Slow Food Saturdays

Certainly, there are many things to do to fill our schedule on Saturdays. We could wash the car, clean the garage, or run to the library to get a jump on that ten-page paper with its quickly approaching deadline. I’m no stranger to a bustling schedule. My life requires me to juggle academic life with the joys and challenges of parenting two children, home ownership, and all the while volunteering for a not for profit. Let’s face it, we as Americans, are just too busy.

Accordingly, one of the comments I hear most frequently as a blogger and community health educator is, “I don’t have time to cook.” Well, to help you meet the seemingly opposed realities of living a hectic life and nourishing yourself, I’ve decided to devote Saturdays to a blog entry composed of a recipe.

Slow Food Saturdays will give you a shopping or ingredients list for a recipe that you can prepare in under an hour. Of course, my plan is to give you timesaving tips, while sending you off to shop for locally grown or produced whole foods.

The term, slow foods, originated in Italy. Food and dining take on a mystique there that calls you to enjoy a heightened awareness about what you’re consuming. In other words it’s a plot to undermine the “fast-food” culture, which subverts healthy living.

When you think about it, how can you be healthy if your food choices are composed entirely of food impostors or fake foods? Real foods take time to grow, to prepare and even time to enjoy the simple pleasures of eating.

Be sure to follow me as a blogger and even offer comments. Let me know what you enjoy about the blog. You can also suggest the names of local food producers, growers or places to dine that promote a whole food dining experience.

Betrayal

Mouth watering, sumptuous and

A tease

Flared nostrils and

Bated breath

Longing infatuation

Undressed, uncontrolled inhibitions

Whispering every well-thought-out

Line

Lushly green

but angrily barren

Bright, bold and beckoning

Winking, seducing and adulterous

Fruitless

Unkept promises

Gnawing,

away

a red heart

Beating halts

A frightened

Corpse

lies

Still...

too soon

Can you identify with the feeling of "seduction" by food advertisers and their fake "foods"? Do you believe the USDA and FDA have abandoned their duties to inform and advise the American public? I'd like to know your thoughts, so please leave me a comment. Photo credit: Play4smee

Let's Talk About Food

I'm considered by some as a little nutty, fruity and flaky, because for me, it's always about the food.

As the former hostess of EAT 2 GO! radio program, I've had the privilege of talking with a few of the most knowledgeable experts in the fields of food, health and wellness.

Now as a Community Health Educator, I both write and lecture on the benefits of a whole foods diet. Whether your concerns are about weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, hyperactivity or even cancer, there's cause for hope. I've immersed myself in food matters for well over twenty years. You can also explore my website Eat 2 Go! to access more videos, articles and essays, or podcasts. While there you can also find out about the upcoming seminar.

My emphasis on "power eating" to feed your body while strengthening it, is integrated into seminars, hands-on workshops, and now a conference. All of these educational opportunities are designed with your health in mind. We can talk about organics, locally grown, non-genetically modified organisms (gmo's), and literally everything about food. I'll even make suggestions here on where to find seeds and produce.

Here you'll read plenty of information to help you to become more savvy while dining out. From time to time I'll play the role of restaurant critic. I'll assist you with tips to help navigate the land-mind of food choices you're offered while dining out.

You're welcome to send me an email to Momsmedicine@gmail.com, if you need some encouragement along the way. I've experienced my own health crisis and am on the journey toward optimum health, too. If you have questions about The Gerson Therapy, I have answers.

As you can see, I'm an advocate of a whole foods diet as a component of preventative health care, so I also support the use of complimentary and alternative medicine. You'll hear about that regularly by reading my interviews of local healthcare practitioners.

For more, watch my channel on Youtube-Momsmedicine. I've put my short film called, What is Food? at the top of my blog page; just click on the image with "Youtube" across it. Viewing it can help you to bring food "to the table" with those who matter most in your life.

By the way, at the risk of tooting my own horn, you might google my name to find more articles about food that haven't been posted here...especially if you're a fan of cheese.

Be well,

Stephanie

P.S. I'd welcome hearing from you, so be sure to both follow me regularly and leave me your comments.

Photo credit: Santiago Flores Photographed in The South Bend Farmer's Market

"Let's Move" is a Call to Action

For certain, Mrs. Michelle Obama's health initiative, aptly called "Let's Move," is raising awareness to childhood obesity. She should be applauded for her commitment to the health of America's children. Her exhortation to become active and to be mindful of what children are eating is a much needed, high profile call to action, by one mom, to parents everywhere.

Recently, in a conversation with a friend, he mentioned his concern for his eleven year old.

"I'm terrified about what she's eating," he confided.

My response, "Talk to your daughter about her diet, much the same as you would about sex or drugs."

I went further to suggest that he make use of his time with his daughter by shopping for food. By selecting fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, with whole grains, he's helping to instill a sense of intentionality and discretion in food choices. What I mean here is, by shopping purposefully we can determine both what we eat and avoid unwanted additives. That can't be achieved when eating from the drive-thru.

My next posting will give you a better idea about how and where to shop for the freshest whole foods.

Be well.

P.S., You can follow me by selecting "Follow" in the upper right corner of the page.

Red Like My Heart Beet Soup

Ingredients list: 1 large beet, 1 lb of Yukon Gold potatoes or fingerling potatoes, 1 large yellow onion, 1/2 lb of red cabbage, 3 quarts of filtered or distilled H20, black pepper, dash of sea salt, dried dill Preparation: scrub thoroughly with a veggie brush all the ingredients, except the onion. Then rinse will cool H20. Put all veggies on a cutting board and slice thinly, with the exception of the potatoes. Cube the potatoes or cut on the diagonal. Remember, if you want children to eat their veggies, cut them to fit their mouths. Add everything to the sauce pan boil rapidly for 10 minutes. Then turn down to simmer for 20 minutes. Please note that cooking times may vary widely because of the materials and density of your cookware. Alternative: add roasted, thinly sliced beef ( Purple Porch Cooperative) or porchetta (buy it from Oh Mama! Italian Deli in Farmer's Market.) You could even add chicken breast. These options are for those who aren't cleansing. Because I'm very mindful about salt intake, I skip the salt. Instead, I add a taste of apple cider vinegar to my bowl of soup. My children enjoy this, too.

Fresh Food is Local Food

There is undoubtedly a movement afoot in the mid-western states to relocalize the production of food. Within Indiana several, well organized groups are gaining momentum. Of particular interest in the north-central region, Purple Porch Cooperative has become very popular. Recent developments include securing a distribution center. The Lang Lab, located near the Pepsi bottling facility in South Bend's south-east section of town, is an ideal setting.

Members of the cooperative and non-members (bring cash) arrive Wednesday evenings between 5pm and 7:30pm to purchase high quality produce, artisan breads and chocolates and even organically raised meats. While the hours are somewhat restrictive, the sense of community is contagious.

I hope to see you there.

Best,

Stephanie

P.S., Don't forget to leave me a comment after you've visited Purple Porch. Let me know which growers or producers you met. Don't forget to tell them you heard about them here on my blog.