Nutrition for this weeks Addition:

This is such a deep subject and one of my favorites. I have been creating healthier versions of everything you can imagine for years now. If you want something, there is never a need to be deprived of it in a healthier version.

Oh, I can hear the vibes already, nothing is as good as the original?

I have loved challenging that idea.

The part I always wonder is, what about how you feel after?

Is that as good as the original too?

I’m one of those over the top, you might say, health nuts, I eat mostly raw with some exceptions now and then and they are usually a version of health you wouldn’t call an exception on normal terms.

I have eaten in doses the opposite way, such as donuts, cookies with massive sugar, cotton candy, you name it. I have tried it all and for many years I was a closet eater. After a fully organic, homemade cooking day for family, I would eat a pan of brownies, ding dongs I hid in the freezer and other things, you get the hint.

I have been overweight, I know the struggle well, this is me and my youngest daughter whos 22 now and I thought she would appreciate an updated version as well.

While I ate my feelings away when no one else was looking, I’d run on the treadmill at the same time, while my 4 kids were sleeping. It helped to keep up with my fit, healthy reputation ( I thought), and hopefully, no one would ever know.

As you can see, that was impossible to hide. I can write for days on this mess I created for myself, that was before I understood the treadmill does, go backward, in many areas.

My first take on nutrition was our family health food restaurant when I was in 3-6th grade, or so, my mom might correct that, but that’s my memory. As a kid it was a blessing and a curse, everyone wanted my food and I wanted theirs. Trades went on and I was able to have my share of other foods through friends and family. I wasn’t deprived in any way, healthy options or not. I had the best of all worlds with a diversity of people in my life.

This was one of my best gifts I had growing up, was to have such diversity and choice, it taught me by experience what direction I wanted to choose for me and my family. I have always been active that was never an issue, it was committing to my own nutrition, a no-brainer most of the time. The struggle was very real between 8 pm-midnight I confess, for years. I thankfully let all that go and changed a lot of lives along the way and would love to help you.

Over my years of training the number one problem and questions, always lean on nutrition.

My favorite and most looked at and followed site is Food Matters, https://bit.ly/2qbpQUO . When I took a life coaching course in 2010 this was the first thing we were introduced to and I have been hooked and grown with them since. It’s my most shared space and I am happy to say I have joined forces with them to share more.

This nutrition story goes deep for me and it includes my son’s 5-year Leukemia journey, as well as my digestive struggle and removal of all of my large intestine (except 4 inches). How I healed with no medications and in the healthiest way possible. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, Celiacs and Ulcerative Colitis and all signs of this are not currently found. I will share both of our stories in their own weekly addition soon.

Every penny earned when you go to join Food Matters through me will be turned back into teaching about the awareness of nutrition in cooking classes and other educational avenues, in my son Zak’s honor.

Before he left and grew a full set of wings and roared into the heavens in a fighter jet,( I am now convinced of), he made me promise to continue to live my life to the fullest and to keep sharing health and I will.

Another subject to be covered, my journey in grief and nutrition. If there is ever a time to do your best, this is it. There is no answer to grieving and it’s definitely a fingerprint to each person, but to be diligent in your nutrition is imperative in a crisis.

I appreciate you all and whether you join or not, thank you in advance for looking into it as a step toward better health.

https://www.fmtv.com/join-today-transformation?ref=kerrielizabethcawyer

My favorite morning drink is chocolate tea with steamed and foaming almond milk and then a shot of detox juice.

I have two favorites:

Fresh ginger and turmeric, 1/2 of a lemon and a green apple.

Or, two stocks celery, 1 green apple, 1 lime and 3 leaves of kale. I had this one today, mmm.. goes right to your cells and gives you a good morning boost.

Add these to your morning routine and changes will start to happen.

A favorite Raw foods quick recipe my clients love and never get enough of are my Rah-Raw bars.

Almond or Seed bars:

Equal parts of all things except double the nut or seed butter

Almond butter or seed butter, any kind you like.

Cacao Nibs

Cacao powder( 1 tbs. for each cup size portions of other ingredients)

Dates ( blend into a paste)

chia seeds

Sesame seeds

Shredded organic coconut(optional to roll in or add to the whole recipe)

Raw honey (optional for sweet tooths)

(coffee drinkers, this is amazing with coffee finely ground in it or rolled in it, also optional and delicious if you want spice, is a little Cayenne pepper)

If you don’t want the crunch, blend ingredients one at a time in a Vita-mix or high powered mixer, then mix together in a bowl and Roll into balls or create flat squares by rolling along a cookie sheet on wax paper and freeze to cut … Keep them in the freezer, they stay fresh and easy to eat after a couple minutes of being out.

These ingredients can take you a long way and are the core of a lot of wonderful recipes for healthy bars and cookies I’ll be sharing along the way until I have a page dedicated to it all. This is where my computer learning curb comes in, choosing a new theme and moving all of this around.( patience is definitely not natural for me, hence my meditation and simplicity desires.)

These bars are awesome quick snacks to satisfy hunger and stay healthy and keep blood sugars level on track in between meals.

Warning: don’t eat the coffee ones late if you’re sensitive to caffeine keeping you awake.

I am currently on day 5 of a 7 day cleanse… I am a regular cleanser, this is literally the key I have found to my own energy changes and restarting my system, I do a lot of different ones, this is the one I am currently doing. https://bit.ly/2IBIE7w 

Have fun and explore new nutritional ideas you can add to your household. Don’t stress about it just add or subtract one thing, it makes a difference.

And keep moving…… with Dr. Jen touching on the most important facets of functional movement and flexibility and you can do it in 10 mins. Check out her website at DocJenFit.thinkific.com, she offers courses like The Mobility Method, The Optimal Body, and Grateful for Mobility Challenge.

SUNSHINE ON YOU