a little inspiration

Cindy is one of my favorite people.  Full of passion and energy, she can be a force to reckon with.  Today she shares two amazing ideas for treats that will leave you satisfied and feeling good about yourself!    What could be a more perfect summer treat than a frozen goodie? But let's skip the sugar-and-fat laden dairy-based products in favor of creative treats that taste great and give us a healthy dose of things that are good for us. Homemade popsicles are the standard, sure, but I love something I can spoon out of a bowl, or drizzle with honey and nuts. Top with berries and mint. Or enjoy on its own for what it is. The following recipes are simple and quick, and involve basic, natural ingredients and a food processor. Banana Splitsville I learned this one from a mom with a lactose intolerant child. Her kids love it so much, they don't even beg for ice cream out on the road because it's "not as good as mom's." Three cheers for that, right...

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...