Salad Chicken

As opposed to "Chicken Salad" this one puts the green first. A great appetizer or main course and simple to make.

Grill a breast of organic chicken either in a pan or on the BBQ. If you use the BBQ avoid flare up! Flare up is very toxic to your meat. Keep the flame low and slow cook the meat.

While your meat is cooking prepare your salad. Again as much organic as possible.

• Leaf lettuce
• Spinach (you should only eat organic)
• Button mushrooms sliced
• Carrots sliced
• Green peppers diced
• Lots of chopped parsley
• Feta cheese cubed

Once the chicken is ready chop it into small cubes put into a bowl and let cool.

Once cool mix a little organic mayo and some pepper and parsley flakes.

Add to the top of your salad, sprinkle with parmesan cheese if you wish and ENJOY!

Red Citrus

This one is really good and easy to make!

• 2 oranges
• 2 lemons
• 3 carrots
• 2 beets

As always try to use as many organic ingredients as you can.

ENJOY!

Sweet Beet

An easy and tasty beet juice recipe. A great way to include beet juice in your diet. Never juice and drink straight beet juice. Always mix it with an apple or other veggies. Plain beet juice can temporarily paralyze your vocal chords.

• 1 apple
• 1 Beet
• 4-5 carrots

After Vee Eight

Remember those yummy After 8 mints? What was the best thing about them? The chocolate or the mint? Myself, I say the mint. Who doesn't like the fresh taste of mint?

I don't know! But I do know a lot of people who don't like the taste of vegetable juice. Why not freshen it up a bit with a hit of mint?

Blend in your juicer following the order below:

• 1 tomato
• 1 lemon (peeled)
• 1 orange (peeled)
• 3 collards
• 3 kale
• Handful of spinach
• Handful of mint
• 1 beet
• 4-5 carrots

The mint and citrus mask the earthy flavour of the beet, kale and collards and leave a fresh tasting vegetable juice that incidentally is way better for you than the shelf brands.

Minty Mean Green SuperJuice

Many people just can't get used to the earthy tasting Mean Green Juice. For those people, I've created a new variety that takes all the earthiness flavour out and leaves a drink that tastes exquisite, while still retaining the green goodness of the original Mean Green. You should also try to include as many super foods in your diet as possible. Chia seeds are one of those foods, and for that, I have added them to this drink.

Mix in your juicer in the order below:

• 1 lemon (peeled)
• 1 orange (peeled)
• 3 stalks of Kale
• 3 collards
• Handful of parsley
• Handful of cilantro
• Handful of mint
• 1 large apple

Once it's poured into your glass mix in some sprouted chia seeds.
What your left with is all the green goodness with a minty citrus flavour.

ENJOY!

Weekday Veg

I'm not a vegetarian but I do believe that at least 70% or so of your diet should come from the earth.

The main portion of our meals is always the vegetable/fruit component, and I make a point to try and do at least 3 meatless days a week.

I came across a TED talk by Graham Hill, (founder of TreeHugger.com), who talks about a new concept called weekday veg, (or weekday vegetarian). I found this very interesting and thought I would share it.

Here are a few points that I learned:

• A hamburger a day increases your risk of dieing by 1/3
• The 10 billion animals raised for meat each year are kept in horrible factory farming environments, (I already knew this)
• Meat production accounts for more emissions than all transportation combined
• Beef production uses 100 times more water than most vegetable production does
• Cutting your meat out for 5 days decreases your meat intake by 70%

You can catch the talk below. Spend 4 minutes and give it a watch.

Chilli a la Veg

There is a way to enjoy chili without all of the saturated fats and greasy red meat. Vegetarian chili tastes great, is full of protein, and is really easy to make.

You will need the following for this healthy alternative:

• Your choice of beans (black, red, kidney), you decide
• Chick peas
• Lentils
• Olive oil
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes
• 1 jar tomato sauce
• 1 diced onion
• 1 chopped green pepper
• Chopped cilantro
• Chopped parsley
• Chopped kale
• Chopped celery
• Chopped carrots
• Finely chopped sweet potato
• 1 tsp cumin
• A few tablespoons of chili powder for taste
• Hot chili powder (if desired)

If you are using dried beans and lentils, cook them as directed on the package first.
If you are using canned beans and lentils, just add them with their juice to the pot.

READY FOR HOW EASY THIS IS?

You will need a large sauce pan or stock pot.

Heat some olive oil in the pot then add the onion, green pepper, celery and carrots. Saute until they start to brown (8 min). Mix in the chili powder and cumin and cook until nicely coated and fragrant (2 min).

Add the rest of the ingredients into your pot, cook to a boil, then lower to a simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender and the chili thickens (about 1 hour).  Stir occasionally.

24 Hour Fasting

A topic that stirs up controversy is fasting. The general perception is that our bodies require food every couple of hours to be considered healthy and that not eating throws the body into misalignment.

I've recently been asked by one of my readers to do an article on 24 hour fasts. What are the benefits, what are the drawbacks? I've done some research and what I've found about fasting is very interesting, and quite to the contrary of general beliefs.

First off, fasting is not for everyone. You need to be in good overall health to start with. People prone to serious blood sugar issues such as diabetes and the like, should obviously consult with their physician before fasting. It is actually a good practice to consult regularly with a physician about your health anyway. This way you can get a baseline of where you've been, and where you are currently. Try to find a good naturopathic physician since they will understand better as to your goals.

Fasting has been around for thousands of years. Fasting in both a religious and medical sense helps with the cleansing and purification of body and mind. It will aid in detoxing your digestive tract, liver, and kidneys. Fasting will also give the body a break from digestion and allow it to focus on the healing of other ailments throughout your body.

Your 24 hour fast should be on a day when you have nothing planned. For the full 24 hours drink plenty of water, nothing else. Remember that you are going to want to eat. You are conditioned to eat. In a 24 hour fast, you are going to realize how many times you reach for food due to boredom, stress, habit, peer pressure etc... Resist this urge and be committed to your fast. It is only 24 hours, and the self control that you show is a bench mark for further fasts.

Completing your 24 hour fast is going to give you a real sense of accomplishment. You are going to realize that you aren't going to die of starvation, you don't need to reach for food every couple of hours and you can alter your eating habits with this new knowledge. It is said that you have enough calories in your body to last 30 days without food. Most importantly you are giving your body a break so that it can focus on other healing.

Detoxing has certain effects on the body, most of which are positive, and a few that may be uncomfortable. You may notice bad breath, your energy levels may decrease and light headaches if you aren't drinking enough water are also possible. These are signs of cleansing and detox, they are normal and part of the fasting process. However remember, this is not a situation where you should fight through extreme uncomfort or pain. Your fast should be tolerable, not dangerous. If you experience a feeling like you are going to pass out, or feelings that vary from your norm, you need to end your fast and take in some calories. This is possibly due to blood sugar issues, or other underlying health conditions. It can also be from a poor diet. It is said that the healthier you are the less detox effects you are going to experience.

If you have to pull out of your fast, don't end it there. Take 30 days to change your diet to a more natural, healthy, plant based diet and then try again.

Just to be clear, doing a 24 hour fast is not going to rid your body of all that is evil. What it is going to do is put you on a path of self control, give you discipline, clear your mind and help your body to detoxify. After your first fast, plan another. Or better yet plan a longer fast or a juice fast. Once you get into a healthy routine, your body will become more efficient in cleansing. You will physically feel better in your day to day life, as well as feel better about yourself.

3 Questions

A quote from Mike Adams of 'Hungry For a Change'

All you have to do is ask yourself 3 questions:

• Where does my food come from?
• What went into the food in terms of attitude, care, love and compassion.
• What is my intention of doing with the food, is the food to support me for a good purpose or is it just entertainment?

Your body is designed to be healthy. Health is its natural state.

FDO Has Arrived

Well our first order from Front Door Organics(http://www.frontdoororganics.com/) arrived today and it looks promising. The fruits and vegetables contained are all organic, and are all fresh. Some of the items need to ripen up a bit, but that is to be expected. The bin had a good selection of different items, and I can't wait to get cooking.

The bin contained the following:

• 1 Honeydew Melon
• 2lbs Yellow Potatoes
• 2 Leeks
• 1 Broccoli
• 1 Bag Red Radish
• 2 Valencia Oranges
• 2 Jonagold Apples
• 2 Bananas
• 1 Avocado
• 2 Peaches
• 1 Bunch Chard
• 1 Tomato
• 1 Bag Living Boston Lettuce

Now all I have to do is figure out what to use Red Chard for.

Vee Eight Juice

Store Bought V8 has a TON of sodium in it, not to mention preservatives. Really, there is no point in drinking it since the negative out weighs the positive.

A homemade V8 is much healthier and very easy to make.

Blend in your juicer:

• 3-4 Stalks of celery
• Bunch of parsley
• Bunch of cilantro
• 1/4 Green pepper
• 1/4 Cabbage
• Whole tomato
• 3-4 Stalks Kale
• 1 Small beet

Add a lemon if you want to sweeten it up a bit.

Add some hot sauce and Worcester sauce for heat.

Leave the Smog Behind

One thing that we like to do on nice days is grab a tea at Fair Grounds Cafe and Roastery and then explore new parklands in the city. I'm partial to the lake and the feeling of being out of the city when you are around it, so I tend to seek out parks that meet that criteria.

Recently we found a great park south of Kipling Ave and Lake Shore Blvd W. It's actually south of Humber College and is called Colonel Samuel Smith Park. It's a large peninsula that juts out about 2km  into the lake. There are great gravel trails, as well as some smaller trails that follow the lake. You can take a stroll, jog or bike right out to the point from the parking lot which is about a 2 mile return trip, or just walk over to the marina and check out the beautiful boats.

Whatever you choose, it's just good to get away from the smog lined noisy streets. You won't believe you're still in the city. Oh ya, in the winter they actually have a skating trail (I have yet to try this out).

 

Pesticide Exposure!

There are many reasons to eat organic food. Let's face it though, organic is more expensive. I've always made a pact with myself that I will try to eat as much organic as possible. I started with the 10% rule. This is at least 10% of the items in my house are to be organic. I've since gotten to probably about 75% but that's just me.

Make a similar pact with yourself. Decide how much money you can spend on groceries. Look at what you buy that just sits around or goes bad before you get to it. Stop buying processed junk that you will eat but shouldn't, (if it isn't in the house, you can't eat it). Take this money you save on those items and put it towards good healthy organic foods.

In order to maximize the benefits and minimize the cost you should at least avoid purchasing non-organic produce for the top 12 fruits and vegetables that research has shown to have the most pesticides. If you do just this, it is estimated that you can reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 80%.

This list was compiled through research done by the USDA and FDA and included only the most commonly eaten foods. I don't have statistics for Canada, but it will be similar, and also consider that a lot of your food is coming from the USA and elsewhere. The fruits and vegetables were washed or peeled (as a consumer would use the produce) before testing.

1. (worst) Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries - U.S. Grown
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale and Collard Greens
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes – Imported from outside U.S.
13. Lettuce
14. Blueberries - Imported
15. Carrots
16. Green Beans – U.S. grown
17. Pears
18. Plums - Imported
19. Summer Squash
20. Cucumbers - Imported
21. Green Beans - Imported
22. Hot Peppers
23. Red Raspberries
24. Oranges
25. Grapes – U.S. grown
26. Cantaloupes
27. Cucumbers - U.S. Grown
28. Cauliflower
29. Tomatoes
30. Bananas
31. Broccoli
32. Winter Squash
33. Cranberries
34. Plums - U.S. Grown
35. Honeydew Melon
36. Sweet Potato
37. Grapefruit
38. Watermelon
39. Cantaloupes - U.S. Grown
40. Cabbage
41. Eggplant
42. Kiwi
43. Asparagus
44. Sweet Peas (frozen)
45. Mango
46. Pineapple
47. Sweet Corn (frozen)
48. Avocado
49. Onions (least)

So start small and move up from there. Once you become accustomed to buying organic produce you won't even think about it. Look for the sales and try things you normally wouldn't. Maximize the benefits.

Morning Juice

A great breakfast juice, to boost your energy and wake you up.  I don't care what you think of beets, this juice is a really sweet tasting blend, you'll love it.

• 1 Organic beet root
• 2 Organic apples (your choice on variety)
• 1 Organic orange
• 1 Organic lemon

Juice the citrus first at medium speed, then the beet at high speed, and finish with the apples also at high speed.

Pour and ENJOY!

Let's Talk Coffee!

Ok, so anyone that knows me, knows I like my espresso based drinks (read Lattes)! I was once that guy who lines up at the big chain brand coffee shops. You know those spots.... No one knows your name, your drink, or even cares to try, and the coffee is okay at best! More importantly most of these big chain shops are not organic, possibly use GMO milks, and have never even heard of fair trade.

After digging around, things changed for me. I realized that it is possible to do something with even just a simple cup of coffee. You get a better flavoured coffee, you get chemical and GMO free milks and beans which are better for your body, you help the struggling coffee farmer, and you get friendly staff who understand the meaning and value of good customer service!

Enter your local coffee house.... I'll introduce you to two of my favourites.


FAIR GROUNDS ORGANIC Cafe and Roastery


Located at 3785 Lake Shore Blvd. W just east of Lake Shore and Browns Line in Long Branch. This is the coffee house I frequent the most. The owner Jeffrey Stinson and his staff of baristas are top notch with friendly smiles and good conversations. Fair Grounds has a loyal following and there is a reason for this. The espresso and coffee tastes great, the choice of various teas are vast, and the baked goods are to die for! Also they support the environment and community.

All Fair Grounds coffee is Certified Fair Trade. Fair Trade products, help producers in developing countries to obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. Secondly all their products are organic, they are grown without any synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. So not only are you supporting farming communities who are passed over by large corporations, you are supporting your own body, by keeping those nasty chemicals away from it.

Stop by and grab a coffee or tea, and try a brownie or muffin, they are open everyday 6am - 9pm. You can check them out at http://fairgroundscoffee.ca/


BIRDS AND BEANS

This coffee house is located in the Mimico neighbourhood of Etobicoke on the south side at 2413 Lake Shore Blvd West. Birds and Beans takes organic, fair trade coffee to a different level, the birds.

Coffee plants by nature are a shade loving tree, grown under the canopy of rain forests with no chemicals.  However, over the last couple of decades the coffee industry has developed a tree that can withstand sun and provides a higher yield, thus the coffee growers have started clear-cutting forest land. Many farms shifted away from shade to a coffee requiring huge quantities of fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide, to survive on the hot sunlit farm. This clear cutting has robbed migratory birds and wildlife of their breeding grounds and winter homes.

Birds and Beans recognized this and offer you Bird Friendly coffees supplied by small growers who continue to grow coffee in the traditional way on farms with shade canopies.

You can find out more at http://www.birdsandbeans.ca