Fresh Herbs & Sweet Potatoes

 

      Today at the grocery store I picked up some fresh cilantro, watercress and parsley. I also grabbed a couple organic sweet potatoes. I was planning on juicing the sweet potatoes, but decided to bake them for dinner tonight instead. They were yummy! :)  

    I have been doing a lot of healthy cooking and plan on sharing more of those recipes soon. Happy juicing and healthy living!

Fresh Pear Juice

Fresh Pear Juice

3 pears

1/2 long cucumber

1 small bunch fresh mint

* This juice is good for energy and used as a detox juice. It is yummy! 

**Recipe from: The Big Book of Juices 
by Natalie Savona
http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-Book-Juices-Vitality/dp/1844839737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361164350&sr=8-1&keywords=the+big+book+of+juices 

Having Healthy Snack On Hand In The Kitchen!

  Going into this juicing lifestyle I knew that I needed to change my whole way of thinking about food. I have tried other "fad diets" in the past. Cutting carbs, or fat or counting calories and none of them ever worked. I felt deprived and hungry! I know myself and I knew that this wasn't just a "diet", but a lifestyle change. And my husband and two kids are along for the ride! :)
    To be honest I never really bought junk food. We never have pop or soda in the fridge. Cookies or ice cream every now and then as a treat. So my kids and husband were actually thrilled to do the change for a healthier life! Over all I bought pretty healthy foods at the grocery store...or so I thought! Reading and doing tons of research on the trusty world wide web I have become aware of all the fancy wording food manufacturers use on the ingredients listed on products. Just because it says all natural....doesn't mean it really is! Read the ingredients listed on packaging, anything with added sugar, flavor syrups of any kind (i.e corn syrup) is all bad. You want to buy whole GRAIN, NOT whole wheat! If you can make from scratch do so...anything bottled, boxed or bagged has added salt and other preservatives. These are just a few examples.
    I have found that if you make healthy snacks available you will have no room for being hungry or eating something that isn't a healthy choice. These are just a few things that I like to have on hand. Me and my family go through a lot of fruits and veggies now, so I buy my fresh fruits and veggies twice a week!

• Oranges
• Apples
• Grape Fruit
• Bananas
• Raw Almonds
• Celery & Carrots, Pre Cut stored in airtight container in fridge, with water for crispness.
• Organic Granola

Cucumber, Greens Hydrator & Cleaner Juice

This juice was great tasting and refreshing. I made this the night before a work day, so I had it for lunch the next day...yummy!

INGREDIANTS:

6 stalks celery

1 cucumber, peeled

1 handful fresh spinach

1 apple (I used fiji)

Thyroid Booster Juice

This juice is a bit hard to swallow, but it makes you feel good! I do not have a thyroid issue, just wanted to try the juice recipe out! :)

Thyroid Booster Juice

 This juice is for those people who have a thyroid problem and are having trouble losing weight. This juice will help to give your thyroid a bit of a boost. It also helps to regulate a hyper active thyroid.

INGREDIENTS:

2 Carrots

1/2 medium lemon, peeled

2-3 radishes with greens, washed well

Healthy Turkey Burgers

1 light drizzle EVOO

1 1/2 lbs. Ground Turkey

1/2 palmful *grill seasoning

1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 chopped green onion

1 handful fresh spinach, chopped

 

    Lightly drizzle some extra virgin olive oil into the bottom of meduim mixing bowl. Add your ground turkey, garlic,seasoning, green onion and spinach. Mix well. Form into patties. Add to heated skillet or pan. Cook until done. Enjoy one a lightly toasted sesame seed kaiser bun or keep it even healthier with a sliced avocado on top with a leaf of romaine lettuce for a "bun"! ENJOY!

 I ended up not making my patties very big and there is only 4 of us, so I decided to make turkey balls with what was left over. Cooked up great and put into air tight container and placed in freezer for a future meal! :)







Recipe of my own, but idea came from Rachel Ray 365: No Repeats Cook book. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rachael-ray-365-rachael-ray/1102552278

* Grill Seasoning, McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning
http://www.ceceliasmarketplace.com/gluten-free/grill-mates-montreal-steak-grinder/

Beet Juice Recipe

Beet Juice

1 Beet, with greens attached

2 carrots, greens removed

2 celery stocks

1 green apple, cored

1 healthy bunch of fresh parsley

1 inch piece fresh ginger root

This is my own twist to the beet juice. You can also peel a lemon and put into juice. ENJOY! :)

One week after my 10 day detox

    I am back! It has been a fantastic week! I wanted to post earlier this week, but it was a pretty busy one!

   I am very happy to report that the transition back into solid foods was great. I took it easy with starting off with fruits and veggies and plain almonds. I juiced for breakfast, lunch and snack; in between lunch and dinner. For dinner, towards the end of the week, I started eating ground turkey and salmon, whole grain rice. I still have not had any dairy of any kind, bread or red meat. As for the red meat though, I will no longer eat it. I have decided it just doesn't do me any good consuming it. I just feel icky afterwards. The dairy and bread has just been my choice not to have. Those are my weaknesses!

    I also started exercising this week. I do a mild stretch in the morning, before work. At work I burn and sweat, as I am a house cleaner. When I get home I shower, stretch and do a few floor excersizes, arm cables (hanging from our closet door). Due to our weeks being so busy with the businesses and the kids we have started a new tradition... Saturdays are family days! Yesterday we took the kids up to the elementary school and I ran/walked around the field twice. Played 3 games of HORSE with the hubby and son. Played on the jungle gym with the daughter. Went out to Teriyaki dinner ( I had plain salmon filet with plain rice). Came home and rented amezon movies! What a great day! This morning I woke up with my entire body being sore....but a good feeling sore! :)

    I have also found an awesome all natural healthy smoothie place called, Max Nutrition Smoothies! https://www.facebook.com/MaxxNutrition
 Their smoothies are wonderful, filling, refreshing and taste FABULOUS! So lucky to have them in my area, especially if you are out and need a juice! :)

   

    Looking forward to the future! :) Happy Juicing!

~Courtney