Maria's Blog

Healthy Snacks and Treats

2012-01-05T21:45:04Z

2. Organic and gluten-free coconut

and chocolate macaroons

3. Dried fruits (sans the sulfites)

4. Gluten free cakes and cookies

5. High quality chocolates like

Dagoba (dagobachocolate.com)

…And here are some of Paul Chek’s

personal favorites (for those of you

who gotta know what the big guy

likes)

1. Baked squash with cinnamon and

coconut cream

2. Fresh fruit

3. “Chaga Chunks” made

by American Wild Foods

(americanwildfoods.com)

4. “Parched Corn” made by

American Wild Foods

5. Plantains fried in Ghee

6. Organic sprouted corn tortillas

with peanut butter and Canadian

Maple syrup.

8. Organic corn chips and organic

salsa

9. Baked sweet potato

10. Dried mango and dried papaya

I think probably the number one question I am asked as a CHEK certified holistic lifestyle coach is, what do I eat for snacks? Here are some great ideas I just received from the Chek Institute newsletter and they are all GREAT! Thought I'd share...

1. Real Bars (therealbar.com)

or Kawaii Bars (kawaiibar.

com) - Both made by C.H.E.K

Practitioners

Win A Vitamix 5200 from Blender Girl!

2012-01-05T18:31:44Z

Win a Vitamix 5200 in Blogger Giveaways Sweepstakes | Healthy Blender Recipes

WIN a Vitamix 5200 in The Blender Girl's January Sweepstakes Giveaway. Enter and share on Twitter and Facebook to increase your chances of winning! Good Luck!

If you are so inclined, you can tell her I sent you. My name is The Green Smoothie Challenge.

Let me know if you win!!!

Get Spoonked in 2012!

2012-01-01T17:34:11Z

It's not often that I recommend products that you can't add to a smoothie, but I recently met the creator of Spoonk™ and fell in love... with the mat he and his wife created. The Spoonk™ Mat is based on the principles of the Indian bed of nails and Japanese shiatsu massage. They may stimulate specific reflex points throughout the body to release blocked energy, ease tense muscles and create deep mental and physical relaxation. You can stand on the mat or lie on it.

Check out this preview of the mat on the Merilyn Dennis Show.
Find the mat on Amazon here.

And best of all, YOU can win a mat by taking the Facebook Challenge during your Challenge! Be on the Facebook page encouraging others and posting about your progress, your favorite recipes, asking questions and interacting and I'll put you in my drawing for a Spoonk™ mat which will take place on January 11, 2012.

Perfect Winter Challenge Broth

2011-12-31T21:38:18Z

I learned how to make this broth from Donna Gates at the Body Ecology Diet Website. It is a perfect addition for your winter Challenge.

During the day, drinking the broth or eating the soup below will gently remove toxins that have accumulated in the body and clear heat in the system, which is the product of a heavy diet.

Winter Detoxifying Soup:

head of chinese cabbage
bunch of celery
several carrots
3 -4 shitake mushrooms
2 -3 inches of burdock root
peel of one tangerine
one inch piece of turmeric root
1 c. mung beans
1/2 c. job's tears, found in Asian Markets
strip of kombu seaweed
celtic sea salt to taste

**I linked some of the above ingredients to helpful articles that will familiarize you with each one!

When possible, make sure all ingredients are organic. Roughly chop the cabbage, celery, carrots, mushrooms and burdock root. Finely chop the turmeric.
Fill a large cooking vessel with plenty of water. Place kombu strip in water.
If using mung beans or job's tears, add these, bring to a boil and cook first for 20 minutes on very low heat.
Next, add vegetables, roots and the mushrooms.
Let everything simmer on a low flame for 20 - 30 minutes.

All of the ingredients of this soup are cooling, detoxifying and many, such as cabbage and turmeric, treat inflammation. The medicinal value of the soup is in the liquid.

Thyroid Safe Smoothie

2011-12-30T20:02:15Z

Thyroid Safe Smoothie Recipe:

Are you struggling with low thyroid as many, many people are now? If so, you may have heard that raw, dark green cruciferous vegetables are not good to eat. I believe this to be true. So, what are you to do if you want to take the Challenge? Fear not, I have the solution!
Cruciferous veggies contain substances called goitrogens which can slow down the thyroid. Cruciferious veggies include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, rutabagas, turnips, kohlrabi, kale, and collards. Some say spinach, strawberries, peaches and almonds can have an affect as well, so if you have low thyroid, avoid these along with soy. Does this mean you can't do the Challenge or drink smoothies? My first rule is to always listen to your body. If you decide to drink the altered smoothie I am about to teach you, and you begin to not want it, you may do better on soup instead. I will talk about some good soup and broth recipes you can use later. For now, I have totally changed up my smoothie making so as not to affect my thyroid in a negative way. I actually reacted very badly after ingesting way too many raw cruciferious veggies over a very long period of time. I no longer do these everyday either. Making a veggie juice out of the exact ingredients I am going to show you is another GREAT way to remineralize your body without causing damage to your thyroid. Vegetable and bone broth are amazingly healing as well although bone broth is very building so only use when weightloss and cleansing are not the goal. The key is to listen to your body.

Maria's Thyroid Friendly, Sugar Free Green Smoothie:
1 small zucchini
1 medium cucumber
3 stalks celery
1 small handful parsley
1 small handful cilantro
1/2 lemon, mostly peeled
1 inch piece of ginger
Optional-
1 green apple
1 TBS coconut oil
Fresh aloe
May add berries or other fruit if that works for your body. I do not add fruit to mine. A little stevia should be OK if you need a sweetener.

2012 Worldwide Green Smoothie Challenge

2011-12-30T19:59:49Z

You're invited...

To Make Some Positive Changes...

Join people from around the globe in the...

2012 Worldwide Green Smoothie Challenge

Meet the NEW YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!!!

WHEN: January 2 - 11, 2012
WHERE: Anywhere on the globe
WHAT TO BRING: A blender and your favorite fruits and veggies
TO PURCHASE: Maria's famous Green Smoothie Challenge Companion, the complete guide with recipes, tips and all the information you need to take the Challenge!

Come on over to Facebook and introduce yourself. Get personal questions answered by yours truly, me... of course:), and get the best support ever from others taking the Challenge!! Join us for all 10 days, for 1 day, 3 days or a smoothie a day. Whatever your goal, we are here to support you every step of the way. I will be posting vidoes, recipes and tips from today all the way til the end!!

In case you are not on facebook, simply visit my blog daily for everything you need to get you through!!

Invite your friends to join you. Create meet up groups in your area and have the time of your life releasing weight and stored up toxins, rejuvenating your skin and sending your energy levels to the moooooooooooooooon! Get your mind cleared up to set new goals. Get your game on for the New Year. May you experience abundance and joy in 2012.

Human Body Detectives Go To School

2011-10-07T20:37:23Z

This is a must see if you have kids and want to teach them about how your body works. I personally know the author, Heather Manley, who is a naturopath and mother with a passion to teach kids to make good choices by empowering them with knowledge about how their body's work.

Human Body Detectives is an award winning kids' book series that teaches kids about how their bodies work and what best foods fuel their bodies. HBD's mission is for every child to be as optimally healthy as they can be today and in their future. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics indicates an increased prevalence of chronic diseases among children and 80% of children do not get the recommended 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Human Body Detectives Go to School Curriculum wants to help by providing a solid foundation for teaching kids how their bodies work and how food directly influences how their bodies function. Kids deserve this knowledge so they can live healthy today and be set up for a lifetime of optimal health.

How can we expect our kids to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle if we don’t teach them to be aware of how food reacts in our bodies?

Human Body Detectives agrees with the CDC that obesity, malnutrition and lack of physical activity are winnable battle. Current trends in school-based education, including the expansion of school food gardens, are showing positive improvements in everyday practices of children and HBD wants to be a part of this trend.

Human Body Detectives Go to School Curriculum ...

• Meets national standards and benchmarks for health and nutrition

• Smart Board friendly

• Ideal for grades 3 to 5

To learn more about the curriculum click here and please pass this on to your local elementary school. HBD realizes school budgets are tight, however, this is crucial material - perhaps the PTA can become involved to raise funds for the school!

Challenge Tip #6: Bone Broth

2011-09-04T22:18:07Z

I'm super excited because I have been wondering for the last year if bone broth is too building to consume while cleansing, but apparently, Donna Gates of the Body Ecology Diet has come to find that it is actually important to consume while cleansing. Bone broth is one of my favorite healing foods. Dr. Weston A. Price, DDS, author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, said the bone broth can bring a dead man back to life. I actually added this to my second edition of my book and today, this was all confirmed for me.

Not only will bone broth help you cleanse, it will add an amazing amount of minerals to your system as well as collagen, which will even further the improvement in your skin and your amount of cellulite!! This broth also has an amazing ability to heal your gut, which most of us need help with as well.

I am simply going to direct you to this bone broth article hot off the press from the Body Ecology Web site so you can read all about why you might like to add this to your cleansing regimen!

Challenge Tip #5: Dry Brush Massage

2011-09-03T17:15:50Z

Dry brush massage is one of my favorite detox techniques while taking The Green Smoothie Challenge, both because it is so important and effective AND it feels really nice! Dry brush massage plays a hugely important role in detox because it opens up the pores of your largest detoxification organ, your skin! It stimulates your lymphatic system and does amazing things for your skin as it removes layers of dead skin, increases circulation, rejuvenates the nervous system, strengthens the immune system, stimulates hormone and oil-producing glands and makes your skin look young and vibrant. It may take three months of dry brush massage before you notice the full benefits so keep on keeping on! It is well worth the time and effort.

It's important to use a natural bristle brush as opposed to a synthetic brisle such as nylon in order to keep from harming your skin. A good choice is the Earth Therapeutics Tampico Vegetable Fiber Skin Brush

The best time to take a dry brush massage is before your morning shower. It is best to set aside 5 to 15 minutes to take care of yourself in this way. Start by using vigorous, circular motions on the soles of your feet. Brush in the following order until you have vigorously brushed your entire body: feet and legs, hands and arms, back and abdomen, chest and neck. Brush each area until it is "rosy, warm and glowing."

Follow this with a hot and cold shower. I like to take my warm shower and at the end, turn the water to cold for as long as you can and then back to warm and back to cold a few times. This will stimulate your capillaries, increasing circulation and overall feeling of well-being and vibrancy.

Source: How To Keep Slim, Healthy and Young with Juice Fasting, by Dr. Paavo Airola.

Challenge Tip #4: Eat Steamed Veggies for Dinner

2011-08-31T18:40:48Z

OK, this may sound so simple, but after doing the Challenge many times and both my husband and I getting so irritable at dinnertime with empty bellies and the smell of dinner cooking filling the house, we came up with this plan. Make steamed veggies with lots of seasoning and some good salt, such as Celtic or Himalayan. This did it for us! It solved the problem, gave us something savory and warm to eat and didn't ruin the cleansing process. Many others have tried this now with the same succes, so I have officially made this part of The Green Smoothie Challenge. If you are trying to keep to an all raw cleanse, you could substitute a salad at dinnertime instead of steamed veggies.