Butterfly

Butterfly beautiful butterflies

Such artistic creatures!

Reminiscent of an artist pallet of colors,

only painted and crafted by nature

Journeying through life in stages

deep within a comfort zone of transformation.

Eventually taking to flight!

Sail away, sail away in

Peaceful bliss

Spreading joy over turquoise seas

of transcending time.

Beautiful butterfly

A gift among my favorite things

Beautiful butterfly

all aflutter with change and renewal

by Sheila_Malaldo


And this is my Daily Cyn.........

Asian Lettuce Wraps with Radishes

Here is a delicious and fun recipe using lettuce leaves instead of tortillas, bread or pancakes and our veggie of the month- Radishes!   I love the lettuce wraps at my local PF Changs Restaurant and these are similar.  This recipe calls for ground turkey but you can substitute with GimmeLean.  GimmieLean is a meat alternative found in the produce section of most markets and can be formed into meatballs, burgers, added to sauce or transformed into chili for a delicious vegetarian spin.



Meatballs:
1 lb lean ground turkey or one package of GimmeLean ground beef alternative
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons minced, fresh ginger

Filling:
1 cup brown rice
2 cups water
16 large lettuce leaves, washed and dried
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup scallions, sliced thin
1 cup sliced red bell pepper
1 cup sliced radishes

Dipping Sauce:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon honey

1.  In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey or alternative and the meatball ingredients.  Form into 16 meatballs and roll into ovals.  Cover and refrigerate.

2.  In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the rice with 2 cups of water.  Bring water to a boil, adjust heat and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

3.  Preheat grill.  Arrange lettuce leaves, rice, carrots, scallions, radishes, and red pepper onto a serving platter.  In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix together the sauce ingredients and divide into 4 small dipping bowls.
4.  Thread 2 meatballs each onto 10 inch skewers.  If you are using GimmeLean, toss the meatballs lightly with a bit of olive oil to coat to avoid sticking.  Grill about 10 minutes, turning occassionally to brown all sides. Watch the alternative meatballs carefully so they do not burn on the grill. 

To eat, place a lettuce leaf in the palm of your hand or in a dish, spoon a little of the rice, then a meatball, and some of the vegetables.  Roll up and dip into the sauce or spoon sauce over the wrap.

Makes 4 servings
394 calories
12.3 grams of fat

And this is my Daily Cyn............

Those Days Are Over?

I stepped outside my office today just to get a breath of fresh air and soak up some of the glorious sunshine.  A very nice, lady ( I will call her Sue) who works at the bank on the lower level of my building (where I happen to actually do my banking) was outside reading a magazine during her break.  We chatted for a moment or two and then she commented on the weather.  I agreed it was a beautiful day and wished I was at the beach.  She laughed and waved her hand and said, " Ha! The beach? I love the beach but those days are over!" I didn't get a chance to ask her why; her break was over and she quickly made her way back inside.

As I stood there, I could not help but wonder why her days at the beach are over. She is a lovely lady,  married for years and younger than me.  She is a bit overweight but I am sure she doesn't look bad in a bathing suit.  So why, when she loves the beach, are those days over? She's healthy, she's strong,  she is still young.  I don't know her personally.  She could have had skin cancer at one time and that keeps her away from the beach. I think that is a valid reason, but based on the way she said it, I have my doubts about that. Her statement echoed in my head all day and I couldn't stop thinking about all the times I actually hear those words:

"I used ride my bike all the time.....those days are over."
"I used to go out dancing but......those days are over."
"I enjoy sled riding, or jet skiing but.....those days are over."
" I wish I could play baseball but.....those days are over."
" I would love to have a motorcycle but.....those days are over."
" I always wanted to go back to school but....those days are over."

Nothing depresses me more than to hear someone make a statement like that, no matter what their age.  I believe that once you adopt an attitude of  "those days are over..." you will become old, sedentary, negative, and boring. I recently went camping and borrowed a sleeping bag from my parents.  They were concerned because I did not have an inflatable air mattress to sleep on.  " You are no spring chicken anymore," they told me.  "You can't go camping and sleep on the ground like you used to when you were 20. You are 48 years old now! Those days are over!"  How proud I was to return the sleeping bag to them completely free of any aches or pains from sleeping on the cold hard ground two nights in a row! Spring Chicken, indeed!! I can't help but wonder if I had adopted their attitude if I would have come home racked with pain instead. I truly believe if I keep telling myself I can't and listening to the negativity of others, those days will be over!

Some of us are older. We have health issues and limitations that make it difficult to do everything we used to do. I certainly understand that. I am not encouraging anyone to go out and play baseball 7 days a week when your doctor is telling you to take it easy.  What I am saying is most of the things we are able to do and not able to do are simply a matter of attitude.  A "those days are over" attitude has such a sad, hopeless, finality to it.  A "those days are over" attitude, whether you know it or not, paves the way for a subtle depression to set in, and depression causes aches, pains, and limitations.  Aches, pains and limitations cause more depression.  It's a never ending cycle that will eventually consume you and make you start to feel old before your time.

I recently went to Claudios in Greenport for Memorial Day weekend.  It's an annual ritual for me to usher in the summer out there eating fresh clams and listening to great live music with good friends.  Out on the dance floor was an elderly couple dancing their butts off to the music in the hot sun.  They had to be the oldest people in a sea of twenty, thirty and forty-somethings.  I couldn't stop smiling as I watched them.  They were having a blast, enjoying each other, laughing, dancing, spinning, twirling.  They put the rest of us to shame.  Did they have aches and pains the next day?  Perhaps.  Did they think it was worth it? I am sure they did.  Imagine if they just sat on the side watching everyone else having a great time, their hearts pumping,  feet tapping to the music, but holding back with a "we used to love to dance but...those days are over" attitude?

Think about the things you used to love to do or something you always wanted to do but think you can't anymore.  Perhaps you want to go back to college, learn to drive a stick shift, take a trip cross country, start a new business, or go out and dance all night. What ever it is, fill in the blanks:
" I used to__________...but those days are over."
" I always wanted to _____________...but those days are over."
"I enjoy________________...but those days are over."

Think long and hard about it and then ask yourself "why are those days over?" It is quite possible that you might come up with a million reasons why they are most certainly  NOT over. You just need to change your way of thinking.  Those days are not over until you breathe your last breath.  I plan to to enjoy every minute of life doing everything I want and love to do as long as my heart, body and mind allows me.  How about you?

And this is my Daily Cyn..........

Motts Medleys

http://www.motts.com/Products/KidsHealthySnacksAndDrinks/MottsMedleys.aspx/

I saw a commercial last night advertising a new juice: Motts Medleys. It was advertised by Marcia Cross who plays Bree Hodge (the seemingly 'PERFECT" wife and mother) on the show Desperate Houswives. The claim: packed with real fruit and vitamins, this juice is healthy to give to your kids and a good way to sneak fruit...its and veggies into them by serving them something that tastes good! Well.... you KNOW I wasn't about to take HER word for it so I did a little research of my own!! Here are the FACTS about Motts Medleys:


This little single serving of juice packs a whopping 200 calories

It is loaded with sugar: 48 grams.... no additional added sugar from what I can see but still....sugar is sugar!

48 carbs

The vitamin claim to fame is 420 mg of potassium

It contains 100% the daily recommended vitamin C

4% calcium

6% iron

Of course your kids will LOVE this....and want it all the time! It's SWEET!!!!!

If you are looking to feed your kids fruits and vitamins, you are not going to make them healthy or keep them that way by serving them this juice. This juice is expensive to buy and by continuously giving your kids this drink you could have a sugar addicted, potentially overweight and pre-diabetic situation on your hands!!!

Serve your kid a banana! It's portable, fun to eat and cheap. One banana contains 450 mg of potassium and only 14 grams of sugar. Make them a baked potato (skin on) or baked fries and they will be getting 1,081mg of potassium.

Concerned about Vitamin C? Hand your child an orange. They can peel it or you can cut one up into orange boats for them. Again....this is another fun food to eat and packs 70mg of Vitamin C and only 9.14 grams of sugar!

We can't possibly be THAT lazy or time-stressed that we need to pop open a bottle rather than peel a banana or cut up some orange slices to serve to our precious children.......
 
And this is my Daily Cyn........

What do I do with the radish tops??

A few people have asked me what to do with the radish greens..... Here are a few recipes using the leaves from the bunches of radishes you bought.  Most people toss these! I can't imagine. The leaves are packed with nutrients, minerals, and vitamin C!!!! Enjoy them.....

Radish Leaf Pesto
(can be spread on toasted italian bread or tossed with pasta)

 2 large handfuls of good-looking radish leaves, stems removed
30 grams (1 ounce) hard cheese, such as pecorino or parmesan, grated or shaved using a vegetable peeler
30 grams (1 ounce) nuts, such as pistachios, almonds, or pinenuts (avoid walnuts, which make the end result too bitter in my opinion)
1 clove garlic, germ removed, cut in four
a short ribbon of lemon zest cut thinly from an organic lemon with a vegetable peeler (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more to get the consistency you like
salt, pepper, ground chili pepper

Put all the ingredients in a food processor or blender or mini-chopper, and process in short pulses until smooth. You will likely have to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. This produces a thick pesto; add more oil and pulse again to get the consistency you prefer. (This can also be done with a mortar and pestle; it's great for your karma and your triceps.)

Taste, adjust the seasoning, and pack into an airtight container. Use within a few days (it will keep longer if you pour a thin layer of oil on the surface) or freeze.

Radish Leaf Salad

greens from 2 bunches of radishes
1 teaspoon mashed or crushed fresh garlic mixed with a pinch of salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup of raisins (the sweetness of the raisins balances the light bitterness of radish leaves)
1 onion sliced into thin rings OR 3 scallions finely chopped
1 can cooked garbanzo beans

Wash and dry the greens well and chop coarsely. 
Make a dressing by combining the mashed garlic, the olive oil and lemon juice.  Mix well
Add raisins, onions or scallions and the garbanzo beans to the greens and pour the dressing over all.
Toss well. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!!

And this is my Daily Cyn.........

The Ravishing Radish...........

I always thought the radish was a humble little vegetable.  It is oddly mishappen and rather funny looking with its pointy bottom and sparce little roots.  The radishes I have here at home are a brightly colored red.  Red is one of the most flamoyant of colors and anything but humble or boring. Red is hot and spicy.  Red is just what you need when you feel sad, when you want to make a statement, or spice things up a little.  Perhaps the radish is not so humble after all..........

Radishes are usually sliced or chopped and tossed into a salad.  In the past I have been guilty of buying those little bags of them in the produce section and weeks later, found them in the back of my fridge, sadly forsaken.  The best way to buy radishes is in bunches, with the greens and roots attached.  Wash them well and slice them, dice them, or bite into them whole. The radish is a root vegetable and is pungent or sweet in taste with a lot of juice.  Radishes are white, red, purple, or black, long, cylindrical, or round in shape.  They are eaten raw, cooked, pickled, or added to fresh homemade vegetable juice.  Here are some of the health benefits these ravishing gems offer.  I guarantee, after reading this, you will never forsake the radish again.......

Radishes contain antioxidants which help prevent the body from developing cancer.  It is believed that they mainly aid in the prevention of colon, breast and colon cancer.  They also contain vitamin C so if you are not a fan of oranges or orange juice and want to get your daily dose of this essential vitamin naturally, munch on a few radishes. Radish leaves contain almost six times the vitamin C and are also a good source of calcium.  They are also rich in potassium, folic acid, and copper. 

The radish is especially beneficial for liver and gallbladder function.  It regulates production and flow of bile, bilirubin, acids, enzymes, and removes excess bilirubin from the blood, being a good detoxifier.  It also contains enzymes like myrosinase, diastase, amylase, and esterase.  Radishes help protect the liver and the gallbladder from infections and ulcers and help soothe them.

If weight loss is your goal, add radishes to your diet.  They are tasty, filling and rich in fiber. They are low in calories, low in carbs, high in roughage, and contain a lot of water.  Snacking on radishes will fill you up quickly and might just satisfy that urge to nosh on something crunchy.  

Finding this all hard to believe?  Have some slices of radish.  You will feel better, look better; in fact, you will look and feel quite ravishing...........

Next I will be sharing some recipes for the ravishing radish...... stay tuned!

And this is my Daily Cyn............

Garbage IN, garbage OUT!!!

As a health and nutritional counselor, I am always interested in what people eat and how to help them change a few things around to feel, look, and be their best.  I am an advocate of  "REAL FOOD" and try to avoid and discourage anything artificial, processed, overly sweet and unhealthy.  I am also a vegetarian, do not consume meat and exist on loads of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein alternatives like beans, tofu, tempeh (tofu and tempeh are minimally processed but I would rather have those than eat meat). 

I recently posted a suggestion about a "conscious eating" experiment on my Facebook page.  I was looking for a few people interested in trying a few different foods (both healthy and unhealthy) and asked them to pay attention to what they were eating and how they felt during, after, a few days later.  I didn't push the experiment as much as I really wanted to because I was also in the middle of planning a camping trip for the weekend and dealing with a few personal inconveniences that consumed a great deal of time.  I was thrilled to learn that one of my friends did give the "conscious eating" a try and this is what he wrote to me:

"Hey Hey......did that little experiment thing.. but not with donuts...for the past 3 weeks I stopped eating meat.. cut out my sugar.. and started really to eat well....but the other nite I went to an outside festival in the city and said this is a really good place to see if I eat crap how I would feel after wards...hot dogs soda and ice cream later..I went home ....well the next day I felt like crap it took me 2 days to recover ...LOL...so just wanted to tell you .... "

WOW  Just one night of eating what we consider "normal festival fare" and he felt awful for two days after! I was so excited to hear his results but did feel bad that he felt so lousy as a result.  I certainly don't wish that horrible sluggish feeling on anyone; but I knew he would!

I had a similar experience this past weekend.  I went camping with a few girlfriends and we decided not to bbq or cook and packed a cooler full of whatever we could find that would be quick, easy and portable.  I personally packed some cheese,  some bagels, some Terra Chips (which are somewhat healthy) and some pistachio nuts.  Our cooler and bags were packed full of other goodies like Doritos, potato chips, pretzels, processed american cheese, other coldcuts, white bread, some fruit, and beer.  There was a little store nearby where we went to get breakfast each morning (eggs on a roll for me, bacon, egg and cheese on bagels or rolls for the carnivores in the group, and coffee). 

For two days I existed on some cheese, white bread and rolls, beer, chips, a couple of fire-roasted marshmallows,  a few strawberries and an orange.  I never even opened the pistachio nuts which would have been a good and healthy source of protein in a pinch.  By the end of the trip I was lethargic, depressed, completely exhausted and a roller coaster of emotions.  I came home on Sunday afternoon, laid down on my couch and passed out for several hours.  Two days later, I still feel awful.  My stomach is upset, I have had several yelling, screaming disagreements with my boyfriend, there are dark circles under my eyes that no amount of concealer will hide, and I feel as if I have been heavily sedated.  Now I must be honest, there were some outside influences and events that caused my emotions to run amuck over the weekend and for the past few days, but I am convinced that if I had been eating my regular healthy diet, things would have never been so blown out of proportion and I would not have reacted the way I did.  Garbage in.......garbage out!

I have returned to my simplistic, healthy, "real food" diet.  I have never been so excited to eat a dish of fresh spinach, brown rice, and cubed tofu in my life.  I am sipping miso soup and munching on fresh fruit and vegetables in an effort to bring my body back into submission again.

The moral of the story: we are what we eat.  Most of us don't even pay attention to what we eat.  We exist on garbage every day; pre-packed, processed, artifical fast food and wonder why we always feel so tired, so aggravated, so unhealthy.  If you feel like this more often than not, why not take a look at what you are eating or not eating and see if there are ways you can improve your diet.  Add some greens, some lean protein, cook at home a few nights in row.  See if you feel a difference.  I guarantee.......you will!!

If you would like to learn more about consciouse eating or need advice about real food, or just need to chat with someone about it, give me a call, send an email, or contact me on Facebook!!

And this is my Daily Cyn............