Food Reviews Time Again! Yummy!

Hi Everyone!

Here we go again! It is time to try out new foods! I had fun experimenting and revisiting old favorites. I hope you will be enjoying this little trip to the grocery store, right along with me!

Keep in mind that the food products featured on this blog have to fall under one or more of the following categories:

1. Indicate that their healthy on their package
2. Are a whole grain product
3. Is an organic product.

Here we go:

1. All Bran Multigrain Crackers from Kelloggs. 5. Stars! Okay the packaging is not the greatest, looks more like a not to great cereal package, but do not let yourself get sidetracked by that, and go for the stuff inside! It is great! With a slight sweet aftertaste these crackers are a little treasure. And with 5 grams of fiber per serving, you can not beat that snack
2. "Clearly Organic" Organic Black Beans 15 oz can. 5 Starts! Beans are a must in a healthy kitchen and these canned black beans make it easy to add nutrition to any meal. Do not forget to rinse, though, even if they are already low in sodium (85 mg = 4 %)
3. Tropicana No Pulp Calcium Orange Juice 5 Stars! You already know that we should have more calcium in our diet, so there is a chance for a great, sweet, tasty way to bring more of that good stuff into your life.
4. Goldfish Whole Grain Crackers from Pepperidge Farm 4 Stars! Not quite as cheesy as the regular variety but still satisfying! Worth the switch!

Now it is your turn to be adventurous!

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia Blanton

http://www.create-your-life-dreams.com/

A Quick Oprah - Dr. Oz Recap - Part One

Hi Everyone!

This is going to be a quick recap of Oprah's show from yesterday, about ant-aging, and living a healthy lifestyle. (Part one)

White tea!
Again Dr. Oz stressed the importance of drinking white and green tea, but pointing toward the white teas, as they have a more powerful level of antioxidants.

I agree with the good Doctor. Drink your white tea! Available now in so many different varieties, my daughter loves the strawberry flavored one, and I am a blueberry tea person. Check them out!

Dr. Oz also mentioned spices. Here are a few to have in your cabinet at all times:
1. Cinnamon
2. Ginger
3. Cayenne Pepper
4. Turmeric - which is within cumin
5. Paprika
6. Rosemary for focus.


Now, lets get to the fiber, people!
Women need 25 grams, men need 35 grams, a day!

Remember to please add them slowly over time to your diet, to avoid digestive problems, as I have mentioned in various posts, here, on my groups, and in my articles. Slow down people!

How do you add fiber into your diet?
1. Eat 100 % Whole Grain Bread!
2. Eat beans
3. Eat fruits and veggies (don't drink them, chew)
4. Eat Whole Grain Cereal!
5. Switch to Steal Cut Oats
6. Switch to brown rice
7. Switch to whole grain pasta


Tomorrow, I will be posting the second half of info from the show, which will mainly include exercise and the recommended dosing of vitamins according to Dr. Oz.

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser

Play with your Food

Hi Everyone!

Sounds like a strange title for a blog.

This is an invitation to do exactly, what we were told not to do, when we were kids: Play with your food.

Okay, I am not talking about having a food fight, what I am talking about is, to get more in touch with what you are eating, by getting more in touch, literally.

Touch your food - feel the texture of the flakes of your (hopefully whole-grain) cereal. Break it, crunch it up, really examine it. You are putting this into your body, don't you think you should know, how it feels like, and what the texture is?

Become familiar with all of your foods, your lunch meat for example. Bend it pull it apart, hold it in your hands, feel it. You can find out lots of things by it's texture, like the fat-content, just by the way it feels, and looks.

When you make a cake, feel the dough, touch the flour with your hands, to break up the clumps before sifting. Can you feel a difference between whole-wheat flour, and regular cake-flour? Find out!

The purpose of this is the following:

1. Too many times we connect so many emotions to how we are eating, that we forget how it feels like to really be present with food. This exercise or game if you will, gets you back in touch with the food, and away from the emotions.

2. You should really think about what you are putting into your mouth. After all it effects you greatly. Then shouldn't you know all about it, at least all that your senses have to offer?

3. Being aware that the rules we are usually taught in childhood about food, are not because they have any merit - expect the one of not talking with your mouth full - but because they were either a convenience for our parents, or they were simply brought forth, because they were taught that way.
This gives you a chance to detach from these rules, and make up your own. After all, it is your life, not that of your family you are living, so why play by their rules still? At the same time, you are giving yourself an opportunity not to pass those rules onto another generation, who is already beginning to struggle with issues relating to food.

Think about it!

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser
813 - 531 - 8379
www.create-your-life-dreams.com

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas Recipe

Hi Everyone!

Try out this quick and easy recipe! It is delicious, fun to make, and nutritious.

You will need:

2 Small Whole-Wheat Tortillas
1/4 cup of refried beans
1/4 cup of shredded cheese (I prefer 2% mild cheddar for this dish)
substitute for a Mexican blend if you prefer
Salsa ( get your desired heat-level - I am a medium gal)
Red Chili Sauce


Spread the beans on one of the tortillas.
Place the tortilla in a nonstick pan, over medium high heat.
Top right away with cheese.
Top the whole thing with another tortilla.
When the cheese begins to melt, flip like a pancake.
Heat for about 2 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted completely.
Remove from pan, cut into wedges, and enjoy immediately, with a spoonful of salsa on the side.

You can add some spice to the refried beans, if you like it really hot! Use some red chili sauce (just a few drops) or put some jalapenos slices in the tortilla before topping it with cheese.

Enjoy!

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser
813 - 531 - 8379
www.create-your-life-dreams.com

More Product Reviews - Eating Healthy and Enjoying it Too!

Hi Everyone!

Today, I am back to post a few more food product reviews for you!

As always, for the products to be featured here, they have to fall under one or more categories:

> indicate on the package that the product is a healthy choice
> made with whole-grain
> is organic

This week we had a huge Quaker product sale, so here are a few of the products we tried as a result:

Quaker Simple Harvest All Natural Instant Multigrain Cereal:

Apple with Cinamon: 5 Stars! My daughter loves the sutle flavor of this cereal. If you are used to oatmeal, the texture is completly different. The barley, wheat and oat combination is great!

Vanilla, Almond, Honey: 5 Stars! If you like almonds and vanilla, you are in for a treat! Alone the way the cereal smells when it cooks in the microwave is wonderful! My favorite!

Quaker Granola Chocolate Bites
5 Stars!
Okay, at first, when I saw the little round things, I wasn't going to try them, but I am glad, I did! The flavor is really nice chocolaty, and the serving size is perfect.

Quaker Honey Nut Chewy Granola Bars
4 Stars!
While I prefer the Kashi bars, this granola bar is nice. For 90 Calories, this makes a smart snack. Sweet, and has a nice texture! Go for it!

Have fun trying these products!

Have a wonderful day!

For more articles on health related issues, such as emotional eating, visit my new Yahoo Group "Think Well of Food!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thinkwelloffood

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser
813 - 531 - 8379
www.create-your-life-dreams.com

If you like this post, subscribe!

New Year - New Support Groups - New Series

Hi Everyone!

I am exited to announce the beginning of my new program, the "Think Well-Series!"
Through support groups, online courses and individual coaching sessions, I will assist you in reaching your dreams, and deal with the individual stumble blocks on the way!

Introduction my Brand-New Yahoo Groups:

"Think Well of Food"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thinkwelloffood

"Think Well of Yourself"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thinkwellofyourself

"Think Well of Wealth"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thinkwellofwealth

"Think Well of Forgiveness"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thinkwellofforgiveness

Join the free yahoo support groups, today!

"The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide, that you are not going to stay where you are right now."
Author Unknown

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia Blanton
www.create-your-life-dreams.com


If you like this post, subscribe!

Stop Teaching Children Emotional Eating!

Have you ever offered your child or grandchild a piece of candy or chocolate, because and after they've got hurt?

Have you sat down to a talk and cake with your daughter?

Have the words "Eat something, you'll feel better!" been uttered from your mouth, and they were directed toward your children or grandchildren?

Then my question is, how are we surprised that your children are learning to eat emotionally?

It is time to refocus ourselves. We have been teaching generations to view food to become more then it is, then we made up an industry to fix it, and it doesn't work!

Whatever happened to eating because we need to eat to fuel our body, and having conversations to nourish our soul? Both of them NOT at the same time!

Food is fuel and a sensual experience only. Anything else is an addition we have put upon a physical process.

The problem is now, that we have to fix the unhealthy connection between food and emotions, so that we can again free ourselves, and enjoy all of us!

So, to all the parents and caregivers out there:

Stop teaching the next generation emotional eating!

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia Blanton
www.create-your-life-dreams.com

Have fun with food!

Eating should have a large place in the enjoyment and pleasure of live! (Which does not mean to use food as a substitute for pleasure - more on that in another article)

Having fun eating, yes, playing with your food is a great way to bring back the smile into what should always have been a pleasurable experience - nourishing your body and senses.

Here are a few ways to bring fun to the table:

1. Eat outside - your porch, your balcony, or a park. Have a picnic.

2. Eat with people that make your feel good about yourself - people that accept you as you are now.

3. Try something new!
Buy something at the store, that you never bought before (as long as it is considered healthy), such as a new fruit, or a different whole-grain cereal. You will find some real treasures just by stepping out of your usual comfort zone.

4. Make a kitchen sink soup!
Put together a variety of vegetables, some stock, and add a small amount of lean beef or smoked, lean sausage, and you have yourself a nutritious dinner or lunch. The possibilities for combinations are endless.

5 Have a food fight! (You might want to take that outside, to the back yard!)

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser
www.create-your-life-dreams.com

Affirmations About Food!

Replacing negative statements with positive affirmations are a easy, free way to begin the re-shaping of the thought-process regarding food.
Here are some examples on how to re-place a negative statement into a positive affirmation:

Negative Statement: Positive Statement:
I am getting bigger. I am taking charge!

I do not like healthy foods Healthy eating is fun and tasty!
or
It is fun to try out new foods!

It does not matter what I eat, I control my body!
I have bad genes

I love to eat! I love to eat healthy foods!

I like sweets I choose sweets wisely!

These portions are too small. I enjoy every bite, slowly!
I take my time to eat!

Affirmations might not sound like a true statement to you right now. Keep in mind thought, that our words become our thoughts, our thoughts bundled become our feelings, and our feelings create our reality!

Therefore even if a statement does not ring true as you are saying it, ban the negative thoughts out of your head, and proclaim the affirmations anyway!

For more information on healthy, balanced living, contact me at 813 - 531 - 8379
or visit my website at www.create-your-life-dreams.com !


If you like this post, subscribe!

How do you think about food?

How do you speak, and think about food?

What is your thought-process,when eating? Take a moment to think about what I just asked you. What thoughts do you associate with eating? What words come out of your mouth, when you talk about food?

The relationship you have with food, with thought and words, has a lot to do, with how you feel about yourself, your body image, your weight and your health.
How you think about food, determines, how you eat, what you eat, how much you eat, and how you will feel while eating.

If you go to your food with an attitude of, it needs to fill you quickly, then the what, that you are putting into your mouth, and the flavor of what you are putting in your mouth is less likely to be of high quality.

If you go toward food, as a comfort, it will play that role, while you will pick anything that raises that serotonin, which is fine in moderation, but only in moderation. You know what I am talking about, the chocolate, the cookies, the other sweets, you seem to not be able to stay away from.

If you go toward food, as a booster of energy, you will pick differently. You will pick the apple, or that smoothie, have a dense plate of whole-wheat pasta with fresh pesto. And it will feel good.

If you go toward food, with gratefulness of every bite, and with joy, you will slow down, enjoy, and savor each meal, satisfaction through slow enjoyment. You will feel relaxed, and choose flavor, scent and an experience as a whole. You will be filled after less bites, because you gave your body time to experience the pleasure of food.

How you look at what you eat, makes a large difference in how you will experience food intake, what you choose, and how you will feel.

So, how would you learn to control that?

Here are some quick tips:

1. Set your intend, before you make the food, or go out to eat.

2. Either eat alone, or around people that relax you, and share a similar approach to food, that you are trying to achieve.

3. Take your time, at least once a day, to really look at what you are eating. Smell the food, look at it, smile at it appreciate it. Slow down.

4. Be truly grateful for each bite. As I already explained, that will slow you down as well, and begin to get you focused on what you are doing. Be truly present.

5. Turn off the distractions. Never, never eat in front of the TV, or while listening to music, or reading a book. If you are dining with someone else, talk about how great the food is, share that experience of being present.

In order to truly become in charge of your eating experience, you must be in control of how you think about the situation. Change begins with a thought, and a set intend, a goal, may it be living healthier or loosing a particular weight. It starts in your head.

For more information on Motivational Coaching, and how to life a healthy, balanced life, contact me, Claudia Blanton, at 813 - 531 - 8379 or via email at ClaudiaBlanton@livingpossibilites.com


If you like this post, subscribe!

A Christmas Tradition - Gluehwein

Growing up around German Christmas Markets, a special drink named Gluehwein was a stable, and widely available.
During these cold winter days, a cup of this hot drink warmed hands and insides.

Here is an easy to follow recipe, so you can enjoy Gluehwein yourself!

Fill a cup with red wine (try a heavier variety, but your favorite works fine as well), and put it into a small cup.
Add a cinamon stick, 2-3 cloves and a slice of lemon.
Heat the ingridients - do not bring to a boil!
Let the drink rest for about 2 minutes, then strain.
Add one or more tea-spoons of sugar to taste (originally this drink is served quite sweet!)
Serve in a pre-warmed cup.

Enjoy!

You can use orange slices instead of lemon for a little less tart flavor

Have a wonderful day!


If you like this post, subsribe!

Easy Ways to Add Nutrition to Your Day!

Here are a few quick tips on adding some extra nutritional value to your life.

* Serve fresh fruit with pancakes instead of syrup.

* Add whole-wheat oatmeal to your pancake batter, and top with apple sauce (the unsweetened kind, or better from your homemade batch)

* Use whole-wheat tortilla chips with salsa as a snack, or switch to a soy chip, or rice cakes as a substitution for regular chips

* have a bowl of whole-grain cereal as a snack

* always eat whole grain bread, better yet, get a bread machine and make your own, maybe add nuts to your batter, ban the white stuff!

* add carrot puree to your spaghetti sauce, or meat loaf

* use canned pumpkin in cakes instead of the suggested fat (oil or butter)

Use this post as an inspiration to look closer to where you can add or substitute an ingredient. Experiment with your food, try out new things, look for labels that indicate a more health conscious choice. Try them out! Step out there and be adventures. Food is fun! Experimenting is fun! Trying new things is fun!

Have a wonderful day

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser

If you like this blog, subscribe!

Featured Foundation of the Week-Time!

It is Friday, and I like to end each work-week, by featuring a foundation, or charity, that is making a difference in the lives of children, teens and families!

This weeks foundation is

The Covenant House!

The Covenant House provides shelter, food, clothing and educational programs in their location throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, for example Atlanta, NewYork, Toronto and Orlando.

They are looking for volunteers, as well as clothing for teens from 12 to 21 years old, and monetary donations!

For more information, visit their website at ,
or visit my website with a direct link to the foundation!

Thank you!

Product Reviews - Good For You, But How Does It Taste? Chapter Three

Here I am back, trying out new foods that are good for you on a regular basis, which makes our snack times interesting! How fun is it to stay healthy, while discovering new favorites and sharing them with you!

Here are some of them now:

Garden Harvest Toasted Chips (Nabisco Company)
Vegetable Medley Flavors 5 Stars! We love this flavor of the Garden Harvest Chips! Crunchy like a cracker, but flavorful, it satisfies the craving for chips anyday!
Banana and Apple Cinnamon Flavors 3 Stars! I had a hard time with banana or apple flavored crackers, this might be something for the more adventures person, but for our family it is not our favorite, but it isn't too bad either!

Kashi TLC Honey Almond Flax Chewy Granola Bars 5 Stars! Absolutly wonderful, not too crunchy, despite the large pieces of almonds, and just the right sweetness. My daughter absolutly loves it, and so do I! I can hardly wait for the other flavors.

Here is something I usually do not do, but I felt compelled to include a non-food idem today, that is worth mentioning:

seventh Generation Automatic Dishwashing Gel, lemon scent
5 Stars! This non-toxic, biodegradable gel works just as well as it's regular counterparts, but with a price that is the same,the availability in regular grocery stores and the benefits to the enviroment, it is the only dishwashing gel, that we use in our home. A wonderful idea, that smells refreshingly clean.

Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe

Ever tried to make your own pasta? I suggest for you to give it a try, it is quite simple, and a great activity to do with your kids!

Here is a recipe for whole wheat pasta, that I am sure you will enjoy:

makes about one pound

1 1/2 cups of whole-wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of white flour

1. In a large bowl, mix sifted flour together with the salt.
2.Make a small well in the center of the mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, mix egg and water together.
4. Pour into the well, mix until thick dough consistency.
5. Form into a ball.
6. On a floured surface, knead ( this is similar to bread making, and either a good way to get rid of some frustration, or a whole lot of fun for the kids!)
7. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.
8. Using small sections of the dough, use a pasta machine according to the manufactures directions, or roll out on a lightly floured surface to the desired thickness.

Use as desired! I personally prefer my pasta, served with a homemade thick tomato based sauce, with junks of zucchini, mushrooms and green peppers, with a slice of slightly toasted french bread, rubbed with garlic and olive oil.

Healthy eating can be fun, a family experience and easy! Showing children to joy of preparing foods, together, teaches not just how to prepare food, but possibly brings with it a lifetime joy of experimenting with new creative ways to nurture their bodies. It is the beginning of motivation to take of themselves that last a lifetime.

Peace and Love

Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser