Eat-Clean Review & GIVEAWAY: Tosca Reno's The Eat-Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook

Guess what arrived in the mail today? A copy of Tosca Reno's latest cookbook, The Eat-Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook. I was honored to receive a copy to give away to one of my wonderful readers!

 

Look at the bottom of this post to see how you could win this great cookbook!

As most of you know I have been a Vegan for a bit over 3 years now. I was sad to see many of my Eat-Clean cookbooks just sitting there because a lot of the recipes had meat and animal products in them. Well, when I saw that Tosca was coming out with a vegetarian cookbook I promptly pre-ordered a copy for myself!

I have made several of the recipes and are they delicious! There are a lot of Vegan options in the book as well as a few fish recipes which I think is a great addition. Although Vegans and Vegetarians don't eat fish, there are many flexitarians and pescetarians who do. If you have a family with meat and non-meat eaters alike this is a great book to get you all eating clean and eating less red meat and meat products in general. The great thing about having meat-free meals as a main course, even for a few meals, is that these meals are easy on the budget, and these days that is so very important!

One of my favorite dishes, which is great for gatherings and parties, is the Smoky Eggplant and Chickpea Spread. Think of it as hummus meets Baba Ganoush, yum : )

Here are a few recipes you will find in the book:

Blueberry and Citrus Breakfast Parfaits

Dried Fruit and Nut Bars

Spring Fling Pasta Salad

Late Summer Spelt with Crunchy Vegetables

Chilaquiles (another fave of mine)

Herb Grilled Shrimp Skewers w/ Avocado Linguini

Red Quinoa Pilaf

Grilled Gourmet Bella Burgers

Skillet Cornbread

Banana Cupcakes w/ Peanut Butter Yogurt Frosting

Pineapple Carrot Bread... or Cake?

And so many more.....

Another reason why this new cookbook appealed to me is that although there were some soy dishes, it wasn't all soy like so many of it's counterparts. As a person suffering with thyroid disease the soy issue is huge! I am not allowed to have any soy and trying to find Vegan/vegetarian cookbooks that are not soy from beginning to end is very difficult. I mean, can't we get a bit more creative than tofu, tofu, tofu? I didn't even hit a tofu recipe until page 75! There are only 10 recipes that make tofu center stage and this was music to my little ears : ) If soy milk or cheese were used I substituted unsweetened low-fat coconut milk and Daiya cheese. It takes creativity and hard work to make a vegetarian/Vegan cookbook without a ton of soy and my hats of to Tosca and her team for successfully doing just that! Thank you!!

Now, let's get down to business! I am excited to be able to giveaway one copy of Tosca's new The Eat-Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook. All you have to do to win, is leave a reply on this blog post. I will draw one winner on Sunday, July 8th, 2012. Last day for entry is July 7th at midnight PST. If you want an extra entry just tweet, post or pin this giveaway and then let me know you did that in another comment here on this post. Thanks for entering and good luck!!

Thank you Abigail for sending me a copy for this giveaway!

Nicole

Books in Review: Pick It Kick It, An Interview and a Giveaway!!

I love Clean Eating and I'm sure you have all figured that out by now. Whole food taste so fresh and has far more flavor than it's processed counter part. I get so many e-mails from people wanting to know how to start eating clean. It isn't a surprise that in this fast paced world people are too busy to take the time to learn a new, healthier way of eating. Well, guess what? Diane Hart, executive editor of Oxygen Magazine, has made a book just for you.

Pick It Kick It is a guide to begin your Clean Eating journey. For those of you who need to take this new way of eating step-by-step, here's the book for you! Diane gives you alternate food choices for some of your current, not so clean food choices. I like this concept of picking a better food choice for one that may be less than stellar in the nutritional arena. In this book there are guides to making better choices at fast food places as well as better choices for everyday foods that you may be eating now.

Also included in this guidebook are menu plans, wonderful recipes and helpful tips that will have you eating clean and feeling great in no time!

I had a chance to interview Diane Hart and I'm so happy I'm able to share it with all of you:

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FF: When did your love of fitness and good eating begin?

Diane Hart: There were two key moments in my life when I realized the importance of fitness and good eating - When I was 15, my father died of a massive heart attack and that had a huge impact on me - I vowed to stay in shape and eat well from that moment on. And, then many years later, when I had my two kids, I wanted to get back into shape and decided to start training for triathlons - I've done more than 10 of them and now have a new goal - run a half-marathon.



FF: What is your favorite Clean Eating breakfast?

DH: I absolutely love steel cut oats and every morning mix 'em up in the microwave! It takes only four minutes  - I add a little bit of almond butter, some unsweetened apple sauce, some berries and low-fat yogurt and it's quick, easy and delicious!



FF: What is the simplest yet most effective change people can make in their diet?

DH: Buy this book! : ) Be more mindful about the way they eat. (eg. look more closely at nutrition labels, keep an eye on potions - eg eat off a lunch plate at dinner/ eat only half a wrap at lunch and take the rest home) Cutting out soda pop and salt goes a long way too!



FF: I am on the run so often with my 3 boys. What are the easiest, most nutritious food items that are portable for those who are busy like myself?


DH: The bulk of all the salt you eat - almost 80% - comes not from a salt shaker but from processed foods so relying on packaged foods when you're on the run isn't what you want to do. Pairing fruit like an apple with raw almonds or peanut butter or yogurt is a great snack; tuna or hummus wraps stuffed with veggies; low sodium tomato juices are another great way of getting in your veggies on the run; low fat cottage cheese on pita is another great choice.



FF: I love Oxygen Magazine because of the dedicated women you feature in it. Who has inspired you the most out of those women?

DH: I truly think all of us inspire each other and all the women in the magazine have individual stories that motivate each of us. What always has profound impact on me are the "success stories" of everyday women who are like me -busy, on the go and multi-tasking every hour of the day. And yet, they still find the courage to change their lives simply by eating better and getting moving. 



 FF: What is your number one secret to staying in shape and staying on track?

DH: Consistency. I love to workout and even if I'm traveling, I go for a run or a swim or spend time lifting weights in the gym because I know it's a great stress buster as well as good for my heart and keeps me lean. I also don't beat myself up if I happen to indulge in a treat once in a while  - I simply vow to get back to it the next and stay as consistent as possible.



FF: I have so many readers that ask how to stay motivated. How do you stay motivated even when life is moving at such a fast pace?

DH: I realize, again, that exercising regularly, eating well and taking time to myself is the best at reducing stress so it motivates me to keep going! We've just completed our second issue of the new Off the Couch! Motivation for Real Women, an  Oxygen special issue magazine devoted to motivation. So keep an eye out for lots of motivating tips and stories - it's on sale October 6!



FF: What is the one food you couldn't live without? What is the one food you would never touch?

DH: Pick it Kick it isn't about denying yourself any food - just eating less of it or switching it out for something better, so it's difficult to choose one food. But I couldn't imagine not having steel cut oats for breakfast - it's just the best to start your day! And the one food I never touch is high sodium deli meat. 

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Thank you Diane for taking the time to answer questions for my readers! You are such an inspiration to us all : ) Thank you for continuing to put out such wonderful magazines and books to help us all in our journey to optimal health!

Also, a big thank you to Rechelle at Bordeaux for sending me this wonderful book!

I am happy to give away one copy of this great little guidebook to one of my readers! Here are 5 ways you can win:

1. Become a follower of my blog then comment about it.

2. Follow me on twitter then comment back here about it.

3. Tweet about this post and comment about it  back here.

4. Link this post on your blog and comment back here with the link.

5. Like me on facebook and comment back here about it.

I will pick the winner on Monday, August 30th, so enter and enter often : ) (Thanks Pam for reminding me to have a drawing date :)

Good luck and thank you for reading my blog!

Nicole

Giveaway Winner & Happy 101 Blog Award : )

And the winner is................

Pickles for Breakfast said...

"the universe is talking to me!! seriously!! I just had a saliva test done and it came back that my liver was overloaded!! Lonnie has me on some whole food supplements now..Standard Process AF beta food. and a cleanse is next..So I think I follow you on FB and on here.."

Congratulations Gretchen! E-mail me your address and I'll get this book out to you so you can start the New Year off right : ) Here's my addie: thefitnessfreak@cox.net

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On another note:



Thanks to my friend Shannon Marie over at Rawdorable, I was given a Happy 101 Blog Award. In order to accept this award I get to list 10 things that make me happy then do one of those things today. I also get to pass this award on to 10 of my fellow bloggers. Here goes nothing:

10 Things that make me happy

1. God
2. My wonderful family, in who's company I am blessed to be in today!
3. Spending time with my fabulous friends.
4. Working out! Yep, did that today : )
5. Listening to music and singing along.
6. Keeping up with my blogger friends!
7. Encouraging people to love fitness!
8. Being Raw/Vegan
9. Writing my blog and all of the information I learn because of it.
10. The hope of one day helping others face to face conquer their eating disorders, fitness challenges and nutrition hurtles!

My Nominees for this Award:

1. Shannon Marie (Rawdorable) Yes, I can send it back to her : )
2. Averie (Loves Veggies & Yoga)
3. Liz (Veggie Girl)
4. Raw Goddess
5. Malynda (Fit 'n' Fabulous with Coach Malynda)
6. April (Raw Food Passion)
7. Jennifer (Savor the Thyme)
8. Mindy (She Has Good Taste)
9. Kristen ( Kristen's Raw)
10. Ingrid (Raw Epicurean)

Thanks for nominating me Shannon Marie : ) I'm so happy to have all of my blogging friends that put a smile on my face everyday!

Nicole

New Years GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Do you want to get your year started off right by getting rid of all the holiday junk that's in your system? You're in luck!

I'm giving away one copy of The Liver Cleansing Diet Book. This is a great book for anyone who wants to detox their bodies from all of the grungy build-up and jump start your way into clean eating. The Liver Cleansing Diet requires you to concentrate on healthy, whole foods including whole grains, legumes and plenty of purified water to help flush toxins from your system. You will be eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and choosing raw fruits and vegetables provides your body with living enzymes to help build healthy cells. Drinking freshly made fruit or vegetable juices provides these vitamins and enzymes without taxing the liver in the digestion process.

A healthy liver is the key to efficient fat metabolism and weight control.

The liver-cleansing diet has many benefits:

1. Increased energy levels.
2. Detoxification and cleansing of the blood stream.
3. Reduction of inflammation and degenerative diseases.
4. Better immune function.
5. Efficient fat metabolism.
6. Weight control.

So what are you waiting for? Enter now!

To enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. Become a follower of my blog then comment about it.
3. Become a fan on my facebook page then comment here about it.
4. If you are already a fan and follower just let me know.

Yep, that's it : ) I'll announce the winner on January 1st, 2010!

Good luck!

Nicole