Start the new year off right!

For those of you who aren’t aware, we launched our gluten-free samples program, Happybelly Box last year, and we’re excited to offer you a chance to win a free sample box packed with our delicious, favorite gluten and dairy free snacks! These treats are perfect for your backpack or lunchbox and we keep them on hand at all times to make sure we have a safe and healthy treat option when hunger pangs hit! 

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How do you enter for your chance to win a FREE Happybelly Box?

Simply head on over to our site, Happybellybox and register for your chance to win.

Whether you’re news to the gluten-free lifestyle or consider yourself a pro, our snacks are sure to please! They’re hand-picked to include our favorite snack foods and are often vegan, Paleo and are always packed with super-foods, nutrient-rich goodness.

Good luck!

 

 

Love Chocolate? So do I.

To be honest, there aren’t many forms of chocolate that I don’t love. While I grew up on the standard American fare of M&Ms, Hershey’s and Hostess cupcakes, I’ve learned to love the grown-up healthier version of dark chocolate instead. And since I’m raising a dairy-free kiddo, I can honestly say that children can love dark chocolate too. Though I would stick with the 75% and under versions for their taste buds.
Wondering why I reach for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate? Well, according to the folks who know best, chocolate has more antioxidants than blueberries, green tea and red wine and nearly eight times the antioxidants found in strawberries. Good news, right? True, but it’s even better when it’s in its raw, unprocessed form of Cacoa. Cacao has more antioxidants than most of the foods we consider antioxidant-rich, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the amount of antioxidants found in green tea. Dark chocolate has been shown to lower high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol and cacao contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Pretty awesome if you ask me.
I make sure to drink several cups of green tea every day, and we all enjoy a chunk or two of dark chocolate daily.

More reasons to enjoy raw cacao.

Unlike processed chocolate, antioxidants are preserved in raw cacao, so by keeping organic chocolate unheated, you enjoy much higher levels of chocolate’s antioxidants as well as  preserving its vitamin C, phenethylamine (the feel good neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of love), Omega 6 fatty acids (which when heated become rancid and can cause inflammation), tryptophan (a commonly deficient amino acid in those who consume a diet of mostly cooked foods) and serotonin.
But let’s face it, this recipe is why you’re reading this post. So skip the next few paragraphs and head straight to the good stuff if you’d like. I totally get it.
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The Magnesium Connection.

Recently I saw an interesting infographic making its way around Facebook, and it blames magnesium deficiency for many of the modern day illnesses that ail us. Curious about the signs of magnesium deficiencies? Here’s a quick list of the symptoms to watch for:

Signs of Magnesium Deficiency 1 2 3

Neurological:

Behavioral disturbances
Irritability and anxiety
Lethargy
Impaired memory and cognitive function
Anorexia or loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures

Muscular:

Weakness
Muscle spasms (tetany)
Tics
Muscle cramps
Hyperactive reflexes
Impaired muscle coordination (ataxia)
Tremors
Involuntary eye movements and vertigo
Difficulty swallowing

Metabolic:

Increased intracellular calcium
Hyperglycemia
Calcium deficiency
Potassium deficiency

Cardiovascular:

Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Coronary spasms

Among children:

Growth retardation or “failure to thrive”

Conditions Related to Problems of Magnesium:3 4 5 6

  • Depression
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • ADHD
  • Epilepsy
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Sleep problems
  • Migraine
  • Cluster headaches
  • Osteoporosis
  • Premenstrual syndrome
  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis
  • Hypertension
  • Type II diabetes
  • Asthma
Guess what? Cacao is the highest whole food source of magnesium. Yep – one more reason to love the good stuff!

It’s that time of year again; the kiddos are back in school, the 20 MPH lights are flashing reminding us to take things slowly (which is always harder to remember when life gets back to a normal routine) and we’re all scrambling for ideas on what to pack in their lunchboxes.  Since we have access to some amazingly yummy and healthy foods through our online shop, Happybelly Box, we thought it would be a good idea to package them up into a nice little giveaway for you. Then, when you try them and figure out which of our gluten-free, dairy-free goodies you can’t live without, you can head over to our online shop and grab some more to have on hand.

Our giveaway box will include some of our favorite treats including Thunderbird’s Almond Cookie Pow Wow (think almond cookies), organic superfoods including Almond Courage, our favorite indulgence, Chocolate Goddess Clusters, and some Epic Protein Bars to help keep you going throughout the day.

How do you enter for your chance to win FREE Happybelly samples?

Simply follow the instructions on the widget below to be entered for your chance to win free samples. Feel free to sign up for your loved ones who are on the hunt for safe gluten and dairy free food options as well.

Be sure to comment below and tell us which products you love, and what new ones you’d like to see us include for next time!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The gang at Happybelly Box and Inspiredeats

 

 

I used to hear the word ‘cleanse’ as if it was a 4 letter word. It taunted me, teasing me to consider trying it, knowing the whole time I would have to make some serious compromises from my normal routine.

Could I stick to it? How could I manage juicing and raw foods while at work? Would the hubs be supportive?  Would I spend more time in the bathroom than anywhere else? Would I be satisfied, or feel hungry the whole time?

I remember the first cleanse I ever tried four years ago.  It was a horribly unstructured cleanse ordered by my doctor to address poor adrenal and liver function and help get my digestive system back on track. I stumbled through it, not prepared, and didn’t fully understand how to take advantage of the tools and support that was available to me. So needless to say, my first experience was a bust.

Fortunately, I didn’t let that define my opinions of a cleanse.

And when I met a couple here in Austin that are running an incredible Raw Foods company, and offered to have me join their upcoming Group Cleanse, I was intrigued. I had been thinking about trying another cleanse for a while, but was a little intimidated to go about it on my own. So, I sucked it up and registered for their group cleanse. No turning back now!

Choosing the right group for a cleanse.

As I just mentioned, I’ve recently discovered an amazing group of people who are passionate about helping people transform their lives through healthy eating and better lifestyle choices. They believe in helping us get to the root of our health issues through cleansing programs that strengthen the body, help kill off bacteria and metal toxicities and just generally make you feel great.

I discovered the group I will be joining the Group Cleanse for while in Whole Foods one day looking for a chocolate treat I could eat – it had to be gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and Organic. And like the incredibly knowledgeable staff at Whole Foods often do, they were able to guide me to a product that would rock my world.  These amazing Chocolate Goddess Clusters remind me of a dense macaroon, but without a noticeable coconut texture, and quickly became my favorite indulgence.

So when I started researching New Earth to learn about their other products, I discovered a cleanse they were putting on for a Spring Jumpstart. By the way, if you want to try some of my favorite raw snacks that helped me get through the cleanse, you can click the image below and head over to our store online to pick them up – I highly recommend you do!

 

What did I experience?

Day 1: I was unprepared to be out of the house most of the day, so I felt a bit tired and hungry much of the day. Need to do a better job of being prepared for the rest of the week! I stopped by my favorite Juice Bar in town and stocked up on some green juice to get me through the day.

Day 2: I was better prepared since I stopped off at Whole Foods and stocked up on some fresh fruits and veggies. A bit of sticker shock over the bill though 🙁 I hope I love this cleanse!

Woke up feeling good, but about the same as I usually do, so wondering if I’ll start to notice a little more energy throughout the week. Stayed full all day since I was better prepared and enjoyed some recipes such as a classic green juice:

1 green apple
1 inch knob ginger
5 large stalks celery
1 cucumber
1 large handful parsley
5 stalks kale

Snacked on some raw crackers by 2 Moms in the Raw with some guac around dinner time. Feeling good and satisfied!

Day 3:  no more energy in the morning than I typically wake up with, but head is clearer. I did notice that I was feeling a bit more emotionally vulnerable throughout the day though.  Today I added some carrots into the diet and followed this recipe as well as the green juice from above….

3 large carrots
1 beet
1 green apple
4 large stalks celery
1 large handful of spinach, parsley, or other dark green
1 small cucumber
1 inch knob ginger

Day 4: I noticed I’m sleeping really well now and not waking up in the middle of the night. Yay! Also, definitely feeling clear headed in the morning but again, no more energy.  I decided I wanted to chew something today so I made a simple salad with julienne carrots, cucumbers and zucchini and used some fresh lime juice for a dressing. Today I added another new juice recipe into the mix:

Summertime Mojito: A virgin mojito that is fresh, simple, and delicious!

1 cucumber
1 large pear
1 large handful mint
½ lime

Feeling really good today, and glad I decided to give the raw foods and juice cleanse another try!

Day 5: Woke up feeling good with a little more energy today! Emotions are better (not as raw) and feeling great. Today I wanted to add a little sweet juice to my routine so I tried this one and totally recommend it! Not too sweet but gave me a satisfying sweet flavor alongside the green juices I keep drinking.  On a personal note, my bowel movements are stable and I’m peeing more frequently than usual, so I’m avoiding any liquids too close to bedtime.

1 large pear
1 apple
1 cup pineapple, cubed
4 large stalks kale
1 cucumber

Day 6: I’m feeling confident and happy, and made some raw crackers in the dehydrator I borrowed from a friend. They weren’t bad, but I’m glad I have some store bought goodies on hand too! For dinner I had some guac and crackers alongside a beet juice:

1 apple
4 large carrots
1 beet
1 inch ginger

Day 7: Woke up feeling great, but my emotions are right on the surface again. I have a class today for the group cleanse and I’m excited to see what they suggest we do to keep a portion of raw foods into our diet as my goal is to keep at a 50/50 ratio of cooked and raw foods.  I decided to finish out the cleanse with a combo juice I made up:

2 apples
4 large carrots
1 beet
1 inch ginger

1 cucumber

Delish!

 

Day 8: Today I wasn’t as hungry as I had been on the previous days, but I still kept up with my juices and just avoided the raw snacks. My emotions are good and I’m definitely continuing to have a clear head!

Day 9: Slept like a baby last night and I woke up feeling great. We have another group class today and I’m looking forward to the recipes they share. I’m’ so glad I’m doing this as apart of a group. It’s been really helpful to share in my experiences with the other group members and learn how much better they feel since most of them are on their second or third group cleanse. Here’s a new juice I added into the mix today:

2 Granny Smith apples
1 McIntosh apple
1  pear
5 kale leaves
1 cucumber
4 celery stalks
1/2 cilantro bunch
1  lemon (optional)

Day 10: I made it! The last day of the cleanse is here, and I’m heading out this morning to a final group class. I did notice that I’m feeling a little vulnerable (emotionally) but otherwise I’m doing great. Slept great, head is clear, energy is high and I’m so glad I did this. It’s such an amazing feeling to know I can do it!  Here’s my new favorite juice blend:

1 red beet
5 carrots
3 celery stalks
1 cucumber
1  pear
1  lemon

 

What does a cleanse do for me?

Eating raw foods and consuming an abundance of fresh leafy veggies and fruits through juicing give me a sense of energy and awareness that I don’t have otherwise.  I wake up refreshed, I have an easier time at work, my emotions feel more balanced and I sleep better at night.

I’m happier, more energized and any hints of anxiety or emotional ups and downs are gone. Though I will say that if you’re approaching a cleanse form a typical American diet rich in sugar and grains you will probably experience some emotional clearing (meaning you may be a raging bitch or weeping basket-case for a day) but that will pass and you will be on the other side of it feeling better, more balanced and motivated to keep on the path!

So, would I recommend a 7 day raw food and juice cleanse? ABSOLUTELY!

My overall experience was positive and I felt great, had a clearer head, lost a couple pounds of water weight and slept better than I typically do. I’m planning to keep up with a goal of a 50/50 ratio cooked to raw foods, and I bought a dehydrator to make some flat breads and crackers. I’ll share some of the recipes I’m trying as I keep on this raw food path and definitely recommend a cleanse for anyone who wants to give your system a nice little reboot 🙂

Have you followed a raw food or juice cleanse? I’d love to hear your experience too!

 

I used to hear the word cleanse and immediately worry about the process; I was nervous about whether I could stick to it, how could I manage juicing and raw foods while at work? Would the hubs be supportive?  Would I be satisfied, or feel hungry the whole time?

I remember the first cleanse I ever tried was 4 years ago.  It was a horribly unstructured cleanse ordered by my doctor to address poor adrenal and liver function and help get my digestive system back on track. I stumbled through it, not prepared, and didn’t fully understand how to take advantage of the tools and support that was available to me. So needless to say, my first experience was a bust.

Fortunately, I didn’t let that define my opinions of a cleanse.

And over time, after several more successful attempts than the first one,  I’ve learned that those were all issues I created in my mind as a way of avoiding the process.

What does a cleanse do for me?

Eating raw foods and consuming an abundance of fresh leafy veggies and fruits through juicing give me a sense of energy and awareness that I don’t have otherwise.  I wake up refreshed, I have an easier time at work, my emotions feel more balanced and I sleep better at night.

I’m happier, more energized and any hints of anxiety or emotional ups and downs are gone.

 

Who am I choosing for the next cleanse?

Recently I discovered an amazing group of people who are passionate about helping people transform their lives through healthy eating and better lifestyle choices. They believe in helping us get to the root of our health issues through cleansing programs that strengthen the body, help kill of bacteria and metal toxicities and just generally make you feel great 🙂

I discovered them while in Whole Foods one day looking for a chocolate treat I could eat – it had to be gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and organic. And like the incredibly knowledgeable staff at Whole Foods often do, they were able to guide me to a product that would rock my world.  These incredible Chocolate Goddess Clusters remind me of a dense macaroon, since they’re lacking the light and flaky shredded coconut texture.

We handed samples out recently at a healthy fair event, and all but 1 person who sampled them, raved about them. She told me she doesn’t like coconut at all- since that’s one of the ingredients, you can detect a hint of it, but adults and kids all agree the flavor is more of a subtle chocolate, less coconut and all around amazing 🙂 You can click this image below and head over to their store online to pick them up – I highly recommend you do.

So when I started researching New Earth to learn about their other products, I discovered a cleanse they were putting on for a Spring Jumpstart. Since it’s been about 2 years since I’ve done a structured cleanse, I decided to go ahead and register for this one. It happens to be held here in Austin, but the content is available online, and there are skype sessions and call ins also available.

If you’re interested in joining me on the cleanse, here are some details on what are included…

5 Simple Steps to Begin your 10-Day Cleanse:

Step 1:  Purchase your 10-Day Program here. Enter the date you choose to receive your first email. Remember to download your 10% off coupon at the end of your purchase.
(You’ll receive 2 days of preparation emails, then have 3 days to preare before your official first day of your cleanse.)

Step 2:  Read your “Prepare” and Raw Recipe eBooks (you will receive your eBooks after your purchase and receive them in your Day 2 email).

Step 3:  Follow the precise instructions included in your “Prepare for your Jump Start Cleanse” eBook.

Step 4:  Start your 10-Day Cleanse – your daily emails contain videos, special reports, and recommendations to keep you inspired and motivated.

Step 5:  Stay focused:  stay committed to your Jump Start Cleanse! Even if you make changes along the way, you will feel an awesome sense of accomplishment when you make a commitment to yourself, stay focused, and WIN by completing your cleanse.

What’s included in the 10-Day Program?

  • 24 page eBook, “Prepare for your Jump Start Cleanse”
  • Jump Start Raw Recipe eBook with 52 Cleansing Recipes from 13 Raw Chefs all over the World
  • Optional Personalized New Earth Coaching Sessions from one of the Expert New Earth Mentors
  • New Earth Coupon Code for 10% Off EVERYTHING IN THEIR STORE!
  • 12 emails to educate, motivate, and inspire you to rejuvenate with raw foods and juices! (you receive 2 emails to assist in preparation, then you will receive an email each day during your 10-day cleanse)
  • AND 7 Videos of Live Classes, Juicing Demos, & Presentations educating you step-by-step throughout your 10-Day Program
  • You will receive our professionally recorded Videos in your inbox every day during your 10-Day Program

In their Exclusive Recorded Classes and Live Presentations filmed in Austin you’ll see:

  • Live Panel Discussion from Joe Cross, Arttemis Keszainn, Brendan Brazier, and Dan Marek
  • Powerful insights on the 5 Systems of Detoxification and how to best support them
  • Over 20 years of knowledge and experience on the Powerful Healing Properites of Living Clay
  • Affirmations and The Healing Power of the Spoken Word from New Earth Center
  • The Benefits of Juicing and Live Juicing Demo – with special guidance and tips on how to use the Omega 8005 & Omega Vert
  • Chef Alicia Ojeda’s Live Food Demo at the Natural Epicurean, featuring Raw Blended Soups for Cleansing

**Special Bonus: Purchase your 10-Day Raw Food & Juice Cleanse and Receive Your Coupon Code for 10% Savings in their Online Store!**

 

How do you register?

You can click here to visit their site and register, and take advantage of a 10% discount for our readers! Simply enter code Z Healthy and you’ll save 10% off the fee!

I hope to see you joining me on the cleanse Monday, and please be sure to comment below if you sign up so I can look for you 🙂

Jen

 

 

Following a Raw Foods, vegan, vegetarian, gluten/dairy free or Paleo/Primal Blueprint diet?

Luckily there are plenty of options for you these days! 

A friend passed this recipe along which she found on WholeFoodsMarket’s site; I haven’t yet tried it but am excited to give it a shot, so I’m getting it up on the site to have it ready when we test it out this weekend. 

Enjoy! 

Mock Tuna Salad (Paleo, GF, Vegan)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 3.5 cups

Mock Tuna Salad (Paleo, GF, Vegan)

Per serving (about 1/2 cup): 400 calories (290 from fat), 32g total fat, 2.5g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 370mg sodium, 22g total carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 8g sugar), 14g protein Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped celery
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped pickles
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave nectar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon kelp granules
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Put sunflower seeds and almonds into a large bowl, cover by 2 inches with water, cover and set aside at room temperature to let soak for 10 to 12 hours; drain well.
  2. Pulse sunflower seeds and almonds in a food processor until very finely chopped, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in celery, pickles, onions, dill, maple syrup, lemon juice, kelp, pepper and salt. Serve immediately, or cover and chill until ready to serve.

Notes

Serve this tasty nut- and seed-based salad on its own, or spread onto wraps or nori with assorted veggies.

http://inspiredeats.net/mock-tuna-salad-paleo-gf-vegan/

 

Note: photo and recipe originally submitted on Whole Foods’s site. Click here for recipe.

Hail Merry Raw, Vegan and Gluten Free Snacks

I ran across the Hail Merry products while at the local juice bar, and I grabbed a bag of the Choco Macaroons and couldn’t wait to try them! As a fan of chocolate and coconut, I was excited to try something that was raw, and gluten free to boot. My son and I were hardly in our cars, juice smoothies in hand, when I ripped open the bag and split a macaroon in half for each of us to try. I was curious what my 8 year old would think of these treats, knowing I would probably love them but his palette can be a bit more picky 🙂 

He took one bite, closed his eyes and said, “MMMMMMM, yumm! These taste like brownies!” 

So there you have it – we loved the Vanilla and Choco Macaroons, thought haven’t yet had the pleasure of trying their other products. Looks like you can order their products on their site, though typically in bulk, but as they are a huge hit around here, I would highly recommend you give them a shot!

You can also search for stores which carry the Hail Merry brand here: http://www.hailmerry.com/score-some

And being naturally raw, vegan and gluten free, they are packed with good-for-the-body-and-soul yumminess!

 Read more product reviews here: http://inspiredeats.net/product-reviews/gluten-free-food-reviews/