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:

~~~~~~~~~~~

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. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Books in Review: The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged & Giveaway!

What is Clean Eating? Do you really know what is involved in becoming a clean eater? Do you even know where to start? Maybe, you're already a clean eater? If you have questions like these, I know where you can find the answers! The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged is Tosca Reno's latest publication and once again she has met and exceeded my expectations! Tosca is the leading expert in all things Clean! I guess that's to be expected since she's the one who came up with the idea. I'm sure you all know by now that one of my biggest inspirations is Tosca Reno. I read her original Eat-Clean Diet book when it first came out and it changed the way I felt about eating. I now own all of her cookbooks and just received a copy of her latest book The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged. Thanks to Rechelle from Bordeaux PR for sending it my way!

Many of you know that about 9 months ago I became Raw/ Vegan so my eating has drastically changed. I was curious to see if I could still apply the principles of clean eating to my new lifestyle. I curled up on the couch and devoured all of the information inside, anxious to see what new information I could learn. Guess what? I can totally apply these principles to my life! Tosca has outdone herself in this new, updated book! I'll let you know what I found for me personally in a minute, but first let me give you a breakdown of the book:

Chapter one covers the ins and outs of clean eating. What to do, what to avoid and what changes you can expect from this way of eating. Tosca has a full list of how to Eat Clean along with a list of foods that should be avoided. This is really helpful because what you may think is "good" for you may not be after all. I love step-by-step so this chapter is really useful to me.

Breakfast is a VERY important meal! To prove this point, Tosca has a whole chapter on it. That's right, a WHOLE chapter! Breakfast is important because it gets your metabolism going and keeps your blood sugar level so you don't start your day of in an energy slump.

Here are a few topics covered throughout the book:

• How to speed up your metabolism naturally
• The importance of water and the dangers of getting dehydrated
• How to shop at the grocery store
• Eating Clean on a budget
• Eating clean at home, at work or on the go
• How to make exercise a priority
• The realities of losing weight and it's effect on your body
• Superfoods, how to add them into your diet
• Solutions for people with hectic schedules

Tosca also has several meal plans in the book including:

• Cooler Plans
• Family Meal Plan
• Gluten-Free Meal Plan
• Vegan Meal Plan

All of the meal plans also come with a complete shopping list to make it fast and easy to Eat Clean in any situation. I was thrilled to see the vegan meal plan!

There are also 50 recipes in this book. I was excited to see that 50% of them were vegan and 75% of them were vegetarian. That was a big change from when I first started following the Clean Eating plan because there use to be a lot of animal protein. Animal protein is really hard for me personally to digest so I was excited with all of these new recipes that I could use for myself! Here are the recipe categories:

• Breakfast (4 are vegetarian and 1 of those is vegan)
• Appetizers (5 are vegetarian and 4 of those are vegan)
• Salads (5 are vegetarian and 3 of those are vegan)
• Soups & Stews (4 are vegetarian and 1 of those is vegan)
• Proteins (3 are vegetarian and 2 of those are vegan)
• Sides (5 are vegetarian and 2 of those are vegan)
• Complete Meals
• Desserts (6 are vegetarian and 3 of those are vegan)

There is also a FAQ section with answers to questions like:

• How long will it take until I see results?
• How many calories should I be eating each day?
• Any advice on how to eat while traveling?
• Do I have to cook to Eat Clean?

The biggest change I notice between the original book and "Recharged" book is the addition of lots of vegan/vegetarian options. This thrilled me because I know so many people who are eating less meat and I know this book will help them perfect their eating. The use of coconut oil and coconut butter was a wonderful addition too. I am a big fan of coconut oil and butter because of their many health benefits.

Overall, I was very impressed with how much information was crammed into this book. I know I learned more from reading it and I guarantee you that you will also.

I would LOVE for you to start the New Year off right and benefit from the information in this book so I am giving away one copy of this fabulous book! Yep, I'm so excited to give this to one of you, my dedicated readers!

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment here on the blog about why you would love this book. Also, if you have a question you would like to ask Tosca please leave it in the comment as well. I will be doing an interview with her later this month and would love your input! So, if you have a burning question that you've always wanted to ask Tosca, put it in your comment! I will randomly pick the lucky winner on February 1st.

Good luck all!!!!

Thanks again to Rechelle from Bordeaux PR!!

Nicole

Books in Review- The Raw Food Detox Diet

You know what's funny? I have recommended this book to a ton of people and just realized I never shared it with all of you! That's right, a fabulous, helpful, inspiring book and nary a word from me about it. What was I thinking?

Seven months ago when I became Raw I just jumped in with both feet never looking back. Turns out that may not be the best method. From all I've read, slow and steady wins the race here. Not that eating a Raw Vegan diet full of fruits and veggies is bad, it's just that too much of a good thing can be, well, too much of a good thing. For the first 3-4 months on eating Raw I was having serious digestion problems. I was thinking, hey, I didn't start eating this way to make my digestion worse! Turns out going 100% Raw overnight can wreak havoc on your insides. The overload of toxins trying to get out kind of makes a traffic jam in your body.

I couldn't figure out what was going on so in June when we went on our family vacation, I read "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose. Wow! I couldn't put it down! It totally made sense to me and really recharged me to stick with my Raw lifestyle and ride the wave. I wish I had had this book months before so the distance between point A and point B wasn't so long. The most important part for me was to realize that this isn't a "diet" it's a lifestyle, forever.

For those of you thinking, "Hey, I don't want to be Raw!", don't worry with this book you don't have to be. There are five stages to Raw laid out in the book and you can stop at any of these five stages and stay indefinitely. She even includes fish and some raw dairy products in the first stage for those of you who would miss it.

Natalia really goes over how food works in your body, what digests easiest and why you want to concentrate on "fast exit" foods. The information about how my body functions optimally is what has really helped me. I now focus on what I AM eating as opposed to what I'm NOT eating. It changes your perspective for sure!

There are tips for eating out, traveling, holiday ideas, eating at work and eating this way on a limited budget. She also includes a ton of recipes for each stage and as you move along you can intermingle these recipes or just keep moving up the ladder to 100% Raw.

If you want to have more energy for life and your workouts, this book will do it for you! It's clean eating kicked up! I've noticed my body prefers getting it's protein from whole, unprocessed, natural foods over meats and protein shakes to build muscle. I have more muscle now than I ever did eating a ton of protein in the form of scrambled egg whites and chicken. Also, my food digests so fast I'm ready to give it more nutritious raw foods in no time!

If you're interested in the book but don't quite know if it's for you or not just go check it out at the library first and if you like it, buy it! I know you will love it as much as I did. It just makes sense!

Click HERE for an excerpt.

Nicole

Books in Review- Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook

Okay, I got my copy of Tosca's new Eat Clean Cookbook and I am SO excited! I have been considering High Raw, All Vegan for the winter months so I have been on the prowl for cookbooks that would fit the bill. I purchased the Eat Clean Cookbook for my family but was pleasantly surprised to find that I had found my cookbook without even knowing it.

I went through the book cover-to-cover and here's what I found:

41 Vegetarian Recipes
77 Vegan Recipes
25 Meat Recipes

Yep, there are more vegan recipes than anything. This is so cool! Even better, most of the vegetarian recipes could easily be made vegan. For those of you who are meat lovers you could easily add it to any of the recipes if you wanted.

Another plus for me, there are hardly any soy products in the recipes. Because of my thyroid disease I cannot have any soy and it's hard to find vegan/vegetarian recipes without it. Yippee! I also am in love with the addition of coconut oil in this book. It is a great oil! Read about it's benefits HERE.

I am beyond happy with this book! I know it has something for everyone. Most importantly, it has all whole, natural, fresh ingredients and there's nothing better than that! I hope you go out and get a copy, I'm glad I did : )

Click HERE for an excerpt from the book.

Nicole

*P.S. Don't forget to enter my Chia Seed GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Books in Review- Healthy Highways: The Traveler's Guide to Eating Healthy

So, I found this totally cool book at Amazon as recommended by my AAA Westways magazine. The book is called Healthy Highways: The Traveler's Guide to Eating Healthy. Honestly I expected it to be a list of all the "healthy" food at Subway, Jack-in-the-Box, etc.. Guess what? It's not! It's actually a list of all the health food stores and eateries across the country. I'm not talking just chain stores like Whole Foods, I'm talking about mom and pop stores and eateries in small towns and large towns alike.

The book is in alphabetical order by state and city so finding a listing is really easy. The latest edition on the Healthy Highways website, has 2800 listings. Not bad, huh? Here's an example:

At the front of each state, you will find a map that has the featured eateries clearly marked with an arrow and a number.This number allows you to learn the details of what the restaurant or natural food store has to offer. Travel directions to each establishment are also included.


The book lists eateries that have options for vegetarians and vegans, as well as those that feature whole foods and organic and/or locally grown produce.

Here is a list of some of the descriptions for the restaurants:

• Baked goods made on site
• Deli
• Eating area available
• Emphasis on organic ingredients
• Freshly prepared foods
• Juice bar
• Kosher
• Ownership designation (chain, co-op, etc.)
• Salad bar available
• Seating options
• Self-service (buffet, cafeteria, order at counter)
• Take-out available
• Vegan or Vegan-friendly
• Vegetarian or Vegetarian-friendly
• Wait staff

I was excited to review this book because I have watched Kristen from Kristen's Raw traveling from the east coast to Arizona on a road trip while giving us the low down on all of the eateries she tried on her way. The best thing is that this book has those and SO many more! The only thing it doesn't have is a listing of kid-friendly places but if you're traveling with kids who are used to eating healthy, this shouldn't be a problem : )

You should totally grab a copy for your next trip! What are you waiting for?!

Nicole

Books in Review- The Eat-Clean Diet Companion

Hey Clean Eating fans, Tosca is coming out with a fabulous new journal! If you have trouble remembering goals, plans, menus, routines, measurements, etc., you need this book! As someone who personally forgets details like these often, I know this book will be perfect: )

This book includes:

• A weekly food tracker with room to write in up to 6 meals per day
  
• Space to track your nutritional needs, i.e. protein, complex carbs, etc.
  
• Progress pages
• Space for your weekly shopping list and menu plan
  
• Helpful tips and words of wisdom from Tosca including tips on what to eat
• Tips on staying organized and prepared
  

I love journaling and keeping track of my results. Over the years I have compiled a mish-mosh of books and folders with my notes and information so I am so excited to have one book to put it all in now! If you want motivation and encouragement in black and white, get this book!

Click HERE for a preview and to pre-order your copy today!
It is also available on Amazon.

Nicole

Coming Soon- Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook

Attention all Clean Eating fans!! Tosca Reno is releasing a new Eat Clean cookbook, it’s called Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook and it has over 150 new recipes! To pre-order click HERE.

There are also a few CLIPS of Tosca testing recipes.

To join Tosca's 2009 Body Makeover Challenge click HERE.

Books in Review: Kristen's Raw Books

I'm sure you all remember how excited I was when I got my books from Kristen Suzanne. Well I'm just as excited to have them still:) Kristen has been a big inspiration to me in my new found love of the Raw food lifestyle. Her helpful tips and recipes have gotten me through a lot of sticky times as I embark on my Raw Adventure. My favorite thing about Kristen is that she is accessible. If ever I have a question, she is happy to answer. I know if I really need to poke and prod for information she is available for phone consultations as well.

I have made many of the recipes out of all 3 of the books and they have all been great! Of course, I tend to make the ones that tickle my fancy and there are a lot! Note, there are no pictures in the books so as to keep the cost of publishing them down. Do not fear though because she has tons of photos on her website. You can also purchase her material in e-book form and download it immediately to your computer for easy, quick access. Now there's no excuse, you can start your own Raw Food Adventure today!

For those of you not on the Raw food train, the recipes in any of Kristen's books are a great addition to your clean eating menu. Try adding in just one Raw meal a day and see how you like it We all need more fruits and veggies in our diets, right? These books will help you do that for sure!

Kristen's Blog

Kristen's Website

Kristen's Books

Books in Review: The Eat-Clean Diet for Men

The Eat-Clean Diet for Men


Okay, for all of you clean eating women out there who can't get your men to eat clean with you, Tosca Reno introduces The Eat-Clean Diet for Men. This book is co-written with Tosca's husband Robert Kennedy, who has been at the forefront of bodybuilding and the fitness industry for many years. He’s worked with all the top bodybuilding stars and publishes six top fitness magazines, including Maximum Fitness, MuscleMag International and Oxygen.

With over 60 recipes geared toward men and beautiful photographs to boot, this new publication will be a hit for sure! There are more recipes that include lean meat options of old favorites like Good 'ol Burgers. For many men out there it's hard to find good food that tastes great, now they can. Thanks Tosca and Robert for another winner!

The Eat-Clean Diet for Men is now available. Click HERE to get your copy!

Ooh,ooh, ooh............

............look what the UPS man brought me today:) I know, I know, how many workouts and books does one girl need? It turns out a LOT! My DH purchased these for me from a bonus he received, I am soooo excited! Of course he had to pull out the 230 other DVD's I have and ask why I needed new ones. In the end he knew we all have our passions and this is mine:) I'll let you know what I think.

Books in Review: The 7 Principles of Fat Burning

Dr. Eric Berg is a chiropractor and practices in Alexandria, Virginia. His resume is full of years of research in endocrinology, nutrition and alternative health care. Dr. Berg's new book The 7 Principles of Fat Burning promises:

*Increased energy

*No more cravings
*Decrease your stress
*Get a sense of well being

*Improve your sleep quality
*Consistent fat burning
*Get your shape back

"Berg diets are tailor-made to your body type. Fat doesn't accumulate randomly but is distributed on your body according to what is going on with your hormones. You have six fat-burning hormones and the key to weight loss is their activation. In order to activate them you need to get healthy. Berg diets get your body healthy in a way that is right for your body type while you consistently burn those pounds off!"

According to the book there are 4 different, hormonal body types. Adrenal, Liver, Ovary & Thyroid. I fall into the Thyroid body type.

I have dealt with Hashimoto's Disease for the last 10 years, and I agree with a lot of what the book has to say. I know in my heart that raw, vegan is the way to go for my thyroid, I just struggle with the enormity of it. His book encourages a raw, vegan diet for the first two weeks and then there is a different plan for each "body type". Most of the meal plans are lower in protein and high in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes. 

I would be less inclined to say this is a "diet" and more apt to say it's a way of life. It has really opened my eyes to the importance of getting our hormones under control. I am only 33 and am already dealing with hormonal issues that most women experience in menopause. This book has really given me a kick in the pants to quit putting a band-aid on my thyroid issues and fix them.

For anyone who is dealing with imbalance in their system I highly recommend this book!

Books in Review

Moosewood Restaurant Cooks At Home
So you think vegetarian cooking is too complicated and time-consuming? Here's a cookbook for you. Most of the 150-plus recipes take 30 minutes or less to create. The book also includes an invaluable list of ingredients to have in the pantry, a glossary of ingredients, plus sections on how to cook grains, pasta, vegetables and beans.

Helpful hints are also included to make future cooking easier. Brown rice, for example, keeps for a week in the refrigerator or a couple of months in the freezer. Use the leftover rice in stir-frys, stews or bean dishes.

Enjoy recipes like:
Black Bean Soup, Spicy Peanut Dip, Corn Scones, Easy Refritos, Greek-Style Cannelini and Vegetables, Pan Bagnat and more!

This book is a great investment for vegetarian who wants to whip up a delicious quick meal in the comfort of their own home. Enjoy!

Books in Review

The Liver-Cleansing DietOne of my first stabs at losing weight was taken when I was 15 years old. I had been quite a bit overweight and unhappy with myself for some time and I wanted to change. I went to extremes and lost a lot of weight quickly by starving myself. My goal was to be under 110 lbs and at 5' 6" that was a hard thing to do. I made it to 111 lbs. and became weak and very obviously anorexic. It took about a year but I overcame my anorexia only to replace it with bulimia. You see my goal was always thinner and a lower number on the scale. It wasn't until I was about 22 that I realized I needed to be not only thin but healthy.

The Liver Cleansing Diet was my first book that taught me how to be truly healthy. I was vegan for about 2 years and I have to tell you it was the best two years of my life. I have only fond memories of my vegan adventure which was started using the guidelines from this book. I have often wanted to begin again but it's harder now that I have a family to cook for. I still use some of the staple recipes from this fantastic book. This book is not 100% vegan but that would be the ultimate goal.

The Vital Principles of The Liver Cleansing Diet:

Think Raw:
Eat plentiful amounts of raw fruits and vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables and orange, yellow, purple and red colored fruits and vegetables. Thirty to forty percent of the diet should consist of raw fruits and vegetables. Try to eat some raw fruits or vegetables with EVERY meal, as they contain living enzymes, vitamin C, natural antibiotic substances and anti-cancer phyto-nutrients.

Oil but don't grease your body:
Avoid the fats that present a high workload for the liver and gall bladder. These are full-cream dairy products, margarines, processed vegetable oils (hydrogenated fats), deep fried foods, foods that are not fresh and contain rancid fats, preserved meats, animal skins and fatty meats. In those with a dysfunctional liver, I recommend avoiding all animal milks and substituting them with oat, rice, almond or soy milks. Eat the good fats which contain essential fatty acids in their natural unprocessed form, i.e. cold pressed vegetable and seed oils, avocados, fish (especially oily fish such as salmon or tuna), shrimp, prawns and crayfish, raw fresh nuts, raw fresh seeds such as flaxseeds (linseeds), sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, alfalfa seeds, pumpkin seeds and legumes (beans, peas and lentils). Seeds such as flaxseeds can be ground freshly everyday (in a regular coffee grinder or food processor) and can be added to cereals, smoothies, fruit salads and vegetables.

Think natural:
Avoid artificial chemicals and toxins such as insecticides, pesticides, and artificial sweeteners and colorings, (especially aspartame), flavorings and preservatives. Excess alcohol, particularly spirits, should be avoided.

Be diverse:
Consume a diverse range of proteins from grains, raw nuts, seeds, legumes, eggs, seafood, and if desired, free range chicken (without the skin), and lean fresh red meats. If you do not want to eat red meat or poultry this is quite acceptable as there are many other sources of protein. It is safe to be a strict vegetarian, however you may need to take supplements of vitamin B 12, iron, taurine and carnitine to avoid poor metabolism and fatigue.

Let food be your medicine.

Watch your sweet tooth.

Rehydrate your body.

Go Organic.

Keep your bowels moving.

Pamper your liver!

There is so much more information that is helpful in this book but it would take me all day to list it all. I have a better idea, go get the book! You'll be so glad you did!!!

Sample recipe and one I use all the time:

LSA

1 cup raw almonds

2 cups raw, unsalted sunflower seeds

3 cups linseeds (another name is flaxseeds)

It is important to grind the linseeds so they are more digestible. A coffee grinder with do the job nicely. So mix and grind the ingredients and store in a dark airtight jar in the refrigerator. I like to make it in smaller quantities and make it more often to keep my supply fresh.

This mixture has a slightly sweet and nutty taste. It can be sprinkled on fruit, vegetables, in smoothies or just about anything. It is a good source of protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and fiber and is definitely an anti-aging mixture.

Books in Review

Baking with Agave Nectar

Ania Catalano, author of Baking with Agave Nectar, is a graduate from the Natural Gourmet School of Cooking in New York and is the owner of the Gourmet Whole Foods Catering and Cooking School in Milford, Connecticut. Catalano has come up with agave-sweetened versions of favorites like sticky buns, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, lemon bars and creamy cheesecakes for those who may have previously been unable to enjoy their sweets. Catalano makes agave nectar accessible and appealing to health-conscious bakers of all levels.

Skinny Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt, Vegan Raspbery Linzer Torte Cookies, Blueberry Pie with Almond Crumb Topping, Bread Pudding Soufflés with Bourbon Sauce and Pear Frangipane Tart are a few of the yummy offerings in this fantastic book.

These are very different recipes. They don’t simply substitute agave for processed sugar in ‘normal’ recipes. Catalano makes the assumption that if you’re switching to agave, you’re doing it because you want to be healthier in general, and I think that’s the right assumption. What amazes me, however, is the fact that she manages to do this without compromising the deliciousness of her recipes. In fact, these recipes are so utterly amazing that I wouldn’t hesitate to make something from this book instead of a similar recipe from a non-healthy book, even if I weren’t trying to be healthy in my eating.

Books in Review

The Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids


Tosca Reno has done it again! Her newest release, The Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids , is another winner in my opinion. I received an advanced copy and am so excited to share what I have read with you!!

Although rare in the past, obesity is now among the most widespread medical problems affecting children and adolescents living in the United States and other developed countries. About 15% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) and children (aged 6-11 years) are obese in the United States according to the American Obesity Association. The numbers are expected to continue increasing. Childhood obesity represents one of our greatest health challenges.

Obesity has a profound effect on a child's life. Obesity increases the child's risk of numerous health problems, and it also can create emotional and social problems. Obese children are also more likely to be obese as adults, increasing their risk of serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

In early childhood, children should be given the tools they will need to be healthy, vibrant adults! The Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids is one of those tools. This book contains tons of tips, recipes and advice to help start your children on the path to ultimate health. Read about the dangers of processed foods, soda, sugar and other unhealthy foods that have become the center of the American diet. Yes, these foods are convenient and easy to prepare but we are feeding these foods to our children to their detriment. The younger your children are the better when it comes to teaching them healthy habits that will last for a lifetime.

Tosca has included over 60 family-friendly recipes in this book. Each recipe includes a color photo and nutritional information. Enjoy recipes like: Kid's Favorite Banana Bread, Baked Ziti with Pasta, Sloppy Joe's, Mac & Cheese and more! These recipes are all cleaned up and ready to motivate you and your family to Eat Clean!!

Get a copy of this book and start re-shaping the future of your children one bite at a time!

Check back on Monday for a family-friendly recipe from the book.

Thanks Lauren for giving me the opportunity to read this fabulous book early:)

Books in Review

The Eat Clean Diet
As the first in the Eat-Clean Diet series, this book covers the basic principles of Clean Eating. It also includes two weeks of menu plans and over 30 recipes. Tosca focuses on how to Eat Clean every day by packing a cooler and making planned leftovers, while teaching you the easy way to deal with potential problems such as feeding your kids and eating out. With these tools, Tosca helps you apply Clean Eating to your day-to-day life. She also covers superfoods, supplements and firing up your metabolism. Let the Eat-Clean Diet transform you. You'll come out a thinner, healthier version of yourself, with glowing skin, beautiful hair, strong nails, and energy to spare.

The Eat-Clean Diet book has transformed so many lives and I really want you to be part of such an exciting time by discovering for yourself how to Eat Clean.

Make it your possibility and then your reality. I know you can do it.

Books in Review

The Eat Clean Diet


Tosca Reno's story is an inspirational one. At age 40, she weighed over 200 pounds, by age 46, she was a fitness model. How did she do it? And how can the rest of us do it?

There were many things going wrong in Renos' life that finally made her decide to take control, a messy divorce, weight gain and depression were a few. One of the things she decided she needed to do was start "eating clean" and gain control of her weight. She also started exercising at least five days a week, and built up her body with weight training.

In Tosca's quest for a healthier, younger body she gained a lot of knowledge about food and how it works in your body. Tosca used this knowledge to write The Eat Clean Diet. The follow up to that best seller is The Eat Clean Diet Cookbook, a must for anyone who wants to cook healthy food everyday.

The Eat Clean Diet Cookbook has over 150 recipes. The book is full of pictures, tips, and easy-to-make recipes. It is divided into smaller sections including: breakfast, soups, grains, proteins, sauces, one-dish-meals, vegetables, pasta and dessert.

What I like most about this book is the variety. Many of Reno's recipes consist of many different ingredients working together to make delicious dishes! You will also eat a variety of food groups which will ensure nutrient rich meals.

In August Tosca is coming out with The Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids. I am eagerly awaiting this cookbook so I can cook healthy, family friendly meals!

I hope you all rush out and get these books so you can start feeling more energetic and in turn be happier and full of life:}