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jlilycorbie · 9 months

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One thing that continually bothers me: how dependent on chocolate most ice cream parlors and novelties are in the United States.

Or at least in my area of the US, I'm not an expert on this stuff.

I was complaining about this over the weekend, about how chocolate is great and I like it but I don't need or want it in all the things, and how very much I'd love an ice cream parlor that focuses on fresh fruits and seasonal flavors.

And so I came up with an idea for my own ice cream parlor, probably with a fairy or unicorn theme? Maybe enchanted forest? And then I spent days coming up with ice cream flavors and sundaes for my parlor (and also talking about cannibalism, particularly medical cannibalism, but that's another story).

I figure there'd be a set of always available flavors. Like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry are required. Maybe matcha? Something coffee based, probably. And all of the always available flavors would also be available in dairy-free and nut-free options. And I've heard how hard it is to find gluten-free chocolate ice cream, so definitely gluten-free options, too.

But the real stars here are the sundaes. There'd be the regularly available flavors and seasonal flavors of ice cream along with a variety of basic and seasonal fruits and toppings. You could build your own, or we'd have a selection of menu offerings. Everything would be topped with whipped cream, of course, except when it's got something like marshmallow fluff instead.

We'd have to have a whole variety of splits. Like, what am I even doing having a fruit-focused ice cream parlor without banana splits?

Including a banana split with dulce de leche ice cream, salted almonds, and hot fudge (because chocolate is still allowed, it just won't be in or on everything).

Or a peach split with roasted peaches, cinnamon ice cream, toasted oat crumble with walnuts or pecans, and brown sugar syrup.

Or a mango split with cardamom ice cream, salted cashews, and browned butter rum sauce.

An apple split with cinnamon roasted apples, vanilla ice cream, almonds, toffee bits, and caramel or butterscotch syrup.

Since it's fairy or enchanted forest themed, I'd want to include floral and herbal flavors, too.

Like for summer, I'd need vanilla lime ice cream with fresh watermelon with mint and lime juice and house-made strawberry syrup.

A warm sugar cookie topped with lemon lavender ice cream and fresh blueberry syrup.

Hibiscus ice cream with strawberry swirl.

Earl Grey ice cream with blackberries and chocolate lavender syrup (maybe with pound cake or a sugar cookie?)

For spring into summer, we could have fresh raspberries and mangoes with matcha ice cream and strawberry syrup.

For early autumn, we could have a peanut butter blondie with honey ice cream, fresh grapes, and peanut butter sauce.

From Halloween to Thanksgiving, we could have pumpkin ice cream with cranberry syrup, toasted pecans, and marshmallow fluff .

For deep winter, something with a clever name referencing Persephone with smoked vanilla ice cream with a clementine curd swirl, pomegranate syrup and fresh arils, and salted pistachios.

And for the people who really want a lot of chocolate, a chili pepper brownie with dark chocolate cinnamon ice cream with cocoa nibs topped with espresso hot fudge and chocolate shavings.

Those are my ideas from the last week (no name for this imaginary place, of course, because I'm terrible at naming things). I still need more ideas that include raspberries, blackberries, apricots, pineapples, and...so many other fruits. Pears. Plums.

I might have to make some of these sundaes for myself sometime.

#my imaginary restaurants #ice cream parlor #ice cream #sundaes #someday I'm going to figure out how to name things

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tastesoftamriel · 3 years

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I was asked about what dishes you should never offer to Daedric Princes by a follower who's probably a little too curious for their own good. Here's an interesting question I certainly have not thought of, because I generally try not to invoke the wrath of Daedric Princes! However, if you really want to potentially bring the punishment of Oblivion down upon yourself, please feel free to try the following...

Mehrunes Dagon

Instead of fiery destruction, I propose something...cute. A classic chilled custard tart topped with warm berry compote and some Hammerfell-style rose-and-vanilla pashmak is bound to melt hearts, just not in the way one of his Dremora would.

Peryite

I love making healthy foods just as much as indulgent dishes, and as the popular adage goes, an apple a day keeps Peryite away! A classic rucola and feta salad with a balsamic and Cyrodiilic olive oil can be made even better with an extra handful of spinach, a sprinkle of fresh pomegranate, halved walnuts, avocado and cucumber slices, and a few diced apple pieces! Simply delectable, and sure to keep scurvy and pestilence at bay.

Molag Bal

What should you not offer the Daedric Prince of domination and creator of vampires? Probably a soft, delicate vegetarian dish. A Breton vegetable quiche with an all-butter crust, goose eggs, sun-dried tomatoes, delicate baby spinach, fresh chanterelle mushrooms, squash, lots of garlic, and a spot of chevre. Mouth-wateringly good, this little beauty makes for an excellent meal at any time of day, and is bound to make Molag Bal sneer.

Namira

I'm going to be a little cheeky here and turn something gross and creepy into something delicious that even the fussiest nobles I've served love: garlic butter snails. Namira's followers are known to chow down on live, raw snails, shells and all, but I prefer mine with a garlicky gratin and a sprinkle of cave-aged West Weald parmesan. Oh, and don't forget to eat them with a fancy silver snail fork like a proper diva!

Boethiah

Plots? Destruction? Snakes? Not with this dish! What you see is what you get with a traditional Nord bread-and-butter pudding! It's a great way to use up your leftover bread scraps and stale butter, and is one of Tamriel's most satisfying desserts in my humble opinion. Served with hot custard and dried snowberries, this pudding is the perfect, least deceptive dish I can imagine.

Hircine

You were spot on with a salad, but let me raise the bar a little. Not just any salad will do, but you'll want all your ingredients to be gently cultivated by hand and farmed, as opposed to wild foraged. Iceberg lettuce and pink pear salad with some crumbled goat cheese and honey hits the spot, but how about topped with some marbled fatty beef? The historic Gweden Farm near Anvil has won countless awards for its pampered cows who are given a daily massage and the best fresh grass and Cyrodiilic grain. Domesticated, happy, and wonderful...unless you're a hunter, that is.

Hermaeus Mora

You'd have to be downright stupid to try a traditional Argonian worm bowl unless you're Saxhleel, and even then, most of them don't want to touch this nasty, wriggling dish. Fresh, live mealworms and kotu gava eggs are drowned in a fermented blood worm sauce, with shredded catapult cabbage and flame-grilled, toxic haj mota flesh. I once commented that it looked a little like Hermaeus Mora himself, before taking a tentative nibble and spending the rest of the day throwing up in the swamp. Please don't try this. It's the dumbest dish in Tamriel, and a pox on whichever Argonian invented it.

Sheogorath

No cheese or strawberry torte here! In fact, the least madness-inducing food I can think of is a nice, mild pistachio ice cream profiterole, dipped in sweet milk chocolate and topped with fresh nuts is the perfect Breton summer treat, yet far too boring for the Prince of Madness to bother with. Which leads us to...

Sanguine

I really dislike coming up with bland, mundane dishes for the occasional fussy eater I come across during my travels. Sanguine, Prince of hedonistic pleasures, probably lurks over my shoulder at the average feast I throw, so I admit I was a bit stumped here...until I remembered my Granny Matilda's chicken noodle soup. As basic as soups come, this simple broth is made by boiling leftover chicken carcasses for a night and a day, and served with plain egg noodles. The perfect food for when you're feeling under the weather, or have the palate of a small Nord child.

Malacath

Altmer cuisine seems like a good way to get Malacath really mad, because it's basically the antithesis of what he stands for. Delicate Quicksilver Lingwe cerviche with a yuzu drizzle and Crystal Hannia caviar, with a light avocado mousse flavoured with apple blossom? A sensory delight, and bound to make any Malacath-respecting Orc gag.

Jyggalag

Fried, hand-pulled buckwheat noodles with a spicy Pellitine-style curry sauce is a good way to make this Prince quite cross with you. Not only is it messy to eat, but your furniture will likely suffer bright orange and yellow stains from the turmeric and tomatoes, and your bowels will also be as tangled as the noodles after consuming a fiery Khajiiti curry.

Vaermina

So mundane and boring, you're definitely not bound to have any dreams or nightmares about a bowl of saltrice porridge with comberry preserves and scrib jerky. The staple food of the common Dunmer, it's tasty enough to eat on a daily basis, but hardly the stuff dreams are made of.

Mephala

This spidery Prince enjoys interfering with us mortals, so it's time to fight back with a dish that'll probably make most other Daedric Princes frown too. Imperial food is famous for its balanced flavours, textures, and fresh ingredients, and a Gold Coat seafood stew is a vibrant dish bursting with the best fresh fish, mussels, lobster, and crabmeat the region has to offer. Mild but but with a tangy punch from the sun-dried tomato based soup and a dash of crisp white wine, this is a dish that both young and old enjoy across Cyrodiil.

Meridia

Charred jerk wild boar stuffed with timber mammoth cheese and a delicious bloody jus-and-honey sauce is sure to make any Bosmer's mouth water! It's definitely dead, it's definitely cooked, and it's definitely bound to disappoint Meridia. Just a warning- try this for a laugh and you'll never be able to get rid of her beacon.

Azura

By Azura, please don't offer this to the Lady of Dawn and Dusk unless you want to irreparably have your race changed! Love and devotion is what this Prince craves, so why not damage yourself with a fiery Dunmeri Vvardenfell fondue, made from scuttle, crab meat, and extremely spicy fire petal blossoms? Enjoyed by the most pain-seeking of Dunmer, my version comes with fried hackle-lo leaf and saltrice-and-wickwheat bread for dipping. It'll have your guts in a twist for days, which is the price to pay for this deliciously hot "cheese" dish. Oh, and did I mention that it's best washed down with a nice cup of Vivec's Gingergreen Chai?

Nocturnal

There's absolutely nothing dark about a Redguard sun-jelly, made with fresh fruits from coastal Hammerfell. Coconut, palm fruit, watermelon, and bananas are the stars of the show in this dessert, set in a chilled agar jelly that keeps the heat at bay. The fanciest Redguards love mixing edible gold flakes into the jelly itself, giving it a delightful luster that is sure to put a smile on your face and chase the shadows away.

Clavicus Vile

You're not going to want to strike any bargain to give up a delicious baked chub loon gratin with echatere cheese, over hasselback potatoes and crispy radish chips. This Orcish delicacy is surprisingly so good it's even tickled the fancy of the fussiest eaters in Tamriel! The chub loon meat is juicy and melts in the mouth, and the echatere cheese melted into the cracks of a hasselback potato are wonderful with radish chips for dipping. Admit it, you're drooling aren't you?

#Asks #Daedric Princes #Daedric Lords #TES #the elder scrolls #World building #worldbuilding #long post #text post

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loadedliterature-blog · 6 years

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Recipes to follow at the bottom.

Roasted Chicken with Oranges, Brussels Sprouts, and Green Olives

Stuffed Artichokes

Butternut Squash Soup

Fruit Salad

Macaron Tree

Can-died Pears

Crimson Thread and Menage Trois wines

Reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, I was a bit daunted by how to create a menu in theme with the book. In a dystopian society, what do they eat? How do they eat? How do they cook? Thankfully, Miss Anya Spector came to my rescue. “Why don’t we do a Birth Day Party?” Duh. A Birth Day Party. Though this is an oppressive society, they seem to splurge when it comes to the day their Handmaid’s gave birth. This fact opened up options for me. Here, I want to explain my research, as well as my choices for the menu for this week. The three stages in this process are as follows: research, prep, and cooking.

1. Research

The background of the book is a bit vague. We don’t really learn what happened to the US until page 174 of the Anchor Books edition. I tried to mark down any mention of food, but I also found a list on the website Bookmenus.com. There were many foods mentioned, but the most mentioned were oranges and coffee. Because Anya Spector and I live on coffee, this would automatically make the menu. It is now tradition to begin a recording session with a strong cup. Oranges, however, stumped me. I knew we should do a luncheon, but what savory options would be included?

That’s when I found an interview with the production crew of the new Hulu TV adaptation. A lot of research went into making decisions of what to include in grocery stores like Loves and Fishes in the show. Production designer Julie Berghoff said to a Marie Clare writer visiting set, “Every piece of fruit had a thought process behind it—when she gets oranges, the implication is, ‘Okay, they conquered Florida.’ If they had artichokes, it meant they conquered California. The evolution of Gilead was always in mind.” So that was it. Oranges and artichokes were enough inspiration to start a menu.

In Gilead, there seems to be a black market where rich wives can find luxury gifts, from cosmetics and lotions, to exotic cheeses and canned goods. Following the logic of Berghoff, assuming Florida and California had been conquered, and the Marthas had access to their agriculture, as well as some black market items, they could create a bountiful Birth Day banquet, fit for a Gilead luncheon.

One thing that stood out to me in the books was that cooking had become a bit more pure. No longer are there processed, pre-made foods in Gilead. Everything is homemade, so that was something that we wanted to emphasize in our own work… Not that we’ve actually served anything store bought other than the Harry Potter Candy. However, the homemade bread from P&P, and homemade macarons are very different. Everything to follow is made by us.

2. Preperation

Because I agreed to make quite a big spread for this book, my preparation began days before our actual recording. Quick tip: most soups can be made in advance and frozen! Almost all soups have a base that can be separated and frozen, while garnish can be made the day-of.

So I made the soup first. Butternut squash is hard, so make sure you have a sharp knife, sharp peeler, and strong grip. When roasting, make sure you dice vegetables as uniform as possible for even cooking. Metal spoons work wonders at scraping out squash. Save the pulp for a squash bread, especially pumpkins. The seeds can be roasted and salted for a healthy snack! When roasting the squash (see recipe below) toss roasting vegetables in the combination canola oil and EVOO. This mixture lowers the smoke point and help avoid over caramelizing the vegetables. Then I place a small piece of butter at each end of the roasting sheet for the nutty browned butter flavor. Finally, just barely cover the roasted vegetables with vegetable broth. You can always add more, you can’t take it out. However, if your soup becomes more like a puree, thin with more broth. Remember the more you thin, the less seasoning it will have so be sure to continue to taste. Separate into servings and freeze for freshest taste. Thaw the morning-of.

Next I prepped the artichokes. Artichokes have a low yield, so we try our best to avoid cutting the yield down further by wasting much of the plant. Cut the stems off to make the artichokes sit flat on a cutting board. Next cut tips off, at least an inch and a half down the artichoke. Trim the other untrimmed leaves with kitchen sears. Soak in water with fresh squeezed lemons, and be sure to rub the leaves and stem in lemon to prevent discoloration. I’m soaking mine for half a day. When they are done, I will steam them until the are tender, around half an hour. The day of the book club meeting, I will stuff them and roast them.

For the chicken, the oranges can be sliced the day before. Beware! You will smell like oranges all damn day. The Brussels Sprouts can also be cleaned. I tear the outside leaves off the sprouts, cut the stems off, and slice them in half. Store in water and lemon to prevent discoloration. The chicken can also be cleaned and trussed the night before. Run under cold water, and pat dry. Stuff with garlic cloves, onion halves, lemon and orange halves. Truss chicken to prevent the stuffing falling out. Rub in butter. Salt and pepper the chicken just before it is cooked. Pan sear for a beautiful golden brown color. For the gravy, make sure you pre-make the veloute base (blonde roux with stock, reduce until thickened. Skim the scum it creates to reduce floury flavor!). Mix veloute base with drippings and reduce.

Finally the fruit. For your fruit salad, make sure you have a good arrangement of fruit. Too many tart fruits together will make your mouth turn inside out (i.e. pineapple, oranges, grapes, green apples, raspberries…). Instead, mix with softer flavors like strawberries, red apples, melons, etc. For the “can”-died pears, we’re using canned fruit so it is already soft. Don’t overcook these, or they will turn to mush. You only want to heat these up. Immediately mix in the butter with spices. Finish with the whiskey. Be careful! Any time you are cooking with a high-alcohol content liquor, there is a chance it will go up in flames! This is called flambe. Don’t panic if it happens. Enjoy the pretty colors! Alcohol burns off very quickly. As long as it stays in the pan, you are safe. If you try to fling it into the sink, you risk spilling it on something that will actually catch fire. Instead, tend it carefully and it will go out.

**Macaron vs Macaroon

Okay let us get one thing straight. There is a difference between these two cookies, so let me educate y’all. For this podcast, Hale graciously cooked us macarons and we put them on a painted foam tree for pictures. However, many people will think they are macaroons, which would be untrue. Many of you may know the double-O Macaroon. This meringue cookie is popular in the US during Passover, and to understand that you need to understand the history of the cookie and how the French macaron became the coconut macaroon you find in cookie tins.

So the “French” Macaron actually came from Sicily (shout out to my fellow Sicilian co-host Hale). Macaron is actually related to the Italian word ammaccare, meaning “to crush.” This relationship probably refers to the act of crushing almonds into powder, the process necessary for your perfect French Macaron. However, until the 18th century, the cooks in the United States could not get their hands on many nuts or nut powders. Instead they substituted potato starch for a bit of texture, and substituted coconuts for almonds or other nuts, which were more perishable. Because the cookie has no leavening agent, they are considered acceptable for Passover! Thus, we have tins of chocolate dipped coconut macaroons for Passover in the US! However similar in history these cookies are, in the 18th century with the rise of French cuisine, these cookies deviated from each other. Though both are egg white meringue based cookies, the “flour” used is quite different. The French style is said to be more tedious and particular. Below you will see the difference between the coconut macaroon and the French macaron, respectively.

3. Cooking and Final Product

Roasted Chicken with Oranges, Olives, and Brussels Sprouts:

Ingredients:

Whole chicken (for 3-4 people)

3 Oranges

2 Cans Olives

1 lb Bussels Sprouts halved

1 Small Onion

Butter/Oil

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Process:

Preheat oven to 400

Clean, stuff, and truss chicken, salt and pepper to taste with a bit of butter rubbed over it

Line greased pan with oranges, halved Brussels sprouts, and green olives

Place chicken on top

Mix orange juice and honey and pour over chicken and everything on roasting tray

Roast in oven until done; start checking around the hour point.

When the chicken comes out of the oven, save drippings.

Mix drippings with veloute sauce. Reduce to desired thickness. Season with salt and pepper, orange juice if needed.

If the sauce isn’t thick enough, add a corn starch slurry

Fruit Salad

Banana, Papaya, Oranges, Grapes, Watermelon, Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Mango

Cut uniformly and serve

Butternut Squash Soup:

Cubed squash oiled on a roasting tray with salt and pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, rubbed sage, rosemary, and thyme

Roast at 400 until tender, about 30 mins

Puree with warm vegetable stock to desired thickness

Season to taste

Garnish with bacon lardons

“Can”-died Pears:

Canned pears quartered sautéed with butter and cinnamon/nutmeg

Saute in butter until they turn golden, mix in brown sugar

Finish with honey whiskey–flambe

Top with ice cream

Stuffed Artichoke:

Ingredients:

3 large Artichokes (for 4-6 people)

Lemons

1 cup Italian Style Bread Crumbs

8-10 Garlic Cloves, chopped

1/2 cup Parsley, Basil chopped

1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup Grated Romano Cheese

Butter/Oil

Process:

Clean artichoke, soak, steam until tender (see tips above)

Mix together breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, cheese, and melted butter or oil

Spoon mixture between leaves of artichoke

Roast until brown at about 375 degrees

Macarons (not Macaroons. See note)

For the macaron shells:

300g ground almonds

300g powdered sugar

110g liquefied egg whites (see below)

+ 300g caster sugar

75g water

110g liquefied egg whites

Liquid food dye to splatter: pink, blue and yellow

Frosting:

1 batch fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting

1 drop each of yellow, green, blue, purple, red and orange food gel

Process:

For the process, use the directions the creator of this recipe uses. Follow the link below.

https://www.thescranline.com/yay-gay-macarons

For a butter cream recipe, look to our Harry Potter themed birthday cake from last months’ recipes: https://loadedliteraturepodcast.com/2018/07/04/unicorn-blood-and-candy/

Macaron vs Macaroon; or Forever Smelling of Oranges Recipes to follow at the bottom. Roasted Chicken with Oranges, Brussels Sprouts, and Green Olives Stuffed Artichokes…

#Birth Day #Butternut Squash #Butternut Squash Soup #Candied Pears #Fruit Salad #Handmaid&039;s Tale #Macaron #Macaroon #Recipes #Red Wine #Roast chicken with Brussels Sprouts #Roast Chicken with Green Olives #Roast chicken with oranges #Stuffed Artichokes

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wearethewitches · 6 years

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I was tagged by @ifishouldvanish, which is cool – I love your blog, btw ;)

Rules: tag some people you want to get to know better

Name: Sophie

Gender: female

Star sign: Capricorn

Height: 5’ foot 7’ inches

Sexuality: I’m an asexual poly lesbian, yay!

What images do you have set as your desktop/phone wallpaper: my laptop has an art of Regina Mills | the Evil Queen crushing a heart with when I am queen on the bottom and it’s sad and amazing. My phone, however, has….actually, I don’t know rn bc like, my phone has the black screen of death (though it still works). I dropped it.

Have you ever had a crush on a teacher: uhhh, no

Where do you see yourself in ten years: working quietly as a chef, travelling with the seasons, with a snake and girlfriends waiting at home

If you could be anywhere else right now, where would it be: on a bench outside my family holiday house, by the cold, windy sea.

What was your coolest Halloween costume: I was a spider when I was four. I think.

What’s your favourite 90’s tv show: uuuuuuh idk, Charmed?

Who was your last kiss: my last and first and only kiss, this ace-aro girl who taught me how to do the tongue thing on my campus

Have you ever been stood up: only by my siblings when it was time to go to the bus. We missed so many fucking buses bc they couldn’t get their arses out of class (we were a special case, we got to leave school 15m early bc our bus changed timetable a year before I left. It’s half an hour later, nowadays).

Have you ever been to Las Vegas: nope. Don’t really want to go, either.

Favourite pair of shoes: my Justice League Special, Specialised Converse High-Tops. They’ve got my name on the back and I guiltily step on Wonder Woman every time I put them on.

Favourite fruit: I don’t know. I like fruit. I like royal gala apples, grapes, honey-dew melon, sunrise melon, pears, bananas, oranges, plums...

Favourite book: this is the most unfair question on this entire list.

Stupidest thing you’ve ever done: asdfghjkl pretended a damp wooden ramp from my climbing frame as a kid was a running machine when my parents were temporarily taking my climbing frame apart, slipping my feet across it and falling, breaking my arm. Luckily, we lived (and still live) next to a doctor, so I wasn’t in too much danger. It was more scary, than anything else.

I suppose I have to tag ppl now, hmm…meh: @motorcyclegirlfriends @besiderunningwaters @theinfernalwhistler

#i tag u #favourite things #get to know you

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tipsycad147 · 5 years

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Planetary Magic 4: Venus, Love and Money

by Christopher Penczak | Jul 29, 2013

(Originally appearing in Crow’s Calling)

Venus is the most alluring of the planets. Seen as both a morning and evening star, no heavenly body, save the Sun and Moon, has captured the attention of humanity as this bright star has. Many gods and goddesses have been associated with it, from the goddesses Inanna and Ishtar, to the fallen angel Lucifer. Friday is the day in harmony with Venusian energies, named after the Norse goddess Freya, creating Freya’s day. But the planet itself is named after the goddess of love, known to the Greeks as Aphrodite.

Aphrodite is most popularly known as the patron of love and romance, but she is also the goddess of sensuality, pleasure, beauty and relaxation. In some of the myths, she was known for her anger, jealousy and infidelity as well. Although considered one of the twelve Olympians, the main gods of the Greeks, she is most likely a much older goddess, since her birth in the creation tales had to be fit into the myths of the classical Greeks. Her first stories don’t seem to fit. Although some say she is a daughter of Zeus, most myths give a different tale. When Chronos castrated his father, the sky god Uranus, his genitals fell into the ocean. The ocean foamed and frothed, until Venus burst forth from the waves, making her a primal ocean goddess, without real parents. When she reached the shore, flowers bloomed at her feet, following her wherever she went. So she carries the associations of an Earth goddess too. Later she became the champion of love and romance.

Venus captures our attention because it is the brightest of the stars. The planet reflects so much light because of the planets thick atmosphere. Venus has a continuous “green house” effect. Most solar energy gets reflected off this atmosphere, creating the dazzling light, and giving Venus its association with gems and jewels. The energy that does penetrate gets trapped inside, creating a blistering atmosphere that cannot support life as we know it. The energy of Venus, of personal love, is reflected in these characteristics. Our love and emotions can often be dazzling at first glance, but cloudy and obscured when looked at closely. Our memories concerning love are hazy, unlike the memories of Mercury, which lacks an atmosphere that can haze perception. Passion and romance are hot and steamy, and we can feel our blood boil when in a passionate love affair. Once we “get” love, we often don’t want to give it up. We seek to trap and bind it.

Venus is the only planet with a day, or rotation on its axis, longer than its year. Venus’ day is equivalent to 243 earth days while its year, or one complete orbit around the Sun, is only 225 earth days. This is why the goddess is associated with leisure and luxury, and in some people’s minds, laziness and inactivity. Venus takes time to enjoy every second. Venus is sensual. Venus goes its own way, rotating in the opposite direction of all the other planets. The goddess is, after all, free and independent. The Sun rises on her western horizon, always starting with a sense of completion, at least from the Earth person’s view point. Since the Sun sets on the earthly western horizon, we associate it with endings and completion. Many magical traditions also place the element of water at the west, for the endings, and the mysteries of the other worlds, beyond the ocean. Water is the element of love and healing. The powers of Venus are the pleasures at the end of the day. Venus moves toward completion rather than fresh starts and initiation. Initiation is handled by Venus’ lover, Mars. The goddess of love’s emphasis on the west is the land of endings, sunsets and mysteries.

This planet currently rules two zodiac signs, though many debate her rulership. Taurus and Libra both share Venus. In Taurus, she is the goddess of the earth, physical pleasure, the body, and sensuality. Taurus is associated with resources and money, and Venus can be used in such magic. She attracts, and then holds onto her resources, like the heat of the planet. In Libra, she is the goddess of art, relationship, justice and balance. She is in an air sign, keen on communication between partners and intellectual appreciation of the finer things in life. Both signs have been associated with the colour green, as well as pink, making those strong ritual colours to work with when invoking Venus the goddess, or Venus the planet. Copper, which turns green when tarnished, along with many green and blue stones that have copper compounds in them, such as turquoise, azurite and malachite, resonate with Venus. Emerald, however, is the stone most often associated with Venus.

Magic in the sphere of Venus is love and emotion magic. Do spells to find a lover, long term or short term. Do spells to find self love and healing. Venus rules the heart chakra and throat chakra, letting us speak our feelings with clarity and strength. Call on it to heal a broken heart as well. Use it to heal and strengthen relationships of all kinds, because to this goddess, all relationships, friends and family, are based on love.

The power of attraction is the power of Venus. Lodestone, the natural magnetic stone, is a mineral of Venus. Venus attracts things of value to you. If you value money, it will attract that in your magick. If you value the things that money can buy, sensual or intellectual pleasures, Venus will attract that. If you value romance, beauty, or anything at all, Venus can attract it.

Venus energy is great for quick money magic. Green is the colour of Venus, the colour of money and the colour of most vegetation. It is the symbol on this planet for stored solar energy, stored potential. All barter and trade was based on the value of stored energy, be it in grain, animals, or the solar energy reflected in gold. That is why we associate money with green. Also, we cannot have prosperity in our life if we do not love ourselves and feel worthy of prosperity.

Venus energy helps us complete any project. It gives us the final push to complete long standing goals and things that have been shelved. Venus brings us to the reward at the end of the journey, where we can enjoy the fruits of our labour.

When you want to call upon the energies of Venus, do so when this energy is strong. Most people use the power of Venus to attract, so doing work on a waxing Moon, to attract things to you is helpful. But at times, we wish to banish with this energy, such as banishing the pain of a broken heart, so the waning Moon would be more appropriate. All Venusian magick is powerful on Fridays, the day of Venus, and the first hour after sunrise is the first hour of Venus. Also when the Moon or Sun is in the sign of Taurus or Libra is powerful Venus time.

We have a planetary Venus cycle and a personal Venus cycle. During this time, it is great to rest and relax, enjoy the finer things in life, play music, tell stories and make art. It’s a time for inner expression. For the planetary cycle, it is typically Dec 6 to Jan 26. I always thought that strange because I associate Venus with the goddess of flowers its zodiac signs with spring and fall, but the winter is a perfect time to rest and relax. Our personal Venus period starts 260 days after our birthday, and lasts approximately 52 days.

When designing Venus rituals, make them sensual and fun. Don’t try to be too serious. Laughter can be a great form of magic. Invoke all the senses. Use foods, drinks, scents, sounds and textures that are pleasing to you. That will invoke the Venus energy. You can also use the following correspondences in your rituals.

MINERALS:Amber, Aventurine, Azurite, Calcite, Blue Calcite, Green Calcite, Pink Calcite, Cat’s Eye, Chrysocolla, Chysoprase, Emerald, Hexagonite, Jade, Green Jasper, Kunzite, Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Loadstone, Malachite, Peridot, Rose Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Serpentine, Blue Sodalite, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Variscite

PLANTS: Adam and Eve Root, African Violet, Alder, Alfalfa, Almond, Angelica, Apple, Apricot, Ash, Avocado, Balm of Gilead, Banana, Bay, Bedstraw, Bean, Beets, Bergamot, Bleeding Heart, Blood Root, Boneset, Catnip, Celery, Cherry, Chickpea, Red Clover, Cocoa, Coltsfoot, Columbine, Cosmos, Crocus, Cuckoo-Flower, Cumin, Cypress, Daffodil, Daisies, Damiana, Dittany, Elder, Fern, Foxglove, Gardenia, Geranium, Goldenrod, Goldenseal, Gooseberry, Heart’s Ease, Heather, Hibiscus, Hollyhocks, Horehound, Hyacinth, Hydrangeas, Jade Tree, Jasmine, Jewelweed, Juniper, Kava-Kava, Ladies’ Mantle, Lemon, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Lentil, Lily of the Valley, Lime, Lovage, Lungwort, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Moneywort, Motherwort, Orchid, Oregano, Orris Root, Pansy, Parsley, Passion Flower, Passion Fruit, Pear, Pennyroyal, Peony, Peppermint, Periwinkle, Plum, Poppy, Primrose, Radish, Ragweed, Raspberry, Rice, Rose, Sarsaparilla, Self-Heal, Silverweed, Slippery Elm, Spearmint, Star Anise, Strawberry, Sweet pea, Sycamore, Tansy, Thyme, Tulips, Vanilla, Vervain, Vetivert, Violet, Walnut, Watermelon, Wheat, Woodruff, Yarrow

(Be sure to consult a reputable medical herbal before using any herbs topically or internally.)

Besides this list, the aforementioned copper, even copper pennies are great for ritual, as well as sugar and honey. Sweetness is the power of Venus. Experiment. Be daring. Create. Walk with

Venus.

Next: Mars and Victory!

Resources: * A Salem Witch’s Herbal by Laurie Cabot. Celtic Crow Publishing. * Archetypes of the Zodiac by Kathleen Burt. Llewellyn. * Astrological Magick by Estelle Daniels. (Samuel Weiser) * Astrology From A to Z by Eleanor Bach. Evens and Company. * Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic, by Scott Cunningham. Llewellyn. * Lifting the Veil: Practical Kabbalah with Kundalini Yoga by Gurunam. Rootlight Publishing

https://christopherpenczak.com/2013/07/29/planetary-magic-4-venus-love-and-money/

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toretandtasse · 5 years

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Magosteen and Quince.

As a girl who grew up in a tropical country, there are many kinds of fruits that just grow up in the backyard of our house. That's why this blog is somewhat difficult for me because the fruits that are considered rare and can only find from other country are the fruits that usually grows in the Philippines or fruits that I already ate.

Identify the market you explored, and the reasons why you went there.

- I went to a Chinese store, hoping to find a fruit that I haven’t eaten before but came home disappointed, the Chinese store offer fruits that I already ate and some fruits that are available here in Canada such as apple, banana and oranges. The next place that I visited is Fortinos, where my family usually buy our groceries, I was thinking that maybe I can find fruits that grew here in Canada that I haven’t tried before or fruits that came from other countries, and there I found 2 fruits that I haven’t tried before, Mangosteen and Quince.

(This picture was taken way back 2018. The reason, I Didn't I realize I need to take a picture of the market where I bought the fruits.)

Explain your choice, why you made it and how you went about selecting your fruit.

Looking at the fruit selection, you can see that the section have tons of apple, grapes and different kind of citrus fruits. As I keep looking, I found the Quince first and almost taught it was a pear until I read the name which I am not familiar with. I also saw the mangosteen at the far corner. The reason why I bought mangosteen is, there are many stores in the Philippines where they sell Mangosteen but because it is really expensive, I never tried it before. So I am really curious, is the price really worth it?

A brief summary of the history, geographical location(s), botanical family, market pricing and seasonality.

Mangosteen is known as the “queen of fruits” is a tropical evergreen tree, they are common in the rainforest areas of Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The ideal temperature range for growing and producing fruits is 25–35 °C (77–95 °F)[13] with a relative humidity over 80%. Mangosteen’s tree can take a decade to start fruiting, the fruit can’t withstand any cold temperatures, and even then, its yield is uncertain. Mangosteens are non-climacteric ripeners, meaning that after they’re picked, they never ripen further. That leaves the easily bruised fruit beginning to degrade the moment it leaves the field. European explorers found the fragile mangosteen plant to be difficult to transport. While determined traders were able to present them to England in 1789, they weren’t successfully cultivated for another 50 years.

Quince, (Cydonia oblonga), a small tree or shrub of the rose family (Rosaceae), grown for its edible fruit. Quince is the only member of the genus Cydonia and is native to Iran, Turkey, and possibly Greece and the Crimean Peninsula. The cultivation of quince started 4.000 years ago in Asia and Mediterranean region. Quince thrives both in temperate and semi-tropical areas, but it produces the fruit of best quality in warmer areas. The fruit has a strong aroma and is astringent in the raw state but makes an excellent preserve and is often used to give flavour and sharpness to stewed or baked apples. The flesh takes on a pink colour when cooked, giving an attractive colour to jellies and conserves.

Perform a sensory evaluation (SEE WEEK 3)

Mangosteen has a very pleasing color a very dark purple that resembles star apple or what we call “Caimito” in the Philippines. It was a fruit that we usually eat when we were still young. When looking at the bottom part, there is a flower like thing which I am love because it looks cute. While opening it with my knife, I notice that it has a very thick skin and rubbery. Inside, there are white cotton segments that are very similar to cotton fruit.

- It has a very sweet taste, juicy and soft. I really like how it just melts on your mouth and the sweet taste will spread on every corner of your mouth. The texture is really soft and you don’t even need to bite it. The taste of mangosteen resembles a ripe cotton fruit which I feel very happy because I also miss eating cotton fruit.

Quince have a greenish-yellow color. The shape looks like a pear or guava. When I peel the fruit, I notice that It have a very bad odour, similar to a boiled egg or the smell of a fart. When I tried cutting it in half, It was really hard and feels like there is a big seed inside, but turned out it doesn’t have. The texture resembles a pear or guava, slightly rough to the touch, and when I left it for a couple of minutes, the fruit turned brown just like an apple.

- Because of the smell, I am not really excited to eat the fruit. The fruit doesn’t have a lingering taste of how the quince smell. It tastes like a sour apple with a hint of slight sweetness. The texture is like guava or a very old apple, it is chewy and it made my mouth feel dry.

Discuss: if you were to cook this fruit, what cooking method would you use? Support your answer and provide a recipe.

- If I ever choose between the two, which I really wanted to cook, it will be the mangosteen. I feel like, you can make a jam with both fruits, but I wanted to try making Ice cream with mangosteen.

Recipe

1/2 Kilo of Mangosteen

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 L Whipping cream

1/4 cup honey

2 pcs lemon zest

Method

Cut open the mangosteen and scrap the flesh out of the seeds.

Boil coconut milk, mangosteen and honey together. Set aside to cool.

Blend the mixture on a blender for a smooth consistency.

Mix the mangosteen mixture with the whipping cream and lemon zest and mix it using a stand mixer.

When smooth, place on a container and freeze for 3 hours.

Reflect on what you learned from this experience.

- Whether it is buying food, vegetable or fruit, I always pick foods that are very similar to my comfort food or food that I am already familiar with. I always tend to ignore others which I never tried before.

As a student who is dreaming to become a successful chef someday, foods plays the biggest role on my job. My mother always tell me that as a culinary student, I need to try new things so that in the future, I know what a certain food taste like.

Doing this blog, I came to realize that there are a lot more food that I haven’t tried before and because Im still young, I still have the chance to try it and expand my knowledge about the wonders of different cuisine and fruit that every country may offer.

Reference

Wikipedia. Mangosteen. Retrieve from https://en.wikipedia.org

Food Facts. October 28, 2016. What Are Mangosteens Good For? Retrieve from https://foodfacts.mercola.com/

Softchools.com. Quince Facts. Retrieve from http://www.softschools.com/

Melissa Petruzzello, Assistant Editor. Quince. Retrieve from https://www.britannica.com/

#fruits

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cutiecrates · 5 years

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Cutie Reviews: Tokyo Treat August 18

Before I begin, I wanted to mention that this month we had a code for so much off of a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription. There was also an item we were supposed to get but due to a last-second issue, it was swapped out for something else. I don’t remember the exact reason but it’s not important anymore.

Also, I forgot to take a picture of the Lucky Treat and Contest prizes. Lucky Treat included a lot of gudetama and Pokemon items, and some cute yellow things like pudding flavored cookies and candy. The Contest was to design your own kit-kat flavor and package, and the winner would receive 2 Cinnamoroll items, while 5 runner-ups got a Pompompurrin item.

The Japan articles in the booklet focuses on Japanese fruits and how popular they are in Japan- asking someone of their favorite fruit is a popular conversation starter, isn’t that cute~?

I’ll play along. My most favorite fruit is a strawberry (ironically I just got some big, yummy looking ones today~), but I also like grapes, apples, pears, pineapple, mango, raspberries, plums... pretty much anything except for bananas, and tomato if you count that as a fruit.

There’s also a question asking “which fruit would you assign/associate to each month?“ so I came up with:

Summer - Watermelon, Pineapple.

Fall - Apples

Winter - Melon (It’s light color and taste reminds me of winter)

Spring - Pears, cherry, strawberry, anything refreshing and light.

I had fun answering those, I kind of wish they included them more often. But for now, let’s get on with the actual review!

Coca-Cola Clear & Melon Jelly Drink DIY

As usual, the DIY will be covered in a separate post. Our main feature for this pic is the big, clear empty-looking coke next to it. As of this box, Coca-Cola Clear is Japan’s newest Coke variation, which features a zero calorie spin with lemon flavoring to create a light, refreshing taste~

I know I’m a broken record, but for anybody new around here; I ♥ Coca-Cola! So I always get excited when it shows up in the boxes, or even getting cola-flavored candy. I love it love it love it~

Rating: ♥ ♥

Unfortunately, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind...

When I smell it, I get a coke x sprite sort of mix. But when I taste it, I don’t really get the lemon at all. Or maybe I do- but to me it actually tastes like apple pie. More specifically, the taste of the syrup you get from combining apple and cinnamon when preparing to bake them.

It’s not a bad taste in any means, but I had higher expectations. I’m not a big fan of sprite or anything, but I kinda thought it might have been like lemon pepsi; a drink I was obsessed with years ago when it came out (its since been discontinued sadly). You don’t even really taste coke honestly.

Melon Bread Cookies Party Park

A fun, large pack of melon pan inspired cookies. There is an equal amount of crunchy orange-flavored cookies, and soft, sweet melon cookies with cream inside. This product is by Kabaya, The orange cookies are 41.1 calories, and melon is 43.1 calories.

Rating: ♥ ♥

They’re alright. The orange one actually doesn’t have any sort of orange flavoring to me at all, it’s not even sweet. The crunch is light, and honestly I think it’d be better with a sweet drink, or maybe some cream. The melon one is soft and chewy, and it’s much sweeter than the other one; it actually tastes like melon. The cream inside keeps it from being too dry in taste.

Chip Star Lemon Chips &

Next up are two Lemon themed items, the first are chips by popular snack brand Chip Star. The entire container is 263 calories, which kind of bothers me a little considering how small the count is; but it’s okay if you don’t eat them all at once, or share some of them.

This product uses real Setuchi lemons to create a tangy, savory flavor.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

They’re so yummy~♥ It’s basically a lemon salt flavored chip, but the lemon flavor is very light and the tanginess is gentle. On scent, you get a really strong sour vinegar smell, but they don’t taste like that.

Our next item is this box of Choco-Lemon dipped mini-pocky! This was the item we got instead of the Kinoko no Yama Chocolate Banana; which because I dislike artificial banana flavors is fine by me.

Each package or the entire box is 103 calories. I can’t tell which it is from what’s written on the back... but I’m kinda hoping it’s the entire box.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ �� ♥

These are very delicious, but usually this type of pocky is~ It reminds me of a non-sour version of lemon meringue ♥ I can’t see eating them too often though. The sweetness starts to get a little one-note.

Chocolate Mint Caramel Corn & Shimi Corn Share Pack

Following the crunchy trend, here we have two more sweet snacks! First up I’ll cover the Shimi Corn because we get it a lot in these boxes and I’ve reviewed it a handful of times. If I remembered where, I’d just link that but because I don’t....

Shimi Choco Corn is an adorable, star-shaped airy puff snack entirely infused in a rich, chocolate flavor. Each pack is 73 calories, and you get like 6-8 per mini-pack.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

They taste really good, and there is a very faint bitterness to them, but not enough to trigger those anti-bitter gag reflexes. As I said, they are very soft-crispy, in a sort of creamy melt-in-your mouth way. As often as they show up, I don’t get tired of them ;3

Our next item is another famous brand that’s been showing up in boxes, Caramel Corn. Caramel Corn is another light puffed snack usually featuring a sweet, rich caramel glaze. But it comes in many varieties- some even include nuts in them! This specific flavor is chocolate-mint, a recent addition to this brand. Apparently during summer, Japan loves to produce mint-flavors because of the cooling burst they can give.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I ♥ chocolate mint so I always have very high hopes they’ll be good, and after last time- I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was very happy realizing these taste like what I expected the July choco-mint item to taste like. They have a strong chocolate, minor mint scent and taste, but you get a good combination of both. I like that it also resembles choco-mint ♥

My only tiny complaint is that the entire bag is 422.6 calories. But chances are, you’ll either share this or eat it in several sittings, not just one.

Banana Man Marshmallow & Black Thunder Fruit Granola & Tsum Tsum Chocolate Bar

Our first item is a small little treat popular in japan for bringing together the chocolate banana flavor in a small marshmallow. I couldn’t find a calorie listing for this one.

Rating: ♥

I love marshmallows, but I don’t like banana (especially artificial) and this just didn’t appeal to me. I didn’t even taste the chocolate, they barely give you any. The concept is cute though.

The next item is the popular Black Thunder, a product by Calbee. It’s been in the box a few times, but never in granola form! I was very intrigued by this because I didn’t know this was a thing. It’s 99 calories and features granola with dried berries and covered in chocolate.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

It’s alright. It was pretty hard, and I mainly tasted chocolate and raisins. It’s not bad, but is anybody else bothered by the fact it’s smaller than normal granola bars and it’s still 99 calories? You can get bigger for about the same amount, give or take, and I didn’t find it as filling.

The final item in this set is another item we’ve been seeing recently, a chocolate wafer bar by Furuta. It’s usually-always the same thing, but it’s been not only covered by Tsum Tsum, but Sanrio characters too! Last time, the one I had was covered in white chocolate and had Gudetama on it.

Each bar is 115 calories.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

The flavor is unique for chocolate snacks. The texture reminds me of a kit-kat, but it isn’t sweet. It’s not bad, but it’s not my favorite either.

Cinnamon Apple Pie Umaibo & Cheese Rice Puffs

Here are our last two crunchy items, each pretty contrasting in taste. First I’ll cover the Cheese Rice Puffs (or “arare” as it says on the bag).

I love rice, especially rice snacks like this- but with all the other cheese flavors I’ve tried, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this or not. Especially since it’s recommended date to eat it was back in October... They weren’t open prior to when I took these pictures, but they definitely tasted a bit stale >3<

Rating: ♥ ♥

Even though they are a little old, they don’t taste too bad. There isn’t much flavor to them but I still get something, and the crispy bite is still present. They remind me a lot of Bugles (those pointy corn chips people like to put on their finger tips because they look like witch nails).

Our other item is the ever-so-popular and one of my most favorite brands Umaibo. This time, we get a sweet Umaibo, which isn’t very common. It only has 44 calories in total.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It’s not my favorite Umaibo, but it’s really good. It tastes a lot like cinnamon toast crunch or applejacks, or like that coca-cola drink, an apple covered in cinnamon sugar.

Fruit Donut Gummy & Honey Apple Hard Candy

These are our last 2 items of the box this month. We’ve gotten the fruit donut gummy a few times in prior boxes, and they come in a variety of mixed flavors- which always makes it a lot of fun to see what you get next~

This time, I got a lemon and lime mixed one. The bottom is always a creamy marshmallow flavor, and the entire thing is covered in sugar. The calories are 39 or this one ring.

Ratings: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

These are always really good, and this one was no exception x3 it’s delicious. It’s a simple thing, but it’s so sweet and cute. The inside of the bag still smells yummy~

Our final item is the Apple Honey Hard Candy, the healthy Kinosei snack of the month. Not only is it delicious, but it can help a sore throat you may get in the summers heat (which is possible, if I get really warm my throat ends up hurting... and no it’s not my tonsils. I don’t have those anymore).

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It was instant love for me~ ♥ Usually I’m not a huge fan of hard candy unless it’s a flavor I really like- and these are amazing! They don’t really taste like honey to me, more like... cooling apple. It reminds me a lot of a cough drop I really liked when I was younger, but once again, I don’t think they make them anymore. They were clear and had tiny colored beads in them, and they tasted like apple pie~

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 3 out of 5. I felt like it was all essentially good, but there was one or two items I didn’t really care for. I felt like there wasn’t too much of a variety either, we had a lot of items featuring crunch/crispiness and chocolate, but at the same time, we had variety in terms of the theme itself.

Theme - 5 out of 5. I can’t lie and say it wasn’t there, cause it entirely was!

Total Rank: 7 out of 10 Cuties! It was pretty decent, and I liked how we had a broad theme such as fruits. It was fun to see where it could go, even if I did miss having savory snacks~ I hope we get more boxes with a specific food theme again soon!

♥ Cutie’s Scale of Yummy ♥

1. Honey Apple Hard Candy - the nostalgia of this brought so much back to me~ They’re also kind of cute to look at, they remind me of rectangular diamonds~

2. Caramel Corn Chocolate Mint - I LOVE chocolate-mint, this was everything I wanted~!

3. Fruit Donut Gummy - I love that combination of lemon-lime, it’s so light and refreshing~ I wish we got more gummies this month.

4. Chip Star Lemon Chips - I was very surprised by these, but I really liked them! I’m glad they weren’t fruity like I initially worried they’d be.

5. Cinnamon Apple Pie Umaibo - if you like that apple pie or cinnamon sweetness, you’ll love this.

6. Shimi Choco Corn - As common as it is, the packaging is always fun to look at and these always taste yummy!

7. Lemon Pocky - They are very sweet and creamy~

8. Coca-Cola Clear - I had higher hopes for it. It’s not bad, but for once a cola item did not meet my expectations >x<

9. Tsum Tsum Chocolate Bar - the summer themed package was adorable, but I could take or leave the bar itself.

10. Cheese Rice Puffs - I didn’t have too much of an opinion on these honestly.

11. Melon Pan Cookies - I was a bit disappointed with this one, the orange one had little flavor. The Melon-flavor was way better, but not enough to save it in my opinion.

12. Granola Black Thunder - Meh, it’s okay. The concept amazed me, and the package is fun to look at, but it wasn’t anything special to me.

13. Banana Man Marshmallow - It’s a cute idea, but the taste was not good to me.

Here we are guys, we’ve come to another reviews end~ I hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for the DIY review, followed by the August Doki Doki crate review!

Until next time, stay cute~

#tokyo treat #tokyotreat #fruits #fruit candy #umaibo #shimi corn #black thunder #chip star #coca cola #calbee

0 notes

greatdrams · 4 years

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Midleton Very Rare Vintage 2019 Edition Blended Irish Whiskey

let’s begin

The 36th release in the Midleton Very Rare collection, this is a highly sought after dram and an excellent addition to the line up.

Only the Finest

Created in 1984, the Midleton Very Rare series has always been much lauded by whiskey lovers. The quality of the blend is always the very best and the collection stands out as one of Ireland’s proudest whiskey achievements.

Let’s get this out the way; I’m a big fan of Midleton and Midleton Very Rare, in fact the 2014 bottling was one of my wedding whiskeys, with a lot of it consumed by the wedding party and myself throughout the weekend, and even today, a few years later, I enjoy a drop of that same bottling on our anniversary each year after whatever we are doing to celebrate another year of marital bliss… or survival.

So when an invitation email popped into the inbox saying that in a few weeks there was an event happening at the Midleton distillery to celebrate the launch of the Midleton Very Rare 2017 whiskey and new brand aesthetic (bottle, label etc.), I was so excited that I cleared the diary and accepted the invite before before reading the line that said I was supposed to wear a suit & tie for the event so neglected to pack one, ending up in nice jeans, shirt and tweed jacket, oops.

Anyway, the weeks passed and I found myself in Midleton for the launch. Owing to a pretty fortunate flight schedule from Manchester to Cork, on the way out anyway, I ended up at the Castle Martyr 5* Hotel & Spa mid-morning so I got to chill out, hit the pool, steam room and sauna, have a nice lunch and then get on with work and whatnot… not your average start to a press trip, but wow it did not have an average finish either, but we will get to that.

After what felt like too long an indulgence, the welcome drinks began, which is when I discovered my aforementioned attire issue. What a welcome we were treated to, a glass or two of either Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy or Midleton Dair Ghaelach, which were stunning, and to be enjoyed in such esteemed company as the fantastic IDL brand and production team as well as Charlie Maclean, Colin Hampden-White, Dave Broom, Nate Brown of The Merchant House of Fleet Street and Matt Chambers.

A little while later, after some incredibly positive and encouraging words on my first book, The GreatDrams of Scotland from Charlie and Colin, which was both heart-warming and very kind, we headed to the Midleton Distillery for a walk through one of the warehouses to meet up with Billy Leighton (Master Blender), Brian Nation (Master Distiller) and Barry Crockett, (Master Distiller Emiritas) for an introduction to the evening and the brand.

And why was this such a momentous night? There are only four full sets of the Midleton Very Rare collection left in the IDL archives / warehouses, and we opened one on the night to sample, discuss and be enlightened by, and there is apparently some regret within IDL that more were not kept back for archival purposes.

As they introduced the night, we enjoyed a glass of the very first Midleton Very Rare, the 1984, arguably the world’s first luxury Irish whiskey which was so soft, notes of raisins and soft ground spices, banana. The palate was waxy, oodles of treacle. Lovely with a velvety texture, exuding notes of juicy pineapples and cloves, soft and smooth with stunning spices. What a start, what a toscan.

From there we were split into groups and sent off to bays made out of casks within the warehouse to sample some of the gems from the Midleton Very Rare vault. The set of whiskeys I was fortunate to go through with Brian Nation included: Midleton Very Rare 1986, Midleton Very Rare 1996, Midleton Very Rare 2001 and Midleton Very Rare 2014.

Interestingly, when we went through the decades, we saw a step up in complexity due to the availability of stronger aged stock components that have been included within the blend as it has progressed over the years.

Midleton Very Rare 1986 – limited to 400 cases

The nose was spicy, lovely toasted oak with pangs of vanilla and a slight lemon citrus and sharp pineapple notes, with the palate opening up those toasted vanilla oak notes into a creamy, silky, luxurious whiskey packed with pot still spices, especially cinnamon and a currant-y fruitiness. So much more depth than the 1984.

Brian noted that the blend was made from nine to eleven year old whiskey, and noted that they were all screw cap until 1990 when they went to cork closures.

Midleton Very Rare 1996 – limited to 4,000 cases

The blend for this one is a step up, including whiskeys aged between thirteen and twenty years old, and because of this increased age and maturity we experienced a more mellow, apple-fresh nose that was so much softer, a really light nose and a slight blackcurrant note, like a fruit juice with a whiff of menthol. The palate was like one of those Umbongo fruit juices from my childhood, lots of coconut, pineapple, kiwi and a slight honey note and an overall fresher, greener whiskey with only a hunt of spice.

Midleton Very Rare 2001 – limited to 4,000 cases

Might be worth moving on from this one. As agreed by the whole group, we think it was corked, or at least oxidised. Shame, not even water could resurrect it, but all good as the others were stellar.

Midleton Very Rare 2014 – limited to 6,000 cases

Containing whiskey aged between fifteen and twenty-two years, and Brian’s excitement at this being his first exudes through, like a beaming, proud lion. The nose again brought notes of toasted oak, honey and sweet fruit, but was quite muted. The palate was creamy, sweet, spicy with cinnamon and liquorice, with subtle honeycomb notes on the back palate. Lovely, luscious.

Brian took some time to tell us how the recipe is set each April, with bottling taking place in July. All the Midleton Very Rare releases are woven together from ex-bourbon cask matured whiskey, and it has been like this from day one.

Now for the main event. The Midleton Very Rare 2017

For this release Brian Nation nosed and sampled 400 of the best barrels within the complex and vast array of warehouses within the distillery site to choose the top twenty-four to blend together into 8,000 cases for this release.

A point to note on Midleton Very Rare is that I believe it has been overlooked somewhat over the years as it has, to a degree, looked tired, dusty and not had a lot of attention from the IDL management in nuancing and updating the look and feel of the product until now, which is a shame as it is a big success in terms of creating a luxury sub-category within the Irish whiskey market. But now, with all the renewed chat about single pot still it is going to get to its right place.

Midleton Very Rare 2019 Vintage Edition

The latest edition to join the Midleton Very Rare collection is an especially interesting one. For the 36th year, Midleton have released a Vintage blend, made up of rare and exclusive Single Pot Still whiskies and Single Grain whiskies. Each has been set aside at the distillery in anticipation of this release and the finished results is excellent.

The youngest whiskey in the blend is 13 and the oldest was first distilled in 1985, making this the oldest expression in the Midleton Very Rare range.

Buy Now

Tasting Notes for Midleton Very Rare Vintage 2019 Blended Irish Whiskey

Bottle cost: €180.00

The nose is wonderfully sweet and luxurious. Notes of sweet caramel, vanilla and oak come through, with lots of bold fruit flavours. There is a richness to the aroma, with hints of spicy cinnamon and nutmeg.

The palate is full of oak wood and fruit, with delicate hints of floral notes in the background. Apples, pears and apricots brighten up the flavour and go perfectly with a thick caramel note. The body is warming and smooth.

The finish brings in final notes of oak and a lovely vanilla note.

This is another brilliant addition to the Midleton Very Rare family. The legacy of two Irish whiskey Masters is solidified in this bottling.

Do you enjoy the Midleton Very Rare collection? Start the conversation in the comments

The post Midleton Very Rare Vintage 2019 Edition Blended Irish Whiskey appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams https://ift.tt/2EnhRPS Greg

#whisky #GreatDrams

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ladystylestores · 4 years

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14-Day Healthy Meal Plan (May 4- May 17)

posted May 2, 2020 by Gina

A free 14-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and updated WW Smart Points.

14-Day Healthy Meal Plan

As always, I hope this find everyone safe and healthy! I am again providing 2 WEEKS of breakfast, lunch and dinner. As we move forward and ease into a new normal, I would like to know what you prefer– for me to continue with a 14 day plan, or to go back to the one week plan? Please comment and let me know! Note that we are back to weekday breakfast and lunches serving one!

As previously posted, here are some additional tips to help maximize your ingredients and limit waste:

Buy whole produce (rather than pre-cut): Pre-cut produce is really convenient but moisture tends to develop quickly, which causes it to spoil more rapidly.

Wash your produce before putting it away. It’s just as important to dry it well with a clean towel or just air dry. Excess moisture (especially in delicate produce such as berries or cut lettuce) can cause pre-mature spoilage.

Freeze any meat you aren’t going to cook within a few days of purchasing. Make sure to safely defrost it as needed. HERE are for some food safety tips from the USDA.

Buy potted herbs when possible. That way, you can use a little as you need it. If you do buy fresh cut herbs, check out THESE tips from The Kitchn for storing and extending their life.

If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, you can, in general, substitute 1 teaspoon dry for every 1 tablespoon fresh.

If you are missing an ingredient, check out THIS great ingredient substitution list from America’s Test Kitchen.

WW has changed their plan to now include a Blue, Purple and Green Plan. All the recipes on my blog are updated for the Blue plan. I’ve been updating all my recipes (over 2000) and have completed 2019 with the other two colors, and I am working my way down so please be patient.

Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join the Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing! If you wish to get on the email list, you can subscribe here so you never miss a meal plan!

Also, if you don’t have the Skinnytaste Meal Planner, now would be a great time to get one to help you stay on track! There was a print error last year, but it’s perfect now! You can order it here!

youtube

Week 1 (May 4-May 10)

MONDAY (5/4) B: Avocado Toast Egg-in-a-Hole (4B 6G 4P) and an orange (0B 0G 0P) L: Spiralized Greek Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Feta (7B 7G 7P) D: Lighter Eggplant Parmesan (5B 6G 5P) with a green salad* (2B 2G 2P)

Totals: WW Points 18B 21G 18P, Calories 925**

TUESDAY (5/5) B: PB + J Smoothie (9B 9G 9P) L: LEFTOVER Lighter Eggplant Parmesan (5B 6G 5P) with a green salad (2B 2G 2P) D: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos (7B 10G 7P) with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower “Rice” (1B 1G 1P) Totals: WW Points 24B 28G 24P, Calories 1,164**

WEDNESDAY (5/6) B: Greek Yogurt with Berries, Nuts and Honey (5B 8G 5P) L: LEFTOVER Lighter Eggplant Parmesan (5B 6G 5P) with a green salad (2B 2G 2P) D: Sheet Pan Meatloaf with Broccoli (9B 10G 8P) and Homemade Rice Pilaf (6B 6G 2P) Totals: WW Points 27B 32G 22P, Calories 1,079**

THURSDAY (5/7) B: PB + J Smoothie (9B 9G 9P) L: Tuna Salad Wraps (1B 2G 1P) and an apple (0B 0G 0P) D: Cuban Picadillo (3B 3G 3P) with ¾ cup brown rice (5B 5G 0P) and 1 ounce avocado (1B 1G 1P)

Totals: WW Points 19B 20G 14P, Calories 892**

FRIDAY (5/8) B: 2 scrambled eggs (0B 4G 0P), 1 slice whole grain toast (3B 3G 3P) and a pear (0B 0G 0P) L: Tuna Salad Wraps (1B 2G 1P) and an apple (0B 0G 0P) D: Naked Salmon Burgers with Sriracha Mayo (3B 7G 3P)

Totals: WW Points 7B 16G 7P, Calories 894**

SATURDAY (5/9) B: Yogurt Waffles # (4B 4G 4P) with ½ cup fresh mixed berries (0B 0G 0P) and 1 tablespoon maple syrup (3B 3G 3P) L: Picadillo Quesadillas (recipe x 2) (6B 6G 6P) with 1 ounce avocado (1B 1G 1P) D: ORDER IN!

Totals: WW Points 14B 14G 14P, Calories 545**

SUNDAY (5/10) B: Low Fat Blueberry Scones (7B 8G 7P) and an orange (0B 0G 0P) L: Spicy California Shrimp Stack (5B 5G 3P) D: Honey Teriyaki Drumsticks (7B 7G 7P) with Cauliflower “Fried Rice” (1B 2G 1P) Totals: WW Points 20B 22G 18P, Calories 922**

*Green salad includes 6 cups mixed greens, 3 scallions, 1 cup each: tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, chickpeas and ¾ cup light vinaigrette. Set aside 2 servings with dressing on the side for lunch Tues/Wed.

# Freeze any leftover you/your family won’t eat.

Week 2 (May 11-May 17)

MONDAY (5/11) B: LEFTOVER Low Fat Blueberry Scones (7B 8G 7P) and an orange (0B 0G 0P) L: Egg Tomato and Scallion Sandwich (4B 6G 4P) and an pear (0B 0G 0P) D: Baked Ziti with Spinach (5B 9G 4P)

Totals: WW Points 16B 23G 15P, Calories 885*

TUESDAY (5/12) B: Greek Yogurt with Berries, Nuts and Honey (5B 8G 5P) L: LEFTOVER Baked Ziti with Spinach (5B 9G 4P) D: One Pot Cheesy Taco Chili Mac (6B 8G 6P)

Totals: WW Points 16B 25G 15P, Calories 887*

WEDNESDAY (5/13) B: 2 scrambled eggs (0B 4G 0P), 1 slice whole grain toast (3B 3G 3P) and a pear (0B 0G 0P) L: LEFTOVER Baked Ziti with Spinach (5B 9G 4P) D: LEFTOVER One Pot Cheesy Taco Chili Mac (6B 8G 6P)

Totals: WW Points 14B 24G 13P, Calories 987*

THURSDAY (5/14) B: Overnight Oats in a Jar (5B 5G 3P) L: Egg Tomato and Scallion Sandwich (4B 6G 4P) and an pear (0B 0G 0P) D: Crock Pot Balsamic Pork Roast (5B 5G 5P) with Skinny Garlic Mashed Potatoes (5B 5G 1P) and Roasted Parmesan Green Beans (1B 1G 1P)

Totals: WW Points 20B 22G 14P, Calories 979*

FRIDAY (5/15) B: Banana Bread Muffin in a Cup (2B 2G 2P) L: LEFTOVER Crock Pot Balsamic Pork Roast (5B 5G 5P) with Quick Cabbage Slaw (2B 2G 2P) D: Cod Fish Tacos (5B 7G 5P) with Arroz Congri (4B 6G 4P)

Totals: WW Points 18B 22G 18P, Calories 895*

SATURDAY (5/16) B: Breakfast Casserole with Spinach and Feta (6B 10G 6P) L: Chicken and Lentil Soup (1B 5G 1P) D: ORDER IN!

Totals: WW Points 7B 15G 7P, Calories 529*

SUNDAY (5/17) B: LEFTOVER Breakfast Casserole with Spinach and Feta (6B 10G 6P) L: LEFTOVER Chicken and Lentil Soup (1B 5G 1P) D: Turkey Stuffed Peppers (5B 5G 3P) with a 1 cup mixed veggies (0B 0G 0P) Totals: WW Points 12B 20G 10P, Calories 875*

*This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc.

*Google doc

Print Shopping List

Week 1 Shopping List (May 4-May 10)

Produce

5 medium oranges

1 medium pears (any variety)

3 medium apples (any variety)

3 medium limes

1 medium lemon

1 medium head garlic

1 (2-inch) piece ginger

1 (1-pound) clamshell fresh strawberries

1 (6-ounce) container fresh blueberries

2 (6-ounce) container fresh blackberries or raspberries

2 medium heads cauliflower

1 ¾ pounds broccoli florets

1 medium (5-ounce) and 4 large (6-ounce) Hass avocados

2 pounds (1 large OR 2 medium) eggplant

small cucumbers

1 small English cucumber

1 small and 2 large bunches scallions

1 small bunch celery

2 small carrots

1 small green bell pepper (can sub ¼ of the red or yellow pepper in Cucumber Salad, if desired)

1 medium red bell pepper

1 medium yellow bell pepper

1 large bunch fresh cilantro

1 small bunch fresh Italian parsley

1 small bunch fresh oregano (can sub ½ teaspoon fresh parsley in Cucumber Salad, if desired)

1 small bunch fresh chives (can sub 1 teaspoon scallion greens in Shrimp Stack, if desired)

1 small head (or bag of pre-shredded) cabbage

1 medium head endive

1 (5-ounce) bag/clamshell baby arugula

1 (5-ounce) bag/clamshell mixed greens

1 dry pint grape or cherry tomatoes

2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes

1 small and 1 large yellow onion

1 small red onion

Meat, Poultry and Fish

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 1/3 pounds 93% lean ground turkey

1 ½ pounds 93% lean ground beef

1 pound wild salmon fillet

½ pound peeled and deveined cooked (or raw) shrimp (buy frozen and defrost as needed)

1 ¾ pounds chicken drumsticks

Grains*

1 medium package corn tortillas

1 loaf sliced whole grain bread

1 package quick cooking oats

1 package angel hair spaghetti

1 (14-ounce) box instant brown rice (such as Uncle Ben’s)

1 package panko breadcrumbs

1 package all-purpose unbleached flour

1 package reduced carb whole wheat tortillas (I like La Tortilla Factory)

1 package dry short grain brown rice

Condiments and Spices

Extra virgin olive oil

Canola oil

Cooking spray

Olive oil spray (or get a Misto oil mister)

Kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal)

Pepper grinder (or fresh peppercorns)

Honey

Light vinaigrette (or ingredients to make your own)

NuNaturals liquid stevia or sweetener of your choice

Adobo seasoning (can sub salt in Chicken Tacos, if desired)

Garlic powder

Cumin

Thyme

Worcestershire sauce

Bay leaves

Regular or light mayonnaise

Sriracha sauce

Red wine vinegar

Vanilla extract

Pure maple syrup

Rice vinegar

Reduced sodium soy sauce*

Sesame seeds

Sesame oil

Furikake

Ketchup

Hot sauce (optional, for Avocado Toast)

Rice wine

Dairy & Misc. Refrigerated Items

1 dozen large eggs

1 box butter

1 quart unsweetened almond milk

1 small wedge Pecorino Romano cheese

1 (6-ounce) container nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 (6-ounce) container nonfat plain yogurt (I like Stonyfield)

1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese (I like Polly-O)

1 pint 1% buttermilk

1 (16-ounce) bag part skim shredded mozzarella cheese

1 (8-ounce) bag reduced fat shredded cheddar and jack cheese blend

1 block feta cheese

Frozen

1 medium bag frozen blueberries

1 small bag peas and carrots

Canned and Jarred

1 large jar marinara sauce (or ingredients to make your own)

1 small jar pitted Kalamata olives

1 small jar peanut butter

1 small jar chunky salsa

1 (5-ounce) can tuna in water

1 jar alcapparado (or capers or green olives)

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas

1 (32-ounce) carton chicken broth

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

Misc. Dry Goods

1 small bag chopped walnuts

Baking powder

Baking soda

1 small package granulated sugar

*You can buy gluten free, if desired

Week 2 Shopping List (May 11-May 17)

Produce

1 medium orange

3 medium pears (any variety)

1 medium banana

1 (6-ounce) clamshell fresh blueberries

1 large head garlic

3 medium shallots

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes

12 ounces green beans

2 medium bunches scallions

1 small carrot

3 medium and 3 large red bell peppers

1 small green bell pepper

4 medium limes

1 small head green cabbage

½ small head purple cabbage

1 (5-ounce) bag/clamshell baby spinach

1 medium bunch fresh cilantro

1 small bunch fresh basil

3 medium plum tomatoes

2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes

2 small and 1 medium yellow onion

1 small red onion

Meat, Poultry and Fish

1 1/3 pound 93% lean ground turkey

2 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast

1 pound (4) skinless firm white fish fillets (such as cod, snapper or mahi mahi)

¾ pound (3) boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 pound 93% lean ground turkey

Grains*

1 package 100 calorie sandwich rolls or deli thin flats

1 package ziti pasta

1 package pasta shells (I love Delallo)

1 package dry brown rice (Can sub 1 ½ cups cooked long grain rice in Stuffed Peppers, if desired)

1 small loaf whole grain sliced bread (can sub ½ a roll for toast [Wed breakfast], if desired)

1 package corn tortillas

1 package dry long grain rice

1 package quick oats

1 package all-purpose unbleached flour

Condiments and Spices

Extra virgin olive oil

Canola oil

Cooking spray

Olive oil spray (or get a Misto oil mister)

Kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal)

Pepper grinder (or fresh peppercorns)

Light mayonnaise

Oregano

Honey

Chili powder

Paprika

Cinnamon

Garlic powder

Crushed red pepper flakes

Balsamic vinegar

Worcestershire sauce

Vanilla extract

Apple cider vinegar

Cumin

Chili lime seasoning (such as Tajin Classic)

Bay leaves

Sazon (can sub paprika in Lentil Soup, if desired)

Better than Bouillon Chicken Base

NuNaturals liquid stevia or sweetener of your choice

Dairy & Misc. Refrigerated Items

2 ½ dozen large eggs

12 ounces feta cheese

1 (8-ounce) package shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese

1 (8-ounce) package shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

1 (17.5-ounce) container nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 (8-ounce) container nonfat ricotta cheese

1 small wedge Parmesan cheese

1 (8-ounce) container heavy cream

1 pint 2% milk

1 (8-ounce) container skim milk (can buy a larger 2% and sub ¼ cup Mashed Potatoes, if desired)

1 (8-ounce) container unsweetened almond milk

1 tub whipped butter

1 (8-ounce) container light sour cream

Frozen

1 (10-ounce) package spinach

1 small package mixed vegetables

Canned and Jarred

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (10-ounce) can RoTel tomatoes with green chilies

1 (14.5-ounce) can red beans

1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (15-ounce) can refried beans

1 (15-ounce) can black beans

1 (32-ounce) carton reduced sodium chicken broth

Misc. Dry Goods

1 small bag chopped walnuts or pecans

Chia seeds

1 small package granulated sugar (optional for Banana Mug Muffins)

Baking powder

1 pound dried lentils

Optional muffin toppings: mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, hemp seeds, etc.

*You can buy gluten free, if desired

Print Shopping List

posted May 2, 2020 by Gina

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from World Wide News https://ift.tt/365pdAI

#World Wide News

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vincentpennington · 4 years

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7-Day Weight-Loss Meal Plan (February 3-February 9)

A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and updated WW Smart Points.

7-Day Weight-Loss Meal Plan

It’s funny, I keep seeing posts on social media about how long January has seemed, but getting settled into the new house has made it quick for me! I love having instant pot/pressure cooker recipes on hand for nights that I am super busy!

Why Should Everyone Meal Plan?

Meal planning is a great way to organize your meals for the week ahead. You also save time and money in the supermarket! And of course, planning ahead helps you stick to your goals!

About The Meal Plan

If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing these free, 7-day flexible healthy meal plans (you can see my previous meal plans here) that are meant as a guide, with plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food, coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc or swap recipes out for meals you prefer, you can search for recipes by course in the index. You should aim for around 1500 calories* per day.

There’s also a precise, organized grocery list that will make grocery shopping so much easier and much less stressful. Save you money and time. You’ll dine out less often, waste less food and you’ll have everything you need on hand to help keep you on track.

Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join my Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing! If you wish to get on the email list, you can subscribe here so you never miss a meal plan!

Also, if you don’t have the Skinnytaste Meal Planner, now would be a great time to get one to get organized for 2020! There was a print error last year, but it’s perfect now! You can order it here!

youtube

THE DETAILS:

Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. While we truly believe there is no one size fits all meal plan, we did our best to come up with something that appeals to a wide range of individuals. Everything is Weight Watchers friendly, I included the updated WW Blue SP for your convenience, feel free to swap out any recipes you wish or just use this for inspiration!

The grocery list is comprehensive and includes everything you need to make all meals on the plan. I’ve even included brand recommendations of products I love and use often. Cross check your cabinets because many condiments you’ll notice I use often, so you may already have a lot of them.

And last, but certainly not least, this meal plan is flexible and realistic. There’s plenty of wiggle room for cocktails, healthy snacks, dessert and dinner out. And if necessary, you can move some things around to make it work with your schedule. Please let me know if you’re using these plans, this will help me decide if I should continue sharing them!

MONDAY (2/3) B: Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins* (7B 8G 7P) with a pear (0B 0G 0P) L: Orange and Arugula Salad with Red Onion and Gorgonzola (4B 4G 4P) with 1 small multigrain roll (3B 3G 3P) D: Macaroni and Cheese Soup with Broccoli (6B 6G 6P)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 20B 21G 20P, Calories 862**

TUESDAY (2/4) B: Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins (7B 8G 7P) with an apple (0B 0G 0P) L: LEFTOVER Macaroni and Cheese Soup with Broccoli (6B 6G 6P) D: Chicken Enchiladas (6B 5G 3P) with 1 ounce avocado (1B 1G 1P) and Mexican Cauliflower “Rice” (1B 1G 1P) (Recipe x 2)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 21B 21G 18P, Calories 812**

WEDNESDAY (2/5) B: Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins (7B 8G 7P) with a pear (0B 0G 0P) L: Open Faced Tuna Sandwich with Avocado (4B 4G 4P) and an apple (0B 0G 0P) D: LEFTOVER Chicken Enchiladas (6B 5G 3P) with 1 ounce avocado (1B 1G 1P) and Mexican Cauliflower “Rice” (1B 1G 1P)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 19B 19G 16P, Calories 895**

THURSDAY (2/6) B: 2 hard-boiled eggs (0B 4G 0P) with a banana (0B 0G 0P) L: Open Faced Tuna Sandwich with Avocado (4B 4G 4P) and an orange (0B 0G 0P) D: Swedish Meatballs (7B 8G 7P) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes (5B 5G 1P) and Roasted Parmesan Green Beans (1B 1G 1P)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 17B 22G 13P, Calories 1,067**

FRIDAY (2/7) B: 2 hard-boiled eggs (0B 4G 0P) with a banana (0B 0G 0P) L: Open Faced Tuna Sandwich with Avocado (4B 4G 4P) and an apple (0B 0G 0P) D: Honey Garlic Shrimp (2B 3G 2P) with ¾ cup brown rice (5B 5G 0P) and Roasted Broccoli with Smashed Garlic (2B 2G 2P)

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 13B 18G 8P, Calories 1,051**

SATURDAY (2/8) B: Chewy Low Fat Banana Nut Oatmeal Cookies (7B 7G 5P) L: Mixed Baby Greens with Pomegranate, Gorgonzola and Pecans # (7B 7G 7P) D: DINNER OUT!

Totals: Freestyle™ SP 14B 14G 12P, Calories 404**

SUNDAY (2/9) B: Crustless Broccoli Cheddar Quiche (4B 6G 4P) and an orange (0B 0G 0P) L: LEFTOVER Mixed Baby Greens with Pomegranate, Gorgonzola and Pecans # (7B 7G 7P) D: Asian Glazed Drumsticks (7B 7G 7P) with Asian Edamame Fried Rice (4B 5G 1P) Totals: Freestyle™ SP 22B 25G 19P, Calories 1,001**

*Freeze any leftover you/your family won’t eat.

**This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc. # Set aside ½ without dressing for leftover Sunday.

(more…)

The post 7-Day Weight-Loss Meal Plan (February 3-February 9) appeared first on Skinnytaste.

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dtechshope · 4 years

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The Insanely Easy Breakfasts Food Bloggers Eat All the Time (But Don't Think Are Worth Posting)

Reading any food blog makes it seem like the writer eats amazing, how-did-they-come-up-with-that meals all day long. Easy or intricate, it’s hard not to lick the screen thanks to the food porn, and the recipes make us wish we were besties and could come over to taste test their creations.

Yet most recipe bloggers don’t post everything they whip up in the kitchen. There might be an Instagram of some of their other meals, but even then you’re left wondering how to recreate those dishes yourself.

So we went to some of the top food bloggers and asked them to share their go-to breakfasts—the ones they’ve never written about on their sites, perhaps because they’re so quick and easy, it didn’t even strike them to post the recipe. But they’re so delicious, you’ll wonder what other goodies they’re not sharing!

Eggs and Greens

I love this breakfast because it feels both healthy and indulgent. I get in a ton of local greens and love the flavors of a runny yolk and spicy yogurt. Sauté 2 cups Swiss chard and spinach in olive oil until wilted. Crack 2 eggs in the middle of the greens and cook until the whites are set. Serve with Greek yogurt, sriracha, and cracked pepper. – Nikki Rappaport, Cupcakes for Breakfast

Nutty Berry Avocado Smoothie

This is unlike other banana and fruit-based smoothies because it isn’t super sweet. The avocado makes it creamy, and all the other seeds and nuts provide healthy fats that leave you feeling satisfied. Purée 1 cup non-dairy milk, 3 raw walnuts, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 tablespoon cashew or almond butter, 1/4 avocado, a splash of vanilla extract, 1 or 2 pitted dates, and about 1 cup of frozen organic berries in a blender. You’re done! For a thicker consistency, add 1 tablespoon of coconut flour. – Renee Hunt, Soul Beet

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal With Pumpkin Seeds

I love this because it’s quick and easy to make, and is full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. It keeps you full all morning long and tastes great. Place 1/2 cup rolled oats, 3/4 cup milk, and 1/2 cup chopped fruit (like pears or apples) in a bowl. Microwave for 2 1/2 minutes. Top with 1 tablespoon peanut butter and sprinkle with a handful of pumpkin seeds and a few chocolate chips. – Lindsay Livingston, R.D., The Lean Green Bean

Spinach, Mushroom and Havarti Omelet

This omelet is one of my favorite breakfasts, and I eat it about four times a week. It is a quick, easy, and healthy meal that satisfies my hunger for hours. Melt 1 teaspoon butter over medium heat. Add 2 sliced mushrooms and cook until softened. Add 1 cup baby spinach and once it wilts, add 3 egg whites and 1 ounce Havarti cheese. Scrape the mixture toward the center of the pan as the eggs start to cook, and when there’s hardly any liquid left, cover the pan for 60 seconds. Remove the cover, fold the eggs in half, and press down to release any liquid. Flip the omelet over, press down again, and you’re ready to eat. – Carrie Farias, Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen

Spicy Avocado Toast

My go-to morning avocado toast recipe is simple. Take 1 slice Udi’s millet-chia bread and top with half an avocado mashed with a fork, a splash of lemon juice, chili flakes, coarse sea salt, and olive oil. Lately I’ve been sprinkling hemp seeds on top for a little extra fiber. – Phoebe Lapine, Feed Me Phoebe

Overnight Chia Oat Pudding

My no-brainer breakfast is a mixture of oats, chia seeds, and natural sweeteners: Mix 2 tablespoons chia seeds, 1/3 cup dry rolled oats, a dash of cinnamon, a drizzle of maple syrup, and 1 cup almond milk together. Place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, give it a stir and add your favorite fruit. It’s easy to transport and so deliciously healthy. – Gena Hamshaw, Choosing Raw

Green Egg Whites and Sausage

This breakfast is super easy and great way to add veggies to your day. The combo is so perfect, I’ve been known to make this for dinner. In a nonstick frying pan, toast up a slice of sourdough bread on both sides. Sprinkle a little olive oil on the top and set it aside. Slice chicken sausage and sauté for a minute. Crack egg whites into the pan and top with baby spinach. Sprinkle with a little salt and flip it all. Cook for another minute until the spinach is a bit crispy, and enjoy warm with your toast. – Diana Santos, So Small So Strong

Power Toast

Who doesn’t love nut butter and bananas? This protein-packed breakfast is easy and full of flavor. Spread 1 slice Ezekiel toast with 1 heaping tablespoon almond butter. Top with half a thinly sliced banana, sprinkle with chia and/or hemp seeds, and drizzle with a little raw honey. – Serena Wolf, Domesticate Me

#Fitness #sports

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bestofrepices · 4 years

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Skinnytaste Meal Plan (April 22-April 28)

posted April 20, 2019 by Gina

A free 7-day flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and WW SmartPoints®.

Happy Saturday! For those of you who made a baked ham for Easter, I included a few recipes to use the leftovers, including this Leftover Ham Bone Soup with Potatoes and Cabbage so don’t throw away that ham bone! I’m also over-the-moon to announce The Skinnytaste By Vremi Air Fryer is finally available for pre-order on Amazon!

Also, if you don’t have the Skinnytaste Meal Planner, now would be a great time to get one to get organized for 2019! There was a print error last year, but it’s perfect now! You can order it here!

(embed)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6RZHTD9AM4(/embed)

THE DETAILS:

Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. While we truly believe there is no one size fits all meal plan, we did our best to come up with something that appeals to a wide range of individuals. Everything is Weight Watchers friendly, I included the updated Weight Watcher Freestyle Points for your convenience, feel free to swap out any recipes you wish or just use this for inspiration!

MONDAY (4/22) B: Insanely Good Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins* (4) and a banana (0) L: Chicken Waldorf Salad* (3) on a whole grain roll (3) D: Ham and Swiss Crustless Quiche (5) with 2 cups arugula (0) and 1 tablespoon light balsamic vinaigrette (1)

Totals: Freestyle SP 16, Calories 812 #

TUESDAY (4/23) B: Insanely Good Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins (4) and a pear (0) L: Chicken Waldorf Salad (3) on a whole grain roll (3) D: Steak Taco Lettuce Wraps (4) with Fiesta Lime Rice (2)

Totals: Freestyle SP 16, Calories 968 #

WEDNESDAY (4/24) B: Insanely Good Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins (4) and a banana (0) L: Chicken Waldorf Salad (3) on a whole grain roll (3) D: Leftover Ham Bone Soup with Potatoes and Cabbage (2) with 2 ounces multigrain baguette (3) and a green salad** (2)

Totals: Freestyle SP 17, Calories 969 #

THURSDAY (4/25) B: Insanely Good Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins (4) and a pear (0) L: LEFTOVER Ham Bone Soup with Potatoes and Cabbage (2) and a green salad (2) D: Grilled Bourbon Chicken (5) with ¾ cup brown rice (5) and Roasted Asparagus (0) Totals: Freestyle SP 18, Calories 1,069 #

FRIDAY (4/26) B: Greek Yogurt with Berries, Nuts and Honey (5) L: LEFTOVER Ham Bone Soup with Potatoes and Cabbage (2) and a green salad (2) D: Seattle Asian Salmon Bowl (7)

Totals: Freestyle SP 16, Calories 921 #

SATURDAY (4/27) B: Sausage, Cheese and Veggie Breakfast Casserole (4) and an orange (0) L: Quickest Cast-Iron Thin Crust Pizza (4) (Recipe x 2) and an apple (0) D: DINNER OUT!

Totals: Freestyle SP 8, Calories 504 #

SUNDAY (4/28) B: LEFTOVER Sausage, Cheese and Veggie Breakfast Casserole (4) and 1 cup grapes (0) L: Mayo-less Tuna Macaroni Salad (6) (Recipe x 2) D: Chicken Parmesan Lasagna*** (8) with 1 ½ cups romaine lettuce and 1 ½ tablespoons Skinny Caesar Dressing (2)

Totals: Freestyle SP 20, Calories 1,149 #

*Prep Sunday night, if desired.

**Green salad includes 6 cups mixed greens, 3 scallions, 1 cup each: tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, chickpeas and ¾ cup light vinaigrette. Set aside 2 servings with dressing on the side for lunch Thurs/Fri.

***Freeze any leftover you/your family won’t eat.

# This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc.

*google doc

Print Shopping List

Shopping list:

Produce

2 medium bananas

2 medium pears (any variety)

4 medium oranges

5 medium apples (any variety)

2 pounds red seedless grape

10 ounces (2 medium) Yukon gold potatoes

1 pound asparagus

1 medium English cucumber

1 small cucumber

5 ounces sliced Shiitake mushrooms

1 medium head garlic

1 (10-ounce) package baby arugula

1 (5-ounce) package baby spinach

1 (1-pound) package mixed greens

1 large head Romaine lettuce

1 small head Bibb lettuce

1 small head green cabbage

1 small bunch celery

4 medium carrots

1 pound broccoli florets

2 small (4-ounce) Hass avocados

1 small jalapeno

1 dry pint fresh blueberries

1 medium bunch/container fresh basil

1 large bunch scallions

1 small bunch cilantro

1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger

1 medium shallot

2 medium lemons

3 medium limes

3 large vine-ripened tomatoes

1 small red onion

1 large yellow onion

1 ounce sprouts (such as daikon radish)

Meat, Poultry and Fish

1 pound thin sirloin steaks

1 pound wild salmon

14 ounces cooked ham PLUS 1 ham bone

4 ½ pounds (9) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

7 ounces (2 links) sweet Italian chicken sausage

Grains*

1 small container quick oats

1 small bag whole white wheat flour

1 package whole grain sandwich rolls (I like Martins)

1 (8-ounce) multigrain baguette

1 medium bag dry brown rice (or 5 cups pre-cooked)

1 small bag long grain rice (or 1 ½ cups pre-cooked. Can sub brown rice in Fiesta Rice, if desired)

1 package (6-inch) tortillas (I love Siete gluten-free grain-free cassava tortillas)

1 package small whole wheat or regular pasta (such as elbows)

1 small package seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs

1 (9-ounce) package no-boil lasagna noodles

Condiments and Spices

Extra virgin olive oil

Canola oil

Cooking spray

Olive oil spray (or get a Misto oil mister)

Kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal)

Pepper grinder (or fresh peppercorns)

Honey

Light mayonnaise

Light balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Vanilla extract

Cumin

Garlic powder

Oregano

BBQ sauce

Apple cider vinegar (I like Bragg’s)

Red pepper flakes

Reduced sodium soy sauce*

Sesame seeds

Rice wine vinegar

Sesame oil

Red wine vinegar

Dijon mustard

Wasabi in tube

Mirin

Dairy & Misc. Refrigerated Items

2 dozen large eggs

1 (4-ounce) block swiss cheese

1 pint half & half

1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese (I like Polly-O)

1 large wedge fresh Parmesan cheese

1 small wedge fresh Pecorino Romano cheese (can sub ½ cup extra Parmesan in Lasagna, if desired)

1 (12-ounce) bottle skim milk

1 (8-ounce) bottle 2% milk

1 (8-ounce) bag and 1 (1-pound) bag shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 (8-ounce) bag shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese (can sub ½ cup part-skim on pizza, if desired)

1 (17.5-ounce) container plain nonfat Greek yogurt (I like Fage or Stonyfield)

Frozen

1 small package corn (I like Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted)

Canned and Jarred

2 jars marinara**

1 small jar unsweetened applesauce

1 (15-ounce) can black beans

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas

1 (32-ounce) carton reduced sodium chicken broth

1 (32-ounce) carton low sodium chicken broth

1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers

2 (5-ounce) cans albacore tuna

1 small jar capers

1 small can/jar anchovy fillets

Misc. Dry Goods

1 small package brown sugar

1 small package nori (roasted seaweed)

Baking powder

Baking soda

1 small bag walnut or pecan halves

1 (1.7-ounce) bottle bourbon

*You can sub gluten free, if desired

**To make homemade, double THIS recipe and add 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes and bay leaves to your shopping list.

Print Shopping List

posted April 20, 2019 by Gina

The post Skinnytaste Meal Plan (April 22-April 28) appeared first on All Repices.

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0 notes

clarencebfaber · 5 years

Text

How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet to Heal

SIBO diet is a combination the SCD diets and low FODMAPs. This restrictive diet may help relieve more symptoms in some people. Read this post to learn more about SIBO diet and all the food categories.

How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet—Keto, AIP, Low FODMAP & Beyond

Let food be thy medicine…especially when it comes to your SIBO diet. Here’s an overview of the best diets for treating SIBO—Keto, AIP, low FODMAP included—and a 3-step approach for choosing the best SIBO diet for your individual needs.

SIBO 101

SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is a condition, affecting the small intestine, wherein bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine.

SIBO Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

bloating after meals

loose stools

IBS

constipation

food intolerances

nutrient deficiencies (like anemia, brittle nails and hair, pale skin, cold hands or feet).

However, it’s important to be aware that SIBO can also manifest as many non-gut-related symptoms (such as skin conditions, high cholesterol markers, poor immune function, allergies (seasonal), blood sugar or hormone imbalances, and a slow metabolism).

Because of this, SIBO often goes under the radar in traditional healthcare settings.

SIBO Diagnosis

SIBO is currently diagnosed through both:

An analysis of your signs and symptoms

At-home breath testing

Currently, an at home lactulose or glucose breath test is the gold standard. Although its not perfect and some cases SIBO may still be missed, this test is the best measure for assessing whether or not you have abnormal amounts of hydrogen or methane gas in your body (related to abnormal growth of gut bacteria).

Stool testing, organic acids urine testing (OATS) and inflammatory blood markers are also helpful test tools that may contribute to your clinical picture. Under the guidance of a trained functional medicine provider or other knowledgable practitioner, you can better determine whether or not you have the condition.

5 Essentials for SIBO Treatment

So what to do if you’ve been diagnosed with SIBO?!

Successful SIBO treatment involves a five-pronged approach including:

Proper Diagnosis & Testing Breath testing and/or working with a skilled clinician experienced in assessing and diagnosing SIBO.

Lifestyle Factors Addressing stress and lifestyle factors to promote SIBO healing, such as getting enough sleep and proper exercise—not too much, but not too little.

Appropriate Supplementation & Anti-microbial Treatment Beyond probiotics and pre-biotics, a supplement protocol and/or prescribed SIBO medication by your doctor that helps decrease the overgrowth of bacteria is essential. (Fun fact: studies show that herbal anti-microbial treatment can be just as effective, if not more, than prescription medications) (1).

Nutrient-Dense, SIBO-Reduction Diet Foods that help decrease your SIBO symptoms, and support gut healing.

Re-testing & Reestablishing a Healthy Gut Flora After SIBO is eradicated, a “plan of attack” to both re-assess if your treatment worked, and gameplan for adding back in a balance of healthy gut bacteria.

While there is NO one-size-fits-all treatment protocol for kicking SIBO to the curb, these 5 essentials are “non-negotiables” for kicking SIBO to the curb.

The best part?

SIBO healing and the remission of your symptoms is greatly within your own control!

In fact, there is no question that one of the greatest influences in your SIBO healing is what you are feeding your gut bugs (i.e. your SIBO diet). (In other words: You cannot supplement your way out of a poor diet).

Thus, a nutrition plan that works for your body’s unique needs is ESSENTIAL to not only feeling good, but helping your total SIBO protocol work for you.

SIBO Diet Recommendations

The 4 most popular dietary recommendations for treating SIBO are:

The “Low Fermentation Diet”

The Low FODMAP Diet http://atxwoman.com/fodmap-diet/

Specific Carbohydrate Diet

Elemental Diet

Generally, the Low-FODMAP, Low Fermentation and/or Specific Carbohydrate Diets have helped many people over the years improve their symptoms. Then you have the Elemental Diet—more of a “last resort” 2-week diet, consisting of drinking an elemental formula. Elemental formulas are pre-digested, easily absorbed forms of nutrients to help starve gut bacteria.

All four of these SIBO diets are very similar, however, in that they restrict carbohydrates—specifically“fermentable fibers” and sugars that your gut bacteria LOVE to feast on (i.e. carbohydrates).

While certain foods may be “allowed” on one program, but not the other, generally the top foods to eliminate include:

SIBO Diet Foods to Eliminate

Grains (breads, pastas, rice)

Starches (potato, sweet potato, yucca, taro)

Beans, Soy & Peas

Industrial Seed Oils (sunflower, grapeseed, cottonseed, soybean, canola)

Dairy (cheese, milk)

Sugar & Sweeteners (agave, honey, corn syrup, sweeteners)

Alcohol

Corn

Cruciferous Veggies (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts)

Garlic

Onion

Many fruits (apples, cherries, pears, bananas, watermelon, plums, nectarines, mangos, peach, pears)

Mushrooms

For some: Avocado, Coconut

The result? SIBO symptom relief from gut upset that typically happens when you eat a sweet potato, Brussels sprouts or quinoa—at least in the short term.

The Problem with SIBO Diet Recommendations

The research is still out as to whether these diets help people improve in the long term—particularly once you’ve started a SIBO treatment protocol (supplements or medication).

While all 3 SIBO diets are safe and can be helpful for gut issues like eliminating bloating, gas and IBS, a problem many people run into with these approaches is HOW and WHEN to reintroduce eliminated foods (if at all)—often discovering that their SIBO symptoms soon return when carbohydrates are allowed back in to the diet.

“Will I ever be able to eat broccoli (or rice, or sweet potatoes, or apples) again?!” They cry.

Unfortunately, long-term prebiotic fiber (carb) and FODMAP restriction can also backfire—since it not only decreases unhealthy bacteria, but healthy gut bacteria too.

So what should you do?!

Mix and match!

Here are 6 novel (no-long-term-restrictive) SIBO diet approaches for healing your gut (and SIBO) for good— taking the most effective strategies from various gut-healing diets, and forming them together—all in one.

The ultimate goal? Least restrictive diet as possible—all within the context of nutrient-dense foods of course (with the occasional Friday night pizza night if you must).

6 Non-Restrictive SIBO Diet Approaches

Start with Establishing a Real Food Base Simply put: Eat real food—as close to its natural state as possible. If it didn’t grow on the land, roam the earth, or swim in the sea, it’s not real food. Real food includes:

Meats, poultry and fish.

Healthy fats.

Veggies & Fruits

Minimal starch

No added sugar

Lots of clean, filtered water

Supporting local, responsible producers and organic as much as possible

Phase 1: Short-Term Low Carb Diet (14-30 Days) Once you realize what “real food” is, you’re now ready to attack your SIBO diet in phases—starting with a lower carb or lower FODMAP reset.One consideration many people find short-term effectiveness from as a “therapeutic diet” is the ketogenic diet—a popular low carb (or “very low carb”) approach to eating that includes plenty of nutrient-dense healthy fats (ghee, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, avocado, raw nuts/seeds), moderate amounts of organic protein, and 20-grams of “net carbs” or less per day.Many people with SIBO symptoms, find that a short-term break from many of the gut-bacteria-feeding foods (i.e. carbs and sugars found in carbs) can be a great relief from their SIBO symptoms while they get their personal SIBO treatment protocol (supplement supports and lifestyle factors) in place. Call it “keto,” “low carb,” or yes, “low FODMAP” or “specific carbohydrate diet,” the bottom line here is to confirm that for a short term (2-4 weeks), going “low carb” can be effective.The key for the effectiveness of these “low carb” approaches however is to ensure you are eating ENOUGH. A common roadblock SIBO sufferers run into is unwanted weight loss, low energy and frail health due to the malabsorption of nutrients and IBS symptoms. Hence, reason why a keto approach may be more effective for curbing SIBO symptoms (in lieu of just going “low FODMAP” or “low carb) is that the emphasis on healthy fats can help boost energy stores (given your gallbladder and liver are healthy and able to digest these fats in the first place).Check out the sample SIBO kickstart meal plan below for a sample day on a “short term” lower-carb phase.

Phase 2: Eat 1-2 Prebiotics Per Day After your “short-term” reset, and once your full SIBO treatment protocol (i.e. supplement https://amzn.to/2xLJkmO or medication digestive support) is underway, it’s crucial to also feed healthy gut bacteria—to make sure the good guys stick around while you kill off the overgrown “bad guys” Enter: prebiotics—fibers found in certain carbohydrates that “feed” beneficial gut bacteria.Prebiotic foods include:Green-tipped bananas and plantains Cooked & cooled sweet potatoes/potatoes Cooked & cooled long-grain white rice, parboiled Asparagus Seaweed Cabbage (sauerkraut) Dandelion Greens Artichoke Leeks Jicama Onions & Garlic Chia/Flaxseeds Coconut/Coconut Flour Yucca/Cassava Berries Raw Manuka Honey https://amzn.to/2ztx2Se Endive Apple Cider Vinegar Soluble Fibers (cooked carrots, butternut squash, acorn squash, delicata squash, beets) Supplements (like Sunfiber https://amzn.to/2QYXzO0 or Glucomannan https://amzn.to/2IeIfso )Aim to incorporate 1-2 prebiotic based foods into your diet, as tolerated after your short-term low carb reset.

Inflammatory Considerations Beyond just FODMAP and carbohydrate foods, consideration of other “gut inflammatory” foods that may contribute to your personal symptoms may be warranted—particularly these suspects:

Eggs

Dairy (cheese, yogurt, milk, etc.)

Nuts

Peanuts

Soy

Corn

Beans/Peas

Shellfish

Instant Coffee

Cocoa/Chocolate

Nightshades (spices like chili and paprika, bellpepper, tomato sauce, tomatoes, eggplant)

If any of these are regular additions in your diet and your symptoms or SIBO is still present—particularly at the end of your SIBO treatment protocol, a short term 30-day AIP (autoimmune protocol) may help further support gut healing. This is especially true for individuals with “leaky gut.” In other words: There is more to SIBO eating than just “low FODMAP” foods, and broccoli may not be as big of a culprit as you’ve been made to believe.

Don’t Forget the Digestive Support!Once you’ve established a real-food diet, with moderate carbohydrate introduction (prebiotic), and potentially the short-term elimination of any inflammatory foods you may suspect (like almonds, yogurt or hummus), adding in some “gut loving” support is the extra 1-2 punch to take your SIBO treatment to the next level.If you’re working with a skilled practitioner (https://drlauryn.com/work-with-me), that individual should be able to help create and guide you through a custom SIBO protocol—established specifically for you—with pharmaceutical-grade, high-quality formulas that can support not only gut health, but the elimination of overgrown gut bacteria.Here are a few top general recommendations:SIBO Baseline Antimicrobial Support: Dysbiocide https://amzn.to/2IfMSCF�� + FC Cidal https://amzn.to/2ztIJIl from Biotics Lauracidin https://amzn.to/2xQTAu9 Biofilm Disruptor: Interfase Plus https://amzn.to/2IgezLA Soil-Based Probiotic https://amzn.to/2IgBNRJ Prebiotic (Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum) https://amzn.to/2IfMZ13

Bloating Atrantil https://amzn.to/2DDs1ua

IBS Iberogast https://amzn.to/2IkbJ8w

Constipation IB Guard https://amzn.to/2zuhfCq

General Digestive Support Digest Enzymes https://amzn.to/2xQLnGi HCL (Hydrochloric Acid) (Aids in stomach acid production): https://amzn.to/2OaHw0P

Liver/Gallbladder Support (for digesting healthy fats) Beta TCP by Biotics https://amzn.to/2IeR7hI Beta Plus (if no gallbladder) https://amzn.to/2QYZ0vS

Immune Support Tumero Active (Liposomal Curcumin) https://www.apexenergetics.com/turmero-active Liposomal Glutathione https://www.apexenergetics.com/trizomal-glutathione

Nutrient Support B-Complex https://amzn.to/2xRm8n9 Basic Nutrients (Thorne) https://amzn.to/2DvllOK Cod Liver Oil https://amzn.to/2Dx2ovc

ReintroductionFollow your practitioner’s instructions as to how long to be on your personal SIBO protocol. Treatment length will depend on the severity of your SIBO, typically ranging 30-90 days. During your SIBO protocol, it is imperative you stick as closely to real food as possible—particularly limiting the Western diet influences of wheat, conventional dairy, sugar/sweeteners, industrial seed oils, corn and soy.However, as noted earlier, sticking to a strict low carb or low FODMAP diet is not advised for the longevity of your SIBO diet plan—given your symptoms are not severe when you do eat a little bit of prebiotic fiber or grass-fed, fermented yogurt.Once more: There is NO one-size-fits-all approach to the ideal SIBO diet, but as your treatment plan ensues during Phase 2, the “least restrictive as possible” approach tends to work best for people’s sanity and relationship with the healing process.To “reintroduce” foods that you may have eliminated during your Phase 1 or “Anti-inflammatory” food considerations, reintroduce foods 1 food at a time in this fashion:

Day 1 Re-introduction: Eat a small portion of the food alone (2-3 bites). Day 2 Re-introduction: Eat a little bit more of a portion/a serving of the food, alone. Day 3 Re-introduction: Add the food in alongside a meal or appropriate pairing foods.

If symptoms are noted during reintroduction, it may mean your body is not ready yet for it, or it is simply an inflammatory food for you.

SIBO Diet Sample Meal Plans

Phase 1: Low Carb SIBO Diet (7-21 Days)

Pre-Breakfast 16 oz. Warm Lemon Water

Apple Cider Vinegar shot

Breakfast Turkey Sausage (4-6 oz.) 1/2 Avocado Sauteed Greens & Bell Peppers in Coconut oil

Lunch Mixed Greens Chicken Breast 2 Tbsp. Paleo Cesar Dressing https://amzn.to/2N4eQCa Olives Pastured Strip of Bacon or Turkey Bacon (bits) Mixed Veggies: Roasted Carrots, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes

Dinner

Baked Wild Salmon Rainbow Chard sautéed in Ghee Roasted Yellow & Zucchini Squash, drizzled in avocado oil

Snack

Handful Macadamia Nuts

Phase 2: Real-Food, Nutrient Dense, Anti-Inflammatory SIBO Diet (30-90 Days, during supplement protocol)

Pre-Breakfast 16 oz. Warm Lemon Water

Apple Cider Vinegar shot

Breakfast Smoothie: Lite Coconut Milk (watered down for smoother consistency) Beef Isolate Protein Powder https://amzn.to/2OaGz8L Blueberries

1 Tbsp. Sun-butter

Coconut Flakes Greens or Greens Powder https://amzn.to/2NGjE5R

Lunch Chicken Salad with Avocado Mayo Pickled Cucumbers Roasted Carrot “Fries”

Dinner

Ground Bison “Tacos” (Turmeric, Oregano, Sea Salt, Garlic, Onion Seasoning)

Roasted Summer Squash

Olives

Collard Green Wrap

Guacamole

Snacks 1 Cup Bone Broth Eating Evolved 100% Dark Chocolate Square https://amzn.to/2DulDpl

Customize Your SIBO Healing

Want your own custom SIBO diet plan and supplement protocol? Contact Dr. Lauryn https://drlauryn.com/work-with-me to get started to feeling really good. Inside and out.

Resources

1. Chedid, V., Dhalla, S., Clarke, J. O., Roland, B. C., Dunbar, K. B., Koh, J., … Mullin, G. E. (2014). Herbal Therapy Is Equivalent to Rifaximin for the Treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(3), 16–24. http://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2014.019; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030608/

The post How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet to Heal appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/gut-health/how-to-choose-the-best-sibo-diet-to-heal/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/

How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet to Heal via https://drlaurynlax.weebly.com/

#Clarence B. Faber #ClarenceFaber #Holistic #Nutrition #Therapy #Recovery #Functional #Medicine

0 notes

brian-cdates · 5 years

Text

How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet to Heal

How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet—Keto, AIP, Low FODMAP & Beyond

SIBO 101

SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is a condition, affecting the small intestine, wherein bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine.

SIBO Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

bloating after meals

loose stools

IBS

constipation

food intolerances

nutrient deficiencies (like anemia, brittle nails and hair, pale skin, cold hands or feet).

Because of this, SIBO often goes under the radar in traditional healthcare settings.

SIBO Diagnosis

SIBO is currently diagnosed through both:

An analysis of your signs and symptoms

At-home breath testing

5 Essentials for SIBO Treatment

So what to do if you’ve been diagnosed with SIBO?!

Successful SIBO treatment involves a five-pronged approach including:

Proper Diagnosis & Testing Breath testing and/or working with a skilled clinician experienced in assessing and diagnosing SIBO.

Lifestyle Factors Addressing stress and lifestyle factors to promote SIBO healing, such as getting enough sleep and proper exercise—not too much, but not too little.

Nutrient-Dense, SIBO-Reduction Diet Foods that help decrease your SIBO symptoms, and support gut healing.

While there is NO one-size-fits-all treatment protocol for kicking SIBO to the curb, these 5 essentials are “non-negotiables” for kicking SIBO to the curb.

The best part?

SIBO healing and the remission of your symptoms is greatly within your own control!

Thus, a nutrition plan that works for your body’s unique needs is ESSENTIAL to not only feeling good, but helping your total SIBO protocol work for you.

SIBO Diet Recommendations

The 4 most popular dietary recommendations for treating SIBO are:

The “Low Fermentation Diet”

The Low FODMAP Diet http://atxwoman.com/fodmap-diet/

Specific Carbohydrate Diet

Elemental Diet

While certain foods may be “allowed” on one program, but not the other, generally the top foods to eliminate include:

SIBO Diet Foods to Eliminate

Grains (breads, pastas, rice)

Starches (potato, sweet potato, yucca, taro)

Beans, Soy & Peas

Industrial Seed Oils (sunflower, grapeseed, cottonseed, soybean, canola)

Dairy (cheese, milk)

Sugar & Sweeteners (agave, honey, corn syrup, sweeteners)

Alcohol

Corn

Cruciferous Veggies (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts)

Garlic

Onion

Many fruits (apples, cherries, pears, bananas, watermelon, plums, nectarines, mangos, peach, pears)

Mushrooms

For some: Avocado, Coconut

The result? SIBO symptom relief from gut upset that typically happens when you eat a sweet potato, Brussels sprouts or quinoa—at least in the short term.

The Problem with SIBO Diet Recommendations

The research is still out as to whether these diets help people improve in the long term—particularly once you’ve started a SIBO treatment protocol (supplements or medication).

“Will I ever be able to eat broccoli (or rice, or sweet potatoes, or apples) again?!” They cry.

Unfortunately, long-term prebiotic fiber (carb) and FODMAP restriction can also backfire—since it not only decreases unhealthy bacteria, but healthy gut bacteria too.

So what should you do?!

Mix and match!

The ultimate goal? Least restrictive diet as possible—all within the context of nutrient-dense foods of course (with the occasional Friday night pizza night if you must).

6 Non-Restrictive SIBO Diet Approaches

Meats, poultry and fish.

Healthy fats.

Veggies & Fruits

Minimal starch

No added sugar

Lots of clean, filtered water

Supporting local, responsible producers and organic as much as possible

Eggs

Dairy (cheese, yogurt, milk, etc.)

Nuts

Peanuts

Soy

Corn

Beans/Peas

Shellfish

Instant Coffee

Cocoa/Chocolate

Nightshades (spices like chili and paprika, bellpepper, tomato sauce, tomatoes, eggplant)

Don’t Forget the Digestive Support!Once you’ve established a real-food diet, with moderate carbohydrate introduction (prebiotic), and potentially the short-term elimination of any inflammatory foods you may suspect (like almonds, yogurt or hummus), adding in some “gut loving” support is the extra 1-2 punch to take your SIBO treatment to the next level.If you’re working with a skilled practitioner (https://drlauryn.com/work-with-me), that individual should be able to help create and guide you through a custom SIBO protocol—established specifically for you—with pharmaceutical-grade, high-quality formulas that can support not only gut health, but the elimination of overgrown gut bacteria.Here are a few top general recommendations:SIBO Baseline Antimicrobial Support: Dysbiocide https://amzn.to/2IfMSCF + FC Cidal https://amzn.to/2ztIJIl from Biotics Lauracidin https://amzn.to/2xQTAu9 Biofilm Disruptor: Interfase Plus https://amzn.to/2IgezLA Soil-Based Probiotic https://amzn.to/2IgBNRJ Prebiotic (Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum) https://amzn.to/2IfMZ13

Bloating Atrantil https://amzn.to/2DDs1ua

IBS Iberogast https://amzn.to/2IkbJ8w

Constipation IB Guard https://amzn.to/2zuhfCq

General Digestive Support Digest Enzymes https://amzn.to/2xQLnGi HCL (Hydrochloric Acid) (Aids in stomach acid production): https://amzn.to/2OaHw0P

Liver/Gallbladder Support (for digesting healthy fats) Beta TCP by Biotics https://amzn.to/2IeR7hI Beta Plus (if no gallbladder) https://amzn.to/2QYZ0vS

Immune Support Tumero Active (Liposomal Curcumin) https://www.apexenergetics.com/turmero-active Liposomal Glutathione https://www.apexenergetics.com/trizomal-glutathione

Nutrient Support B-Complex https://amzn.to/2xRm8n9 Basic Nutrients (Thorne) https://amzn.to/2DvllOK Cod Liver Oil https://amzn.to/2Dx2ovc

If symptoms are noted during reintroduction, it may mean your body is not ready yet for it, or it is simply an inflammatory food for you.

SIBO Diet Sample Meal Plans

Phase 1: Low Carb SIBO Diet (7-21 Days)

Pre-Breakfast 16 oz. Warm Lemon Water

Apple Cider Vinegar shot

Breakfast Turkey Sausage (4-6 oz.) ½ Avocado Sauteed Greens & Bell Peppers in Coconut oil

Lunch Mixed Greens Chicken Breast 2 Tbsp. Paleo Cesar Dressing https://amzn.to/2N4eQCa Olives Pastured Strip of Bacon or Turkey Bacon (bits) Mixed Veggies: Roasted Carrots, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes

Dinner

Baked Wild Salmon Rainbow Chard sautéed in Ghee Roasted Yellow & Zucchini Squash, drizzled in avocado oil

Snack

Handful Macadamia Nuts

Phase 2: Real-Food, Nutrient Dense, Anti-Inflammatory SIBO Diet (30-90 Days, during supplement protocol)

Pre-Breakfast 16 oz. Warm Lemon Water

Apple Cider Vinegar shot

Breakfast Smoothie: Lite Coconut Milk (watered down for smoother consistency) Beef Isolate Protein Powder https://amzn.to/2OaGz8L Blueberries

1 Tbsp. Sun-butter

Coconut Flakes Greens or Greens Powder https://amzn.to/2NGjE5R

Lunch Chicken Salad with Avocado Mayo Pickled Cucumbers Roasted Carrot “Fries”

Dinner

Ground Bison “Tacos” (Turmeric, Oregano, Sea Salt, Garlic, Onion Seasoning)

Roasted Summer Squash

Olives

Collard Green Wrap

Guacamole

Snacks 1 Cup Bone Broth Eating Evolved 100% Dark Chocolate Square https://amzn.to/2DulDpl

Customize Your SIBO Healing

Want your own custom SIBO diet plan and supplement protocol? Contact Dr. Lauryn https://drlauryn.com/work-with-me to get started to feeling really good. Inside and out.

Resources

The post How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet to Heal appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/gut-health/how-to-choose-the-best-sibo-diet-to-heal/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/ How to Choose the Best SIBO Diet to Heal via http://drlaurynlax.tumblr.com/

#Brian C. Dates #BrianDates #Holistic #Nutrition #Therapy #Recovery #Functional #Medicine

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edmondmoller · 6 years

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School Lunch Ideas: 40 Healthy Kid Lunches to Keep You Inspired

New Post has been published on https://womanshealthwithmegan.com/school-lunch-ideas-40-healthy-kid-lunches-to-keep-you-inspired

School Lunch Ideas: 40 Healthy Kid Lunches to Keep You Inspired

Nothing says “back to school” then packing endless (and often dreaded) school lunches. If you’re anything like me, you start out with good intentions and then run out of ideas two weeks into the school year. ?While you can certainly use some of these kitchen hacks to make things easier, it doesn’t help if you have a case of “lunch packer block” (that is, you can’t stop packing the same things lunch after lunch after lunch.) That’s why I wanted to create this healthy school lunch ideas post: to keep you inspired when the going gets rough.

Finding JOY in packing school lunches

Truth be told, packing school lunches can be bothersome, boring and relentless. If your kids go away to school each day, it can be even more dissatisfying since you don’t get to actually see them oohing and ahhing over your amazing culinary skills. ? But, what if we flipped the whole thing on its head?

What if coming up with school lunch ideas became not only tolerable but JOYFUL?

After all, we have the opportunity to fill our kids’ bellies with nourishing, delicious and even inspiring food day after day after day. We also get to “love” on our kids in this very simple and yet important way. That’s how I’m choosing to approach school lunches this year. (We’ll see how long that lasts ?.)

Tips for making school lunches easier

Since we have to make at least 200 lunches for our kids (and this includes homeschoolers too!), we might as well make it easier on ourselves… amiright?

Here are some simple things you can try:

Involve your kids. Depending on your child’s age, have them cut up veggies, grab an apple out of the fridge, pack crackers, you get the idea. By having your kid help, you are teaching them to navigate the kitchen as well as boosting confidence and knowledge. You can also take the opportunity to teach them about healthy foods and macronutrient balance with each lunch! (If your kids don’t know how to prep food, consider enrolling in the Kids Cook Real Food course.) Also, let your kids come up with school lunch ideas, too! Cook in bulk. Consider making extra for dinner each night and pack leftovers for lunch. Or, make big batches of healthy gummy men, muffins, waffles, pasta, and rice & beans and store in freezer. Take out what you want to pack the night before to defrost and throw it into your kid’s lunch the next day. Use “convenience” foods. I’m not talking processed or fast foods but rather easy and very “packable” real foods like cherry/grape tomatoes, pitted olives, defrosted frozen peas/lima beans/corn, organic berries, clementines, organic grapes, string cheese, hard boiled eggs, organic jerky sticks, drinkable yogurt, healthy snacks like olive oil popcorn, seed crackers, or sprouted nuts & seeds Freeze a few “emergency” meals. For those occasions when you have a late night and have to scramble for a lunch the next day, consider freezing a few lunches that you can grab and go. Some school lunch ideas include: bean burritos, almond & honey sandwich, turkey roll ups, etc. Add a piece of fruit and a drink, and you’ve got yourself a balanced meal for your child.

Getting the right lunch gear

While there are literally dozens of portable food gear products out there, you want to find lunch supplies that are:

made with non-toxic materials like stainless steel dishwasher safe (ain’t nobody got time for hand-washing!) leak-proof (or mostly leak-proof) easy to pack durable and not breakable keep foods heat/cold as appropriate

After much research, I decided to go with PlanetBox. Here is the gear I own:

Their ROVER PlanetBox, lunch bag, and big/small container set (where to buy) Non-toxic ice packs (where to buy) Non-leaking water bottle (where to buy) Reusable, cloth napkin (where to buy)

While the price tag of their products was steeper than I wanted, I do have to say that I’m very pleased with their products. I used exclusively last year and continue to use this year as well. (You can see their products below.)

For water bottles, I really like these from Thermos (where to buy). I also use these Thermos containers for when I’m packing warm/hot foods, which is much less common. (where to buy)

School lunch ideas video

youtube

You can see all my lunch ideas in the video above, or scroll down to see all the photos.

School lunch idea photos…

Special thanks to my friend Savanna, who shared (and snapped) some of her favorite school lunch ideas for this post!

Veggies with hummus, grapes, nuts and banana muffin with a pat of butter.

Cheese stick, chick peas and wild rice, peppers, nuts, and dip.

Hot lunch! Leftover pasta with meat sauce, a salad and apple.

Sharp cheddar, black rice crackers, pistachios, tomatoes, and berry medley.

Turkey wrap with pomegranate salad.

Veggie patties, grilled zucchini, fruit with coconut.

Chicken nuggets, chocolate strawberries with veggies.

Quinoa salad, hard-boiled bacon eggs, fruit gummy.

Grain-free sandwich, jicama & peppers, peas & pistachios.

Rice salad, plantain chips, fruit & veggies.

Roasted turkey, coleslaw, strawberries & coconut.

Black rice noodles, ants on a log, veggies & fruit.

Edamame strawberry salad, seeds, sauerkraut, & hummus dip.

Egg muffins, pesto dip & nut butter.

Hot lunch! Leftover pasta, berries, and cucumber slices.

Yogurt with honey, peas, black rice with olive oil, cheese, grapes, & nuts.

Chicken salad with lettuce wraps, rosemary potatoes, plantain chips, etc.

Pumpkin muffin, olives, nut rolled date, berries, cheese and zinc drop.

Chicken & beans, fresh mango and grape tomatoes.

Sprouted wheat pretzels, Bubbies pickle, seeds, berries, cheese & chocolate.

Apple, bacon & lettuce “sandwich”, various crackers, cheese, & goji berries.

Veggie pasta, cucumber salad, avocado, crackers, seeds and beans.

Blue potato chips, berries, cucumbers, cheese and nut/date bar.

Organic turkey on oat bread, tomatoes, Lara bar, berries and almonds.

Quinoa & beans, cheese, purple grapes, tomatoes, and date treat.

Veggie pasta salad, beef jerky, melon, avocado, and fruit/nut treat.

Yogurt with granola, almond butter sandwich, carrots, and strawberries.

Sprouted corn tortilla, trail mix, black beans, tomatoes, cheese, zinc drop.

Turkey sandwich, olive oil potato chips, berries, tomatoes & zinc drop.

Sprouted pretzels, tomatoes, grapes, cheese, walnuts, and ginger chew.

Beef jerky, berries, tomatoes, seed crackers with butter, & zinc drop.

Hot pretzel with mustard dip, salami/cheese, broccoli & dried fruit.

Rice & beans, tomatoes, cheese, walnuts & coconut-rolled date.

Homemade “goldfish” crackers, berries, tomatoes, & cheese.

BBQ chicken, coleslaw, carrots with dip, seeds & plantain chips.

Cheese crackers, peas, berries, cheese, seeds & elderberry drop.

Almond butter & jelly, slaw, bananas & strawberries, & carrot sticks.

Tortilla with butter, pineapple, red peppers, cheese & chocolate treat.

GF chicken nuggets w/ dip, sweet potato chips, veg/fruit & gummy star.

Rice pasta, hummus/veggies, pistachios, cheese, and chocolate.

Other pro tips for school lunch ideas: Pack your lunches the night before.

While Papa Natural is getting the kids ready for bed, I’m in the kitchen making their lunches for the next day. (I eventually want to partner with Griffin to make lunches but for now, this is working for us.) I’m rather rushed in the mornings so prefer being free of this task. If you take a morning quiet time or do an a.m. workout, packing at night might also appeal to you so it doesn’t interfere with your spiritual or physical fitness ??

Buddy up with a friend or neighbor.

My dear friend and fellow foodie, Savanna, has the most amazing school lunch ideas (as you’ve seen above!). We snap pictures of our lunches each day and text to each other for moral support. We inspire each other and also commiserate on Fridays when we’re so done with packing lunches ?

Find a friend who is also committed to packing healthy lunches and share school lunch ideas regularly. Or better yet, buddy up with a neighbor and swap bulk food items to take some of the burden off of each of you. For example, you could make a big batch of healthy muffins and she could make extra rice & beans; you then swap portions to each other to help round out your lunches.

Taste the rainbow.

To ensure that your kids are getting a wide-spectrum of nutrients, try to bring lots of color into their lunches. Not only is it visually appealing but it provides a rich diversity of phytonutrients and other vitamins and minerals. Here is a list of food by color to get you inspired:

Purple Plums Red grapes Kidney beans Beets

Blue Blueberries Blue potatoes Blue corn (high in selenium!)

Green Broccoli Green Peppers Pear Kiwi Snap peas Avocado Seaweed (like these snacks)

Red Pomegranate Red meat Most apples

Cherries

Tomatoes

Pink Watermelon Grapefruit Rhubarb Raspberries

Orange Apricots Sweet potatoes (these are delicious!) Cantaloupe Oranges/tangerines/clementines Papaya

Yellow Pineapple Summer squash Mango Honey Egg yolks Butter

White/tan/brown Mushrooms Coconut Chicken/turkey Lentils Dates

Black Black beans Blackberries Black olives Black rice (like these crackers)

Make your kids “snack” on any lunch leftovers.

After all of the effort that goes into making kid lunches, nothing feels worse that opening up a lunch box filled with half-eaten foods. When this happens in our household, I make the kids finish their leftovers before they can have other foods to eat, including dinner. This teaches them the value of not being wasteful and honors the work of others. ?

Find resources to help.

We all get into food ruts and need to break out of our old standbys. Consider joining a meal planning service to help you try new recipes that can be used as lunches. I like Real Plans because they create shopping lists (that you can use on your phone) and include lunch menus too. You can also follow awesome food bloggers like Deliciously Organic, Naturally Ella or Tasty Yummies. I also find inspiration in magazines and cookbooks like Nourishing Traditions.

Keep it simple.

While homemade sushi rolls and holiday-themed treats are fun to do on occasion, you want to also include regular, simple staples if you’re gonna stay in the game for the long haul. Simple foods are often best for younger, more delicate digestive systems, too. When coming up with new school lunch ideas, it can be as easy as just trying different foods, such as:

Less popular fruits like kiwi, grapefruit, and golden berries Veggies like radishes, jicama, and plantains Well-cooked grains like millet, amaranth, and savory steel cut oats And healthy proteins like salmon jerky, Brazil nuts, and dried garbanzo beans

Infuse with LVE.

Researcher Kai Qin Chan showed that strong emotions like love or jealousy can impact the way food tastes (Love-infused food tastes better, btw ). So there is actually some scientific proof to the importance of food “made with love.” You can write a little love note or buy these cute cards to stick in lunches. I also like to throw in a little “treat” most days like these Zand throat drops (with added zinc for immunity!), these elderberry gummies, dark chocolate or ginger chews.

How about YOU?

I’d love to hear from YOU, mama! What do you regularly make for your little ones? Share any tips or tricks you might have on school lunch ideas!

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The post School Lunch Ideas: 40 Healthy Kid Lunches to Keep You Inspired appeared first on Mama Natural.