Healthy Creamy Oat Bran

• 3/4 C apple juice (freshly pressed is best)
• 1/4 C oat bran
• 1 pinch of sea salt
• 1 dash ground cinnamon
• 2 T chopped walnuts
• 1 T ground flax seeds
• Fruit and rice milk for garnish

1. Combine apple juice, oat bran, and salt in a large bowl and cook in microwave for about 3 minutes or on stove top for about 5 minutes.

2. Add cinnamon, walnuts, flaxseeds, rice milk, and fruit slices (I like bananas or berries).

Almond Thai Chicken

This is a healthy alternative to Masaman Chicken.

• 4 Boneless/skinless chicken breast
• 1 Bell pepper in cut into strips
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup liquid aminos (or Tamari/soy sauce)
• 1/2 T ground cumin
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 T cornstarch or arrowroot
• 1/2 cup raw almond butter (nothing but almonds added)
• 1 T liquid aminos
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1 avocado sliced
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Place the chicken, bell pepper, and onion in a slow cooker/crockpot. Mix the broth , liquid aminos, cumin, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 5 hours (if chicken is frozen cook on high).
2. Remove the broth (should be about a cup) and mix this with the cornstarch, almond butter, lime juice and 1 T of liquid aminos. Pour this back over the chicken in the slow cooker and replace the lid. Cook on high for at least 30 more minutes.
3. When ready to serve, garnish with green onions, tomato, cilantro, avocado, and almonds. Serve over brown rice, brown rice pasta, or any other whole grain.

Eat to lose weight

I found out that your body needs to eat (the right stuff) to be healthy and lose weight. But what am I suppose to eat? What is healthy? Here's the deal:

• As much as possible, stop eating processed food. I know you've heard this before, but I didn't really get it and maybe you don't either. If it has a UPC it is most likely a processed food. Not all of them are bad, but the vast majority shouldn't enter your body. I'll get to more on this later. Refined sugar is one of these. Leave it at the store and watch out for it in all products. Buy food that you can tell what it came from.
• Buy whole foods (I'm not talking about the grocery store -- although they have a great supply of them). Really, buy items that are only that item. If you need a tomato, buy a fresh tomato or if you need canned or frozen make sure it ONLY has tomatoes in it. You'd be surprised what you'll find it there!
• READ the ingredients label (not just the nutritional info). This is crucial. You have to read the food label and make sure there isn't anything that is unhealthy in there. If you don't know the word, it is likely not good for you. No added sugars (includes anything ending with "ose" like glucose, no artificial sweeteners, no preservatives, no enriched flours (enriched=processed to the point of having to add vitamins/minerals back into a product), or added fats (oils of most kinds).
• Lower your intake of saturated fats as much as possible. This means if it is an animal product (meats, cheeses, milks, butter, etc) then make sure you get the lowest fat possible or eliminate it if necessary.
• Increase fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat them in unlimited numbers.
• Eat unlimited unrefined, whole grains. I didn't realize this, but most of those companies that put "whole grain" on the box or wrapper are deceiving us. They do have a little bit of whole grains, but if you read the label it is mostly refined white or wheat flour. NOTE: Enriched wheat flour is NOT a whole grain. Look forward to more posts about whole grains.
• Stop counting and eat correctly. It is the key to being healthy and losing weight. I will help you with this as I'm still reprograming myself!

What if I told you?

What if I told you that you really don't need to diet anymore? What if I told you that you that you CAN lose stubborn weight? What if I told you that you that you didn't need to count calories anymore? What if I told you that you that you could eat carbs, fat, and protein? What if I told you that you that you didn't need to buy any silly supplements or medicines? You wouldn't believe me. You'd think I was selling something. Well, I'm not selling anything and there is a healthy alternative to the way most of us are eating that will provide you with health and weightloss (if you need it).