a little inspiration

Already it has been over a week since I started this elimination diet . I have felt well over all and not starving too much.  Although I haven't figured out easy things to take along yet (but really, what is simpler than grabbing a couple carrots?  It just seems so boring...) My mind, however, seems to be clearer, lighter.  I've been on cleanse type diets for this long before and had the feeling of lightness in the body but never so much clearness in my thoughts.  I'm eager to see what foods are responsible for the brain fog.  For years I've been blaming it on the children.  I almost feel like I should write an apology!  It's been amazing to see the brightness of the sky, the sparkle of the water this week.  Like I am coming up for air after too long under water.  I've been able to complete work and think through things with out getting bogged down, you see how much I've been writing! I miss tomatoes the most right now.  It mus...

Yellow roma tomatoes, sigh. Juicy produce is the epitome of summer. In this lazy season, we can find ourselves attending endless pool parties and barbeques serving the masses with macaroni, potato salad, pizza, hot dogs. Perhaps nothing so wrong with that, but I find these especially hot past few weeks make heavy, steaming foods unappealing. So I start going nuts---I mean, finding fruits and veggies to enjoy with this crunchy protein, clarifies the vegetarian. Perhaps it’s my adoration for pistachio gelato that has me drooling over this nut in warmer weather. If you haven’t already tried this easy-peasy pistachio-poppy seed fruit salad , start there. Then delight with me in the intriguing notion of pistachio pesto for an inventive summer pasta to accompany my favorite summer salad. Though divided into simple steps, this is a quick, hearty and healthy meal! To make this entire meal in about thirty minutes, make the best use of your time: 1.      ...

I know you've heard all the buzz about antioxidants in the last several years, but do you know what an antioxidant is?  It is a substance that helps protect and repair natural oxidation (caused by free radicals) of your bodies cells.  This can happen through exposure to things like cigarette smoke or sunlight but also is part of the processes of the body (like inflammation and metabolism.)   So basically, there is no way to avoid the bombardment of free radicals we all face each day.  Enter the anti oxidants. There are plenty of medical studies out there that say that people who eat antioxidant rich foods live longer and have less incident of illness (like cancer, Parkinson's, heart disease, Alzheimer's and more.)  Less conclusive are studies that use supplements as the source for the antioxidants.  I tend to believe, as I think Micheal Pollan once said, that there is more magic in the carrot than just the beta-carotene.  Taking just one pie...