Green Bananas --- what do you do with them?

Do you have a bunch of green bananas that just didn't quite ripen in the cooler winter months? I don't eat a lot of cooked food anymore, but in times like this, I won't waste whole food so here is my story of what happen recently and here is what I learned ...

Green bananas are still a starch and taste nasty raw... hard, pasty, and leave that film in your mouth if you have even tried to eat one. In places where bananas grow abundantly they are used cooked as a starch, like we use potatoes. So I thought I would try that. It worked great, and they have a neutral starch taste.

Here are some tricks I have learned:

1. wash your green banana, don't peel, cut off the top and bottom, then slit 2 sides with a knife.
2. prepare your pot with enough water to cover the bananas and a bit of oil. don't forget the oil, this will keep the oils from the green skin from sticking to the sides of the pot
3. put your green bananas peel and all in the pot
4. bring to boil, the cover and simmer for about 20 minutes
5. drain the water, rinse, and cool down until you can handle them safely and not burn yourself
6. peel them, save the banana part, discard skins (or save for compost)
7. now use them like potatoes
8. for recipes - use the green bananas warm, once you cool them in the refrig. they do tend to harden a bit. you can re-soften by reheating them in a bit of water.

Creamy green banana leek soup (serves 2 meal, 4 to 6 sides)

• 4 green bananas (prepared as above)
• 3 leeks cleaned, thinly sliced, lightly steamed
• 16 oz of orgainc no salt veggie broth or water
• 2 TBLS extra virgin olive oil (EVO)
• 1/4 c. pine nuts ( more if you like)
• fresh ground black pepper

Optional: sea salt  to taste, organic seasonings, or garlic

Add all bananas, EVO,  and 1/2 of leeks to blender, blend until smooth.  Pour into bowls.  Divide remaining leeks to each bowl, sprinkle with pine nuts and fresh ground black pepper.
Even good chilled a few hours later, and even better a day later.

Pure Joy

It is pure joy when people taste living food (after being a skeptic) and just are blown away at how great it tastes, and how they feel after eating it.

It is pure joy when people make small changes it their health and feel the difference to keep them focused straight ahead.

It is pure joy to see people living to their full God-given potential.

It is pure joy to have a husband who is a team player.

It is pure joy to help someone a meet a fitness goal!

It is pure joy to watch someone make great lifestyle choices to recover from preventable cancer.

It is pure joy to say - go and work at your passion, and it won't be work.

Yummiest 7 Minutes Ever...

Here is a clip from my Green Smoothie Detox Class. 

Recipe is taken from my book God it's Good! 

Green Smoothies

In light of my Saturday class here are some highlights from my green smoothie detox booklet.

Green smoothies - boost immune system, add more energy, regulate digestion, fewer sugar/salt cravings, fewer mood swings, lose weight, help the skin become radiant, stabilize blood sugars, hair and nails grow faster, balances ph,  adds -- minerals vitamins micronutrients antioxidants chlorophyll amino acids fiber to your diet, and did you know they can double as a meal?  And yes,  they are budget friendly.   Yes they even help to rebuild the body from cigarette damage and alcohol abuse and the help create and alkaline environment for healthy cell to grow (disease loves the acidic environment).

As for sports, green smoothies can increase your sports performance, with quality hydration and electrolyte replacement, balance blood sugar,  long burn energy, and faster recovery.

Smoothie basics

• Keep it simple, think Fruits and Greens for optimal digestion. 
• Try to get greens organic, not only for pesticides, but for higher mineral content because the soil is better.  But any greens is better than no greens at all.
• Add just enough water to make it blend.
• Chew your smoothie instead of chugging.  Saliva in your mouth with help to start digesting it right away.  And that wonderful green nutrients can start to be absorbed right away even right under your tongue.
• Any blender will work, just have to cut up pieces smaller and add them in in batches, then just let it run a bit longer.
• When you first start out, you will tend to a sweeter smoothie.  That’s fine, it is better to have a sweet green smoothie than none at all.  As your taste buds adjust you will naturally cut back on the sweetness.
• Smoothies are so good you can drink them by themselves – best to do that for assimilation – probably going to be full anyway.
• Use a different type of greens everyday to balance the minerals and amino acids.
• Fresh is always best, but they will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. 
• General rule of thumb (though they both have both vitamins and minerals). Think fruit for vitamins and greens for minerals and protein.
• Add a couple dates in the winter time if the fruit isn’t as ripe.
• Make your own smoothie
• Beautiful thing about smoothies is it is not an exact science. Have some fun with your own combinations.  (see above for the flavors of greens)
• You don’t need to add anything else but fruit and greens. You will have plenty of protein. No need to add a bunch of processed pasteurized milks, yogurt, other additives, sugar, salt, etc…

Super-Duper Quick & Easy

Benefits of the baby greens, is you get a lot of variety in one shot.

• 4 bananas (with beauty spots)  / 3 for women
• 3 to 4 handfuls of pre-wash baby greens or ½ bag pre-washed spinach
• water

Estimated cost:

Organic bananas 29 ¢ each (Trader Joes) x 4 = $ 1.16

Organic greens $1.25  (Costco)

Total:  $2.36

 
Optional:

• ½ inch piece of ginger

Make your own guidelines:

• 50 to 60 percent fruit
• 40 to 50 percent greens
• 1 cup of water (just to get the blender moving, add more if needed)
• If you want it creamier, add 1 or 2 bananas or ½ to 1 avocado

 Add to the blender.  Enjoy.


Cost savings (see above)

Everyone says.. OMGosh it is soooooooo expensive?  I would like to challenge that !  How did spending 3 dollars for greens get expensive when you spend that much on fake butter, dressings, and boxed cereal with no nutrition...  how did eating and drinking alcohol out get cheaper... how did fancy coffee and smoking get cheaper.... how did missing tons of work being sick get cheaper... how did spending a ton on money on doctors, medications (prescription and non-prescription), hospitals get cheaper .... how did having a preventable disease get cheaper...

Also, did you know the healthier you eat the less you eat? 

'Z' Better Butter Substitute

Need a better butter substitute with great healthy fats? (Recipe below.)

Coconut Oil - had plant based fatty acids (lauric acid, also found in breast milk) which are good for the body it many ways such as: weight loss, energy, cholesterol levels, immune function, kidney relief issues, metabolism, digestion, skin, hair, nails, etc.. and it also contains anti fungal (use it on your toes for athlete foot), antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties. Even saturated plant based fats do not raise cholesterol levels like the saturated animal fats.

Flax Seed Oil - Can any one say, Omega 3's ? Well it actually has omega 3, 6, and 9. Brain food and reducing inflammation are at the top of the list. We can also add that it helps to lower cholesterol, stimulate brown fat cells, eyesight, liver function, skin issues, arthritis, etc..

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVO)- is a heart super-food and there are lower rates of diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, asthma, atherosclerosis, etc.. with those consuming EVO. Polyphenols are also responsible for the heart benefits, anti-flammatory, antibiotic, and anticoagulant properties. (Add EVO to some butter and let it set for a while. Come back and see how the butter is broken down - kinda what it does in your body to help break down cholesterol.)

I took all of these great fats and made this....

'Z' Better Butter Substitute

• 1/2 c coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 c water (add more if needed for desired creaminess)
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1/2 t lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 t honey

Blend together in a small blender. Store in a glass jar, refrigerate or freeze. Spread and use like you would butter.

Options: leave out the honey if you want it less sweet. If you are used to salted add a pinch more sea salt.

Here are some great brands of these oils.  The flavors are great.  Barleans is the freshest  tasting flax seed oil.

  

Food and Finances

Our church is hosting Financial Peace University and I started realizing that living responsibly is definitely as much a part of wellness as it is a part of financial peace.  Being a good steward and manager applies to all areas of our lives.  Granted, it may be easier to tackle one area at a time, but they both need to be tackled.  Knowing about your money is a key to wellness and de-stressing your life.  Health and money are the top stressors in most people's life. 

So what in the world do food and finances have in common?  There was a study I read a while ago that showed those who were disciplined in their lifestyle choices were also more likely to be in less debt.  How cool is that?  We can use all the tools we learn in one area of our life to blend over and help other areas of our life.  Being in bondage to someone else with money is similar to being in bondage to unhealthy impulses and food cravings.  Bondage is bondage and education (truth) along with smart choices (obedience) will set us free.

It seems when your body is balanced you make better decisions about money.  When you are eating poorly, you spend more on unhealthy comfort foods, spend more on eating out because you are being a bit lazy to fix anything, spend more on convenience, which in turn leads you to spend more on drugs, prescriptions, Doctor visits, Dentists, etc...  and later on that can turn chronic as in disease and hospital stays.  What if you could stay healthier and save that money?

When you are on a plan for money you probably have a plan for grocery spending, which will help you limit the amount of impulse spending and eating.  Trying to fill the emotional void we feel or the hole in our heart with food or things is not the right answer for our health and well being.  If you think you deserve this treat or thing - think again.  This starts to encourage unhealthy patterns in our life.  Think of all the bribes we give ourselves and our kids.  If you want a reward for reaching a goal, that is something you have purposefully determined is good, not the random - "I have had a bad day (everyday) and need something to cheer me up".  If I remember correctly, that is what prayer is for, to help us in our need and be thankful for what we have.

So, I encourage you to learn about food and finances.  If is seems intimidating, the best way to get over that is learn about what you fear.  Find a program, read a book, talk to someone who has mastered this. 

I am so glad I TOOK the opportunity to take these courses.  They changed my thoughts about what is mine, ahhhh, nothing is!  This really changes your decisions when you begin realizing everything you are given is from God and you are to take good care of it, i.e. money, possessions and your body.  All are gifts from God.

A couple of my favorite financial programs that I have been involved with:

• Crown Financial Ministries
• Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University  

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things thru him who strengthens me.

Go forth and conquer, there are no more excuses.

Let me know if I can help you on your health journey!

Here are links for great financial books:
  

God it's Good! Food we were meant to eat.

Get Started with Whole Foods


Yes, there are foods that we were meant to eat.  Check out Genesis 1:29, Clean Laws in Leviticus, Daniel's famous fast, and what Jesus ate.  God made the life giving foods we were supposed to eat, not man-made foods.

This book puts together some whole foods in an easy tasty way.  Did  I mention easy?  It will help you transition from a SAD way of eating to more whole life giving food.

If you want to get started on some healthier eating - try this for starters.  One recipe a day for 30 days.  Secret confession, I did not ever fix food before I learned about all of this so if I can do it, I know you can too. 

Here is a recipe to try:

• 3 bananas
• 3 dates or 1 tablespoon of raw honey or both if you like it sweet
• 1/2 lemon, juiced (more if you like it more lemony)

Add all to food processor until smooth.  Enjoy the fresh lemon pudding.

Did you know lemons help to detox your liver?

Everyday Celebrations

Everyday is a celebration to be alive, and I am truly thankful for that.  Whether you are celebrating your life or someone else's, it is important to remember how you celebrate.  Celebrations can include lots of people, friends, family, and sometimes people you don't know.  And of course, there is a lot of yummy celebration food and drink, laughs, and everyone leaves feeling a bit more connected.  This is a great part of life to embrace, especially our relationships with others.

But what might not be so great is to have this kind of food everyday/every meal.  This is what the Standard American Diet (SAD) has become.... celebration foods every day.  In America today, our rate of obesity and preventable disease has skyrocketed.  We spend a huge amount of money spent on healthcare.

Here is something I heard recently (obviously I did not live back then, but it seems to make sense). Back in the older days gone by the celebration dinners and foods took place only a few times a year when the common people got together for celebrating.   The more well off people who could afford such foods on a regular basis decided this would be a yummy way to eat, everyday and potentially every meal.  The preventable sickness, started creeping in. It is probably a good thing the rich who ate this way could afford a doctor, cause now they were needing more and more of these services.  The common folk who ate more simply most of the time were a lot leaner and healthier.  Even in the Bible, when the Israelites followed what God decreed, they would not have the diseases of the Egyptians. (Exodus 15:26)
Have you ever noticed the pictures of the old Kings and Queens?  Kinda resembles us today ...

Proverbs 23:1 - 3  - When you sit to dine with a ruler,  note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

It is good to celebrate our relationships everyday, encourage and affirm those in our life, and be connected to them.    But we shouldn't celebrate with heavy, rich, comfort foods everyday or in a lot of cases every meal.  This will lead to the preventable diseases of Kings and Queens.

So 'lettuce' eat more simply day to day. (I couldn't resist. smile.)

Starting the New Year - Motivation

Starting off this New Year is a day a lot of people will resolve to make better choices.  It really seems to work great for a few days .... How do you keep your momentum going? 

Motivation seems to come easily, but it is consistency that is hard to maintain.  Let's break it down a bit. Human behavior will always seek pleasure and/or run from pain.  So if you can take the time to look at your goals, identify which parts will cause you pleasure or pain - after you achieve or don't achieve that goal.  You will find this to be very enlightening and it will give you a powerful tool to stay on track.

If you make choices that do not move you towards your goal - think about the pain or pleasure associated with each choice that caused you to make a decision.

Here's an example:
You are hungry and make that not so good choice of fast food.  Now ask yourself, What was the pain and pleasure of that choice?  Some examples might be:

• Pain of taking the time to prepare something healthy for myself
• Pain of headache and withdrawal if you don’t have food right now
• Pleasure of immediate gratification of satisfying your cravings

If you understand the pain, and pleasure behind your choices, you will be empowered to make better choices the next time: 

• If it was the pain of fixing something, then you know to bring a healthy snack with you
• If it was the pleasure of satisfying a craving and avoiding the pain of headache and withdrawal from a toxic food, then you know you need to change what you are eating that causes the headache.

The same rule applies with exercise - What causes pain and/or pleasure when you choose to exercise or not?

Using this tool, helps me make better choices about food, exercise, my life --  if I know why or what my choices will do to me or not do for me.  This will also help establish the consistency in your choices.

Be sure to set reachable goals. If you set a goal and don't know how to get there, ASK.  Let me know how I can help you reach levels of God given health.

Happy New Year and may God bless your efforts for healthy choices this year.
Zina