favourites are cinnamon, turmeric and moringa powder. Each morning I make a power bowl. This is for my health, not for taste, but I guess you could add freshly squeezed orange juice or honey to it. 1T moringa powder, 1T linseed, 1t turmeric powder, grind of black pepper, sprinkling of cinnamon, dash of cayenne pepper and 3T yoghurt. Mix and eat.
I was wondering if fermented foods are part of a clean eating diet. Opinion differs on this and so I have excluded them this week. This is why. Fermentation is the process of converting starches and sugars into acids, thereby preserving them for longer. If we are to exclude processed foods such as sugar, I thought it best to exclude foods that may contain sugar to start the fermentation process. I guess that also excludes wine?
I usually start my day with 2T apple cider vinegar, but will also exclude that this week. Whilst I acknowledge the benefits of eating fermented foods, I want to keep my eating plan simple this week. I will eat 3 meals a day and limit carbohydrate rich vegetables and foods such as potatoes and exclude rice and other grains, except oats. This is a personal choice. I am gluten intolerant so I have excluded bread from my diet already. I will also have 2 snacks a day so keep hunger at bay, one mid morning and one mid afternoon. I am an active person and find I need this boost of energy. I will limit tea and coffee, and dairy, except yoghurt that I have made from organic milk. No cheese, only homemade cream cheese that I make from hanging my yoghurt in a cheese bag over night to strain off the liquid. Add fresh herbs and enjoy.
In summary, clean eating does not involve counting calories and excluding carbs. It promotes understanding the source and quality of your food. You can make a delicious chocolate or lemon mouse with cacao/lemon, eggs, honey or maple syrup, and whipped cream or unprocessed additive free coconut milk, and enjoy it. This weekend I made a decadent banana and yoghurt ice cream with caramel sauce made from honey, cream and homemade butter. It was delicious and guilt free. But of course the honey and butter do contain calories to be mindful of.
Once again, balance keeps us on the right track and harmony of body, mind and spirit in everything we do, even food!, let's us live our best life. Have a wonderful week.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Gut Health?
Much has been written about gut health and leaking gut. I have read and watched many articles on gut health and still I seem to have only scratched the surface.
I need to be clear that I have no nutritional qualifications and this is my story gained purely from experience.
I was aware of problems with my health when I became dizzy and several blood tests showed no blood sugar problems, thyroid problems, cholesterol problems or any other conventional diagnosis.
I decided after a problem loosing 6kgs I had gained over the period of a year, to try Patrick Holford's low glycaemic load diet and fat burning 8 minute exercises. 12 weeks later I felt much better, had shed the 6kgs and no longer experienced dizzy spells. But I still experienced intense sugar cravings and felt constantly deprived of sugar.
It was then that I watched a show on television covering the basics of gut health and identified with many of the sub topics discussed. I decided to investigate further and after I suffered from severe rossacae earlier this year, I decided to include superfoods in my diet and reduce refined sugar and carbohydrates in my diet. I went from baking every week, to not baking at all. I have two children and felt that they needed to have some treats when they come home from boarding school every weekend. I started to google carbohydrate and sugar free recipes and now I am writing a cookbook with my own favourite recipes that I have developed. My health is my improved and I feel better than I have in years. I think that the IBS I suffered from for years was affected by gluten and now avoid gluten in my diet.
Would you like to share my journey? I will write a piece at a time describing my new eating habits and what I include in my way of life. I am not struggling with weight issues at present. Here are the basics.
I try to include items from all the food groups in my diet
I eat only slow releasing carbs such as oats and butternut squash
I eat three small meals a day and two snacks mid morning and afternoon
I focus on eating more vegetables than fruit
I am slowly introducing fermented foods into my diet
I include cinnamon, ginger and turmeric in my diet every day
I supplement vitamin C and zinc in tablet form every day
I cook all my meals from scratch and limit the use of store bought jam, mayonnaise, tomato sauce etc.
I limit my intake of salt and pepper, and season my food with herbs and spices
I avoid processed foods at all costs and anything with added MSG, transfats, preservatives and colouring
Sounds like food prison?!! Not really as I vary my diet and ensure that everything is freshly made and full of flavour. I do have treats over the weekend made from gluten free and refined sugar free ingredients and I eat 80% cocoa chocolate every day, just two squares!
My favourite superfoods are berries, avocado, pumpkin seeds, fresh salmon and tuna as a treat, moringa powder said to increase your metabolism!, hot or cold almond milk cacao latte with cinnamon and honey, green goddess soup made with broccoli and zucchini and flavoured with toasted cumin and coriander, chia seed jam on oatcakes..............There is so much inspiration out there to eat well and nurture your body every day..........you just have to look for it.
I need to be clear that I have no nutritional qualifications and this is my story gained purely from experience.
I was aware of problems with my health when I became dizzy and several blood tests showed no blood sugar problems, thyroid problems, cholesterol problems or any other conventional diagnosis.
I decided after a problem loosing 6kgs I had gained over the period of a year, to try Patrick Holford's low glycaemic load diet and fat burning 8 minute exercises. 12 weeks later I felt much better, had shed the 6kgs and no longer experienced dizzy spells. But I still experienced intense sugar cravings and felt constantly deprived of sugar.
It was then that I watched a show on television covering the basics of gut health and identified with many of the sub topics discussed. I decided to investigate further and after I suffered from severe rossacae earlier this year, I decided to include superfoods in my diet and reduce refined sugar and carbohydrates in my diet. I went from baking every week, to not baking at all. I have two children and felt that they needed to have some treats when they come home from boarding school every weekend. I started to google carbohydrate and sugar free recipes and now I am writing a cookbook with my own favourite recipes that I have developed. My health is my improved and I feel better than I have in years. I think that the IBS I suffered from for years was affected by gluten and now avoid gluten in my diet.
Would you like to share my journey? I will write a piece at a time describing my new eating habits and what I include in my way of life. I am not struggling with weight issues at present. Here are the basics.
I try to include items from all the food groups in my diet
I eat only slow releasing carbs such as oats and butternut squash
I eat three small meals a day and two snacks mid morning and afternoon
I focus on eating more vegetables than fruit
I am slowly introducing fermented foods into my diet
I include cinnamon, ginger and turmeric in my diet every day
I supplement vitamin C and zinc in tablet form every day
I cook all my meals from scratch and limit the use of store bought jam, mayonnaise, tomato sauce etc.
I limit my intake of salt and pepper, and season my food with herbs and spices
I avoid processed foods at all costs and anything with added MSG, transfats, preservatives and colouring
Sounds like food prison?!! Not really as I vary my diet and ensure that everything is freshly made and full of flavour. I do have treats over the weekend made from gluten free and refined sugar free ingredients and I eat 80% cocoa chocolate every day, just two squares!
My favourite superfoods are berries, avocado, pumpkin seeds, fresh salmon and tuna as a treat, moringa powder said to increase your metabolism!, hot or cold almond milk cacao latte with cinnamon and honey, green goddess soup made with broccoli and zucchini and flavoured with toasted cumin and coriander, chia seed jam on oatcakes..............There is so much inspiration out there to eat well and nurture your body every day..........you just have to look for it.
Monday, April 3, 2017
Food that's Good for You
On my journey of self discovery, I have focused on the trilogy and interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit. For years I battled my sweet tooth. My life was a mishmash of feast and famine, rarely a happy medium. The minute I ate something sweet, the cravings would errupt and lead me down a path of bingeing, and ultimately to self loathing a further attempts at abstinence. The more I fought the more my body fought back.
My journey lead me to the discovery of what you should eat to have a healthy gut and the benefits thereof. A bad case of rosacea and reluctance to try yet another anti-biotic, got me eating better.
I have changed my lifestyle and my attitude towards food. None is my enemy, but many can nourish my body in a way that elevates the trilogy of body, mind and spirit, and propels me towards synergy.
There is so much literature about food that aids your microbiome and enhances your well being. This is neither the forum for a lengthy explanation, nor can I profess complete understanding of it's complexity. But I am eating better and I feel better. In summary I focus on:
- simple and fresh foods
- ingredients in season
- cooking from scratch - no packet food for me
- making certain food in batches that can be cooked in bulked and stored for quick and easy use
- finding quick and easy ways to cook delicious meals
Today I surprised myself by making a healthy and tasty zucchini soup. Here is my recipe
1 punnet zucchini, sliced
1/4 cup cauliflower
splash of olive oil
1/2t whole coriander seeds
1/2t whole cumin seeds
1t good quality vegetable stock powder mixed with 1/2 cup boiling water or the equivalent of good vegetable stock
1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
Dry heat the coriander and cumin in a pan until toasted. Ground in a pestle and mortar.
Brown the zucchini in the olive oil. Add the cauliflower, 1t ground spices and cover with the stock. Add more boiling water if required so that the vegetables are covered. Simmer until soft. Add the yoghurt and heat through. Puree in a blender and enjoy.
My journey lead me to the discovery of what you should eat to have a healthy gut and the benefits thereof. A bad case of rosacea and reluctance to try yet another anti-biotic, got me eating better.
I have changed my lifestyle and my attitude towards food. None is my enemy, but many can nourish my body in a way that elevates the trilogy of body, mind and spirit, and propels me towards synergy.
There is so much literature about food that aids your microbiome and enhances your well being. This is neither the forum for a lengthy explanation, nor can I profess complete understanding of it's complexity. But I am eating better and I feel better. In summary I focus on:
- simple and fresh foods
- ingredients in season
- cooking from scratch - no packet food for me
- making certain food in batches that can be cooked in bulked and stored for quick and easy use
- finding quick and easy ways to cook delicious meals
Today I surprised myself by making a healthy and tasty zucchini soup. Here is my recipe
1 punnet zucchini, sliced
1/4 cup cauliflower
splash of olive oil
1/2t whole coriander seeds
1/2t whole cumin seeds
1t good quality vegetable stock powder mixed with 1/2 cup boiling water or the equivalent of good vegetable stock
1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
Dry heat the coriander and cumin in a pan until toasted. Ground in a pestle and mortar.
Brown the zucchini in the olive oil. Add the cauliflower, 1t ground spices and cover with the stock. Add more boiling water if required so that the vegetables are covered. Simmer until soft. Add the yoghurt and heat through. Puree in a blender and enjoy.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Be still my wandering mind
Ever felt that you have a washing machine in your head? The same thoughts run through your mind over and over again? I call this the washing machine effect. And trying to banish them just seems to have the opposite effect? I once read "what we resist persists". I no longer fight my own thoughts. I try to observe them, accept them and let them pass. Most of the persistent thoughts are of what has happened in the past. So I guess I need to drag my mind back to the present.
At the end of my aerial yoga class, we have 10 minutes relaxation time suspended cocoon like in our sling. With a tired body, this quiet time is an opportunity to focus the mind. Mentally filling our bodies with rejuvinating light and focusing on positive thoughts, the session ends with everyone feeling relaxed and rejuvinated. Everyone smiles and leaves feeling uplifted. They are not focused on anything that happened before the class. This has taught me so much about being present and how that changes our thoughts and our lives.
If you are not into meditation, take time to clear your mind. This really works after intense exercise. Sit down, relax and close your eyes. Adjust your breath and your thoughts. See what happens.
At the end of my aerial yoga class, we have 10 minutes relaxation time suspended cocoon like in our sling. With a tired body, this quiet time is an opportunity to focus the mind. Mentally filling our bodies with rejuvinating light and focusing on positive thoughts, the session ends with everyone feeling relaxed and rejuvinated. Everyone smiles and leaves feeling uplifted. They are not focused on anything that happened before the class. This has taught me so much about being present and how that changes our thoughts and our lives.
If you are not into meditation, take time to clear your mind. This really works after intense exercise. Sit down, relax and close your eyes. Adjust your breath and your thoughts. See what happens.
Monday, February 20, 2017
To Detox?
Most people feel noticeably better when they are living a low carb lifestyle. Sometimes we slip, or treat ourselves. When we try to get back on track again we still have the cravings for carbs. Sugar can be addictive, and the more we eat, the more we tend to crave it. After a holiday or weekend away, I try to find three days in a row when I can detox and rid myself of those craving.
I am about to try the detox on skinnyms.com. Eating a low carb regime for a few days, using key ingredients to rid your body of unwanted cravings can help you get back to your low carb lifestyle.
I use recipes with fruit and vegetables, mainly juices and soups to revive me. I try to avoid complex carbs, fats and dairy on these days. Someone once told me, if you feel hungry drink something. Often hunger and thirst can be confused. First drink water and then see if you are still hungry before resorting to a quick snack.
During my detox, I also avoid caffeine and concentrated fruit juice. I choose herbal tea, water, and perhaps a refresher. This is over and above the freshly made veg/fruit combination that may be part of the detox.
Feel ready to try.........good luck and remember it's only for 3 days. Don't think about it too much and keep busy.
I am about to try the detox on skinnyms.com. Eating a low carb regime for a few days, using key ingredients to rid your body of unwanted cravings can help you get back to your low carb lifestyle.
I use recipes with fruit and vegetables, mainly juices and soups to revive me. I try to avoid complex carbs, fats and dairy on these days. Someone once told me, if you feel hungry drink something. Often hunger and thirst can be confused. First drink water and then see if you are still hungry before resorting to a quick snack.
During my detox, I also avoid caffeine and concentrated fruit juice. I choose herbal tea, water, and perhaps a refresher. This is over and above the freshly made veg/fruit combination that may be part of the detox.
Feel ready to try.........good luck and remember it's only for 3 days. Don't think about it too much and keep busy.
The Battle of the Carbs
My husband and I follow a low carb lifestyle during the week, but when our boys come home from school for the weekends the carbs tend to creep back in. Roast chicken without roast potatoes and gravy doesn't seem right! I am not trying to loose weight, but am just trying to eat well and feel well.
I make informed choices about food, but allow myself a treat every now and again.
There are a number of smart choices you can make. Try small changes at a time. These all add up to a significant improvement over time.
We always only eat rye or wholewheat bread (occasionally). My children have adapted to the taste and eat the rye bread willingly.
Pancakes are a treat, not breakfast. We always eat breakfast and have the pancakes for a treat at tea time. this way I only make one batch and we all eat less of them. Pancakes made with flour substitutes just don't taste the same, but if you have a good recipe stick with it.
I add cinnamon to oats porridge, add extra water and cook them over a simmer for 30 minutes. This way the oat flakes burst open, filling you up and they taste better. Add honey if you must, but once you get used to eating them without you really don't miss it. Save the honey for the croissant you treat yourself to on your birthday.
Making jam without sugar is a great choice. Berries work well with this and you really taste the fruit without the over powering taste of sugar. Eaten on a piece of rye bread with nut butter, this is a guilt free snack. Just remember without the sugar, the jam does not last as long and must be stored in the fridge.
Eat high cocoa content chocolate. Yes, it is more expensive, but the taste is much richer and you need to eat less. Eating high sugar chocolate makes you want to eat more. I also cook with high cocoa chocolate. The richness of taste once you are used to it, is very enjoyable.
Cheese cake is a great option. It has a lower carb ratio than cake and usually has less sugar than a cake with icing.
Low flour or no flour chocolate cakes are a better choice. Add ganache made with high cocoa chocolate for less sugar. Sugar is addictive, the more you have the more you want.
Every now and then have your cake and eat it. Make sure it's your favourite and you invite friends round to share it, so that's it's finished when they are gone and you will not be tempted to eat it. I love cooking and baking for friends. It is very rewarding and less for you to eat alone.
Milk based desserts are lower in carbs. If you make them yourself, you know what's in them. Custard and ice-cream are favourites in our family. Paired with homemade jelly using fruit juice is a great choice.
Fruit is not something we can do without. Choosing fruit with lower sugar content makes good sense. Eat seasonal fruit for the best benefits. My choices: berries, apples, pears, plums, apricots, nectarines.
High sugar fruit: mango, grapes, papaya, guava, banana, pineapple..
Eating plane yoghurt with fruit and chia seeds (that have been soaked overnight in water) is a great snack option. Make your own yoghurt with no added sugar.
I enjoy salami topped with cream cheese and cucumber for a savoury snack.
Refreshers and no sugar iced tea are a better choice for than fruit juice. You can get creative with fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices to enjoy varied and easy to make drinks.
See my blog for great low carb recipes. moms practical pocketbook guides
I make informed choices about food, but allow myself a treat every now and again.
There are a number of smart choices you can make. Try small changes at a time. These all add up to a significant improvement over time.
We always only eat rye or wholewheat bread (occasionally). My children have adapted to the taste and eat the rye bread willingly.
Pancakes are a treat, not breakfast. We always eat breakfast and have the pancakes for a treat at tea time. this way I only make one batch and we all eat less of them. Pancakes made with flour substitutes just don't taste the same, but if you have a good recipe stick with it.
I add cinnamon to oats porridge, add extra water and cook them over a simmer for 30 minutes. This way the oat flakes burst open, filling you up and they taste better. Add honey if you must, but once you get used to eating them without you really don't miss it. Save the honey for the croissant you treat yourself to on your birthday.
Making jam without sugar is a great choice. Berries work well with this and you really taste the fruit without the over powering taste of sugar. Eaten on a piece of rye bread with nut butter, this is a guilt free snack. Just remember without the sugar, the jam does not last as long and must be stored in the fridge.
Eat high cocoa content chocolate. Yes, it is more expensive, but the taste is much richer and you need to eat less. Eating high sugar chocolate makes you want to eat more. I also cook with high cocoa chocolate. The richness of taste once you are used to it, is very enjoyable.
Cheese cake is a great option. It has a lower carb ratio than cake and usually has less sugar than a cake with icing.
Low flour or no flour chocolate cakes are a better choice. Add ganache made with high cocoa chocolate for less sugar. Sugar is addictive, the more you have the more you want.
Every now and then have your cake and eat it. Make sure it's your favourite and you invite friends round to share it, so that's it's finished when they are gone and you will not be tempted to eat it. I love cooking and baking for friends. It is very rewarding and less for you to eat alone.
Milk based desserts are lower in carbs. If you make them yourself, you know what's in them. Custard and ice-cream are favourites in our family. Paired with homemade jelly using fruit juice is a great choice.
Fruit is not something we can do without. Choosing fruit with lower sugar content makes good sense. Eat seasonal fruit for the best benefits. My choices: berries, apples, pears, plums, apricots, nectarines.
High sugar fruit: mango, grapes, papaya, guava, banana, pineapple..
Eating plane yoghurt with fruit and chia seeds (that have been soaked overnight in water) is a great snack option. Make your own yoghurt with no added sugar.
I enjoy salami topped with cream cheese and cucumber for a savoury snack.
Refreshers and no sugar iced tea are a better choice for than fruit juice. You can get creative with fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices to enjoy varied and easy to make drinks.
See my blog for great low carb recipes. moms practical pocketbook guides
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Detox Recipes
A three day detox is a wonderful way to refresh your body. There are plenty of ideas on the web to get you started. My favourite regime is to use good living juices and soups. After a weekend of celebration and treats for my son's birthday this is the way to go. Here are some ideas for juice recipes. Combine fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and water or coconut water to boost your body.
Apple, Cucumber and Mint
1 apple peeled and cubed
1/2 cucumber peeled and cubed, seeds removed
1/2t grated ginger
1T lime juice
Place in a blend until smooth. Add more filtered water if needed.
Pineapple, Carrot and Coconut
1 pineapple peeled and cubed
1 large grated carrot
1/2t grated ginger (optional)
1 cup no sugar coconut water or freshly squeezed orange juice
Place in a blend until smooth.
Pear, Strawberry and Celery
1 apple peeled and cubed
1/2 cup strawberries chopped
1 stick celery outer skin removed and finely chopped
pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup filtered water
Blend and serve over ice with lemon and mint.
Watermelon, Mint and Lemon
3T mint leaves
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups watermelon peeled, cubed and seeds removed
1T lemon juice
Steep the mint in the boiling water. Remove the mint and allow to cool. Place the cooled water, melon and lemon juice in a blender. Blend and serve over ice with lemon and mint.
Apple, Cucumber and Mint
1 apple peeled and cubed
1/2 cucumber peeled and cubed, seeds removed
1/2t grated ginger
1T lime juice
Place in a blend until smooth. Add more filtered water if needed.
Pineapple, Carrot and Coconut
1 pineapple peeled and cubed
1 large grated carrot
1/2t grated ginger (optional)
1 cup no sugar coconut water or freshly squeezed orange juice
Place in a blend until smooth.
Pear, Strawberry and Celery
1 apple peeled and cubed
1/2 cup strawberries chopped
1 stick celery outer skin removed and finely chopped
pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup filtered water
Blend and serve over ice with lemon and mint.
Watermelon, Mint and Lemon
3T mint leaves
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups watermelon peeled, cubed and seeds removed
1T lemon juice
Steep the mint in the boiling water. Remove the mint and allow to cool. Place the cooled water, melon and lemon juice in a blender. Blend and serve over ice with lemon and mint.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)