Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Gogi Berries

Whoa!!! Way too much candy, it's so good I can't stop. Alex (10) ate so much, he is green. Every time I shop at Better Health, I pick up a copy of Better nutrition (their healthy living magazine). It's always informative, often highlighting new products and recipes. In the last issue, they had an article on Gogi Berries. I saw them at Costco and decided to give them a try. My family loves them. They are great right out of the bag. They are mildly tangy and not too sweet. Check out betternutrition.com, it's the online copy. Have a great night!
Happy All Hallows Eve!

I saw an old friend at the Downtown Plymouth candy crawl last night. It was so nice seeing her. I'm making an effort to reach out to people that I've lost frequent contact with. I find myself feeling too busy to think sometimes, when we get too wrapped up in "stuff" we lose a little of ourselves. Take a few moments to reconnect with someone you've lost contact with, they would love to know that you care enough to call or write.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Helpful websites

I've edited this entry to reflect the new list of helpful websites to the right.

I use the following rules, it makes shopping easy: Just try changing one product at a time. Eventually, when you run out of the old stuff and replace with different, healthy versions, you will begin to feel better.

No white flour (disguised as enriched flour)
No white sugar or sugar substitutes (look for fruit juice sweetened, or organic sugar)
No artificial flavors
No artificial colors
No preservatives
No partially-hydrogenated oil (look for expeller pressed oils)
No corn syrup or high fructose cornsyrup (I stand corrected, our bodies glycemic index skyrockets)

It may take an extra few minutes to read the labels, but once you find the healthy version of the foods you like, put them on your grocery list.

Food Police

That's what my father in-law calls me. He's of the 60's "chemicals make the world a better place" mindset. I've been struggling with my in-laws for years, they will not respect my choice to feed my kids additive free foods. On Friday, my kids went to Grandma's to practice basketball, Grandpa ran out to the store to pick-up "their favorite chips" tato skins. I've never bought them, so being my kids favorite was news to me. I looked at the bag, no surprise there were so many chemical additives and preservatives (many I could not pronounce). I tried in vain to convince them that the stuff they are feeding my kids is dangerous. I found a web site that gives the effects of additives on children and people with allergies. I'm hoping they will come around with more information. It may not seem like a big deal afterall, they don't eat those things often. However, because they are not used to the chemicals and additives, the effects are worse for them. If my kids consume artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup, they literally go bezerk. MSG and other flavor enhancers cause headaches and dehydration. Their little bodies can't handle it. They get stomach aches and end up feeling bad for a day. I looked up an additive called TBHQ (it's in French's fried onions) it keeps the fat from oxidizing. It's linked to stomach ulcers that lead to cancer and actually alter the DNA of the test rats. Please read you lables! If you can't buy organic, choose a product with the most natural ingredients and the fewest additives. Food Police signing out!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Yoga Dedication of Merit

May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness.
May all beings be free from Suffering and the cause of suffering.
May all beings never be parted from freedom's true joy.
May all beings dwell in equanimitity, free from attachment and aversion.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

New Beginnings

Hi everyone! This is the next step in sharing my vision with the world. I've had many hats and walked many miles and it all adds up to way more than the sum of my parts. I am truly humbled and inspired by the small, beautiful things in life that are often overlookled. I always tell my boys to covet the small things, because big things don't happen often. I wish to share my, as I call it "psychiatric optimism" with all who believe that life is and can be wonderful. My love of a clean, green life, great organic food, and of course yoga all just fit like a puzzle. Please join me on this journey.

Peace and Light ~ Tricia