Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
Ouch! We do dump trash in the temple and find way too many excuses for not eating healthier. And yet, God has provided exactly the food we need to help our bodies function the way they were designed to function. Unfortunately, too many of us have become hooked on sugar and trans-fat laden foods and we are starting to pay the price, especially the children, for our poor choices. So, how do we change?
I have spent hours on the internet, in the library and reading books I have purchased. Not all of you have that kind of time, so I will try to summarize what a healthy diet looks like. First, let me just say that we all need to get moving and not all of us can afford to or have the time to go to a gym. But, we can all put on some great music, push back the coffee table and dance - even if you have two left feet! The point is to move and get the blood and oxygen flowing for 30 minutes every day. It is better if you can walk outside in the sunshine, but any moving is preferable to sitting like a lump. And if you have depression or chronic illness, it is so important for you to work past the pain and fatigue to move your body. It helps work out the toxins in your cells and you will begin to feel better.
Eat a piece of fruit or a cup of berries every morning with breakfast and eat vegetables with your lunch and your dinner every day. The kind of vegetables you want to buy are those in the produce section of the store; the way God made them. Eat them raw, steam them or stir-fry them in organic coconut oil and spices. But eat them every day! Switch to organic milk, real butter instead of margarine and eat yogurt sweetened with pure fruit juice instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Use whole grain (not whole wheat or white) breads, cereals and pastas and brown rice instead of white rice. Eat lean grass-fed meat and wild fish instead of breaded meat parts ground together and formed to look like a piece of meat. Add some delicious vegetarian dishes that use beans instead of meat for protein to your menu. Drink water with lime or green tea instead of sodas or sports drinks with sugar or artificial sweeteners. If a product has chemicals or anything artificial listed in the ingredients, it's best not to put it in your mouth.
The topic for my February posts will be dedicated to getting out more information on healthy eating on a budget and some good sources I have found for recipes. It should be a delicious month!
Decoration
My oldest daughter painted these for my living room. The meaning of the words: Yahweh - God, Yireh - God Provides, Rophe - God Who Heals. It's a wonderful reminder of what God has done in our lives.
Today's Recipe - Cuban Black Bean Soup
Cuisine at Home - Slow Cooker Menus
1 lb. dried black beans (2 1/3 cups) or canned black beans
5 cups chicken broth
1 onion, diced
3 ribs celery, diced
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 serrano chile pepper, seeded and diced or a jalapeno pepper
1 Tbsp paprika
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground coriander
2 strips uncured bacon
1-2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Soak beans according to package directions; drain and rinse. Combine beans, broth, onion, celery, garlic, chile pepper, paprika, cumin, oregano, coriander, and bacon in a 4-6 qt slow cooker. Cover soup; cook on high-heat setting for 5-6 hours or on low-heat setting for 8-9 hours. When 1 hour remains, check to see if the beans are cooked. Remove and discard bacon. Stir in vinegar; season soup with salt and pepper.
Puree 4 cups of the soup in a food processor. Add pureed soup to soup remaining in the slow cooker; stir to combine. Makes 6 servings at 322 calories per serving
No comments:
Post a Comment