Why I Gave Organic Candy on Halloween

This post is in response to the many questions, side-eyes, eye-rolls, names (ehhem "food snob") and backhanded compliments that come my way on most holidays that involve food. Easter, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, birthdays, Christmas - many more in between - and of course, Halloween. If you're reading this, it's likely because you too have made the decision to detoxify or optimize your body, your life, the lives of your friends and family and ultimately the world we live in and you seek to support progress in our food culture. Because of that, I'm sure you've been on the receiving end of sometimes negative or passive aggressive comments and body language too.


I believe most people dish out these reactions, not because they are rude or disrespectful, but instead because they do not understand why I choose to buy and cook and bring and serve what I do. I can understand that. We've all cast judgement on someone at some point in our lives instead of seeking to understand. So, for anyone who wishes to better understand why I and others like me make some of the choices that we do, here is the #1 reason I handed out organic Halloween candy last week.

Mini Golf + Sweet and Salty Banana Nut Ice Cream

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Tuesdays are typically my rest days, days off from intense exercise , when I can head straight home after work, do things I've been meaning to do, sit by the pool and read, cook dinner early and just relax.  It's important to give your body a break on a regular basis. Doing so allows your muscles to repair and gives your bones, joints, and nerves a needed rest. Yesterday, Jon and I cooked a casual dinner consisting of Bacon & Blue Turkey Burgers, Grilled Local Sweet Corn and Summer Squash and a Black Bean Quinoa Recipe I was trying out.  After that we had the rest of the night to do what we wished and we wished for - Mini Golf!

We are both extremely competitive people. Jon can and will turn anything into a race, game, test or bet. Mini Golf is no exception - when we play, it's reminiscent of a greek olympic tournament - an absolutely merciless, winner takes all showdown. We always go when we're down the shore but since we've yet to take our vacation this year, we were long overdue for hitting the miniature links and - IT WAS ON! We had a great time goofing off between holes and being fiercely competitive on the greens for an hour or so. Naturally, I won. No surprise there! He didn't bring his A game. Or his B game. I still love him though. 

The Final Score Card

The course is attached to a dairy farm-esque establishment. Not one I would ever purchase dairy products from, but nonetheless one that remains very popular with the local high school crowd and families with children. It is known mostly for the milkshakes and ice cream seen being consumed after bouts in the batting cages and games of mini golf. However, our visit would not take on that same ending. To do my due diligence, I went into the dairy building and read the labels on their milk products, ice cream cakes and other similar items. Jon could tell I wasn't happy with what I saw. In the past, he would have been all over those milkshakes - in the largest cup size possible. Last night, though, he said he wasn't even tempted. I don't know if all of my blabbering has really sunk in or if he's just a really great guy. But we left with nothing but our scorecard in hand. I new deep down he would have really liked a treat, especially since he just LOST. (haha) I felt bad, so as soon as we got home, while he was outside with our dog, Olive, I whipped up my better-than-that-hormone-laden-crap, Sweet and Salty Banana Nut Ice Cream treat! Does that sound delicious to you? Does it sound even better when I tell you it takes less than 5 minutes to whip up? 

What I Eat [with Recipes]

I get a lot of questions about what I eat. I work full time like most of you and I understand that it can seem impossible to maintain this lifestyle with a break-room of donuts, happy hours, office pizza parties and no time or energy left at the end of the day to cook or prepare lunches for tomorrow. I have found that the key to success is planning ahead, feeding your body whole satisfying foods throughout the day, and keeping some snacks and teas on hand for when temptation strikes. Practicing these points everyday provides you with the necessary nutrition to curb cravings, the support of healthy snacks and drinks to turn to in moments of weakness, and ultimately the ability to end your day feeling good from the inside out. This does not mean you have to eat the same things everyday - far from it. Unless I'm on a certain "kick", I rarely eat the exact same meal two days in a row. Even my greenks change day to day. To give you a detailed view of what I eat, here is my menu from yesterday:

First Thing | Lemon Water

Every morning I drink a glass of warm lemon water. I started doing this when I began Dr. Alexander Junger's CLEAN Program and the habit stuck. The reason for starting your day with this is that lemon juice is naturally and powerfully detoxifying, especially when introduced to your system, more specifically your liver, on an empty stomach. The lemon juice triggers detoxification in the liver which in turn begins clearing the junk that builds up in your digestive tract. Drinking lemon water each morning has also been know to cause a decrease or even elimination of cravings throughout the day. Get drinking!

After sipping my lemon water while watching the weather and traffic report, I chop up my fruits and veggies for my greenk (two items down). I set out my tea bags, lunch and snacks. Then, I go get dressed and ready for the day.

On My Way to Work | Tea

Before heading out the door, I boil water and prepare a cup of tea each for Jon and me. Jon is currently liking Allegro Organic Indian Chai with some raw honey. While I love that tea I am currently clearing my system of caffeine (almost one month strong now WOO!!), so I prefer Traditional Medicinal's Organic Roasted Dandelion Root or Allegro Organic Happy Tummy Tea (I love the minty refreshing taste of this tea so much I drink it whether I have an upset stomach or not). 

Grain Free Gourmet

I don't believe there is a single perfect diet that will yield optimal health and results for everyone. We are each genetically, psychologically and biologically unique. What works for me may not work or be best for you, and what works for you may not work for your husband. However, one element of the Standard American Diet (SAD) that has been proven time and again to be very bad for all of us is the over consumption of sugar. Whether its cheerios, coffee creamer, baking flour, bread crumbs, pasta, potatoes or icing on the cake - it is all converted to sugar in our bodies, resulting in sugar overload of epic proportions. 

Sugar and grain consumption has increased drastically over the last 40-50 years. And as this study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows, while consumption has climbed, the nutritional quality, most notably the amount of fiber, has severely decreased. What this means is

My Weekend Gem: IBOP Coffee Company

I was back in my hometown of Dallas this weekend in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My cousin's graduation party was on Saturday so, my sister and I drove north Friday evening and made a weekend out of it at our father's house. I made a point to run out on my lunch break Friday and stock up on some travel packs of raw almond butter and organic fruits and veggies. (The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area is not exactly brimming with organic options and I've yet to convert my father, so I knew I had to come prepared!) I packed a little cooler with two greenks, pre-cut veggies, homemade hummus and organic teas and fruits and almond butter. My dog doesn't sleep well in other people's homes which means neither do I. So, I woke up Saturday morning tired and wanting coffee, despite recently giving it up cold turkey - I knew that was a bad idea! (Just kidding, I'm actually experiencing amazing results from kicking my dependence on caffeine.) Anyway, we like to take a spin class as a family Saturday mornings whenever we're in town - a newer tradition that I have really come to love. I hadn't thought to bring any organic decaf with me, so I jumped on Local Harvest and EatWellGuide from my phone but the only things that came up were the local dairy farm that provided organic grass fed milks and a small health food store that wasn't open. Oh well. 

We cut through downtown Wilkes-Barre to meet our dad at the gym for class. While stopped at a red light, right there on the corner, as if it were meant just for me to read, there was a sign - "Coffee - Mocha - Iced -100% Organic Beans". Was I dreaming? Did my lack of sleep and yearning for a cup of organic joe have me seeing things? Organic coffee in downtown Wilkes-Barre? I had to stop! But we were about to be late so my sister won and we drove by. Class was great, my heart rate monitor had us at about 650 calories burned when all was said and done - but the whole time all I could think about was that organic coffee sign. I had to go back - my curiosity couldn't control itself. 

Before Entering IBOP Coffee Company

After class, my sister and I back-tracked to the corner where we had seen the sign. I wasn't dreaming - it really said Organic Coffee and the shop window read "IBOP Coffee Company". To be honest, I wasn't sure what I was about to walk into. Knowing what I do about Wilkes-Barre's organic "scene", part of me expected to find 3-hour old organic Green Mountain brew in a caraffe on a side counter next to styrofoam cups and sweet'N low. I said to my sister as we were walking in, "If this place is good, I'm going to write about it because people in this area need organic." 

Well, it wasn't just good - IBOP Coffee Company is simply divine.

Let me remind you