I’m a Fool for Acronyms…!

But seriously, in this age of texting abbreviations, acronyms DO serve a useful purpose!  Anyway,  I came across one I really liked, so I thought I would share it with you. It’s called the “L-I-V-E” formula and it came from the Dawna Markova book, “I Will Not Die an Unlived Life–Reclaiming Purpose & Passion ” So, here it is:

L is for love…what do you LOVE to do? Make a list and then be sure to DO it.

I is for inner gifts…what are your natural talents? What do others come to you for? And back to “L”- what makes you happy?  Go ahead, offer them to the world around you.    

V is for values…what’s REALLY important? How do you want to make YOUR mark in the world? What is your legacy? What do you want to be remembered for?

E is for environment…we have such a grand opportunity to make a difference in our world and the world for our children. Don’t kid yourself. EVERY little bit matters. But the way to make the grandest impact is to surround yourself with those people, places, things, and conditions that bring out the BEST in YOU. It will help your career, your happiness and your impact on our wonderful world.

Go ahead and try it. Dare ya.  L-I-V-E a little…or a lot!  And don’t forget to laugh along the way.

You’ve seen the articles, the research, etc. Eating organic definitely has its positives…along with a bigger piece of your paycheck! About 3/4 of traditionally grown produce show pesticides. But you don’t have to fork over your paycheck, just narrow your splurge to organic produce with soft skin or skin that you eat and save your $$ on foods that are usually free of pesticides due to their tougher, thicker outter layers. So go organic on apples, peaches, bell peppers, strawberries, pears and lettuce.  And go for conventionally grown bananas, kiwis, onions, mangoes (my personal fave!), pineapples and broccoli. How do you tell the difference? If you see a 5 digit number starting with 9, that means it is organic. A 4 digit number means conventional. And regardless of whether you purchase organic or conventional fruits and veggies, wash all of them with soap, water and a brush.

Then, to do triple duty–help the environment and your pocket book AND your body–shop nearby farmers’ markets which means less shipping, fresher produce, fewer greenhouse gases and lower costs.

On the dairy side, I personally opt for organic milks and free range eggs and meats in order to avoid antibiotics sometimes used and added hormones.  Is it worth it? You BETCHA!  

I mentioned earlier that I was going to start writing about some of my favorite things. Sometimes it will be a product, sometimes it might be a place, or sometimes it could be a product or thing–like a movie. Today, however, it is about a recipe. A HEALTHY recipe from a friend of mine Allison Reyna whose life mission is about helping people use food as medicine. As a single, working mom with kids on the go, the following recipe is easy, healthy, and full of protein, good fats and complex carbs. Plus, it stores well in the fridge or freezer. Just pop them out when you need them. So, here it is. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

No Bake Almond-Oat Energy Bites

(Makes 24 1-inch balls and takes < 30 minutes to make!)

2 ½ cups rolled oats (regular)

½ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

2 Tbs. cocoa powder

½ cup raisins or dried cranberries

1 Tbs. raw sunflower seeds

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ cup almond butter

1/3 cup + 1 Tbs. honey

2 Tbs. barley malt syrup or brown rice syrup

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Optional: ¾ cup cacao nibs

(I also throw in some dried blueberries, and mini dark chocolate morsels!)

Directions:

1. Grind ½ cup oats, ¼ pumpkin seeds and 2 tbs. cocoa powder in food processor until powdery. Transfer to medium bowl and set aside.

2. Combine remaining 2 cups oats, remaining ¼ cup pumpkins sees, raisins, etc. and cinnamon in large bowl. Stir in almond butter, honey, barley malt or brown rice syrup, and vanilla until soft dough forms.
3. Moisten hands and roll dough into 1 inch balls. Coat balls in oat-pumpkin-cocoa powder. Place on cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in freezer to set, then serve or store in fridge.
4. And– oh yeah, enjoy!

P.S. If you have allergies, food issues, weight loss goals, energy problems, or are battling an illness, I encourage you to seek guidance from a nutritional counselor. There is power in the right foods.

Do you know what’s best for you? It’s an onoing educational process as far as I am concerned! Each of us are different–we get various amounts of sleep, our diets vary, and we are exposed to different toxins, and our physical endeavors vary. I can tell you what I do–but for what’s best for YOU, is based on YOUR needs. And for that, you need an individualized plan. I have great homeopath and nutritionist friends who provide excellent guidance and direction. However, I still read and research everything I can get my hands on! For Christmas, I bought myself “You, the Owner’s Manual” ( Amazon ) by Dr. Oz, Oprah’s latest doctor friend. He came and spoke at Lifetime Fitness last year and the man is amazingly brilliant. Unfortunately, I have not let myself even peak at the book until I finish my current 3 open books! Anyway, Dr. Oz has a number of recommendations and some that are specific to your age which I found helpful ( Oprah’s Website ). You can download a PDF, which I thought was handy. There’s actually quite a few handy tools and healthy living articles from Dr. Oz at www.Oprah.com . So what’s best for you depends on you, your needs, and your nutritionist’s recommendations. If you have some other good reading recommendations, let me know. But –Dr. Oz’s book is NEXT in line and I can’t wait!