How many of you have read the book, French Women Don't Get Fat? Having spent a lot of time in France, I've been able to observe first hand why French women are not fat, despite eating pommes frites, bottles of fine wine, fois gras and brie cheese. On top of that, they don't exercise like fiends the way we Americans do. In fact, they believe that the muscular frames that we strive to develop are not feminine.

Here are my general observations:

1. French women do not snack or graze. They eat 3 meals.

2. When the sit for a meal, they SIT and chew their food. They don't get up and down, look at their cell phones every second, gulp their food or look at computer screens.

3. They savour their food. When you dine with a French person, you'll hear them make comments like, "ahh, I can taste the tarragon." "That must be the rosemary that brought out that flavor."

4. Their portion size is small.

5. They don't obsess about the calories or raw food or macrobiotic or any of the latest trends in diet. In fact, they really don't diet.

6. Most of the food they eat is not processed. It's fresh, whole foods. When you walk into a French supermarket, your tongue actually tingles from the fresh, sour smell of the lemons or the crimson, succulent strawberries. The only place I saw such strawberries were those that we freshly picked in the Berkshires.

7. The French cherish the dining experience. I have a close, elderly relative who lives in Paris. When I visit her in her very plain, one bedroom flat, I always marvel at the way she presents our lunch. Granted, it's simple. Perhaps some brie cheese or smoked salmon with some crackers and a salad, but the love and care she takes to prepare the food makes the meal feel like a celebration. First she places a perfectly ironed tablecloth over a very small round table in the middle of her closet sized kitchen. She sets the table with china and the food is presented carefully on serving plates.

The food industry wants us to believe that losing weight is all about the food. As we see in the French eating habits, although WHAT we eat is important, HOW we eat can actually lead to a healthier life style.

Coriander, a natural metal chelator and so much more!

Coriander, also known as cilantro, you may be interested to know, acts as an aphrodisiac. It also protects against the Salmonella bacteria, works as a natural chelator (remover of metals) from the body, aides in digestion and helps settle the stomach and prevent flatulence, acts as an anti-inflammatory that may alleviate symptoms of arthritis, protects against urinary tract infections (which are more prevalent during the winter), prevents nausea, relieves intestinal gas, lowers blood sugar, lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises good cholesterol (HDL), good source of iron and magnesium and rich in phytonutrients and flavonoids.

Another Must Have Super Food - Collards

Collards are a staple in JOOS. Why? Because they are one of the food powerhouses. Some botanists say that collards are actually a form of kale, although both are considered a loose leaf cabbage. Collards have been around for thousands of years, but, with the exception of the southern part of the US, unfortunately have not been wildly popular in the US. Julius Caesar ate a hearty serving of collards as a preventive to indigestion after attending royal banquets, a testimony to their detoxifying abilities. They are also known as a cancer preventative, according to several studies. They are great for detoxification and cleansing and boosting the immune system. Collards are loaded with nutrients, including Vitamins A, C, E, B6, B2, calcium, magnesium, manganese and folate, to name a few.

Broccoli...My Kids vs. George Bush. Winner: My Kids

Well maybe George Bush didn't like his broccoli, but perhaps if he had just a little more information about how good broccoli is for us, he'd give it a second chance. My kids can't get enough of it and, from what I've seen in their friends, my kids are not alone.

Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables (so named because the petals have a cross shape). It is similar to cabbage and cauliflower and is highly nutritionally dense.

Studies are showing that the phytonutrients in broccoli can protect against many types of cancers, including breast, prostate, ovarian, bladder and skin cancer. Broccoli also can boost detoxification, support digestive health, promote cardio vascular health and prevent cataracts. Equally important, broccoli is so high in calcium (one cup of cooked broccoli contains 74 mg of calcium, plus 123 mg of vitamin C) that it is a great for bone protection and boosts our immune system. Broccoli is also high in folate and potassium.

Celery Root...a healthy, low glycemic root!

During winter, we move to eating more roots. In this vein, here’s a suggestion: Think about using celery root instead of potatoes or at least mashed in with your potatoes. Why? Celery root has similar consistency to potatoes, but are far healthier. They are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium and manganese, and a very good source of vitamin C and phosphorus. They have a lower glycemic load than potatoes, which means they lower your blood-sugar response.

Why Drink Warm Water? A Very Simplistic Explanation...

Our bodies are constantly undergoing chemical reactions in order to function. As you know, these chemical reactions require energy. The more the heat, the faster the reaction. So, if you drink cold water, you are actually slowing down these reactions and, hence, your metabolism. Conversely, if you're drinking warm water, you're speeding them up and, hence, speeding up your metabolism.

Remember, a rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of pure water...and preferably warm.

Questions about how you Perceive Yourself and Your Weight...

Weight is obviously a big topic for many of us. I invite you to think about what you perceive is your ideal weight, not the ideal weight you were when you were 20-something, but the ideal weight right now. At what weight do you feel your best? Why is it important for you to be at that weight? Maybe you’re already at that weight.

If your intent is to lose weight, I invite you to visualize yourself at that weight? What do you need to do to achieve your goal? How important is it to be at that weight? How can you modify your diet? Are you eating when you’re hungry or when you’re nervous or stressed or tired? Is eating that extra piece of chocolate cake more important to you than being at your ideal weight? Are we making our choices with haste, or are we making mindful decisions about how to nourish our bodies?

In many religions, it is customary to say a prayer before eating. There’s a good reason for doing this: saying a prayer makes us stop before we eat and appreciate what we have. Perhaps this doesn’t feel right to you, but I invite you to develop some sort of ritual around your food in order to bring more mindfulness, and patience into your life.

JOOSuppers No. 9 - Another Quick and Easy

Well, Tuesdays don't turn out to be any more relaxing than Mondays, which means another meal on the run. So, tonight we made:

Trader Joes Baked Rice Snacks (rice in sesame seeds, which you bake in the oven), wrapped in nori (great alkalizing food)

Omelette made with organic eggs and goat cheese mozzerella

Steamed organic broccoli

Done

Cooking Time: About 15 minutes (including baking the rice)
Easily served my 4 children

Boost your Immune System with Beets!!

A great winter food, red roots help build our immune system by draining our lymph. Beets also are considered beneficial to the blood (as a cleanser), heart, liver and digestive system. They are known to treat skin problems, headaches, lethargy and constipation. They are used to cure bad breath, coughs and headaches. They are also believed to act as an aphrodisiac! Recently, beets have been found to prevent cancer and increase immune system function (this is part of the lymphatic drainage). Beet root is high in many important minerals and micronutrients.

JOOSuppers No. 8 - Healthy Meal on the GO!

Monday nights are insane for us. Each child is in a different direction with activities and homework and, with only me, it's a tremendous challenge to get some sort of meal prepared.

So, last night, I steamed some frozen organic vegetables while I grilled Boca burgers and then organic, frozen sweet potato french fries on the George Foreman grill (a must have for busy moms). Voila - Dinner in under 5 minutes for 4 kids!

Cleanse your Way to Vibrancy

Do you know one of the parts of life I really love? That you constantly get another chance. Yesterday I felt horrifically disorganized from the moment I woke up. Today, just the opposite. The beauty of life....

That's exactly what our JOOS Cleanse accomplishes. It's a reboot on life. Over a 21 day period, incredible transformations can happen. I've watched hundreds of people cure stomach, intestinal and other ailments. This is what you can experience doing the JOOS Cleanse:

• Softer hair
• Less grey hairs
• Glowing skin
• Flow in your “waste” elimination
• Higher energy levels
• Better memory
• More grounded
• Less fluctuation in mood
• Diminished (and even elimination of) PMS symptoms
• Weight loss, if this is one of your goals
• Reduce bloating.

People become nervous at the thought of doing a cleanse, but our cleanse is very doable once you get into it. We coach you through each step of the way.

Please contact me with any questions.

This Made Me Smile...Leave it to Our Children!

I came home last night way behind in my work. Believe me, I would have loved to grab a handful(s) of the Rocky Mountain nut mix from Whole Foods, which I've stocked up. Such an easily accessible frustration food and easy to rationalize because it's mostly healthy...and fattening.

Fortunately, I read my emails before I gave in to the urge and saw the picture above that Julia, my second daughter sent me. It made me smile. It also made me pause, which is all I needed to get over the urge.

Some Salts May Actually be Healthy for us: Check out Himalayan Sea Salt

Feeling lethargic? You may be dehydrated. You may also consider adding Himalayan pink sea salt to your diet. It contains the 84 elements found in our body and the minerals and trace elements are so small that they are easily absorbed by the cells.

Grocery store salt, or table salt, has been heated to 1200° F and refined to remove most of the natural elements. Hence, table salt is mostly chemical sodium chloride. Natural Himalayan sea salt, on the other hand, has been minimally processed, which is why it contains 84 natural minerals.

I also invite you to research this more and do a search on Sole. I found this very interesting

Cranberries: An Ideal Winter Fruit

Cranberries, cousin to blueberries, have long been heralded as a cure or urinary tract infections. Studies are finding that they may also be beneficial to gastrointestinal and oral health, prevent kidney stones, lower LDL and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer. They're loaded with antioxidants, Vit C, Manganese and so much more! Cranberries are one of the few fruits that are great to eat during the winter and, yes, we will be adding them to your JOOS this week, unless we hear otherwise from you.

Feel JOObilant during the Winter. Here's How:

Recently, I wrote that winter is the season for joint stiffness and pains. It is also the time of year for increased constipation, urinary track infections, depression and, of course, colds and flu. All of these are the result of the cold, dry, windy conditions.

In Ayurveda, immunity is connected to digestion. When digestion is strong, your immunity is strengthened.
How do we achieve this? By keeping lubricated and hydrated.

Here are some points to consider:

1. Include more good fats and protein in your diet. If you're a meat eater, this would be the season to consume more meat (but organic please). A few suggestions for good fat include olive oil, fish oil, ghee, avocado, salmon.

2. Sip hot water throughout the day. If you guzzle it down, then your cells don't absorb the water as easily and you end up urinating most of it out. Warm water is easier to metabolize than cold water, especially during the winter. Remember, drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of warm water. If you have low blood pressure, you may consider putting a pinch of Himalayan pink sea salt in your water.

3. Avoid cold foods like salads. I had an interesting experience this winter. I love salads. During December, I ate a lot of salads. I felt cold and gained weight. In January, I almost entirely eliminated salads and lost weight and am no longer cold.

4. Avoid as much as possible drying foods like crackers and toast. Consume as much as possible soups, stews and herbal teas (not coffee, though).

5. Massage your skin daily before you shower with organic sesame oil.

6. Get more sleep. The ideal sleeping hours are between 10 pm and 6 am.

7. Consume as many nutrient rich foods as possible, which is why we JOOS daily.

Primary Study Shows Fruit and Vegetable Juice Helps to Protect Against Obesity

This link deserves it's own blog...LOVE THIS!!!

McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada performed an analysis on whether fruit and vegetable juice protects against obesity. Answer: YES! The link is below:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123251377/abstract

You Could be Holding on to Excess Fat if your Nervous System is out of Balance

In my practice, I often hear how healthy a diet a person is following, but they're not losing weight. While eating a healthy diet is certainly essential, the reason the person is not losing weight could be because their autonomic nervous system is not balanced.

The autonomic nervous system essentially is an involuntary internal control system that affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils, micturition (urination), and sexual arousal. There are two main parts to it:

the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) or “rest and digest”
and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or “fight or flight.”

Most of the time, we are on overdrive, which is means the SNS is working overtime. That means that we don’t give our systems a break to digest food and then we end up holding on to fat.

Our bodies don’t distinguish if we’re feeling stressed because we’re being chased by a tiger or because we’re unable to pay a bill. In both cases, the SNS is at play.

This is why it is so important to make some attempt to relax after a meal. The Spanish had it right with their “siesta.” I completely understand how difficult this is in our society, but I highly encourage you to take a moment during the day to relax, or at least breathe. That’s a start.

Winter Weather can Impact your Mood and the What and How you Eat

Has the weather affected your mood? A friend of mine said to me that he could track my mood by the winter weather. I started thinking about that comment. My diet is healthy and a healthy diet should translate into good moods. Then I thought again. We're all so busy running around, that we're not focused on what we eat, when we eat it and how we eat. So, no matter how healthy our diets are, if we don't give our systems a break - i.e., if our systems believe we're always operating on emergency mode - then no wonder why our moods will fluctuate with the weather.

That made me start thinking about the way I drink my JOOS. Admittedly, I practically gulp it down in the morning, without appreciating that it is loaded with nutrients that help our moods, including Folic acid, Vitamin B6, riboflavin, Vitamin C, Calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium (and, of course, others). So, this morning, I sat down and drank it more slowly than normal and guess what? Despite the frigid air, my mood was actually better. Why? Because my system was able to absorb the full benefit of the JOOS. I highly encourage you to try this. Sit down, drink and eat mindfully. The results should be tremendous.

Healthy Alternatives to Cow Milk? Got Goat or Sheep Milk!

My medical doctor, who interned for Dr. Mehmet Oz at Columbia Medical School, is one of the preeminent sources on nutrition, health and diet. I asked him if there were a difference between consuming cow vs. goat/sheep milk. His answer: Yes! Evidently, one of the molecular structures of one of the main proteins in milk, i.e., casein, is different. This has a tremendous effect on how our bodies metabolize or digest these milks.

This was interesting to me because, up until this point, I had mistakenly viewed goat and sheep cheese the same as cow milk. I had heard rumblings that goat and sheep cheese was healthier, but didn’t give it a second thought until the other day when I was at Whole Foods sampling a delicious Feta Cheese salsa. I was relieved to find that it was actually healthy for me..and even potentially alkaline forming, unlike cow milk.

The link below gives a great summary of the multiple benefits of goat milk (that also apply to sheep milk) and why these milks are healthier than is cow’s milk.

http://www.gardenharvest.org/milkbenefits.htm

Cow's Milk May Not be so Healthy for us...and Particularly for our Kids

In my opinion, the American Dairy Association is one of the most effective marketers around, next to the American Association of Meat Processors. As a mother, I need to speak out because what we've been brainwashed to believe that cows milk is essential for our diet and, particularly, our calcium intake.

It turns out that cows milk may not be healthy at all for our children, and, even worse, may actually cause major diseases. PLEASE READ ON!

T. Colin Campbell, PhD, a nutritional biochemist at Cornell University and author of the must read The China Study, grew up on a dairy farm. He conducted one of the most comprehensive studies of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. This is what he found regarding milk:

"There IS compelling evidence, now published in top scientific journals, showing that cows' milk is associated, possibly even causally, with a wide variety of serious human ailments, including various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and an array of allergy related diseases. And, this food contains no nutrients that cannot be better obtained from other far more nutritious and tasty foods. A national dialogue is desperately needed on this topic, for there is far too much at stake, especially concerning the 26 million children in the school lunch program."

He also stated that "cows' milk protein may be the single most significant chemical carcinogen to which humans are exposed, to say nothing of its other questionable effects on health. I am especially concerned about its effect on breast cancer and other cancers of the reproductive tract."

Another finding was that cultures, such as Asia, who traditionally did not consume cow's milk, had a very low incidence of osteoporosis. In fact, the rates of osteoporosis are now climbing with the introduction the Standard American Diet (SAD) in Asia.

There are many more points in which I haven't touched, but I highly recommend you read The China Study, particularly if you are a parent!

Here are some alternative sources of calcium:
• Green leafy vegetables (another reason why drinking JOOS is so important!)
• Goat and Sheep Milk
• New Chapter Bone Strength TakeCare - as of now, the only supplement that has a primary study attached to it that shows a net gain in bone strength (JOOS sells this product at one of the least expensive prices anywhere)

Also, be careful of eating processed, acid forming diets, because this type of diet depletes our bodies' of essential nutrients like calcium.

JOOSuppers No. 7 - Feta Cheese Salsa, Hummus, Gluten Free Crackers and Edamame

We had a "grazing" supper last night:

Whole Foods just came out with a feta cheese salsa, which is delicious.
Hummus
Gluten free crackers

Caprese salad with mozarrella cheese, organic tomatoes and balamic (my daughter, Sasha's favorite)

Edamame

Steamed Broccoli

Preparation Time: Under 5 minutes
Servings: 4 hungry kids and 1 mother

We all have those incredibly, horribly frustrating days, weeks, months. A few months ago, I had a horrific week that was all due to technical difficulties for an online exam I was taking for one of my nutrition courses. I ended up taking the exam three times on three different days because I was booted out of my exam twice and the professor wasn’t immediately available to reset it. At the time, I was incredibly aggravated, but as I sit down to write this newsletter, I’m thinking, so what? Why do we allow ourselves to get so worked up and what does it accomplish? I’ll tell you one thing it does: take us out of our mindfulness, and you know where that inevitably leads? Poor eating. Then we end up feeling even worse and the cycle continues!

Even with all the frustration and aggravation we’re feeling, at the CURRENT MOMENT, this very moment, the NOW, as Eckhart Tolle calls in his book, The Power of Now, everything is really O.K. Our minds and egos make us believe that it isn’t, but it really is. If we can only train our minds to live in the moment, we become mindful and guess what? We are aware of what we’re eating, how it tastes and how much we need.

All Calories are NOT Equal

We have this thought that we need to count calories, but calories metabolize differently, depending on the source of that calorie. For example, a calorie from a candy bar will metabolize differently than a calorie from broccoli.

I'm very weary of these calorie counting diets. True, if you're eating a diet that is heavy in processed foods, you probably do have to watch calories because these foods are nutrition deplete or dead. Sure they're often fortified, but the bio-availablity is very low if at all. That means that we get minimal, if any, benefit from the vitamins.

If you're eating a diet rich in whole foods (at least 90% of your diet) and 70% of those foods are alkaline forming, calories become secondary. Your body will naturally crave what it needs and you will naturally lose the weight that many of us have been hanging on to for all these years.

A rule of thumb: if you feel like you are depriving yourself, chances are that you are following a diet that is not working on a sustainable basis.

JOOSuppers No. 6 - Healthy Grilled Cheese with Organic Broccoli

So, here's a healthy grilled cheese sandwich my kids and their friends absolutely love:

The Super Easy Supper

Ezekial Bread - From either Whole Foods or Trader Joes, but less expensive at TJ. This bread is a complete protein, just like animal proteins. It's loaded with fiber and makes great toast.

Raw Organic Mild Cheddar Cheese (at Whole Foods) - This is one of the items in which I splurge.

I use the George Foreman Grill for this and so much more.

Steam organic broccoli.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves - As many sandwiches as you make :)

Some of you may be wondering why I did a recipe with cheese. I choose my battles. I have a daughter who loves cheese. So, I purchase the healthiest cheese I can find.

Do you really Want Pesticides Polluting Your Body...and Your Kids?

Why do we insist on serving you organic JOOS?

As you've probably heard multiple times by now, organic produce does not contain pesticides, which wreak havoc on your system and can cause several diseases. Pesticides can also significantly damage our eco-system.

Natural, undisturbed soil is alive with microbiotic organisms that exist in harmony with the native plant life and the inorganic minerals that provide the soil's substrate.

Synthetic chemicals (such as herbicides, pesticides, and/or fast acting inorganic fertilizers) applied in or around crops interrupt or destroy the microbiotic activity in the soil. Once the microbiotic activity in the soil has stopped, the soil is essentially dead, according to The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

Here is a succinct article that lists the top 10 reasons why we should eat organic foods:

http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-206.

This Diet Stuff Isn't so Complicated...although the Diet Industry Would Like you to Think Otherwise

I find it so incredibly frustrating how we are bombarded my these mixed messages about what foods are good for us. It's in their best interest for us to be confused because confusion sells.

There is really nothing complicated about what we should eat. Here are 6 Golden Rules:
• Approximately 90% whole foods - that means only 10% of your diet should be processed
• At meals, a fist sized portion of protein and load on the veggies
• Drink tons of water
• Eliminate soda and chewing gum
• If you want coffee, drink it after a large meal as a digestive aide
• Eat with the seasons

I can already hear some of your grown, though, because many of us have built up addictions to some of these foods/beverages. Our palates have become accustomed to processed foods so we crave sweets.

This is also why I believe that doing our JOOS Cleanse is so fabulous – it reboots your system so that eating whole foods is desirable for you – and also empowers you to live your best life.

JOOSuppers No. 5 Our Lentil Soup

JOOSuppers Lentil Soup

2 Cups Pre-Cooked French Lentils (Trader Joes)
1 Quart Organic low sodium vegetable broth
2 bay leaves

Bring to a boil in a pot

Saute
1 onion for approx 5 mins
Add 1 can tomatoes well chopped or even pureed

Add the onion/tomatoes to the lentils
Add approx 3 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp turbinado raw sugar

Cooking time 15 mins
Serves 6 -8

Serve with Ezekial Toast with ghee or
Baked sweet potato fries - already made from Trader Joes

Simple Breathing Exercise that Could Boost your Metabolism and Lead to Weight Loss

So, you really want to boost your metabolism and lose weight? Here's a simple breathing exercise that could accomplish just that!

Have you ever noticed when a baby breathes, his/her stomach naturally extends on the inhale and contracts on the exhale. This is called diaphragmatic breathing and it’s how we’re all supposed to be breathing with every breath we take. Try this: Put your hand on your stomach and inhale through your nose. Your diaphragm should extend (expand). Then take a deep exhale and your diaphragm should contract (move in). Do not open your mouth through the whole breath. Studies have shown that runners have literally taken a minute per mile off their time and weight lifters have lifted more weight just from doing this type of breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing will help relieve stress, tiredness, depression and boost your metabolism. Practice doing it all day long when you’re driving, at your desk, walking your kids to school, everywhere! Notice the difference this simple but powerful exercise will make in your life.

JOOSuppers No. 4 - Fia's Fried Rice

This is one of our all time favorites. The chef: my 8-year-old daughter, Fia, so I will name it in her honor:

Fia's Fried Rice

In a wok, put 1 tbsp or another cooking oil
Add 3 to 4 organic eggs and scramble
Add frozen organic vegetables
Add Redmonds Sea Salt
Add pre-cooked, organic brown rice
Add approx 1 tbsp of Miso Tamari sauce (from Whole Foods)

Prep time: B/t 5 to 10 minutes
Serves at least 4 hungry children

Naturally Change your Taste Buds the Easy Way

Do you remember the first time you tasted skim milk? It tasted like water. For those skim milk drinkers, if you switch over to whole milk, it probably is too thick and creamy for you. Am I correct?

We have the ability to change our taste buds. Unfortunately, it seems to be easier to change them to foods that are not so healthy for us, like processed foods, coffee, refined sugar, white flour, fried foods and animal meat. Most of these foods are addictive, but you have the power to change that!

For one week, eliminate these foods. I can already hear some of you say, "I'm not going to do that." My question to you is, "Why?" What are you afraid of? Maybe that you'll lose weight? Maybe that you'll have a lot more energy? Maybe that you will feel a whole lot better about yourself!!!

This is precisely what drinking JOOS does: help you change your taste buds so that you feel healthier, more energetic and stronger. The JOOS Cleanse accelerates this. Why? You already know - because JOOS is one of, if not the, healthiest beverages/foods you can possibly consume.

What are you waiting for? Why procrastinate? Right now you can feel stronger and more alive! Your choice...and your life. You have full control of how you choose to live it!

Lose Weight and Lower High Blood Pressure by Eating More Celery

For many of us, celery is an acquired taste, which is why I like to discuss the health benefits because, after learning them, you may be more enticed to include celery in your JOOS.

We have a young, Russian woman who lives with us and she tells me that Russians will pay at least $7 for a small glass of celery juice. She tells me Russians believe that celery juice is great for losing weight and eliminating bloat.

The Russians have it right. Celery helps in losing weight and acts as a natural diuretic. It also aides in lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, as you can read in the link below:

http://www.highbloodpressureinfo.org/benefit-of-celery.html

Celery is also rich in Vitamin C, which supports the immune system. It is also known as a cancer fighter. So, what are you waiting for? Consume more celery!

Feeling Grateful May be the Solution to Stop Binging

Today I woke up to a beautiful snowy day. I'm in New Hampshire with my kids and we're about to go skiing. My two dogs are playing as I write. All I can think about is how very grateful I am, especially in light of the tragedy and horror that occurred just a few days ago. I feel helpless about it. I want to help so much. I give a small donation here and there and pray constantly, but nothing I give can possibly help to end the torment the Haitian nation is facing.

Hopefully, one of the lessons we can draw from this tragedy is to STOP! Stop the mindless eating, arguing, waste and narcissism. Instead, put our emphasis on the abundance that so many of us have around us. From that empowered position, we are in a better place to help ourselves, our families and the world.

And, as part of this feeling of gratefulness, maybe we'll develop a little bit more mindfulness to stop binging:)

One suggestion I have to aide with this is every night write down 5 things for which you feel grateful. Try this for one week and see what happens.

JOOSuppers No.3 - A Full Easy Meal for Plenty

We just entertained for supper another family with 3 kids and 2 adults so that made 7 kids and 4 adults in all. We had been skiing all day and I had to whip up a supper very quickly...here's what we did:

Organic rown rice pasta with ghee (tastes like butter, but without the casein)and goat cheese mozarrella
Sweet potato fries - baked
Spinach salad with dried cranberries and goat cheese mozarella
Hummus with flax seed tortilla chips
Brown rice with mung beans in a salsa sauce
Steamed broccoli
Spinach pie from Trader Joes

Dessert: Chocolate Bubka

We had great conversation. We were all incredibly full and satisfied and it didn't even break my bank.

Supper vs. Dinner? Could a Change in Perspective Boost your Metabolism?

First of all, why am I calling this supper instead of dinner? When I was growing up, we had supper every day - a light meal - and dinner was reserved for a more formal occasion. Lunch was our heavy meal. Today we insist upon calling supper "dinner."

Do you know that the Russian word for lunch is "dinner." That's their big meal. In fact, lunch is the big meal all over the world except for here in the US.

There's a good reason for this. We wake up in the morning and break our fast; hence, breakfast. Lunch is the time when our metabolism is at it's peak, which is why we should be eating our largest meal then, withith a rest, or siesta, afterwards. Supper should be light and should be eaten at least 2 hours before you go to bed.

The worst is starving yourself all day and then gorging yourself at night. You put your metabolism on overload. This is also a great way to gain weight.

Getting Kids to Experiment with Healthy Foods...no nagging please!

So, I'm doing this Super Easy Recipe for the Family Series (and still need a better name), and I wanted to share what happened last night. I made Recipe no. 2 of basically brown rice pasta, broccoli and hummus; staples my kids eat. For myself, I made a mung bean stew over brown rice. I will include this in my recipes because it is so incredibly easy, highly nutritious and a fabulous winter meal.

My more experimental eldest daughter asked to try some. She kind of liked it. My son, seeing that it wasn't too disagreeable for my daughter, asked to try it. I gave him a small amount. He gobbled it down and asked for seconds. My second and third daughters then asked to have a taste. They finished their plates.

Funny how that works.

Warm Yourself with Warming Meals

Lately, many people are telling me that they're feeling cold and constipated. When I ask what they eat, they often include on their list whole wheat crackers and salads. "Aren't these healthy?" they ask me. This isn't such a straightforward answer. For some of us with larger constitutions, this may be OK, but for the smaller types, you especially need warm foods this time of year like soups and stews. See what happens when you increase your good fat and protein consumption.

Here's a story that happened to me. I love salads. During December, I was eating a lot of salads. I was constantly cold and even gained weight. Now I switched over to almost all cooked food, with the exception, of course, of my JOOS, and I've lost weight and feel warmer.

Counter-intuitive? Perhaps in our society, but think again and you will hopefully see how logical this is. For more info on seasonal eating, please contact me.

JOOSuppers No. 2 - Our Healthy Pasta Ideas

Here's our very easy dinner for this evening:

From Trader Joes:
Organic Brown Rice Pasta from Trader Joes
Organic Tomato Sauce from Trader Joes
Organic Broccoli florets
Hummus

From Whole Foods
Spelt crackers

How easy is that - organic, healthy, nutritious, inexpensive and delicious

Preparation Time: 15 minutes - including boiling the water
Price: Under $10 for family of 6 and delicious.

Enjoy!

Prevent Leading Chronic Illness through a Nutrient Rich Diet: Long Term Latency Deficiency Disease

Are you aware that inadequate intake of nutrients can lead to Long Term Latency Deficiency Disease, reportedly one of the top killers in the US. It takes many years to manifest this disease, but the deficiencies are popping up in some major chronic diseases. This is why it is essential to insure that we consume a nutrient rich, low processed diet. What can help you tremendously to help ensure you're following a highly nutrient rich diet? JOOS!!!

Recommended Produce to Eat Organic on a Budget

Organic produce can be expensive, so I invite you to take a practical look at which foods you should really think about purchasing organic, including:

"Dirty Dozen" (starting with the worst)
*peaches
* apples
* sweet bell peppers
* celery
* nectarines
* strawberries
* cherries
* pears
* grapes (imported)
* spinach
* lettuce
* potatoes

Here are foods that you don’t need to buy organic, the "Cleanest 12" (starting with the best):

* onions
* avocados
* sweet corn (frozen)
* pineapples
* mangoes
* asparagus
* sweet peas (frozen)
* kiwi fruit
* bananas
* cabbage
* broccoli
* papaya

Incidentally, when you’re purchasing produce, organic produce is assigned a five-digit "9" and conventional or non-organic produce typically start with a five-digit “4” so a non-organic apple would be marked "4455."

There are also non dairy products that really should be organic, like milk and meat, but I’ll get into that later.

Source: http://www.ewg.org

At Least we Had Popeye - Who do our Kids Have?

Think about it. When our generation, being the tail end of the baby boomers, was growing up, we watched Popeye. How did Popeye become strong? By eating "me spinach."

Who do our kids have? In this fast food nation, they are bombarded with fast food commercials. McDonalds definitely had it right...at least on the marketing end. Do you know why they market so heavily to kids? Because kids bring their parents so the check is bigger.

How do we undo the brainwashing on our kids? There are somewhat radical methods, like having them watch the Meatrix, http://www.themeatrix.com, an animation that talks about the dangers of factory farms. At the end, however, it's all about educating ourselves so that we can educate our children about how to eat a whole foods diet. After all, we are their role models.

JOOSuppers No. 1 - Spinach Salad with Salmon

OK, I may not do a daily recipe like Julie from Julie and Julia, but I'm going to do my best to post as many very simple supper recipes for the overly busy mother.

Here's my first and, believe it or not, 3 of my 4 children ate it - the fourth had a special dinner with my mother:

Trader Joes sells a pre-made spinach salad that comes complete with nuts, dried blueberries (we didn't use those) and even the dressing.
Trader Joes also has cut, poached salmon.

Open the package, throw in the salmon with croutons I bulked up on from Whole Foods, and voila, a hearty, delicious, nutritious salad.

I'd love to hear your ideas

Stay Warm with this Delicious and Nutritious Hot Chocolate Recipe...with Ghee!

During the winter, I'll warm up a teaspoon of ghee (described below) and almond milk with a cinnamon stick, turmeric and raw honey, a tsp of raw chocolate powder and some other spices. It has helped me stay warmer and more grounded. It is also highly satiating so it helps prevent the binging.

So, what is ghee? Ghee is clarified butter. It is very easy to make: just boil the butter and skim off the top. The problem is finding a high quality butter. The very best ghee I've been able to find by far is from Ancient Organics at www.ancientorganics.com/. I warn you that this isn't cheap, but I find this well worth the investment. I find it incredibly medicinal during the winter months. Many vegans even consume ghee because it doesn't contain the casein, the "bad" protein in milk. Ghee can be used as a substitute for butter.

Try it and let me know what your think.

Insufficient sleep can lead to weight gain

Do you ever wonder why you're barely eating or eating so healthy, but still gaining weight? It could be because you're not getting enough sleep. If you're tired, the body naturally wants to harness energy, which means that it will store as much energy as it can in your adipose tissue...the fat cells. So, if you want to lose weight and/or feel energetic:

Sleep at least 7 hours each night
Reduce Stress
Eat at least 90% of your diet as whole foods
Laugh
Drink approximately 1/2 your body weight in ounces of pure water
Exercise at least 1/2 hour per day

Do you have any other relaxation tips?

Are you employing the 90/10 rule in your diet or striving for 100% perfection?

When it comes to diet, if you strive for perfection and have a 100% clean diet, then inevitably, you are going to fall off the wagan at some point. Think about why you have a need to be perfect? What is perfection? Answer: and illusion that you created in your mind!

So, instead, think about employing a whole food diet 90& of the time and 10% of the time, be a little dirty.

We at JOOS have several healthy and satisfying replacements to satisfy your sweet tooth, salty craving or any other desire you may have. After all, if you deprive yourself, that is a sure recipe for failure - as is the need to be 100% perfect.

Winter: 'Tis the Season for Joint Stiffness and Pain

This evening at the beginning of my yoga class, the instructor asked us to go into downward dog. The joint cracks went off like the fireworks finale on the 4th of July. All I could think was, "Hello Winter!"

Winter is the season of accentuated joint stiffness. Many people have contacted me complaining about heightened joint pain. There are several ways to alleviate joint stiffness...

Questions:

Are you following a winter diet? For example, are you adding more fats and heavy proteins to your diet? For many of us, this is not the time to be raw. If you're a meat eater, this is the time to eat more meat (but PLEASE make certain that it's organic, or, at least, the best possible quality).

If you're on the JOOSTM Cleanse, are you adding a little more oil and more nuts and avocado?

Are you giving yourself a sesame oil massage each day before you shower?

Are you getting enough sleep?

How's your stress level?

I can also help you with this. Sign up for a complimentary health history and we can discuss what an appropriate resolution is for you.

Figs...A cure for constipation?

Winter is a time for increased constipation. Here's a trick that could relieve constipation: soak 4 to 5 figs in at least 10 oz. of warm water at night. The next morning, drink the water and then slowly eat the figs. It is also worth mentioning that figs are also highly alkalizing and loaded with fiber. I find them utterly delicious!

I'd love to hear your constipation remedies!

Eating Healthy on a Budget

I often hear that it's impossible to eat healthy on a budget. Nothing can be further from the truth, at least in the northeast. Fortunately, we’re lucky to have Trader Joe’s, supplemented by Whole Foods, in our backyard. We can feed our family of 6 for under $80 per week. Often when I see items on sale at Whole Foods, I bulk up. In coming weeks, I’ll continually give extremely easy and healthy children’s meal ideas for us moms who are on the run:

From Trader Joe’s:
Brown rice pasta
Organic tomato sauce
Ezekial Bread
Trader Joe’s Complete Protein Bread
Wide array of hummus and guacamole
Trader Joes Grilled Mixed vegetables (hexagonal shaped jar)
There are a wide array of these types of dips/tapenades
Trader Joes Steamed Lentils - Ready to eat warm or cold – mix with a grain and a tapenade and your meal is done.
Trader Joes Steamed Fava Beans - Ready to eat warm or cold
Dried fruit for people who do not want to lose weight
Almond Breeze
Organic sweet potatoes – Easiest way I’ve found to prepare - Place in your toaster oven with a little bit of oil and cook.
Organic quinoa
Organic soups
Oatmeal
Raw nuts
Organic almond and peanut butters
Whole grain or brown rice tortillas
Frozen organic vegetables
Organic eggs

They also have tons of hors d’oeuvres and meals in their frozen section. Yes, I throw in a few of their organic pizzas.

From Whole Foods:
Organic Short Grain Brown Rice
Organic millet
Organic amaranth
Raw cheese
Rice crackers
Frozen organic vegetables
Miso Tamari Sauce

Easy Weight Loss Resolutions for the New Year!

Many of you have already contacted me saying that you went "off the wagon" during the holiday and no wonder. It is particularly difficult to stick to a healthy eating routine when you're not in your daily routine. Since we're in still in the period of making New Year's resolutions, I encourage you to make an easy one that you can stick with throughout the year around your diet or well-being. Here are some examples:

- Pause before you eat.

- Meditate 10 minutes per day.

- Take one deep breath every hour.

- Drink 1 JOOS per day at least five days per week.

- Establish an eating curfew.

- Reduce processed food to a maximum of 10% of your total diet.

-Exercise a minimum of 10 minutes per day at least 5 days per week.

-Drink 1/2 your weight in ounces of pure water.

-Take 2 minutes every morning to plan what you're going to eat that day.

-Wait 4 hours between each meal (not so easy, though)

-Make lunch your big meal.

Pick one of these or choose your own. Remember, make it easy and doable for you. I’m guessing that many people, including myself, would love to hear your ideas!