A Bounty of Health

A Bounty of Health
We're gonna live large this week!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Need A Motivational Boost?

Do you need a gentle "kick in the pants" to stay in control of holiday eating?  I've blogged about the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart in the past, which will start up again after Jan 1. But what about NOW -- with the Thanksgiving and Christmas season looming ahead? If you want to avoid the typical weight gain of 5 to 10 holiday pounds, why not join a group of like-minded and similarly motivated people.


Dr. Joel Furhman, food guru extraordinaire, has a Holiday Challenge going on. Why not check it out and join? You'll get the lasting benefit of journeying through the holiday season without gorging yourself, without gaining weight, but he's also offering (drum roll) PRIZES! Can anyone say, Florida!?

Check out his website here, and take some time to explore the uber-valuable information on his site, including podcasts and books. Two if Dr. Fuhrman's books are on my Christmas wishlist, for sure!

Here's to the beginning of a plant-strong, healthy holiday season!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Ashland "Local Roots" Firmly Planted!

Local Roots in Ashland...You are sooo welcome here! Finally! We have year-round access to fresh, local goods, including fresh produce, honey and syrup, breads and more. Local Roots just opened about a month ago in a warehouse space in downtown Ashland, and I've been every Saturday so far, with one or both of my daughters in tow.


Go ahead and support our local producers, and sign up, volunteer, and most importantly BUY!

Plant-Based Diet Now Accessible to All With the Release of The Complete Idiot's Guide!

Don't miss the new release of dietician Julieanna Hever's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition.

Whether you're still looking for the right time to jump on the healthy eating (and living) bandwagon, or you need a boost in your journey, this book is a lifesaver! It's an easy-to-follow guide with loads of recipes and tips for newbies. Check out Julieanna on Dr. Oz's show or on her website.

Stay tuned for more regular blog posts; it's been a bit sparse around here-- for lots of reasons. But we're gearing up for some interesting new posts and some fun new ideas, as well as an update on our family's adventure with plant-based, whole food nutrition.

 See you soon!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Check Out How Your Favorite "Healthy" Fast Food Options Fare: Subway, I Thought We Were Friends?

This just in...Subway's Fresh Fit 6” Turkey Breast Sub failed the test, a recent report by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) claims.

Oh no! This is my go-to choice of eating establishment in our small little town's vast array of fast-food options and extremely limiting healthy choices. At Subway, if you add mayo (or any of their dressings, except little ol' oil and vinegar) and fattening cheese, their sandwiches score low.

I always get the Veggie Delight, and word on the block is that Subway on Claremont packs the most veggies in their sandwich. We love the Claremont Subway!!! When we frequent other Subways in town (believe it or not, there are three), I practically have to BEG for extra veggies. every. time.

Actually, to be truthful, my family has avoided this location because one particular member of the family doesn't like its cramped quarters. Go figure: said family member is from NYC, so I was pretty shocked when this information was released. I guess this person has had his fill of small, cramped spaces.

Here we come Big Sky Country!

Back to the topic at hand: Subway and its Sandwich Artists:

The mindset just isn't there: if you take meat and cheese out of your diet, you have to fill up on veggies -- so don't skimp on the veggies Sandwich Artists! You don't want to mess with a hungry plant-eating crazy lady!

However, my new friend at Subway on Claremont got it right away. Let's just say if you go in the evenings, you're more likely to get a real Veggie Delight sandwich that will fill you up.

So, check out the news report and find out how your favorite fast-food meal fares.Will you be surprised to see McDonald's on the list? Um, that was a joke.

It's circle time, so please share: What's your favorite healthy fast food meal? Is it really healthy?

And don't hate on my endorsement of Subway on Claremont. Good food establishments in Ashland are few and far between. The good ones deserve the ink.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Food vs. Disease. Who wins?

"How To Save A Trillion Dollars," by Mark Bittman

This is an interesting read, and, while you may not agree with everything Bittman says, it's worth considering: spend money on healthy foods or treating disease. The choice is up to you, really, not necessarily the government. Vote with your dollars and your stomach.

Check out Bittman's article, and leave your comments.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Kickstart a Plant-Based Lifestyle

The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is hosting another round of its 21-Day Vegan Kickstart on April 4. Get in on the action and access plant-based recipes by joining here.
You can also download an app, which includes recipes and the 21-day plan.
Even if you don't want to follow the plan, there are a lot of great recipes on the program. I've used a bunch in my recipe rotation!
If you join, let us know how it goes.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Plant Based Diet Hits Low Income Community

I love this idea. Engine 2 released an article describing their participation in a plan to provide plant-strong education for lower income families with serious health risks. I love the fact that there are groups out there thinking about these things and acting on them on a large scale. It's great that we can all impact our family and friends, but the community projects are fun too.

Check out their report here.

The organization heading up "Meals for Health" within the food bank community is EarthSave.

I can't wait to hear the results of the study. They're collecting information to document health transformation and lifestyle changes. They will even have mentors available for participants. Isn't that we all need? A mentor to just get us through the change?

Consider asking a friend or acquaintance you know who is plant strong to take you to that next level. Feel free to ask your questions here too.