What you need to know about eating fruit

EATING FRUIT

This is informative!


We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and when to eat fruit. 


What's the correct way to eat fruit? 


IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER A MEAL!  FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. 


Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. 


FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so. 


In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil. 

Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat! 



There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste. Cooking destroys all of the vitamins. 


Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look! 


KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange! 


AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke. 


STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals. 


EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer. 


WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of  92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.


GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes. 


Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!

Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this applies to you. It's nice to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you've just consumed, which slows digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal. 

V'lishious Deserts

Banana Bread

1/2 cup unsweetened milk alternative of choice, Almond milk or Soy are my favorites

2 tbsp  flaxseed

2 cups whole grain spelt or whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1- 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup coconut oil

3-4 mashed ripe banana's

1/2 cup chopped nuts or dried fruit

Preheat oven at 350, grease a 9x5 loaf pan.  Set a side

In a large mixing bowl combine the milk and ground flaxseed and set a side.

In a medium size bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.

Returning to the large bowl, blend oil, vanilla and banana's until mixed well.  Stir in the dry ingredients by hand, don't over mix, some lumps are okay.

Gently fold in the nuts or dried fruit, if using.  Spread the batter in your greased loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until top is browned.  Allow bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing it to a wire cool rack.

Quick Baked Pears

4 Servings

2 large pears

2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup dried cranberries or any dried fruit

1/4 cup granola

1/4 cup apple juice

Peel pears, cut in half lengthwise.  Hollow out the middle, use a melon baller or grapefruit spoon to remove core and seeds.

Place Pear halves, with sides up, in a glass pie plate.  Combine sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle evenly over pears.

Add cranberries and granola, mound into the center of the hollowed pear halves.

Cover dish loosely with wax paper.

Cook in microwave for 4-6 minutes or until the pears are tender.  Let stand in the dish for 5 minutes.  Before serving drizzle juices from pie plate over the pears.

Enjoy this healthy warm snack with a slice of warm banana bread!!!

7 Layer Supreme Burrito Pie

Simply Beautiful 7-layer Supreme Burrito Pie

4-6 Servings

    2 (15-oz) cans of Vegetarian refried beans

    2 (15-oz) of your favorite salsa (or Homemade)

    1-2 tomatoes, diced

    2 Avocados, piled, pitted and diced

    2 cups slice romaine heart lettuce (or your favorite lettuce)

    2 oz of black olives

    Tofutti Sour cream 

    4 tortillas (flour or wheat)

Place one tortilla on the bottom of a 7 to 9 inch round casserole dish.  This will help keep all the ingredients together when serving.  Use about 3/8 of the refried beans on this bottom layer.

Place another tortilla on top of that. Mix the rest of your refried beans with an equal or larger amount of salsa, depending on the size of your pan and how thick you want it.  Spread just enough to cover the tortilla.  Continue process to the fourth tortilla(which also has the beans/salsa on it).

Now slice the romaine hearts into thin slices by pulling the knife back over them horizontally.  Garnish the top layer with the lettuce first in a circle around the edge. (You may want to wait for this until after you bake, as the lettuce may burn)

Spread Tofutti sour cream on the top follow with dice tomatoes, dice avocado's and finally in the very center, add a large amount of black olives.  Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Easy Vegan Substitutes

Before your begin your new journey on finding vegan substitutes, it's important to manage your expectations. Just as you would not expect a banana to taste like a lentil, you should not expect vegan foods, like soy milk, for example, to taste like cow's milk. All foods are their own separate entities with their own special tastes. It's important to learn to appreciate them for what they are. Have a open mind as you sample new tastes, textures and flavors. Before you know it your vegan substitutes become your favorite!


To substitute milk, simply replace cow's milk with soy milk, rice milk or almond milk. Try several different brands until you find one you like. Vanilla soy and rice milk tend to taste more like cow's milk than the plain varieties. Soy milk now comes in an variety of flavors including eggnog, chai and chocolate. Many egg substitutes exist. The easiest, when baking, is to substitute 1 heaping tablespoon of flour and 1 tablespoon of water for each egg. Soy flour infuses baked goods with a moist, dense texture. Other substitutes for 1 egg include 1/2 banana; 1/4 cup soy yogurt or soy sour cream; 1/4 cup of silken tofu, blended well; and 1 tablespoon of flax seeds plus 3 tablespoons of water. You can also purchase a ready-made egg replacer called Ener-G is in most health food stores.


Here is a list of  basic " Vegan Substitutes" and a few of my favorite things I can't live without!

• Earth Balance- Non Diary, Vegan margarine 
• Tofutti makes a great cream cheese, sour cream and ice cream in variety of flavors
• So Delicious ice creams and ice cream cookies
• Silk Yogurt in a variety of flavors
• Veganese "follow your heart" mayo and dressing replacement
• Rice Milk- Original and vanilla flavor.  Chocolate Hemp and Almond is amazing too
• Agar Nectar- honey and sweetener replacement
• Meat replacements- Tofu, Seitan, Tempeh, or Textured soy protein (T.V.P)
• Yves meatless beef grounds and burgers
• Boca Burgers- Vegan original , roasted garlic or roasted onion
• Boca Chik'n Patties- original, spicy or nuggets
• Amy's Kitchen- All American burger, Bistro burger, California veggie burger, Quarter-pond veggie burger and Texas burger

Got a sweet tooth, not to worry you can have the following treats:

• Any Dark Chocolate
• Dots, Jujubees, smarties, gummy bears, skittles, Big League Chew Gum and Blow pops just to name a few.

Great & Easy "Dips" for your New Years Party!

Spinach Dip

Servings 4

Box Frozen Chopped Spinach (Thawed)

1 Tub Tofutti Sour Cream

1 Pkg Vegan Vegetable Soup Mix*

1/4 Cup Veganoaise

Combine all ingredients and mix well. To serve, cut off the top of pumpernickel bread, and hollow out the bottom, leaving about an inch thick pumpernickel bowl. Pour dip into bread bowl and chill for a few hours before serving. Use the hollowed out bread to dip into the mixture. 

Onion Dip 

Servings 4

1 Box Soft Silken Style Tofu

1 Pkg Vegan Onion Soup Mix*

*Note: Some soup mixes contain beef or other animal fat. Keep this in mind when shopping.

  

Blend tofu into a sour cream consistency. Add onion soup mix and stir well. Cover and chill for an hour or two before serving. Serve with chips or vegetables.

Basic Guacamole 

Servings 4

4 Avocados 

1 Lime, juice squeezed

1 Tablespoon sea salt

2 Tomatoes, diced

Slice the Avocado in half, remove the pit.  Spoon out the avocado into a bowl and mash the Avocado in a bowl until smooth.  Add the lime juice, salt stirring to a creamy texture.  Add the tomatoes, stir and chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Excellent to add & stir in some fresh Salsa too!!

Fresh Salsa
4-6 Servings

3 tomatoes, diced

1 green bell pepper, seeded & diced

1 yellow onion

3-4 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 Jalapeno, seeded and diced

2 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped

Juice of 1 Lemon or lime

1 TSP cumin

1 TSP oregano

1/2 TSP salt & pepper

1/4 TSP ground cayenne

1 can diced tomatoes


In a large mixing bowl, combine the fresh diced tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and canned diced tomatoes, mix well.


Place 3 quarters of the mixture in a food processor or blinder (5 seconds).  Pour back with the chunky mixture and stir well.


Chill the salsa for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.  Great with Tortilla Chips or topping on your favorite mexican dish.

Traditional Hummus
4-6 Servings

1 1/4 cup chick peas, soaked in water over night (or 1- 15 oz can) drained & rinsed

3-4 Tablespoons of Tahini

2 lemons, juiced

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1 teaspoon of salt

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Soak you chicks peas over night.  Drain and put into a pan with plenty of fresh water. Bring to a boil, remove scum and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until they are very soft.  Drain reserving the cooking water.

Using can chick peas, rinse throughly, put into a pan with fresh water.  Bring to a boil and drain reserving the cooked water.

Blend the cooked chick peas to a puree in a food processor or blender add the remaining ingredients, except for the oil and a little of the cooking water- (just enough to blend it to a soft, creamy paste).  Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.

Pour hummus into a shallow dish and drizzle over the olive oil.

Serve with vegetables of choice (carrots, celery, broccoli), pita chips or pita bread.

Great Egg Replacer

Flax seeds can make awesome binders!

To replace 3 eggs: bring one cup of water and 2 to 3 tablespoons whole flax seeds to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for about five minutes, stirring occassionally, until the mixture thickens into goo (similar in texture to egg whites). Strain and cool the goo, and use like eggs.

For cakes, I add the flax goo last, after everything else is mixed togther because it really can firm up a batter. And I usually don't bother to strain the flax seeds out (because it's a pain) unless I'm baking something really fancy.

Ground flax seed recipe (for 1 "egg"): Take 2 tbsp ground flax seed and combine with 3 tbsp water.

You can also use half a banana for 1 "egg".

3 tbsp applesauce = 1 "egg".

Fudgy Brownies

This makes yummy Holiday treats for all your friends & family!!!

Fudgy Brownies

2/3 cup plus 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
10 ounce of blueberry or strawberry spreadable fruit
1/4 cup soy milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 TSP almond extract
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 TSP baking powder
1/2 TSP baking soda
1/4 TSP salt


Preheat oven to 325.  Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.  Melt 2/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips in microwave for 1 minute.  Stir and microwave for one additional minute.  Set aside

In a large mixing bowl combine; spreadable fruit, soy milk, sugar, oil and extract.  Mix on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until no clumps are visible.

Sift in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir until well mixed.  Use a fork to mix, the batter will get very thick.

Mix in the melted chocolate and fold in the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.  Nuts are also excellent to fold in!!!

Bake for 50 minutes, remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes before serving.  Don't use a toothpick with this recipe, the chocolate will always stick.

ENJOY!!!