Holiday tips and another recipe!

When you are working hard at a healthy lifestyle, and giving careful thought to everything you eat - how do you get through a holiday party without "blowing it"?

We have some suggestions for you.  We're also very interested in your ideas, so please write us and share your particular solutions.  We'll pass them on to others via next week's email.

1] Eat regular meals during the day of the party.  Don't arrive there "starving hungry," or you may be tempted to overload your plate.  Even if all the food were totally healthful (and you know it won't be), eating more than you actually need will work against you, at the very least causing weight gain - easier to put on than take off.

2] Rather than try "a little bit of everything," make up your mind ahead of time to be very selective - and again, limit your portions of even the best foods available.

 3] Before going to the party, drink a glass of water.  This will partially satisfy your hunger, and it will aid in the cleansing process that is part of good digestion.  Another idea is to eat a light snack, such as celery sticks filled with almond butter or peanut butter, just before leaving for the party.

4] Do not drink anything while eating. Do it either 30 minutes before or one hour after the meal.  Drinking water or other beverages while eating has a tendency to dilute the digestive juices, slowing or impairing proper digestion of the food.

5] TAKE SOMETHING WITH YOU to share that you can eat with a good conscience!  Here's a cookie recipe that guarantees you will be able to eat a dessert - as long as you get to it before the plate is empty!  These are very popular, besides being so quick and easy to prepare:

CAROB NO-BAKES

1/2 - 3/4 cup of raw honey

1/2 cup carob powder (Chatfield's available at health food stores or Whole Foods)

1/2 cup raw milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup butter (one stick)

3 cups organic oats

1 cup organic, unsweetened coconut

In a medium saucepan, combine honey, carob, milk, vanilla, and butter.  Bring to a boil, turn down heat slightly, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add oats and coconut, and mix well. 

Moving quickly, mound by spoonfuls on a cookie sheet, and allow to cool.  Chill in refrigerator or freezer for about 30 minutes.  Remove from the cookie sheet and store in a covered container in the refrigerator.  Makes about 3 dozen delicious confections, and NO ONE will believe they contain no chocolate or sugar! (unless you mention it first - don't!) 

Just a reminder about our gift cards - they are available in any denomination you choose.  Make somebody happy this Christmas with a gift card for a therapeutic massage!

Call us anytime at (562) 861-3896