Eating Healthy Food at Work

It can be difficult to consistently fulfil your healthy eating desires outside of the home.

This week I offer a few tips so you can continue to enjoy the food that you want whether you're on the road or in the office.

1. Plan in the weekend. Buy and make what you need. For example, flaxseed crackers. You could vary the flavours each week to keep your interest. Or maybe you quite like the same dependable version.

Crackers are quick and easy to make up. The time is in the drying. It's just as easy to mix a large batch as it is a small one. If your crackers go soft, (as they can do in Auckland humidity) pop them back into the dehydrator to freshen up. You don't need a dehydrator but it helps.

2. What fresh fruit and vegetables are seasonal and best value? Try to pre-make your salads and keep them in jars (see photo), baggies or plastic containers. Take your chosen salad dressing to work in a small jar and toss through when ready to eat. This is important for salad made up of 'softer' greens such as lettuce.

If you have a hardier green such as cabbage or broccoli or cauliflower (yes, I know it's not green) then Premix with dressing at home. It will be better for having the flavours marinating together. Include a small amount of raw nuts for good oils, protein and the satiating effect.**

If you want to pre-make salads, bear in mind that lettuce doesn't keep too well when cut. Cutting for eating the same day should be fine but not for tomorrow. Ripping is better. However, pre cut Brassicas keep beautifully for a few days. So, lettuce salads early in the week, the tougher stuff later.

Salad in a Jar (courtesy honeybeeholistic.info)

3. In the weekend, make a batch of Chocolate Date and Nut Rolls, divide recipe in two and add sour cherries to one batch. Or two or three drops of peppermint essential oil (food grade). Perhaps you fancy some mini cheesecakes this week. There are so many delicious sweet treats to be made that are raw.

4. If you have a secure kitchen area at work, then invest in a Personal Blender and keep frozen berries in the freezer. Perhaps in your desk area, keep a drawer with provisions to be added to a smoothie: raw nuts (nut milk), coconut oil, honey, chia seeds and whatever superfoods you prefer, such as maca powder. Take a banana to work and you are set up to make a smoothie that will carry you all the way to home time.

5. If #4 isn't an option, make your smoothie at home using frozen fruit and take in an insulated big mug.

6. Keep some 'nibbly bits' handy. If you get peckish and hear the snack dispenser calling your name, then reach for your supply of raw nuts, kale chips, raw chocolate or flax crackers.

No post-lunch slump for you!

If you have any other handy tips, please do share them.

**if you include egg, cheese and especially cooked meat pieces in your salad, be sure to pack a mini ice pack. We have a small plastic bottle half filled with water in a snap lock baggie that is returned to the freezer after each use. Pack the ice pack right next to your salad container and keep it out of the sun during your commute.

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com

____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________

Big Mac v Homemade

A post that a Big Mac has 72 ingredients began a conversation on my Facebook page earlier this week. Questions and responses resulted in research and truth finding. As I gathered it all together I realised it was too big to post on Facebook but was perfect as the blog for this week.

Were our MacDonald’s using less ingredients than the US? No, they’re not. This surprised me – why all the ingredients in the cheese? We make some of the best cheese in the world. Shop bought cheese has four ingredients. MacD’s has 16. Why?

To be the same no matter where you go in the world is not a good enough reason to load our food with unnecessary ingredients that aren’t contributing to our nourishment.

Another Facebook friend asked how many ingredients in a homemade burger. Good point.

We make our own patties for Hamburger Night, which is supposed to be Friday’s but sometimes I forget. Our youngest said to me the other day, “Hey mum, what happened to Hamburger Night?” Indeed. Next week, Sweetie.

 #1 Homemade Everything
Buns - 6 including sesame seeds
Meat - 11 meat, egg, salt, pepper, carrot, onion, bread (5)
Veggies - 2
Cheese - 4
Pickles - 7
Sauce - 6
Total - 36

#2 Using Shop Products
Baker’s Delight buns - 7
Meat Patties Angel Bay - 20
Cheese - 4
Veggies - 2
Sauce (Tui) - 11
Pickles (Delmaine) - 10
Total -  54

# 3 As above but with DIY patties.
This is standard Smith version. Total 45

I’ve totted up several ingredient-count options depending on how you do your burgers at home. You will need to adjust according to your own recipes.

If there are any of you that DIY everything (and I’d really like to meet you if you do) then you have my serious admiration. But I didn’t include DIY cheese as there’s probably no difference in the ingredient list. And I don’t want to believe that you’d make your own cheese as well. That’s just too perfect.

There are some variables in the gluten free choice. Since it was tricky to get ingredients for a range of burger patty choices on supermarket website, this will not be a gluten free patty. You’ll have to do your own maths for this one.

The less than ideal ingredients in the homemade (my opinion) are in the shop-bought patties but I’ve found it nigh on impossible to buy practically-perfect-to-my-standards meat patties. So we always make our own.
There is also preservative in the tomato sauce.

The main point of the Food Matters article wasn’t how many ingredients in a Big Mac versus a Homemade Job but what are some of these ingredients. This includes ingredients that are not your everyday household pantry items; I’m not being vague on purpose, just diplomatic. These would not be found in DIY burgers, these ingredients are found in processed, store-bought food. Where the saving of our time is sacrificed for shelf life disguised as fresh food that looks homemade.

When I counted the ingredients I conservatively included each time salt or sugar was added. This pushes the number up somewhat. If, for example, we count salt as one ingredient instead of the three or four times it turns up, then that makes more sense to me. Done this way, (including sugar, spices, flour, etc.) here are the numbers again.

#1 version: 23
#3 version: 32

Please bear in mind that this is not a scientific research paper, peer reviewed, double blind and placebo. Just a comparison done by an interested blogger. That said, we have purse-based choices we make every day and never forget: you always get what you pay for.

I couldn’t tell you the last time I had a Big Mac it was so long ago. Nor am I saying that it is wrong to buy your children (or yourself) a Big Mac. An occasional not-the-best eating choice is not going to do serious damage to a body. Probably not even a small amount of damage. Our bodies are marvellous things but it pays not to stress them too often! Make it an irregular event not a normal one. You may find you get so good at DIY you’ll knock a Big Mac out of the water any day.

Notes:
* Tui doesn’t list the ingredients in its beer for the sauce.
•    Christine’s burger usually comes in lettuce leaf ‘buns’ since I’ve lost the taste for the bread buns.
•    Ingredients for products found on company websites, including Baker’s Delight, Delmaine, Tui, Alpine, Angel Bay.
•    Ingredients for DIY found on recipe websites and not my own cookbooks. I do have them but it was quicker to ask Uncle Google. I have never made pickled gherkins but I have pickled onions. I don’t remember ever making tomato sauce. I have made buns but that was a long time ago.
•    Hamburger Night usually includes other veggies and maybe an egg, too but for the sake of this blog I have made our burger as close to a Big Mac as possible.

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com
____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________

How to Make Green Powder

Those of you with a dehydrator will be interested to know that I have been making my own green powder.



There's no particular recipe just a reminder to make sure you include as wide a variety of greens as you can. I have saved leaves from broccoli and kale (remove from stems as these don’t dry so well, or dry till leaves are dry and crumble dried leaves off), peelings from cucumber, green beans (I removed the seeds), courgette skin, lettuce and wheat grass.

Once dry I used my Personal Blender to grind up and popped the lid on. The small blender container becomes the storage jar, too. For a bigger load I used the Vita-Mix. And yes, I felt virtuous and smug (which is not the same thing).

I did not tell the Smoothie Drinkers and it could not be tasted, which suits me, too. It is an easy and frugal way to increase greens, also cutting down on waste.

If you don’t have enough to dry at a time, save your collection in the fridge for a few days, in a damp plastic bag or airtight container. I suppose you could freeze it until you have enough for a full dehydrator but I haven’t tried that. Try to spread thinly and evenly over dehydrator sheets (mesh) to ensure best drying time.

In theory, you could save pulp from green juices. Even though most of the nutrition has gone into the juice there must be some worth the keeping in the pulp. Again, I don’t know as I can’t test that.

Lettuce that has gone to seed is not only too bitter but losing its nutrition as the plant is transferring its food from leaf to seed. Best to pull it out and add to compost or worm farm or, let a plant stay to naturally seed down if there’s enough growing time left in the season. Otherwise you could save the seed for next spring.

Sprouts can be dried and ground. Carrot tops (leaves) but not any of the green part of the top of the carrot itself, the outside leaves of cauliflower (not the stems), pea pods and peas. Broccoli stems (cut away the tough part).

I have perpetual spinach in the garden, this week I shall pick a few young leaves for salad and older leaves for drying.

The green leaves of tomatoes are NOT to be dried and eaten nor are potato greens. If you would eat the green in salads or cook it, then you can dry it. Okay, I don’t eat cauliflower leaves but I suppose one could.
Use herbs judiciously as they pack a powerful punch.

If you’re confident about foraging then perhaps puha (NZ) BUT you need to be a confident forager.
You could add spirulina and chlorella but in small amounts as they can be strong tasting.
 
At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, I recommend organically grown greens to make your own Green Powder.

If you don’t have a powerful blender, it’s best not to use the older, tougher leaves. You won’t be able to break them down enough into a powder, and you don’t want to stress your digestive system unnecessarily with too much fibre.

Just mix it all up and top up your jar as more greens are dried. Even though you may not dry a variety at one time, adding to it will ensure that the variety is there as the season brings new greens in and phases out others.

If you don’t own a dehydrator you can use your oven. Using the fan, turn it on to the lowest temperature and, which should be around 50C. Crack the door open with a wooden spoon and let it do its thing.  Be sure the wooden spoon is secure. Best not to leave the house if there’s a possibility of the spoon dropping down in the oven and onto the element.

To add in a smoothie, one teaspoon per person is adequate.

What do you think? Are you inspired to give it a go?

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com
____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________
Swiss Gold Global
Buy small, affordable physical gold and silver or start a savings program towards physical gold or silver grams for as little as US$25 per month.
Blog : www.goldsilver-money.blogspot.com
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Michelle Obama and the Miami Heat

I don’t know much about Miami Heat but going by the basketball I’m safely guessing they’re a top NBA team (our DS18 not only would know this but all their names, stats and probably birthday, too*).

I’m loving their promotion of healthy food and drinking water as an important thing for them. We all know how influential sports stars and other celebs can be. Full points to them from me.

I think I’ve just become a fan of Miami Heat. Note...did you see the serious bling on his hand? I like that, too.

*I’ve just read this to DS and he informs me that they are 2012 and 2013 NBA Champions, boasting arguably the world’s best basketball player, LeBron James. (Told you!)

Show your children and Significant Other. The leverage you can get out of this is priceless.

Strawberry Wine



This summer I have been decluttering. After numerous book shelves, boxes and the filing cabinet it was time to tackle my recipe folder. It was long overdue for some culling and keeping. Amongst the collection of recipes-I-must-try-one-day was one for Strawberry Wine. I don’t know why I kept it as I don’t imbibe but it sounded like a lovely idea to pass on to those who do.

Since strawberries are in season, here is the recipe should you wish to give it a whirl. I think raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and other berries would be just as nice. A range of Berry Wine to impress family and friends. Do tell us if you make it.

1 bottle white wine
250g strawberries
10 lemon balm leaves (fresh)
2 T rosemary leaves (fresh)

Wash, hull and slice strawberries. Finely chop herbs. Mix berries, herbs and wine in clean glass container. Seal and shake. Refrigerate for two days, shaking occasionally. Strain through cloth lined sieve. Serve chilled.

This recipe came from a Grass Roots magazine some years ago. The instructions included drinking whilst dozing in a hammock in the sunshine, which I thought sounded rather nice. It’s been a long time since I dozed in the sunshine.

And I imagine that the wine infused berries would taste rather nice, too. If you don’t like them, give them to the worms – they will be happy.

Please go to my Facebook page and Like it

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com
____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________

My Gift to You

Yes, I have three gorgeous recipes for you that will brighten your Christmas table and your health all at the same time. But first….

Anyone still looking for last-minute gift inspiration? Here are some ideas that are easy and sure to please (NZ only).

Voucher for GoMoreRaw – you nominate the value

Voucher for Vera Organics – you nominate the value

Vera Organics is our daughter website run by our daughter. It is home to a growing choice of natural and organic body care and cosmetics. The products range from the   pure and high organic content to the items that avoid the nasties. We’ve rounded up a selection that’s sure to appeal and will add to the range as quickly as we can.

Spiral Vegetable Cutter – I have two left in stock. No more until the New Year.

You can buy any of the above until Monday, 23rd, 5pm – shop closes until 13 January.

And here are your gorgeous Christmas recipes:



Reindeer Juice
2 juicy apples, skin and all
¼ - 1/3 pineapple (no rind) or melon
3 leaves of spinach, kale or cos lettuce
¼ spray free lemon, including skin
sprig of mint – standard, spearmint or peppermint
pomegranate buds or sliced strawberry
Still or sparkling water

Run first four ingredients through your juicer. Check flavour; add a small amount of water or sparkling water. Top with pomegranate buds or sliced strawberry. Slurp.

Santa’s Suit Juice
1 generous beetroot, scrubbed (no leaves)
2 juicy apples
small knob of ginger
pomegranate buds or sliced strawberry
Still or sparkling water

Run first three ingredients through your juicer. Check flavour; add a small amount of water or sparkling water. Add more apple juice or water if your glass needs topping up. Top with pomegranate buds or sliced strawberry. Slurp.

Strawberry Mayonnaise

6 T Olive oil, extra virgin, cold pressed or Hemp Seed Oil
2 T Apple Cider Vinegar **
10 strawberries, medium size
¼ t tsp Himalayan salt
1/8 tsp cracked black pepper

Blend all of the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Use in three – four days.

(All recipes copyright to Christine Smith and GoMoreRaw)

** Waihi Bush make a lovely NZ raw Apple Cider Vinegar. I stock it.

That’s it from me and my fab team for the year. Grateful thanks to my darling hubbie aka TechMan, Sarah who keeps me on the scientific straight-and-narrow and ably assists at Classes. Also to our other darling children who help keep me sane, test all my new creations and prop me up when needed. Oh, yes – and my friends are pretty cool, too.

See you all in a couple of weeks! I’m on holiday, yahoo!

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com
____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________

Healthy Holidays

aka How to Not Fall Off the Wagon (too much!)

The travelling time of year doesn’t mean you have to leave healthy habits at home.

Here are ideas that might work for you.

• If you are staying with folk who do not share your eating priorities, there are a couple of ways to manage this. Consider letting your hosts know as soon as possible if there’s anything you can’t eat. Be prepared to compromise: make a list of what’s really important and what’s not quite so important. Go over the list. Go over it again. They probably already know you have ‘odd’ eating habits so may be prepared to accommodate some variety. If your host does ask, perhaps you could offer to send a couple of (easy) recipes – problem identified (you were asked), solution suggested (you provided alternatives).
• Say you will bring food contributions.
• Arrange to share meal preparation.
• It probably doesn’t matter too much to have white bread instead of whole meal or conventional chicken instead of free range, for a short period of time.
• Tip #1 Choose your battles wisely. This is not the right time to convince your host of a better way of eating.
• Tip #2 Practice grace.
• Tip #3 Be the (silent) walking advertisement.
• Take a probiotic such as InLiven. If you’re travelling overseas this is important. Having a gut ready for the inevitable exposure to less-than-optimum food and preparation practices is preventative action. This advice is not only for developing countries, either!
• When travelling I also take Body Balance, a liquid supplement that will easily plug any nutritional gaps when I can’t be in control of my food. For overseas travel it is available as a powder.
• Take a green powder such as Deep Green Alkalising Powder that can easily be added to a juice or water. Especially if you are used to eating lots of greens.
• Do an internet search for Juice Bars, health food shops and cafes. Do this before you leave home.
• Prunes, in case you are not served the fibre your body is accustomed to. You might be practicing grace but you can’t send an email to your gut to advice it of impending change.

Personal Blender

• Personal Blender. Fantastic for motels, hostels, holiday homes/bachs. I have taken my Vita-Mix on holiday but it’s heavy and takes too much room. The PB is great for single smoothies, grinding nuts to butter, breadcrumbs, coffee beans, etc. Brilliant device.
• Choose healthy options when you’re out
• Take your own snacks and surreptitious nibbles. You can choose smaller portions at a meal table and know you won’t be hungry. Raw bars, nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit and vegetable snacks.
• Drink water! This sounds like a Captain Obvious statement but with a change of routine it is easy to forget to drink as much as you usually do.
• If the food you eat (or don’t eat) is going to cause a rift, then seriously consider staying in a motel/hotel and spend the day with your friends and family.

Note : most products above can be purchased here.

Anyone else have some good ideas for ‘travelling healthy’?

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com
____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________

Why I Am a Raw Food Consultant

You know what I do, but do you know why? Have I told you?

Early this week I was asked this. It’s often the ‘what’ we tell people about but it’s the ‘why’ that’s really important.

My first answer would be because I saw what more raw food did for me. I had more energy, lost weight and felt more alert than I can remember feeling.

The second answer, no less important than the first, is because I see what more raw food has done and keeps doing for my clients and customers. They have the similar stories to mine and also a variety of health-changing and wellness tales, too.

I have a certainty that more raw food can delivers what it promises, and the benefits can be life-changing in all realms: physical, mental and spiritual.

And there, Dear Readers, is my ‘why’.

Real food, real results.

I am passing on to you a Christmas Present from Karen Knowler, 12 Days of Raw Christmas. Definitely worth a visit.

Next week I shall blog about Travelling Healthy, with tips to keep you on track during your holiday season.

This week I leave you with the GoMoreRaw Gift Guide. Ask about our Gift Wrap and Card Service, too.

Have a fabulous week!

Christine
www.gomoreraw.com
email: christine@gomoreraw.com

____________________________________________________

The Anglo-Far East Company
The Original Private Gold and Silver Bullion Custodian
Your reference when you order: an-001
____________________________________________________