How Making Infant Nutrition With Organic Foods?

Infants need baby food just as adults need their favorite food. But baby nutrition has been deeply affected by the growth of non-organic foods. The concept of organically produced foods has caught wind in the past decade, tracing its emergence to the mid 1990's. Would you like it if somebody told you to drink a gallon of nitrate fertilizer: would you even do it? Well, you might be shocked to know you might have consumed more than a gallon after eating fertilizer-laden produce for all your life. The concept of fertilizer was used to get rid of pests and insects in the soil. They destroyed the crops and so fertilizer industries blossomed all over the place.

But the same tool that got rid of the insects has now turned its fire on the human population. Years of crops smothered with fertilizer makes the fertilizer go right down into the soil. The soil holds this fertilizer for years which makes it all the more harmful as the fertilizer is now expired and has become downright deadly to grow any more crops in.

Ripple effect

Chemically potent soil gives rise to chemically harmful crops. If you remember your school science, you will recollect that roots absorb mineral salts and water from the soil. If the soil is tinged with nitrates, the water will be tinged with nitrates too. This alarming transplanting of chemicals affects the crops grown; this deadly crop travels down to the supermarkets in trucks and finally sits in our shopping bags to come home with us.

Fertilizers are used to boost crop outputs. Large crop outputs lead to big money. So the obsession with making money has led to the sacrifice of health. A carrot or an apple today is scientifically proven to contain only 50% of the nutrition it used to hold about 50 years back - which means you think you're eating a wholesome carrot but you are not. What you are eating is a carrot look-alike - with nitrates in it.

Effect on meat

Animals that live on the farm graze on the grass there which means they also get contaminated. Then again in a lot of farms dairy and poultry animals are force-fed with anti-biotic medicine to increase production of milk and eggs. Disease can also spread from eating such farm products. When these animals die, they decompose into the soil and leave the remnants of the anti-biotic and the chemically eaten grass back into the soil; and the story begins all over again. So meat, milk and poultry products are not exempt either.

Organic baby food

With adults in danger, it makes it imperative to make babies safe from this kind of chemical attack. Babies need to be fed only with organic baby snacks like Earth's Best products to protect them from diseases. Babies' bodies are delicate and vulnerable to disease as their physical systems are still in the early stages of development. The parents may buy baby food unsuspectingly from the supermarket, but that might not be natural baby food at all but baby food prepared with the same chemically treated ingredients.

Real dangers from eating chemically treated crops

The list of diseases that can spring up from eating fertilizer doused crops begins with cancer. The growing number of cancer cases all over the world is a strong pointer to this. Other diseases related to increased chemical toxicity in the body are obesity and Alzheimer's disease.

Turning back the clock

Now luckily due to growing awareness, every supermarket has organic sections where organic produce is displayed for purchase. Organic food refers to crops grown without fertilizers. Naturally these crops are more expensive as the organic farms strive to produce crops without artificially inflating their rate of growth. But if this extra money means a healthier body with an improved immune system then the money is an investment not expenditure. Perhaps this explains why people of olden days lived longer and healthier lives though the medical facilities were not so far advanced back then. They didn't need the medication!

How to Get Your Child to Eat Vegetables?

Children like sweet food, rather than bitter tasting stuff, and they are conservative, meaning that they don't like to try new things; they have to see food a few times before they will try it according to some psychologists, they have a term for this- "neophobia"- the fear of new things. One way of overcoming this is to engage your child in making a menu for a week or a day or two at least, and taking them shopping, so that they can see what is displayed on shelves.

You can make a deal with them that they can choose vegetables, and fruit if this is also a problematic area, as long as they eat it. You can also allow children to "help" with the cooking and preparation of vegetables, or at least they can watch as you make a carrot flower or a tomato rose. These can be given to the child to try raw, but they do look enticing on a plate as nutritional garnishes. You can also deseed bell peppers and make them into containers for cream cheese or other dips that your child enjoys and gradually get him or her to eat the container. These can also be made into baskets to hold carrot and celery strips.

We eat with our eyes, so to get children to eat anything, apart from sweet things it has to look appetizing. You can make smiley faces on pizzas and quiches with different vegetables, red bell peppers make good lips and a carrot strip can be made to look like a nose, while the eyes can be green peas or strips of green pepper and so on. If it looks interesting it may be eaten.

Children don't like strong flavours, and if you recall your childhood you probably realize that you didn't approve of brussel sprouts or soggy boiled cabbage, or even asparagus which is considered a gourmet food. Go for caramelized onions and glazed carrots and cook your peas with mint sprigs to produce a sweeter taste.

Often it is the texture of vegetables that kids don't like, so puree veggies and take the seeds out of tomatoes and see if that helps. Make your own sauces for pasta and shred carrots into them and put in peeled, de-seeded tomatoes with onions and try a little garlic and oregano to help the taste.

Make your own soups and puree them so that they don't have to be chewed. If your child will eat mashed potato (perhaps smothered with tomato ketchup) then you could mash cooked carrots or swede with this and so disguise the fact that there are vegetables in it. You could add grated cheese too as this will help disguise the taste.

Five Reasons to Try a Paleolithic Diet

In this article, I'll describe to you exactly what the Paleolithic (or "Caveman") Diet is, and 5 reasons why you should give it a try!

So, What is a "Paleo" Diet? The modern paleo diet is based on the assumed diet of our ancestors several thousand years ago. Back then, before agriculture, diets consisted of meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. There was no access to dairy products, processed fats, oils, or sugars, or mass farmed grains like wheat.

Some nutritionists believe that the human body evolved over thousands of years to process and digest these kinds of foods, and that the rapid expansion of agriculture in comparatively recent years has left the human body trying to digest unfamiliar foods. Reverting to a Paleo diet is supposed to model more accurately what the body had evolved to digest, and provide a number of health benefits.

Why Try a Paleolithic Diet?

Here are my top 5 reasons:

1 - Studies have shown that the diet is more filling per calorie than other diets. Even healthy "Mediterranean diets" tend to make you consume more calories before feeling full. So, as part of a calorie controlled diet, the Paleo diet could help you to lose weight more efficiently.

2 - Early studies suggest that eating a Paleo Diet can lower blood pressure safely, and reduce the amount of CRP in the blood. This helps to control the bodies inflammation response, which may lower the risk of certain types of cancer.

3 - The Paleo Diet is very high in fibre, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system, reduce cholesterol, and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

4 - It reduces diabetes risk. More than 70% of the total daily energy consumed people in the United States comes from dairy products, cereals, refined sugars, refined vegetable oils and alcohol, all of which have high Glycemic Index values. In contrast, the Paleo diet has very low GI values, helping to maintain a stable blood sugar level, and reduce the risk of diabetes.

5 - Fewer adverse reactions. Huge numbers of people in the world are intolerant to dairy, gluten, or nuts. Some people are mildly intolerant, and may not even realise it. This continued consumption of foods your body rejects causes you to feel tired, bloated, or generally a bit "down". The paleo diet has none of these food groups. The very fact that these most common allergies are not part of the paleo diet lends weight to the theory that our bodies are ill-adapted to the modern diet. Trying the paleo diet for a few days might just make you feel more energetic, brighter, and more healthy.

How Way Pickling Your Vegetables For Long Term Preservation?

One of the most popular ways to extend food life is to pickle it. Pickling is the process of preserving food through fermentation in a brine. Many vegetables get pickled or made into relish including cucumbers, okra, peppers, summer squash, unripe cantaloupe, watermelon rind, tomatoes, eggs, onions, garlic, etc, etc. Pickling lowers the PH to less than 4.6, which is sufficient to kill most bacteria and is somewhat easier to do than canning in that the vegetables do not have to be completely sterile to pickle.

You will need to buy some equipment up front but after your initial investment, you should not need anything but a few ingredients to pickle your food. You will need a large pot that is big enough to boil water and mostly submerge the jars in order to seal them. You can seal the jars one at a time or get something big enough to do several at once. Buy as many 1 QT canning/mason jars as you think you will need (I buy them by the case), just make sure they have rings to seal the lids. Though the process is not too difficult, it makes sense to make as many jars as possible at one time, given you have enough vegetables.

Now that you have your equipment, and hopefully picked some fresh veggies from your organic garden, you are ready to pickle. There are thousands of recipes for pickling, and different nuances according to the different vegetables. It would be impossible to cover everything, but there are numerous detailed books about pickling available to give you ideas and guidance. My favorites are a combination of multiple recipes that I have tried over the years. What follows is a very basic recipe that will work for just about vegetable, but it should be considered a pickle recipe:

Pickling Ingredients: 

- 7 wide mouth quart jars, lids & rings

- fresh dill (keep the heads on the stems)

- cucumbers (washed/scrubbed). I use pickling cucumbers, about the size of the average pickle.

- garlic cloves (jalepenos, small peppers and onion can also be added)

Brine: 

- 8 ½ cups of water

- 2 ¼ cups white vinegar

- ½ cup pickling salt

Pickling Directions: 

Do all of this before filling your jars -

1. Wash the jars in hot, soapy water. Rinse and fill with hot water. Set aside

2. Fill canning kettle half full with hot tap water. Set on burner over high heat

3. In a medium sauce pan, fit lids and rings together, cover with water, bring to a simmer (you are make them sterile).

4. In a large pan, bring the brine (water, vinegar and salt) to a boil. After it boils, turn off the heat.

5. Fill jars - place a layer of dill at the bottom of every jar, along with a clove or two of garlic (if you are using it). Tightly load cukes from your fresh organic garden into the jar to the neck of the jar. You may need 2 layers to achieve this. Put a few more sprigs of dill & garlic to the top.

6. Pour in brine, leaving about a half inch from the top.

7. Screw on lid w/ ring gasket, making sure it is tightly sealed.

8. Place jars in a pan (or canner) with water just to the neck of the jars

9. Bring water almost to a boil (should be about 15 minutes, depending)

10. Remove jars, set on a dish towel and cover with dish towel & let cool.

11. Check for seal (indented lid). If they are not sealed, you can try re-sealing them in the near boiling water.

12. Label the jars/lids with content, date, recipe (so you will know which ones you like better).

13. Store in a cool, dark place

How Avoid Pests With Quality Food Packaging?

Although food shopping can be quite an annoying ordeal, I cannot help but get excited when it's time to open up a new package of food and snacks, especially after a long day at work. All I want is an easy package to open with fresh quality food inside for my taste buds, and my stomach, to enjoy. Imagine one's surprise and horror when you find some unwelcome guests in your food. That happened to me once with a tub of oatmeal. Needless to say, I was not happy. Not only was I disgusted to find bugs in my food, I had to make the effort to go back to the store to get a refund. That's time, food, and money wasted. Not to mention it makes me less likely to purchase that particular brand ever again.

Obviously pests in food packaging are bound to happen at least once in your lifetime. But it still makes you think twice before placing that exact same item in your shopping cart again. Call it paranoia, call it food anxiety, call it what you will but chances are you will choose the other brand for your oatmeal. And maybe after a few years have passed and your memory is a bit hazy, you don't remember which brand was involved in the incident and you will purchase from them again.

All that can be avoided though when you invest in the best quality food packaging. Not only do you need to seal in freshness, you need to seal out pests. Otherwise a poor experience can really put a stain on your name. The customer won't just relay the story to his immediate family. No, he'll tell all his friends and coworkers and suddenly the news will spread faster than a Justin Bieber album leak. Everyone will know that story all too well and suddenly they are boycotting your products as well. Your company name should be synonymous will high quality, not high bug content!

It's not just about preventing an insect infestation before the products reaches the customer's home. It's also about making durable and flexible food packaging that can withstand possible bugs inside the customer's home as well. Cheap packaging means mice and insects will be able to smell the food from a mile away, even if it is sealed. And they'll be determined to burrow their way into the food. Flimsy packaging is just as high an offense.

Food packaging is the only defense against intruders so never skimp on the quality when it comes time to choose a packaging corporation.

How Tips For Buying Healthier Foods?

What is Health Food? What is Organic Food? What is Natural Food?

Organically grown foods are the foods that are produced without using chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides. Organic poultry, dairy products, and meat means that the grass fed beef, or other animals and birds, were not given growth hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. The awareness of the adverse effects of chemicals in non-organic food is spreading, and more and more people are opting to buy organic and to eat 100% grass fed beef and dairy products.

It is more costly to grow organically and to raise animals and birds organically, and that is the reason it is sometimes more expensive than common supermarket food. In spite of the cost difference, more people are switching over to organically grown foods because of the indisputable benefits; it is well worth any extra money spent due to these advantages:

1. Organically grown food has a high nutritional content. When no pesticides, insecticides, or chemical fertilizers are used for growing plants, the plants start to produce more proteins and antioxidants to fight against the pests, insects, and other diseases that attack the plant. The same thing applies for 100% grass fed beef raised on a certified organic farm. Their bodies start to produce more vitamins and minerals to survive. It is no wonder that some organically grown foods can have up to 50% or more nutrients and less fat than non-organic food.

2. The chemicals used on the plants we eat, as well as the plants which animals eat, enter our bodies when we eat non-organic food. These chemicals often can increase the risk of Cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, Obesity and Food Allergies. Infants and children are at higher risk of birth defects when a pregnant woman eats non-organic food. Breast fed children also may be affected. Studies have proven that these chemicals may affect the neurological development in infants. The hormones injected into the animals and poultry also reportedly may decrease fertility.

3. Organic food can be tastier than other food. As the plants are naturally grown without the use of artificial fertilizers, the harvested products are more pleasant tasting. Warning - once you taste organic, your taste buds may be reluctant to accept other food.

4. Organic farming helps in increasing the fertility of the soil. The animals that live in organic farms are healthier. Environmental pollution is minimized.

It is clear that organic foods are beneficial. Do you want to buy organic food? If the answer is YES, the next question that will arise in your mind is, 'Where do you buy organic food?" Your local market or the super market in your area may not sell it. Even if your local market sells it you may not be certain if the product is genuine and certified organic.

Many food labels will say "Natural" or "Healthy" on the label, but do not be deceived; this means nothing as far as the organic content or nutrition in the food. You should read the entire label. If you want to insure you are buying certified organic food, the best advice is look for the USDA Organic Seal.

The USDA has three categories of labels for organic food:

1. 100% Organic: means made with 100% organic ingredients

2. Organic: means made with 95% minimum organic ingredients

3. Made With Organic Ingredients: means made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, with strict restrictions for the other 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms)

Anything with less than 70% organic ingredients can list organically produced ingredients on the side of the package, but cannot make organic claims on the front of the package.

It is to your advantage financially to buy organic online. When you buy online you save a lot of time, and your time is certainly worth money. You can always work to make more money, but once your time is gone you can never get it back. Add the savings in gasoline, wear and tear on your car, and eliminate drive time to and from grocery stores; you will find that any extra costs you pay to buy organic food online is more than worth it.

Making Vegan Recipes for Vegetarian Dads On Father's Day

Father's Day is a special day for the most important and special man in the family. Celebrating the day with the whole family is one of the best gift that can be given to a father. A day full of love and pampering that will leave an imprint to his thoughts as one of the best memories he can ever have. Finding creative ways to make it such sometimes pose a challenge too especially for a vegetarian dad. Preparing meals for the special occasion for the whole family to share and enjoy all through the day can eventually make it one cherished memory.

What about pampering a vegetarian dad the moment he wakes up with a breakfast in bed consisting of a blueberry vegan pancake and a veggie sausage? Surely he'll love it especially when each family member shares his breakfast right in the confines of his bedroom. A riot but enjoyable.

Vegan Blueberry Pancake with Veggie Sausage

Ingredients:

1 lb. Veggie sausage

1 tbsp. Olive oil

1½ cups blueberries, mashed

3 cups flour

3 level teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

5 tbsp vegetable oil

soy milk (for thicker pancakes use a little less milk)

Procedure:

Put olive oil in a non-stick, deep and large skillet. Place the veggie sausage and cook over medium heat until brown. Remove, place in a strainer to drain and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, sift all together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add soy milk and oil and whisk for consistency. Add mashed blueberries and mix well.

Pour ¼ cupfuls of batter in a greased skillet placed over a medium-heat and cook for about 3 minutes on each side till golden brown.

Place in a platter and serve hot with honey and veggie sausage on the side. The recipe makes 5 to 6 servings, everyone can partake to enjoy breakfast in bed with the extra special man of the day.

Prepare this Vegetable Delight for dinner.

Ingredients:

400 grams vegan cottage cheese cut into sticks and deep fried

1 cup mushrooms, quartered

1 cup baby corn, cut into strips and blanched

1 cup spring onions

20 grams each of celery, chopped ginger and chopped garlic

10 grams toasted sesame seeds

25 grams chilli sauce

25 grams tomato catsup

3 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

Heat a large saute pan. Add oil and saute ginger, garlic and celery until light brown. Toss in the cheese, mushrooms, baby corn, spring onion, chilli sauce, catsup and salt. Mix well and transfer in a serving bowl and garnish with sesame seeds and some green part of green onions. Serve hot.

Bell Pepper Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

1½ cup green or red bell pepper, remove seeds and sliced

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 large onion, sliced

¾ cup tomato paste

3 cups vegetable stock

2 tbsp chopped basil

green part of spring onions to garnish,chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

Mix all together bell pepper, garlic, onion, tomato paste, vegetable stock in a large pot and bring to a boil while constantly stirring. Reduce heat and simmer until bell peppers have softened. Drain or sieve the mixture and set aside the liquid. Puree the leftover bits.Boil together the liquid, the puree and chopped basil in a large saucepan or pot and garnish with chopped green part of spring onion. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Green smoothies go along well to quench thirst next to water. They can be easily prepared with combinations of fresh fruits and vegetables. When fresh, they are sweet enough to refrain from adding sugar,. They are now popular health trends as they are good for the immune system, for detoxifying, for cleansing and energizing the body and weight loss. Coconut water can be blended with spinach, mango and wild honey. Combinations of other fruits and greens can be experimented for the desired taste. So easy now with blenders and other kitchen gadgets around.

Make him feel special by preparing these veggie recipes specially for your vegan dad. After all, the saying " A way to a man's heart is through his stomach", still applies Father's day or not. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in the whole wide world!

How Tips For Incorporating Fruit Into Every Meal?

You already know it: fruit can help you in many ways. Fruit in every meal can help you lower your cholesterol, it can help you lose weight. It can increase your life power.

Even if you are completely healthy, the addition of fruit to your meals is certainly a good idea.

Not only are most kinds of fruit tasty, but all of them are fiber rich. Fibers are good for various reasons. First of all they help us cut down on the intake of food.

They satisfy the stomach because they fill it up. They help our digestive system to do its work with more ease. For this reason, they will help you lose weight if you have to. If you don't have, your weight will stay where it is..

You are just having a healthy meal.

I would suggest you try to incorporate a banana into your breakfast. You may eat it as it is or cut it down and have it with your cereals. You may add a 100% fresh orange or grapefruit juice to your breakfast as well..

A banana gives you approximately 80 calories but a wealth of fiber and vitamins like the complex of the B-group with the exception of B12. In other words a banana contains the vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9. But that is not all. It also contains the vitamin C and the vitamin K. It is furthermore rich in potassium. The vitamin K helps you to maintain the cardiovascular health and the potassium helps you to avoid cramps in your limbs.

At lunch, whether you eat at home or at work you may consume, a part from your bread, an apple, an orange or grapes. If you want you may also eat another banana. The apple and the orange give you fibers and a good deal of vitamin C. The grapes that are both sweet and fresh, can help you prevent cardiovascular disease as they contain the vitamin K that regulates the density of your blood. If the grapes are dried, their content in sugars is much higher reason for which you should eat less of them.

For dinner you may add pineapples or apples to your salad. You may also prepare a waldorf salad with apples, celery and walnuts. Consume with a light dressing. This is a fresh dish that contains only vegetarian components and highly satisfies your stomach and also your cravings for sugar.

You may also add fruit to meat like chicken. Add apricots or mango chutney. I also recommend a combination of carrot salad with ginger in syrup. Prepare the carrots with a little salt, lemon juice and some olive oil. Then add this chipped ginger in syrup. It is very tasty and gives you fiber, vitamins and phytonutrients.

Fruits are also perfect for snacks. Eat a cup of fresh berries. They all come with a great taste and most of them have many health promoting nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. Cranberries, for example help prevent bladder disease, whereas blueberries contain lutein that is indispensable for a perfect eyesight. For a snack also grapes are a good solution. Whether you prefer white or red grapes, depends on you. Both types of grapes give you important and precious help for your health.

You can also add fruit to your dessert. Eat a baked apple. it is a delicious sweet. You can also consume pears or prepare a fruit salad that contains various kinds of fruit.

As you see, fruit is always precious in every meal. The various kinds may be combined with meats or with other ingredients of dishes, like rice, pasta, potatoes, various kinds of vegetables.

What Led to Use Of Hydroponics Systems in Green Houses?

Did you ever notice that the market nearest to your house has equal number of racks dedicated to tinned food and fresh vegetables? Yes, this is the outcome of an age where no one has the time to stop and think. Therefore, no one seems to notice that fresh vegetables and fruits are the outcome of synthetic additives being extensively used in farming practices. In the past decade, the age old practice of growing vegetables in private kitchen gardens had lost its popularity. This was due to an increase in the number of high rise buildings.

More and more people started living in apartments or flats that did not provide the space required for gardening. Fast lives and busy schedules slowly converted the lifestyle of urban masses and therefore today, the harmful effects of fertilizers and chemical pesticides have come as an eye opener for everyone. Yes, people have been forced to stop and take note of the various effects of fertilizer residues found in the so called 'fresh' vegetables and fruits.

The Crisis and Its Solution: Green Revolution

Scientists and food experts claim that nitrate compounds found in these fruits and vegetables have been found to cause cancer and other disorders like the Blue Baby Syndrome. They immediately suggested the many advantages of using organic vegetables. To be very precise, organic vegetables are developed under controlled natural conditions and do not use any fertilizer or pesticides to promote plant growth. This advancement came as a great boon for the common man.

It brought back the popularity of vegetables and fruits grown in private gardens, as organic vegetables are essentially produced in a similar manner. The only difference between kitchen gardening and present day organic food production practice lies in the fact that natural conditions are created in the latter. Yes, organic vegetables are produced in green houses, that optimize all natural conditions required for plant growth.

Sunlight is trapped to enhance the warmth inside the green house and moisture is provided to the plants using humidifiers or hydroponics systems. In America, home green house kits are made available to families who want to build their own green house, and produce fruits and vegetables in them. These kits come with the necessary requirements to set up hydroponics systems in your green house. You only need to make sure that you install the green house according to the steps mentioned in the guidelines.

Raw White and Dark Chocolate Layer Torte

This raw cake is incredibly quick and easy to make. One can use any type of nuts and dried fruit as sweetener. The cacao flavour of this cake can also be changed into a more fruity one, by blending in frozen or fresh fruit and the cake will still set perfectly.

Crust

3/4 cup raw almonds (not soaked; but if soaked already, dehydrate first until dry)

1/2 cup coconut chips

3 Tbsp carob powder

1 tsp vanilla powder

pinch of Himalayan salt

5 fresh dates, chopped

2 - 3 Tbsp apple juice/water

Method for crust

1. Place the almonds in a food processor fitted with an S-blade and process until coarsely chopped.

2. Add the coconut chips, carob powder, vanilla and salt. Process to coarse-fine.

3. Add the dates and apple juice or water. Blend briefly. Add more liquid if the mixture is too crumbly.

4. Press the mixture into the bottom only of a cake tin with a removable bottom (spring-form).

5. Place in the freezer while you make the dark chocolate filling.

Dark chocolate layer

1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked 2 - 3 hours and drained

1/2 cup thick home-made almond milk

4 Tbsp apple juice

4 Tbsp raw cacao powder

3 Tbsp Irish moss blend *

1 tsp vanilla powder

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Method for dark chocolate layer

1. Place all the ingredients in a strong liquidizer. Use the plunger to make it easier on the blades.

2. Pour the smooth mixture onto the crust in the cake tin. Keep about 2 Tbsp back to decorate the torte with later.

3. Level the surface as best you can. Wipe off any spills on the sides of the cake tin with a damp piece of kitchen paper. The torte displays more beautifully if the layers are level and clear with no smears.

4. Place in the freezer for the chocolate layer to set quicker.

White chocolate layer

1 cup cashew nuts, soaked 2 - 3 hours and drained

1 cup thick home-made almond milk

1 ripe banana

4 Tbsp raw white coloured honey OR 4 Tbsp light agave syrup (not a raw product though)

2 Tbsp Irish moss blend

pinch of Himalayan salt

Method for white chocolate layer

1. Place all the ingredients in a strong blender. Use the plunger again to assist the blades.

2. Pour carefully on top of the dark chocolate layer.

3. Drop half teaspoonfuls of the dark chocolate filling on top of the white layer and with a chopstick draw curly-tails beyond the circles onto the white layer for decorative effect.

4. Place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours to set.

Makes 1 medium large torte, enough for 12 - 16 slices.

* Make your Irish moss blend by soaking a handful of dried Irish moss in a bowl of water for 2 hours. Rinse well. Place in blender with about 1/4 cup of filtered water. Blend until smooth and thick. Add a little more water if the mixture seems too thick. Store what you don't need for this recipe in the refrigerator.

Vegan (Sugar-Free) Cantucci Dipped in Apple Nectar

In Italy, when visitors drop in at one's house in the afternoon they are welcomed with a glass of Vin Santo and sweet biscuits that resemble biscotti but which are smaller. This makes it easier to dip them into the wine glass. However for people who do not drink alcohol, this is a recipe of delicious sugar-free Cantucci served with pure apple juice simmered with raisins. It still tastes wickedly sweet, but is more wholesome and a lovely treat to have with guests.

Ingredients

apple nectar:

3 cups good quality, clear apple juice (preferably home-juiced)

½ cup raisins

2 tbsp apple syrup

'Cantucci:'

2 tbsp wholemeal spelt flour

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp ground linseeds (flaxseeds)

1 cup wholemeal spelt flour

2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

4 tbsp apple syrup

2 tbsp soy milk

2 tsp vanilla-infused grape-seed oil / walnut oil

2 tsp almond butter

1 tsp almond essence

2 tbsp natural almonds

Method:

1. For the apple nectar: Simmer 1½ cups of the apple juice with the raisins and apple syrup for 5 minutes. Cool completely. Strain off the raisins and add the reduced apple juice to the remaining 1½ cups of apple juice. Refrigerate.

2. Make the starter dough: stir the 2 tbsp of spelt flour and 2 tbsp of water together. Leave for a day on the kitchen counter covered with a damp piece of absorbent kitchen towel. Stir a few times.

3. When ready to bake, pre-heat the oven to 190°C (370°F). Line a baking sheet with non-stick baking parchment.

4. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

5. Mix the liquid ingredients together in a cup. Add the starter, mix and pour into the dry ingredients. Fold the ingredients together to incorporate as much air as possible.

6. Pat the dough into a log. Make a shallow cut in the centre down the length of the log. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Lower the oven's temperature to 150°C (300°F).

8. Cut the log into 1.5 cm thick slices. Dry the 'Cantucci' in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

9. To serve, place the 'Cantucci' on a serving plate. Pour a glass of apple nectar for each person in which to dip the 'Cantucci'.

Serves 4.

No Problem Healthy Vegetarian Meals For the Holidays

One of reasons people start getting serious about their health come January 1st is not only to have a New Year's resolution but to start setting goals to change their diet, get in shape or lose some weight. Usually people tend to eat more than normal during the holidays in the months of November and December. And if you are like most people....maybe some of the food choices are less than healthy - after all, how can you resist your mom's baking? Between the feasting and drinking, it takes a toll on our bodies. And so goes the resolution.

Don't feel as though you have to continue down this path. You can start a vegetarian lifestyle right now. Healthy vegetarian meals can help with this change and it is a perfect idea to help yourself or those you love. Finding ways to enjoy the holidays AND include vegetarian dinner recipes to your menu does not need to be stressful. The traditional holiday menus that we all love can be sprinkled with healthy choices.

Most people wait all year for enriching holiday moments and special celebrations with their families and friends. Don't let diet strain relationships and ruin holiday cheer. Here are some tips to become a master at creating familiar dishes that are sure to fit within your family's culture and traditions and will appeal to all taste buds. 

It is very easy to find vegetarian recipes for Thanksgiving for example - as vegetables are mainstays in many parts of this meal.

Instead of your traditional turkey, you can enhance your guests with a herb roasted soy vegan chicken, served with your traditional vegetable side dishes

For those that normally serve "beef" at your turkey dinner, try something like a Vegan Beef Wellington with a traditional salad to entice their taste buds

Want to be warm and cozy, serve something like a Vegan Chicken Pot Pie, warm cranberry sauce and some mashed potatoes with a vegan gravy (yummy)

A traditional chef prepared Meatloaf, ala vegan style, that would food the Queen of England

People want to be healthy, but they don't want to give up the taste of traditional fare of meat at their holiday meals. Once you realize how easy it is to find vegetarian dinner recipes, you will feel joy in making and eating such healthy fare. You can show people they don't have to give up anything; You will bring delight to the table and health to those you care for.

Vegan Food Choices That Over Relatives At Holiday Time

I recently called a friend to ask how his Thanksgiving was. He is a pretty healthy guy who practices a vegan diet and recently has been leaning towards raw foods. He told me that his Thanksgiving was fine and proudly told me about the raw food dish he made. Of course I expected to hear details about the social part of his holiday as well, but it turns out he ate his Thanksgiving meal by himself while his family celebrated at his sibling's house.

This was sad and frustrating. My friend eating all by himself was only taking in secondary nutrition. Secondary nutrition is what you call the nutrition most people think of - food, beverages, and nutritional supplements. Primary nutrition is what gives our lives meaning. It's what feeds our soul. It is relationships and hugs from people we love. It is careers, spiritual practice, physical activity, and leisure time - fun, hobbies, entertainment, and rest. Getting together with people we love and nurturing relationships is a vital part of life and benefits us in many ways.

"They don't like my food, and they eat turkey and I don't like to be around that," is what he told me. I could relate to this because that was how things used to be in my house. I would get up on my high horse and preach to everyone that they should eat a certain way. I was frustrated that people didn't like the organic whole food vegan dishes I cooked because I knew they would make them healthy, and that what they were eating was killing them. Of course, there were family members who would comment kindly about the vegan dish brought to the table - but the reality is that they were thinking that it was nothing more than a poor protein vegetable side dish (a dish that does nothing to stimulate any consideration of giving up meat).

The solution to the problem is to lose the "rabbit food" and go with meat substitutes.

Meat substitutes, also known as meat analogs, are vegan food products that look, smell, feel and taste like meat in practically every way. This can be a shock to people. Someone who is used to eating a meat-centered diet, like most Americans, is ok trying meat substitutes, but is turned off by anything that strays from the norm (and appears healthy).

Meat substitutes don't threaten one's culture, identity and traditions, or alienate taste buds with something strange or foreign looking. What's more, they frequently have more protein than the meat they are trying to replicate. There are companies that produce meat substitutes - Garden, Yves, Light Life, Tofurky, and Field Roast to name a few. They make everything from Italian sausage to pepperoni and deli slices - all 100% vegan. They can be found in health food stores, Trader Joe's. And now, more and more traditional food stores are carrying these products. There is also Veggie Brothers which features chef made gourmet vegan dishes, delivered to your door anywhere in the USA and Canada that include meat substitutes like Vegan Chicken Pot Pie.

So how does this solution really work?

Meat substitutes are not extreme. They are not threatening. People try them, and that's a big hurdle. If you are a traditional household holding a festive holiday dinner, a macrobiotic dish or raw food dish is typically not in sync with everything else on the table. Meat substitutes on the other hand can rival the meat-based focal point of the meal. I've seen it many times, and many people have written to me telling me so:

Now, let the magic begin

When people try meat substitutes for the first time they are often amazed. It challenges their old way of thinking: vegans and vegetarians just eat salad.

I have found that when you couple meat substitutes with great information there is a very good chance that a person will make better dietary choices like consuming less meat, or eliminating it completely. Most people are aware that consuming less meat improves health, offers relief to animals, and helps the environment.

Vegetable Dishes That Are Perfect for All, Including Diabetics!

We should all eat more vegetables and this is especially true for those of us diabetics. The recipes in this article are great for diabetics but they are not 'diabetic' recipes. They are regular recipes that are perfect for diabetics, too. If you just love vegetables or you are trying to get more veggies into your diet, give these recipes a try!

CHUNKY BLACK BEAN-SWEET POTATO CHILI 

2 tsp canola oil 

1 cup chopped onion 

1 red bell pepper, diced 

1 green bell pepper, diced 

4 garlic cloves, minced 

1 tsp chili powder 

1 can (14-oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, do not drain 

1 tbsp minced chipotle chiles 

1 small (approx. 8 oz) sweet potato, peeled and chunked 

1 can (15-oz) black beans, rinsed and drained 

1/2 cup chopped cilantro, optional

In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat te canola oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for 5 minute. Add bell peppers, garlic, and chili powder; cook while stirring for about 2 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with juice, chipotle chiles and the sweet potato; bring to a boil. Cover the saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in the black beans; cover and simmer another 8 to 10 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. (Mixture will be thick. If you want, you can gradually stir in water to thin to your preferred consistency.)

To serve, sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if desired.

Yield: 4 to 5 servings

NOTE:By scrubbing the sweet potato well instead of peeling, you will retain more nutrients.

TOSSED VEGETABLE DISH 

1 cup cherry tomatoes 

1 bunch broccoli, cut into small florets 

1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets 

1 bottle (8-oz) low-sugar or sugar-free Italian Salad dressing

Put the tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower into a bowl with a sealable lid. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat well. Refrigerate 12 to 24 hours before serving.

TANGY GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE 

2 lb fresh green beans, ends removed and broke into bite-size pieces 

2 tbsp finely chopped onion 

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 

1 tbsp vinegar 

1 garlic clove, minced 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp pepper 

2 tbsp Panko bread crumbs 

2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 

1 tbsp butter, melted

Cook the beans in a small amount of water until crisp tender; drain. Add the onion, olive oil, vinegar, minced garlic, salt and pepper; toss to coat the beans. Place the beans in an ungreased 1-quart baking dish. Toss the Panko crumbs with the cheese and butter; sprinkle over top of the beans. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

Why You Become A Vegetarian?

You've probably asked yourself that one at one point in your life. As someone who's been a vegetarian for several years, as well as learned from world-class chefs and dietitians, there are several of valid reasons to make a fresh start and begin a plant-based diet.

A lot of people concerned about their well-being are searching for ways to get rid of unhealthy eating habits. By taking meat out of your diet, you are getting rid of a major source of saturated fat, cholesterol, and various other harmful elements. This doesn't include the chemicals that you take in by having meat in your diet. The animal processing industry uses various growth hormones, antibiotics, and other unnatural chemicals that you will wind up eating and processing through your body.

You can also take into account the environmental aspects. Research has proven that the level of harmful gases given off from the daily excrement of millions of factory-raised livestock is more harmful to the world than every car put together. Additionally, the dizzying amounts of feed necessary to feed the millions of head of livestock requires additional millions of pounds of pesticide and other chemicals, which can run off into drinking water.

One more element of the discussion over going vegetarian has to do with the less-than-humane ways animals are processed for eating. We like to think that chickens, pigs, cows, etc. that are raised for consumption lead pleasant lives, similar to how we treat our dogs and cats.

But the hard fact is that the majority of livestock are looked at as commodities and are treated as nothing more than a product; not sentient creatures. Realize that most livestock live in small boxes, often not allowed room to stand. They suffer from awful diseases and are kept viable so that they can make it to the slaughterhouse, where they are shocked, hit with electric bolt guns, have their throats slit, and some are even dumped into scalding water while still conscious.

The good news is that you can lead a healthy, ethical life by eating a meatless diet. Vegetarians often have lower incidences of disease, and several report feeling a higher level of focus and concentration all through the day.

How Making Yummy Vegetarian Recipes?

There are various vegetarian recipes that people can enjoy and relish for a long time. One of these is roasted vegetables and a vegetarian should prepare sweet potato, Yukon gold potatoes, red bell peppers and squash. Once they are combined in a large bowl, red onions are added. In a separate bowl, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, salt, vinegar and pepper are stirred together and are used to coat the vegetables. All of these are spread evenly on a large pan that is used for roasting. In a pre-heated oven, these vegetables should be stirred every ten minutes so the vegetables will be cooked thoroughly.

Vegetarian recipes should never be boring and pasta lovers can savor the taste of hearty vegetable lasagna. First, lasagna noodles are placed inside a hot pot and are boiled for ten minutes. Afterwards, they are drained and rinsed with cold water. Next, vegetables such as onions, garlic, mushrooms and green peppers are cooked and stirred in a large saucepan. Pasta sauce is added and is left to boil. After fifteen minutes, the heat is reduced and it is simmered for fifteen minutes. Next, eggs, ricotta and two cups of mozzarella cheeses are mixed together.

The oven is heated to 350 degrees and one cup of tomato sauce is greased at the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Meanwhile, one half of the lasagna noodles as well as the Ricotta mix; Parmesan cheese and sauce are layered together. All of these have to undergo a second layering and are topped with two cups of mozzarella cheese. Before this vegetable lasagna is served, it is baked and uncovered for at least forty minutes. This vegetarian meal is left to stand for fifteen more minutes and vegetarians can partake of this delicious meal afterwards.

One of the simplest vegetarian recipes is the easy cheesy cream of broccoli soup. All that is needed is a ten ounce broccoli that is frozen, a 10.75 ounce condensed cream of mushroom soup, eight ounces of processed cheese, one and one-fourth cups of milk and pepper and salt to taste. The broccoli is prepared and drained of excess water. Then, cream of mushroom soup is added as well as one can of milk. This is stirred in low heat. Cheese is then added and is stirred until it melts. To add flavor to this soup, salt and pepper are added.

One of the most unique vegetarian recipes is Carrot raisin salad. For this salad, three shredded large carrots are needed as well as a cup of raisins and one cup of walnuts. Additionally, two tablespoons of shredded coconut, one half cup of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of sour cream, one tablespoon of cider vinegar, and one half teaspoon of white sugar are added into the mix. To top it off, one-fourth celery needs to be chopped. All of these ingredients are combined in a medium bowl and whisked as well. The dressing is stirred into the carrot mixture. Finally, the salad is chilled before it is served.

How Being Vegetarian - What Does This Really Mean?

Many people all over the world love to eat meat, but there are those who only want to eat vegetables. There are many reasons a person wants to be a vegetarian, but perhaps the most obvious factor is economics. Vegetables are far more affordable than meat and healthier as well, so the latter is only used for special occasions. Incidentally, even if meat is plentiful in some gatherings, there are some individuals who want to eat it moderately. Vegetarianism is a term used for people who want to eat vegetables exclusively because they value their health and do not want to get sick with meat-related ailments.

For other people, their religious belief prevents them from eating meat because they think that eating animals is not right. Still, other people have expressed concern over the environment so they chose to be vegetarian. Hard-core vegetarians do not consume meat at all and that includes fish and chicken. On the other hand, a lacto-ovo vegetarian will eat eggs dairy products, but not meat. Those who follow a strict form of vegetarianism called veganism do not eat all meat products, eggs, dairy products together with gelatin and honey that are made of animal products.

Many years ago, many Americans often consider individuals who do not eat meat as queer, but times are changing. Vegetarianism is taking the world by storm although vegetarians are still a minority in the United States. ADA also known as the American Dietetic Association has endorsed vegetarian diets because these are very beneficial for those who are conscious with their health. Being a vegetarian is not strange anymore because people have embraced the idea that eating vegetables makes one stronger in body and spirit. Furthermore, a growing number of schools and restaurants are serving vegetables in their menus instead of the usual jelly or peanut butter sandwich.

Becoming a vegetarian is easier said than done and people have to educate themselves first and plan their diets carefully. If these people are able to maintain a strictly vegetarian diet, they will become stronger; have firmer muscles and bones, and a higher energy to boot. Would-be vegetarians though have to be cautious with a vegetarian diet because it is lacking in zinc, vitamins B12 and D, calcium, iron and protein. Fortunately, in lieu of eggs, dairy products, and fish people can take other alternatives such as mineral supplements and multiple vitamins.