Whole30 Tip // Lunch and Snacks on the Go

Keeping hard boiled eggs, fresh veggies and fruit readily available makes quick on the go foods much easier. Going to the park with a packed lunch made for a lovely lunch in the sun. 

Whole30 Tip // Costco Crumbled Bacon

So my #1 question I get lately is about bacon! So here is my official stance: bacon IS listed on the #whole30approved food list, however after several shopping trips and even more googling it's near impossible to find bacon without sugar! What's a girl to do?! I personally use this crumbled bacon from Costco - it's 100% real bacon, naturally smoked and there isn't enough sugar for even a gram to be listed in the nutritional facts chart but in the ingredients list it says "cured with water, salt, sugar" so it's there a little tiny bit! I use a tablespoon or 2 in some meals, I don't eat it every day and I don't have handfuls (ha!) and I feel like this is as good of a choice as I can make and I sleep just fine at night and still feel like I didn't cheat on Whole30 , but some die hards might argue because sugar is listed it's not compliant- I'd rather this than paying $17 for a couple slices you can get shipped to your home! Anyway, who knew I'd have such a strong stance on bacon?! 

Do the best in unpredictable times

Here are some tools for doing our best, and eating our best during unpredictable times!

So it is Spring here in New York and is April 8th today - 2 days to my birthday. This time last year I was out in Central Park in a dress and it was lovely and warm. This year I am rugged up as it is still quite chilly outside. On the last day of March, when New Yorkers woke up, we were all shocked that it is snowing outside! What the?! I do appreciate the beautiful snow that's for sure!!

This unpredictable snow inspired this blog post. 

It goes with how things happen in our life that we just don't expect. And we have to eat the best we can given the circumstances! If we wait to feel right before starting a healthy diet we can wait forever! And it's usually through the stressful times that we grab junk food!

Same goes with waiting to make more money before eating healthier; we can at least grab a few things that do not have to be organic and incorporate them into the lifestyle now, like lemon for lemon water. It is amazing the difference having a lemon water every morning can have on our bodies.

I use to binge on junk food when I was stressed. Now I have new tools, and when I'm stressed I'll bake some cookies, or fry some potatoes, or make a smoothie or juice. I no longer live inside the vicious cycle of junk food. How soothing is baking when we are going through a stressful time? But not baking something with bleached flour or refined sugar - these ingredients intuitively can give our body anxiety as our body knows they are NOT GOOD and are very hard for the body to digest.

Everyday on the news something new is happening in the world. We never really know what can happen each day, and so we are living in unpredictable times. We do know we love mystery and that's part of being human. 

So we just do the very best we can under any situation at any point in our life. Things are always changing and we cannot predict all the changes that happen in our lives like the weather!  

After living the Earth Diet for long enough,  you will get a new set of skills for dealing with change in life when it comes to eating. You will want to nourish your body at all times - especially through the more difficult times! Now through difficult times I am more aware that my body will need more Vitamin C to keep my immune system strong - so I will drink more lemon water, eat more oranges and make orange juice.

I designed a 7 and 21 day nourishment program for this reason. If you are going through an unpredictable time and want some guidance, try this program, print it out and stick to it the best you can. You will feel supported with the intention to nourish your body. 

And here are my 2 favorite nourishing recipes:

Protein Berry Chocolate Smoothie - this is one of my favorite right now because it is loaded with antioxidants and provides so much energy. It is also very easy to make just adding all ingredients into a blender and mixing - less than 7 minutes to make! Here is recipe: http://www.theearthdiet.org/28/post/2013/12/protein-berry-chocolate-smoothie.html

Chocolate Beet Cakes - it is so soothing to make this from scratch and then wait for them while they are in the oven. The entire process is enjoyable and relaxing. And the cacao powder is high in antioxidants, boosting our mood, while the beet provides a nice cleanse for the body. Here is the recipe: http://www.theearthdiet.org/28/post/2013/12/chocolate-beet-cup-cakes.html

Do your best, an if you don't feel like you are doing your best, go do something right now like drink a glass of water or eat an orange to affirm you are nourishing your body - no matter what! It is easier said then done, but once done it feels so fulfilling. 

203 days to book launch!

Love Liana

P.S I opened Eckhart Tolle's book "The Power of Now" with the intention to get something to include in this blog, and here is what I got,
"Whenever any kind of disaster strikes, or something goes seriously "wrong" - illness, disability, loss of home or fortune or of a social defined identity, breakup of a close relationship, death or suffering of a loved one, or your own impending death - know that there is another side to it, that you are just one step away from something incredible: a complete alchemical transmutation of the base metal of pain and suffering into gold. That one step is called surrender. I do not mean to say that you will become happy in such a situation. You will not. But fear and pain will become transmuted into an inner peace and serenity that come from a very deep place. Your first chance is to surrender each moment to the reality of that moment. Knowing that what is cannot be undone because it already is - you say yes to what is or accept what isn't. Then you do what you have to do, whatever the situation requires. If you abide in this state of acceptance, you create no more negativity, no more suffering, no more unhappiness. You then live in a state of nonresistance, a state of grace and lightness, free of struggle."

Whole30 Tip // Freeze Dried Fruit

Hardest hike I've done in ages. Topped off with this sweet treat, Trader Joe's freeze dried strawberries. These make for a great on the go snack for just such opportunities with my boys. 

We all have issues

It's true - we all have issues! We all have something we are 'working' on - or want to change and be better. Sometimes we think other people are perfect, or other people have better lives, when the truth is we all suffer with some issue. It's called being human! When I was stuck in a vicious cycle of binge eating on junk food - I thought I was the only person in the world who did this kind of thing! I thought this because for 5 years no one knewI was suffering! I kept it to myself, I thought others would think I was weird and not understand why I was addicted to junk foods. I feared being judged. As soon as I shared my story a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, I started this blog and then discovered many people wrote to me who also had issues. To know other people had issues was a relief to me. I thought 'why am I not perfect?' 'why is this happening to me and not others' and 'If I could be someone else I would have a better life.' Now I realize I don't want anyone else's life - I want my life - and I want to work on myself to be the best me I can be, and the healthiest me I can be! When we compare ourself to others we can get stuck thinking they are better because they have less issues - but you don't know what that person is really dealing with unless you have a deep honest conversation with them!

I wanted to write this blog to inspire myself and you to not feel bad about our issues. We should not feel guilty, or that we are wrong, or be in shame at all. We should know we are where we are at, and that we are learning and growing with the process.

Really Rome was not built in a day, and pretty sure the Taj Mahal took 22 years to build. Transformation is a process! Foundation building takes time! 

Here is some inspiration for us as we deal with our issues:

:) 

Love Liana 

Book launch in 7 months! :) talk about issues lol kidding ! ;) 

Whole30 Recipe // Spinach and Steak Salad Topped with Lime Juice

Lunch today is spinach steak salad with artichoke hearts, black olives, avocado, roasted pine nuts with lime juice! 

Sauteé your steak on medium heat until it is cooked to your desired taste. Top spinach, fresh avocado, black olives and artichokes with steak, sprinkle with roasted pine nuts and the juice of a lime. Yummo!

Whole30 SWYPO Recipe // Banana Coconut Pancakes with Blueberry Lemon Coconut Cream Sauce

Whole30 calls these kind of recipes "sex with your pants on" aka #swypo - basically all ingredients are Whole30 compliant but together they make something so sweet and a little overindulgent you probably shouldn't eat much, it's LDS conference weekend though and we eat good food! I'm staying strong and turned down the homemade cinnamon rolls and made this instead! 

Recipe: 

Banana coconut pancakes (3 eggs, 1 ripe banana, 1/4 c coconut flour mixed together with a fork and cooked in pancake shape, stove top over medium heat with coconut oil).

Blueberry lemon coconut cream sauce (blend 1/2 c blueberries, 1/2 c coconut milk, juice from one lemon blended all up together).

Top with fresh bananas and blueberries.

Foods for healing kidney issues

There can be a lot of opinions for healing kidney problems. From the research I have done, the trend shows that a natural diet like the earth diet prevents and improves all health conditions. Science shows as soon as we put nutrition into our body, that our immune system is somewhat strengthened. I believe the body intuitively knows how to heal itself, provided it is energized with proper nourishment. Every person is different and each healing is unique. 

To heal kidney problems specifically, focus on anti-inflammatory foods like Cauliflower, Garlic, Onions, Apples, Cranberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Cherries, Red Grapes, Olive Oil, Fish, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Parsley, Cilantro and Kidney Beans!

Here are some recipes you may like specifically for kidney:

Berry Blast Smoothie: http://www.theearthdiet.org/3/post/2012/11/berry-blast-smoothie.html

5-ingredient Detox Salad: 

http://www.theearthdiet.org/28/post/2013/12/5-minute-detox-green-salad.html

Bean Burgers: (Use Kidney beans) 

http://www.theearthdiet.org/28/post/2013/12/bean-burger-on-a-bun-vegan.html

I also have a new recipe for Caulfilower Popcorn which is in the new book!

This blog was inspired to Camille for asking! 

205 days to book launch!

Love Liana :) !