HEALTHY Chocolate Mousse? :)

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I went out to dinner with a friend to a Vegan restaurant and ordered the chocolate mousse cake for dessert. It was a moderate sized serving, and VERY rich. So rich that 3 or 4 small bites were enough to curb my 'after dinner sweet craving'. AND the best part...it was raw, fresh and made out of healthy ingredients. So, I went on a mission to find a recipe whose ingredients appealed to me. I found this one, made it today and it was amazingly yummy!

Organic raw chocolate, also known as raw cacao, is higher in magnesium than any other food on the planet. Magnesium is the number one mineral deficiency in the world. Raw cacao is also the #1 source of antioxidants, iron and chromium. So if you’re a chocolate lover just trade the commercial, processed chocolate for raw organic cacao. Then trade in the guilt for the satisfaction and joy of knowing you’re eating one of the healthiest foods on the planet. If you’re new to raw cacao it comes in a few different forms. The ones I buy are broken bits of bean called nibs and cacao powder. They are both good for you. The cacao powder is convenient, but it has the cacao butter removed, so you are losing that healthy fat. The nibs can be ground down into a powder in a coffee grinder. If you don't have cacao, you can opt for cocoa powder, which I did today, b/c I'm on a cleanse right now, and chocolate is NOT on the list. :( That's what inspired this blog. A girls gotta have her chocolate fix!

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
1 ripe banana, peeled (can use a frozen banana if you want a chilled version)
2 tbsp sweetner (honey or 2-3 pitted medjool dates)
5 tbsp raw organic cacao powder or organic raw cacao nibs (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
1/2 tsp natural vanilla (extract or vanilla bean powder)
1 tsp maca powder (optional)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
dash of Himalayan sea salt

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. You can add a little water or almond milk (which I used...just enough to blend it to a mousse consistency), if necessary to keep the ingredients moving so they blend thoroughly. I prefer using my Vitamix for this so that all of the ingredients are grind down fine enough to avoid chunks and hence, easier to digest. I'm a rep for them, and can provide you with a discount code if you're interested in buying one. I COULD NOT imagine my life without one!

Serve immediately.

I topped it off with a few crystals of Turbinado (coconut sugar) and hemp seeds. A dessert with healthy ingredients, anti-oxidants, electrolytes, and ALL preserved in their raw state. It seriously doesn't get any better than this!!!

What kind of Almond Milk Should I buy at the Store and why does it matter?

Healthy friends, beware! First, I commend you for wanting to try non dairy 'milk' however this one is FAR FROM HEALTHY. The labeling is grossly deceiving …

Most people read labels for the fat, sodium & sugar content, but do not fully comprehend the meaning of some of the other ingredients, to their own detriment.

If you eat processed foods, you are most likely ingesting Carrageenan. This ubiquitous additive is found in foods such as. ice cream, half & half, cream, cottage cheese, chocolate milk, some hemp milks, rice milk, almond milk, soy milk, cheesecake, processed meats, hot dogs, frozen desserts, apple cider, jellies, prepared sauces, pies, puddings and baby “formulas.” It is in other processed foods, but it may not be listed on the label, because it is part of another ingredient.

What is Carrageenan?

Carrageenan is a commonly used food additive that is extracted from red seaweed by using powerful alkali solvents. These solvents would remove the tissues and skin from your hands as readily as would any acid. Carrageenan is a thickening agent. It's the vegetarian equivalent of casein, the same protein that is isolated from milk and used to thicken foods. Casein is also used to produce paints, and is the glue used to hold a label to a bottle of beer. Carrageenan is the magic ingredient used to de-ice frozen airplanes sitting on tarmacs during winter storms. IS CARRAGEENAN REALLY NATURAL? Carrageenan is about as wholesome as monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is extracted from rice, and can equally be considered natural. Aspartame (NutraPoison) is also natural, as it is extracted from decayed plant matter that has been underground for millions of years (oil). So too are many other substances such as carrageenan that can also be classified by FDA and USDA as wholesome and natural food additives. Just because something comes from a natural source does not mean that it is safe.

Some people do not experience gastric discomfort caused by the Vaseline-like food additive, carrageenan. Many people do.

Why is carrageenan dangerous?

Here is what a number of doctors and health researchers have to say.

• Per Dr. Ray Peat, PhD, It has been found to cause colitis (inflammation of the large intestine/colon) and anaphylaxis (life threatening allergic reaction) in humans.
• Dr. Andrew Weil says, “Carrageenan can cause ulcerations and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.”
• Dr. Mercola writes: “A number of studies have found that the widely used food additive carrageenan causes cancer in food animals and its use in human foods should be reconsidered…enough evidence exists about the cancer-causing effects of carrageenan to limit the use of this food additive.”

There are other questionable additives that are being used in our food supply and the only way to avoid them is to eat unprocessed foods.

I advise you not to buy something, if you can’t pronounce it…do you know what carrageenan, locust bean gum, guar gum, xanthan, etc is? All of these additives cause side effects that can cause gastrointestinal problems. Most doctors treat your symptoms with medications, instead of, determining what is causing the symptoms. They are blissfully unaware that many of the foods and substances you are eating - have caused your health problems.

If you suffer from flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, loose stools or even blood in your stool, it could be related to the foods or substances that are irritating your intestinal tract.

Just because seaweed is natural - does not mean it is a healthy food for human beings. The red seaweed from which carrageenan has been derived from - should be avoided. It isn’t worth the possibility of gastrointestinal disease or cancer.

Here’s one almond milk I know of that does not have Carrageenan in it…rather it uses Gellan Gum. Almond Dream…this unsweetened version is only 30 calories per serving (8 oz or 1 cup), with NO added sugars, as opposed to Almond Breeze, which is 90 calories for the same serving size, and 15g OF ADDED SUGAR!!! 60 calories of the Almond Breeze is added sugar, as you can see if you compare the labels side by side.

http://www.tastethedream.com/products/product/1939/360.php

Gellan Gum - a food gum that is primarily used as a gelling agent. It can be used in fortified beverages to suspend protein, minerals, vitamins, fiber and pulp. Gellan gum also suspends milk solids in diluted milk drinks. Gellan gum can act as a fluid gel, having a wide range of textures, and can exist as a light pourable gel or a thick, spreadable paste. Gellan gum is a non-animal gel source which is suitable for vegetarians and people with religious dietary restrictions (Kosher/Halal).

So there you have it folks. If you don't have the ability to make it at home using a high powered blender such as a Vitamix, this is the easier, more convenient route. How convenient is cancer or IBS or any other health related and debilitating disease I ask? That's up to you to define, but I make my own almond milk at home, when my boyfriend isn't being a dork and buying whatever looks good on the shelf. I made him return this when he came home with it...I'm THAT serious about this. If you can make it at home, it's the easiest thing ever. All you need is:

• 1 cup almonds (soaked overnight in water)
• 4 cups water
• Optional = 2-3 dates, or 1/4 cup agave nectar, stevia to taste (natural sweetener 300 times sweeter than sugar, with no calories) to sweeten
• Optional = 1 tsp of vanilla

Blend at high power for 1-2 minutes until fully dissolved. THAT'S IT! You can either strain the almond paste from the mix by pouring the contents into a nut milk bag wrapped over a bowl and let it strain OR drink with the pulp in it, for fiber. It's less smooth that way, and since most of us are accustomed to drinking smooth 'milk', you might prefer to strain it. Store in your fridge and enjoy, being proud of the fact that you're consuming homemade almond milk, with only 2-4 ingredients in it. Anything more than 5 ingredients on a label, 90% of the time I won't even buy!

NOT to mention the improved health fat content of homemade vs store bought. Here's a comment I left on the post that inspired this blog in response to my warning to stay away from Almond Breeze:

"Guys, I just did the math...it's pretty sad. 1 serving (1 cup) of Almond Breeze is 2.5 g fat (no mono or poly), 150 mg sodium, 16g carb (of which 15 is sugar), 1g protein. If you make it at home with REAL raw almonds, 1 cup serving is basically 1/4 cup nuts...14g fat (3.5g poly, 9g mono), 6g carb (1g sugar from Chef Boy R Mother Nature) and 6 g protein! A real NUT serving has GOOD FAT in it, NOT SUGAR!!! That's why this CRAP is sugar with a hint of nuts added...why the H does the FDA allow labeling to call it 'almond milk' when it's really 'SUGAR MILK'?"

I hope this plants a seed in your head regarding the importance of understanding modern food labels and that the real lesson here, is the closer any product is to it's natural state, the healthier for you!

How to Sneak Veggies in your Diet

And just why on God's Green earth would I eat this Ghostbuster looking Glass of Goob? Because it is packed full of just about every vitamin you could imagine, with the addition of Superfoods, such as Hemp and Spirulina (an amazing immune booster, keeping you farther from disease and cancer). And the best part...you can't even TASTE that there's greens in it. The predominant notes of flavor are the dates, banana and cashews in addition to whichever protein powder blend you include in it.

Today, I tried organic peanut butter in place of cashews, as well as almond milk, and pumpkin instead of the dates, added some cinnamon and YUM, tis the season. I also used my favorite Dr Mercola protein powder (I carry this, and can ship it to you at a discount - it's Di approved, with NO artificial flavors, high protein and LOWer carbs than the hemp PP I list here, which knocked off about 100 calories of the recipe below)...please DO NOT EVER drink Muscle Milk...you get what you pay for, so if you need help finding a good protein powder that will work best for YOU, I will be glad to help! Play with it, but realize that spinach is like rice...it will take on whatever flavor you combine it with, but without the texture some loathe. If you want to make it even more filling with a complex carb and healthy fiber, add 1/4 cup of uncooked oats. This is NOT the recovery drink you'll consume just after a work out...it's great for the one following a work out, following your recovery drink OR the best way to start your morning EVER! Here it is folks! Let me know what you think, as well as please share any other combinations you've tried!

"There's Greens in Here?" Hemp Protein Drink

Servings Made: 1

Ingredients:

• 0.5 each Banana ­ med 8"
• 1 date, pitted Dates, medjool
• 0.5 cup Hempmilk ­ Living Harvest (vanilla)
  
• 1/2 cup Ice cubes
• 1 oz Nuts, cashew nuts, raw
• 1 cup Spinach, raw
• 1 teaspoon Spirulina Powder (I used Pure Hawaiian Pacifica)
• 2 tablespoon Trader Joe's Organic Hemp Protein Powder (Vanilla Flavor)

Preparation:

1. Add all to blender (blends down best with a high powered blender, such as a Vitamix – contact me for details and discounts) for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth.
2. ENJOY seated comfortably, with a peaceful mind and open heart.

SUBSTITUTION OPTIONS:

• Can be made without Spirulina.
• Add small amounts of Stevia to taste. And for diabetics or others conscious ofsugar intake, you can substitute Stevia for the dates, which are high in sugar, albeit therapeutic sugar.
• Substitute Hemp PP with 1 serving of preferred protein powder of choice (can obtain higher grams of protein profiles and less fat, carbs with others depending on your diet)
• Hemp milk can be substituted for non GMO, organic soy, almond, coconut milk, etc. DO NOT use dairy as it will create mucous in your body and impair your bodys ability to absorb and assimilate all of these

Nutrition Information per Serving:

Calories 417.66

Protein 14.56 g

Carbohydrates 56.49 g

Fat 17.13 g

Fiber 9.60 g

Saturated Fat 2.48 g

Cholesterol 0.00 mg

Sodium 134.84 mg

FAT BURNING, TUMMY FLATTENING COOKIES

FAT BURNING COOKIES

Staying slim requires eating satisfying snacks that keep hunger pangs at bay. Also, these are filled with nutritious foods that are excellent for pre or post work out bite sized treats. Key ingredients in these cookies include:

-CINNAMON to keep your blood sugar in check

-SLOW DIGESTING PROTEIN from yogurt -PAIRED WITH-

-Faster-digesting WHEY PROTEIN POWDER to steadily suppress appetite

-WHOLE-WHEAT FLOUR for energy-revving B vitamins

-OATS for their anti-flammatory polyphenols and beta-glucan

-WALNUTS to promote a feeling of fullness that subdues cravings

BONUS: Cacao chips curb your sweet tooth and squash any ‘I’m a victim of deprivation’ thoughts. Cacao is unrefined, raw, unprocessed chocolate as close to it’s natural state as possible. 100% cacao is a bit bitter, whereas 70% possesses a sweeter taste, with the addition of palm oil and either nonfat milk powder (non vegan) or malted corn and barley (vegan). Aim at 70% or more cacao to benefit from the medicinal and anti-oxidizing properties of chocolate in it’s raw state. Chocolate less than 70% generally tends to be over-processed with the inclusion of sugar, and at high temperatures killing the nutritive potency the cacao bean offers.

Ingredients:

GROUP 1

1 ½ Organic Greek Low or Non Fat Yogurt

½ cup Raw honey or Organic Agave Nectar

1/8 cup Canola Oil

1/8 cup Coconut Oil

1 egg*

2 tsp vanilla extract

GROUP 2

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

2 cups whey protein powder

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Stevia or Truvia to taste (0 calorie sweetener in place of sugar)

GROUP 3

1 cup rolled oats**

½ cup 70% or more cacao chips (Vegan bags avail at Whole Foods)

½ cup walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Combine all ingredients in Group 1 in a large bowl and stir with a fork. I use my Kitchen Aid mixer to do the work for me. It’s not necessary, just makes things easier.

3. Add Group 2 ingredients and stir to consistency

4. Add Group 3 ingredients and stir last time until they’re evenly dispersed

5. Spray non stick on cookie sheets and evenly spread teaspoon size scoops over them. Cook for 7-8 minutes for moister cookies, and 9-10 minutes if you like them more spongy and cake like.

*For vegans, try substituting one banana or 1/4 cup applesauce for the egg. Or 1/4 cup canned pumpkin, since ‘tis the season.

**Consider using slow cook oats vs the Quick (more fiber)

Makes approx. 70 cookies

Nutrients per serving (2 cookies):

Calories:		99 cal
Total Fat:		3g
	Saturated:	1g
	Trans:	0g
Cholesterol:		6 mg (0 if no egg is used)
Sodium:		72mg
Total Carbs:		11g
	Fiber:	2g
	Sugars:	5g
Protein:		7g

This will also vary depending on what brand of protein powder you use. I have a good suggestion for you that I can recommend, email me if you'd like more info. :)

MAKE IT A SUPERFOOD COOKIE

...by sprinkling these over them when they come out of the oven, and are still moist. And although they are superfoods, they still have calories, so take that into consideration when snacking…the key is moderation.

2-4 tsp of Maca Powder

½ cup Goji berries

In order to reach and maintain our weight goals, deprivation is not the word that comes to mind. Moderation is. These cookies fulfill my 'cookie' fix all the time. At first, they make take some adjusting to, seeing how there is NO white sugar, white flour, butter, etc in these as are in a typical cookie recipe. With dietary adjustments and replacements (this not that), your palet will naturally change and evolve so that these will taste even BETTER than the traditional cookie recipe. Your body will crave these from the inside, with the way they make you feel due to the healthy ingredients. :) Also, a HUGE bonus is the probiotics that are in the yogurt. I use Fage 0 or 2%, or Trader Joes Organic 0 or 2% is awesome too. These are the LOWEST sugared yogurts I've come across in my research. Acidophilus is the strain of probiotic abundantly found in yogurt, which is a friendly colon residing bacteria that boosts immunity, aids in stabilizing digestion and FLATTENS THE TUMMY. Yeah buddy! Although yogurt is one of the highest concentrated probiotic foods out there, I still advise taking a probiotic daily to further aid in digestion, curb hunger cravings and flatten the tummy. The one I take every night before bed has 13 strains (acidophilus is just one of many). For more on which to take, I blogged on that a couple months ago. Here's how to find one at the best price (where I shop online).

http://dianekazer-vitamindi.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

Enjoy my friends, and please feel free to pass this anyone you know with a cookie addiction, looking for a healthier alternative.

Be happy! Be fit! Be healthy! Namaste,

DK

Fusion Diet - Lost 6 pounds in Week 1

As many of you know, I'm a 'trial and error', guinea pig it, prove it, proof is in the pudding, I'll believe it when I see it kind of gal. I enjoy experimenting with, learning and researching new ideas for the improvement within and understanding of our bodies. We cannot ignore the very fundamental fact that each one of us functions differently, from our genetics to our environment, what works for me may not work for you, but at least I know through my own attempts, what CAN work, and what English coin as 'rubbish', mostly comprised of 'high selling, gimmicky, trend diets'. A lot of new theories are arising on diets that are designed to work best for each individual body type, be it Blood Type, DNA make up, physique shape (pear, apple, carrot), etc. Some are going so far as to incorporate our family medical record history, and recommend eating habits based on the prevention of pre-disposed medical conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, to name a few. My point is, there are and always will be a myriad of diet tips, plans and strategies from which to chose, but THE BEST advice you can follow comes from your own personal experience. WE MUST GET TO KNOW OUR OWN ENGINE!!! Therefore, 3 weeks ago, I embarked on my own diet/cleansing/exercise adventure, the main goal being to bring to my attention what works best for me and what hinders my health maintenance and exercise progress. I RECOMMENDED THIS SAME FUSION DIET TO ANOTHER CLIENT AND HE LOST 25 POUNDS (WENT FROM 215 TO 190) IN 2 MONTHS.

I will share the changes I made to and amazing findings via my exercise and vitamin intake, in the blogs 'Di Hard' and 'Vitamin Di' respectively, but since this blog 'Chef Boy R Di' was created to share recipe and food tip ideas, I will cover my favorite breakfast of champion meal below. If you're the type that likes to SKIP BREAKFAST, because either you're short on time, or fall under the false understanding that you'll be burning fat for fuel until lunch, you are actually doing the opposite, YOU'RE GETTING FATTER!

SKIP BREAKFAST = SLOWING METABOLISM = STORING MORE FAT

Think about it! Let's say you go to bed at 10 and wake up at 6. That's 8 HOURS OF FASTING. When you rise, your body is starved, on empty, driving around desparetely seeking a 76 station to fill up. Instead, most of us, keep driving down to E, then below E, to the point that we're running on fumes, and all you car geeks know what that means to your engine. DON'T PUT STRESS ON YOUR BODY like that. Why do you think we crash at 2pm after lunch? We end up overeating, eating more 'energy' than our body can use for immediate fuel or store for later use, and guess where it goes? To the places that all of you email me about identified as your 'problem areas'...butt, thighs and the most common...BELLY FAT! If you look at a Richter scale after an 8.0 quake, that's exactly what your blood sugar (ie - energy) looks like ALL DAY LONG! Here's the timeline:

10pm - in Bed

6am - wake up

8am - at work

Noon - Lunch

YOUR BODY HAS GONE WITHOUT FUEL FOR 14 HOURS! No wonder you're tired at 2pm, and have every intention of making it to the gym after work, but pass due to fatigue, blaming it on a busy work day! Before lunch, your metabolism is slowed until you feed your body, then after lunch it's exhausted because it had to work overtime to break down the traffic of food you shot down your esophagus (insulin spike = low blood sugar = low energy).

THEREFORE, FOR THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WORK DAY OF YOUR LIFE, EAT THIS:

-1 serving gluten free oatmeal (I measure 1/4 cup dry)

-3 pumps Egg Whites International (see my affiliates link on my site)

-1/2 packet Whey Protein Powder of choice (ask me for one I approve of)

-dash cinnamon

-packet stevia

-1/8 cup nuts (walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds) or 1 tbsp nut butter

-1/2 banana or 1/2 cup combo of fruit (strawberries, blueberries are yum and high antioxidant, as pictured)

The fast version (stove top cooked is best):

Heat up Oatmeal with water for 1.5 min (add just enough water to yield thick oatmeal)

Pump in egg whites, stir and add to micro for only 30 seconds so as not to cook them

Stir in all remaining ingredients of choice, and enjoy!

When I was pressed for time, I'd prepare this and eat it on the way to work, EASY!

If you know anything about the aforementioned foods, you can identify that it's:

GLUTEN FREE

DAIRY FREE

SUGAR FREE (processed that is)

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

CAFFEINE FREE

That has been the foundation of my diet for the last 3 weeks, and in the first week alone, I watched the 'swollen' appearance of my body decrease significantly (commonly misidentified as fat), felt more CONSTANT ENERGY throughout the day, and SLEPT BETTER. I will have further blogs on the remainder of my findings, but this has been BY FAR THE BEST EATING LIFESTYLE I've encountered. I cannot wait to share more!

Oh, and one last thing...after my first week of cleaning myself out with a 7 day cleanse by Nutriclean, that I sell in my online wellness store, with only healthy herbs and no harsh laxatives, I tried a white flour pita to see how my body would react, and the next morning I WAS BLOATED all over my face, my energy was zapped and I was itchy all over. I didn't feel that way a couple of years ago, when I was eating white flour regularly, uninformed of it's demise. And although I didn't set out to completely ax coffee out of my morning routine, I lost the craving for it since I awoke with natural energy, as I slept better too. When I did try a cup, my body rejected it and I felt like a crack addict all day long, so that was the end of that. WHOA! A key learning: JUST BECAUSE OUR BODIES ADAPT TO BAD FOOD, AND ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, DOESN'T MEAN we're healthy! Only through trial and error of elimination can we find the sources of our problems.

For more information on the cleanse I followed, which I will guide you through as your Di-gestion coach, CLICK HERE for info and how to order. All you have to lose is 5-12 pounds, some inflammation, allergies, and fatigue. :)

Please email me if any of you healthy friends need further help!

info@dianekazer.com

NOW GET YOUR CLEANSE ON and DONT forget your breakfast nor your probiotics!