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Juice Truth 101

January 21, 2015 by Shannon Sullivan 2 Comments

I vividly remember standing in line at The Bagel Factory, just across the street from my college apartment, deciding between an egg sandwich or bagel & cream cheese, but totally knowing I’d get an Odwalla juice to make it a “healthy meal.” So yes, as you can imagine, a lot has changed since my college years. My weekends (and weekdays for that matter), wake-up time and priorities look a lot different…and so do my breakfasts! Gone are the bagels (but we’ll save that for another day) and the juice. The decision to forego carb-loaded bagels might seem obvious, but what’s wrong with vibrant, healthy, pre-packaged juice you might ask?

Well for one thing, I stopped believing every “health label” I saw and started doing a little research…. I mean some of these “superfood” juice bottles have upwards of 300 calories + 49 grams of sugar in one serving! If I’m taking in those kind of levels, I better be getting a TON of nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and other good stuff! I used to think my bottle of store-bought juice was the liquid version of a multi-vitamin. And whoa, whoa, whoa check out the ingredient label, what is soy and wheat doing in there?!

Nutritional therapy has been shown to be extremely effective in healing serious degenerative diseases. The Gerson Institute, for example, uses an abundance of nutrients from copious amounts of fresh, organic juices providing a super-dose of enzymes, minerals and nutrients. After spending time in the Gerson kitchen, I see how important it is to take measures to ensure the correct ingredients and preparation methods are used to maintain the integrity of the vitamins and nutrients from whole organic produce!

So for everyone else who isn’t a crazed health nut, and isn’t obsessed with ingredient labels, I thought I would put together the following cheat sheet. When you’re in the market for a nutrition boost and want to choose a juice, keep the following in mind! No more taking advantage of the “confused consumer” with misleading claims and expensive price tags.

Slide3

What to Look For when Buying Juice 

  • Choose Cold-Pressed! The standard orange juice in your grocery store has been pasteurized using heat, which denatures healthy enzymes and oxidizes nutrients… basically kills all the nutrients. So what’s left? Some experts say mostly sugar-water. If you’re looking for something just a step up from Sunny D, go for the OJ. But if you want the maximum health benefit (or want to take in the nutrients that make juices so great), opt for cold-pressed juices. This method of maximum health retention uses a 2 part system of 1st) crushing the produce before 2) pressing out the juice. I found cold-pressed options in Starbucks, Whole Foods, and the trendy juice bars. Here’s a handy website- The Pressed Juice Directory .
  • Don’t judge a juice by its empty health claims! For the record, the words fresh, natural, and superfood can be used without meeting any sort of legal requirements. In 2013, Naked Juice (owned by PepsiCo) faced a class-action lawsuit for unfitting labeling such as “100 percent juice” and “all-natural.” So orange juice that has been sitting in storage for months and has chemicals added to it for preservation might still have the word fresh on its label. Labels enforced by the USDA, like organic do have special meanings and are enforced by the USDA and (in my opinion) are definitely worth paying extra for.
  • When possible, buy juice in glass bottles. Glass is nutritionally best for consumers because it doesn’t leach any parabens or synthetic chemicals. If you can’t find glass, be on the lookout for plastic that is BPA-free.
  • Choose veggies! Or at least a juice made of mostly veggies. Dr. Shidfar Rouhani, a physician at Bastyr University states that your fruit to veggie ratio should be 1:3 or 1:4. Most juices still contain fruit, which has natural sugar, unprocessed that comes directly from foods and is considered healthier than refined sugar because it comes with additional nutrients directly from the food. Plus juices that are too sweet might entice you to chug, when you actually want to sip them instead.

Our friends at Food Babe put together this chart that sums up your best options when it comes to store-bought juice.

My favorite places to buy high-quality juice are at local Farmers’ Markets. You can count on the juice being fresh (as in recently turned from a whole food into it’s juice form). Here is a pic of Hanna and Anna of Oh! Juice taken at the Little Italy Mercado in San Diego. Great gals with a real passion for only the highest quality juices!

Slide2

Hanna & Anna from OH! Juice at the Little Italy Mercado

Whether you’re looking for a juice cleanse, or just a delicious alternative to an afternoon energy boost, juice has become popular than ever!  The nutrients absorb quickly creating more energy, better moods, and stronger immunity. Juicing (the right stuff) can provide a quick dose of antioxidants and can help bad skin, achy joints, + has anti-aging effects, and can assist in weight-loss.

It’s commonly agreed upon in the world of nutrition, that the more you can add raw, unpasteurized, plant-based food to your diet the better! You are adding essential nutrients and enzymes that help your body function and repair itself. WOW, just in time for cold & flu season 🙂 Ditching the grocery store OJ? Find a new juice shop that you LOVE? Share it with us in the comments below!

Live your WHOLE life,

Shannon + Meg

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Filed Under: Education, General Health

Breakfast in a Hurry?

January 14, 2015 by Meg Sullivan Leave a Comment

Today’s blog post comes from some experimenting I did last week. I have a little guy that is a VERY picky eater. That being said, I do my best to stay on the WHOLE food side of things.

Yes, there are some places where I just can’t get around buying processed foods (i.e. teething biscuits) and in those cases, I purchase the “best” option. The “best” option is not necessarily something that Mr. C will always eat so I have had to get creative. It’s this creativity that brought me to this week’s recipe blog…

WFL Strawberry Yogurt Blog

Yogurt is a morning staple for my little man, and I had just run out! I had my list set to head the grocery store in the afternoon, but still needed to whip up something fast for breakfast and use what I already had in the kitchen. Think fast…

I have an amazing recipe for a “chocolate pudding” where the base is avocado – sounds weird but really, really tasty. The avocado gives a great consistency with undetectable flavor. That’s when the light bulb went off…

I quickly tossed an avocado into the Nutribullet, added in the strawberries and almond milk and Voila!

The creamy, delicious, smooth, and of course *healthy* “yogurt” was exactly what we needed. It’s excellent for breakfast or a snack + it passed Mr C’s test (and when that happens, you know its good!) Did I mention that its vegetarian, vegan, dairy –free + gluten free? Truly a treat for ALL!

What recipes have you “discovered” by accident? What dish can you whip up when feeling the pressure? Let us know in the comments below.

Live your WHOLE life,

Meg + Shannon

“Everything Free Yogurt” (serves 1 – 2 to Eat Right Away)

½ ripe Avocado, pit and skin removed

1 C Frozen Strawberries (or fruit of your choice)

1/2 – 1 C of Almond Milk

Toss all ingredients into blender. Blend + enjoy!

Option:  Swap whole milk for the almond milk if you are looking for an even creamier texture.  It won’t be dairy free but it will still be delicious!

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Filed Under: General Health, Recipes Tagged With: dairy free, dessert, fruit, gluten free, healthy, low-sugar, snack, strawberry, vegan, vegetarian, yogurt

Making the Most of Your Pumpkin

October 21, 2014 by Meg Sullivan 2 Comments

WFL Pumpkin Patch Collage

We FINALLY headed to the pumpkin patch for the little man’s first pumpkin picking experience. We are so incredibly lucky to have a wonderful organic farm just 20 minutes away, so we made our way to Suzies Farm for the annual Pumpkin Palooza. The weather was perfect (as it always is in SoCal) and the musical bands were a true delight. It actually began to feel like Fall for the few hours that we were there.

Suzie’s farm is truly a gem, located on the southern fringe of San Diego- it’s an organic sustainable farm, where we literally got to pull our pumpkin from the vine. We opted for a small 3 pounder since we wanted to have the carving experience, but didn’t want to have too much waste from a pumpkin that was only going to be used for decoration.

You know me, I try not to waste ANYTHING, so despite having a small pumpkin, I still wanted to make the most of it by salvaging the seeds. Although my pumpkin seed escapades started off as a way to avoid waste and prepare an easy snack, after a little bit of research, I learned that there are some amazing benefits to these little seeds.

WFL Freshly Baked Pumpkin Seeds 1

PUMPKIN SEED FUN FACTS

  • Whole pumpkin seeds are a home remedy for pinworms and other intestinal parasites.   As the whole seed passes through the digestive tract, the fibrous, insoluble hull gently scours and removes the “unwelcome guest”
  • Pumpkin seeds are higher in protein than most other seeds or nuts
  • A valuable source of Omega-3 Fatty acids
  • “Pepitas” are commercially available pumpkin seeds that have been “de-hulled”

NOW TO THE GOOD STUFF…

Roasting pumpkin seeds is REALLY quite easy and they are also a Beautiful University approved (and encouraged) snack food. Homemade Baked Pumpkin seeds are seasonal, so enjoy them before they’re gone.

WFL Baked Pumpkin Seeds 2

FRESHLY BAKED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Ingredients:

1 – 3 Cups     Fresh Pumpkin Seeds

1 – 2 Tbsp.    Olive Oil or Butter

Sea Salt (to taste)

Instructions:

1.) Preheat oven to 330 degrees (F).

2.) Separate the fresh pumpkin seeds from the pulp.

3.) Rinse seeds in a colander under cold water to remove any remaining pumpkin pulp.

4.) Pat seeds dry with a paper towel. We really want the olive oil/butter to “stick” to the seeds so dry them as much as possible.

5.) Place dried seeds in a bowl and add oil/butter. Mix to coat.

6.) Add Sea Salt to taste and mix to coat.

7.) Spread a single layer of seeds onto baking sheet.

8.) Bake at 330 degrees for 25 – 35 minutes, stirring once, until golden brown.

9.) Let cool. Enjoy!

WFL Freshly Baked Pumpkin Seeds 4

 

*Option to add cinnamon or curry in lieu of salt.

We hope that you enjoy this seasonally delicious recipe and we look forward to seeing you again next week!

Live your WHOLE life,

Meg + Shannon

 

 

 

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Hangover Cure- The Fastest Way to Recover from Labor Day

September 3, 2014 by Meg Sullivan Leave a Comment

WFL Labor Day Hangover

So it’s Wednesday, you’re back at work thinking about all the fun you had at Monday’s Labor Day BBQ. The hot dogs, cheeseburger and polish sausages were great! Almost as good as the onion ranch dip you ate accompanied by about ½ a bag of potato chips. You decided to opt out of the seven-layer flag dessert cake in favor of another craft beer, glass of sangria and Star-Spangled Banner spritzer. I’m sure you’re feeling clear-headed and productive as ever…

Just in case that’s NOT the case, your friends at Whole Food Love put together a 10-Step Labor Day Detox that will have you back in fighting shape in no time! Whether it’s a traditional hangover or even a food stupor that has you fatigued and plagued with headaches, these tips will get you back into balance.

10 Step Labor Day Detox

WFL 10 Step Labor Day Detox

Step #1: Beware of coffee!

The temporary jolt you’ll receive from caffeine will give you a burst of energy…with a price. Much like a sugar rush, once the caffeine crash hits you’ll be dealing with a caffeine withdrawal headache on top of the dehydration headache. Stick with water! Spa water and flavored sparkling water are great choices too.

Step #2: Repeat after me: Vitamin Water is NOT water!

As long as we have you thinking of hydrating, let’s be clear. Sports drinks, vitamin water, and those squirtable artificially flavored water-enhancers do NOT count as water. Why? Because they are all loaded with sugar, the kind that will give you a quick fix of energy only to be followed later by a crash. It’s true that electrolytes are great for rehydrating, and the best option is coconut water. It’s stacked with electrolytes, is low-calorie, nonfat, has less sugar than sports drinks and juices, and has been shown in some studies to be less irritating to your stomach.

Step #3: Grab a banana.

The potassium in bananas works against the diuretic (dehydrating) effect of alcohol. Plus the 3 natural sugars in bananas have an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Opt for this whole food choice to get you back on track.

Step #4: A fatty meal will make you feel better….as long as you choose the right kind.

It’s true, a meal high in the healthy fats (Omega 3’s) will help detox all the unhealthy saturated and trans fats that you consumed at said BBQ. Note: only healthy fats will make you feel better, bad fats (pizza, more fried food, ice cream, etc.) will make you feel even worse! Drizzle some olive oil over your vegetable salad, snack on some nuts and seeds, or opt for roasted salmon tonight with dinner.

Step #5: Go Green.

Green tea has potent antioxidant compounds that detox your body and can help rid it of potentially harmful compounds. These antioxidants also maintain strong cells and organs, including your liver, which will help you recover faster. If straight green tea is too strong for your taste buds, add a bit of honey to sweeten the deal.

Step #6: Eat a salad.

Choose a combo of spinach, carrots, beets, broccoli, blueberries, beans, citrus fruits, and craisins. These ingredients are packed with vitamins and nutrients that you lose while drinking. These veggies will also help your system clear out all the junk food from the weekend.

Step #7: Find a ginger (root).

If you have an upset stomach, or just don’t feel quite right, look for the pickled ginger that comes with sushi or even ginger tea. This powerful root has amazing calming effects and can prevent nausea in a natural way your body can handle.

Step #8: Get your B6.

You lose a lot of things during BBQs, including my favorite white jeans due to a mustard stain…You also lose a lot of vitamins during drinking. Vitamin B6 plays a big part in regulating your metabolism and immune system, so it’s important to replenish. Grab some sunflower seeds or pistachios, as these foods have the highest levels of the powerful B vitamin.

Step #9: Sweat it out!

Whether you are recovering from too much food or too much drink, sweating will help flush out toxins and improve circulation. If you’re up to it, get moving by engaging in any type of cardio. If you’re really under the weather, head to a sauna or steam room for a similar benefit.

Step #10: Sleep it off.

This may sound really obvious, but it always helps to have a reminder. If you can manage it, try to leave work at a reasonable hour, eat a veggie-packed salad for dinner and get to bed early. Your body repairs itself when you’re asleep, so give it some extra time. Haven’t you put your body through enough already? You should wake up feeling refreshed tomorrow…

Trust us, try these 10 steps to detox from your Labor Day fun and your body (and your boss) will thank you! Let us know how you felt after your detox day by leaving a comment below.

Live your WHOLE life,

Shannon & Meg

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When Going Blonde Is Better

August 6, 2014 by Meg Sullivan 2 Comments

WFL Endless Summer Blondie

It’s 10:00pm on a Thursday night, and I’m the only one home.  I already had dinner, took the dog on a run, and finished the laundry.  Don’t get me wrong, there is still a LOT to do (there always is)!  I’m moving to a new house this weekend and still have to pack up the bathrooms and kitchen.  I’m in transition, using plastic silverware and weaving through the maze of boxes to get from one room to another. Thanks to my mother (and Grandpa Jer), I grew up with the phrase “Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.”  So I know I should keep working…but my brain has only been focused on how badly I want a brownie.  WHAT?!  Yes, a deliciously moist, dense brownie!  Being obsessed with health and wellness does not make me immune to cravings (unfortunately).

Recognizing that I should march back upstairs and tackle the bathroom, I think how much easier it would be after a satisfying brownie boost! I operate on the “Good, Better, Best” system.  It’s one thing to strive for perfection (or the best option), but there are times the best option isn’t available and we all need to be realistic with our health.  The best option for me now would be to muster up the willpower to ignore this craving completely.  Sometimes this tactic works, and I’ll have some carrots or nuts and other times I’ll go through carrots, nuts, crackers, and finally the desired dessert as well.  In these cases I’m eating more food that if I had just given in to the craving…

A good option is the opposite end of the spectrum; tonight it would be baking the ooey -gooey double chocolate Ghirardelli brownies my mom used to make.  These would definitely satisfy my sweet tooth craving, but require an unnecessary expense and impromptu trip to the store. Don’t get me wrong, the Ghirardelli brownies are WONDERFUL but I had a tasty and nutritious salad for dinner, went running, and didn’t wait until 10pm to kill my day with overeating a pan of brownies! Did I mention they have 20 grams of sugar and only 1 gram of protein?!  This ratio pretty much guarantees I will overeat:

1) The high amount of sugar triggers the “go, go, go & more, more, more” response

2) With such a low amount of protein, it will take more to feel full and turn on the “stop eating” switch

WFL The Endless Summer Blondie bake-2

Hmm, so now I’m in search of the Better choice. I don’t have a lot of time or food on hand- did I mention most of my belongings are in boxes scattered throughout the house.  I’m dealing with a half empty pantry! I thumb through some of my dessert recipes, all of which require a long list of ingredients. Then I come across The Endless Summer Blondies recipe.  Perfect- like the idea of an endless summer when in search of the perfect wave.  This time it is the perfect crave...

This recipe

  • Boasts 7 grams of protein per blondie
  • Contains only 12 grams of sugar (compared to 20g!!!!)
  • Is Gluten-free (for anyone with Celiac or gluten sensitivity)
  • Requires less than 10 ingredients
  • Easy cleanup (1 mixing bowl + 1 wooden spoon)
  • Produces moist, chocolatey brownies that will silence your craving but won’t negate those healthy choices you’ve made today!

 

WFL The Endless Summer Blondies burlap

 

The ENDLESS SUMMER BLONDIEs (Chocolate chip Brownies)

Ingredients:

1 cup almond butter

1 egg

½ tsp. sea salt

½ cup organic sugar

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

½ cup dark chocolate chips

topping: crushed walnuts

other optional toppings: sea salt, silvered almonds, pecans, semisweet chocolate chips….the options are endless!

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients (except for optional toppings).
  3. Pour batter into parchment-lined pan, smooth top with a wooden spoon and top with crushed walnuts (you can crush your own walnuts using a spoon and plastic bag).
  4. Bake blondies until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and cool for about 10 minutes.
  6. To serve, lift parchment paper out of pan (leaves it clean), cut into 8 squares and enjoy!

Note: The Endless Summer Blondies will last for a couple days in an airtight container on the counter (mine are usually eaten sooner!).  They also taste great refrigerated or as a frozen treat.  Enjoy your indulgence, guilt-free!  Life is all about compromise, so strive for the best and be satisfied with the better.

Live your WHOLE life,

 

Shannon & Meg

 

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Organic, Baby?

June 18, 2014 by Meg Sullivan 2 Comments

I am truly at a crossroads… Crossroads of this importance have been few and far between in my life. Up until this point, my major life decisions have been where to go to college, is it the right time to get married to the love of my life, and are we open to trying for a baby?

Well, I loved my time at Villanova University, the love of my life and I are still going strong 9 years later, and you guessed it …the little guy finally came in December!   So where are the crossroads you ask?

Well we just hit the six-month mark and have been cleared to begin incorporating “solid foods” into the little guy’s diet. I had already decided that I would try to prep as much as I could at home with the exceptions being the rice cereal that all babies seem to start on and the times that we travel and don’t have access to all of our baby food making supplies. But the true question is how important is organic, especially when it comes to a baby?

I never explored the idea of “organic” until 2009. Up until then, I was barely able to prepare my own meals from scratch let alone worry whether the actual ingredients were organic or not. To be honest, I didn’t even know what “organic” technically meant. Sure it sounds healthier, but is it really worth the additional cost?

After quite a bit of research I found, the USDA defines organic food to be produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.

Without getting into specifics and in order keep things simple, I think that we can all agree that the closer we get to nature, the better. If you could choose between an apple the HAS been treated with pesticides vs. an apple that has NOT, you likely would choose that apple that has not been treated.

WFL Apple Organic

However, the apple that has not been treated is probably a bit more expensive. Is the absence of these chemicals worth the additional cost?

The EPA reports that pesticides can interfere with the nervous, hormone and endocrine systems, and act as carcinogens in the body. Produce that is grown organically has less fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide residue (more expensive to monitor). Rinsing our fruits & veggies will reduce but not eliminate pesticides. So in an ideal world, we would all buy local, organic produce all the time, but for many of us, organic produce may not be available or may not be within our budget.

 

I like to use the DIRTY DOZEN and the CLEAN 15 as my rule of thumb.

 

The DIRTY DOZEN is list of produce has also been tested and contains the HIGHEST amounts of harmful pesticide residue that penetrates the skin and is not easily scrubbed away. If possible, aim to buy the following organic:

  1. Apples
  2. Celery
  3. Strawberries
  4. Peaches
  5. Spinach
  6. Nectarines
  7. Grapes
  8. Sweet Bell Peppers
  9. Potatoes
  10. Blueberries
  11. Lettuce
  12. Kale/Collard Green

The produce listed in the CLEAN 15 can be purchased conventionally (not organic) because it has been tested to have the LEAST amount of pesticide residue.

  1. Onions
  2. Corn
  3. Pineapple
  4. Avocado
  5. Asparagus
  6. Sweet Peas
  7. Mango
  8. Eggplant
  9. Cantaloupe
  10. Kiwis
  11. Cabbage
  12. Watermelon
  13. Sweet Potatoes
  14. Grapefruit
  15. Mushrooms

Save money on the Clean 15 produce so that you can splurge with organic produce from the Dirty Dozen.

Although not exact, another rule of thumb you can use, is that if the produce has a peel such as an orange or a banana, you can consider getting these items conventionally (not organic) as you can “peel off” much of the pesticide residue.

As Robyn O’Brien mentioned in her piece for the Prevention and The Food Revolution Network:

Admittedly, the high price of organic food can irritate anyone.  But the scrutiny that these foods undergo is enormous and expensive, driving prices at the cash register and for those producing them on the farm. Why the costs?  Because the cost structure on our food supply offers taxpayer-funded resources called subsidies to the farmers using genetically engineered seeds and saturating crops in insecticides and weed killers, while charging the organic farmers fees to prove that their crops are safe.”

So now that you know the rule of thumb that I do for myself, what about prepping food for baby?

Up until now the only food that has touched his lips is Mama’s milk.   There is a pristine little digestive system that has been untouched by modern food processing methods, pesticides, and GMO’s and I would like to keep it that way. For now, it is organic all the way for this little guy.

 

Don't worry!  We're not eating kale yet.  Just feeling different textures and exploring colors.

Don’t worry! We’re not eating organic kale yet. Just feeling different textures and exploring colors.

Stay tuned for our money saving ways to stretch your dollar the farthest when it comes to buying organics.   Until then…

Live your WHOLE life!

 

Meg & Shannon

 

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The BEST Low-Cal Drink I Ever Had!

June 4, 2014 by Meg Sullivan Leave a Comment

Thank you so much for joining us here!  We are so incredibly excited to have you with us to launch our site!  Whole Food Love is the dream of two sisters who have always had a passion for health, but took a few detours, before ultimately finding the right path, which allowed us to pursue health education, cooking, research, and counseling full time.

What will I find in this blog and why should I read it? 

We look forward to sharing our triumphs and struggles with trying to prepare and eat healthy delicious food (Oh yes – and also getting our family to eat this way.)  We also look forward to bringing you amazing recipes for dinners (and of course desserts will be included), juicing, smoothies, cooking tips, health education, money saving tips at the grocery store and even some organizing and scheduling ideas.

Eating clean healthy food takes time, but with the right amount of planning and prep, it can become fun instead of daunting – when you start BASIC.  In honor of this being our first blog post, we wanted to start with THE MOST BASIC of the basic…WATER.

So how is water the best low-cal drink I ever had?  Well, after adding a few things to my glass, it is ultimately a pitcher of homemade Lemon Mint Spa Water that changed the entire trajectory of my life.

We all know that water is good for us, that we should drink more and that H2O contributes to

  • Better Skin
  • Better Hydration of the cells and myofascial tissue
  • Increased efficiency of our organs

But what are some other reasons, how much should we drink, and what can we do when do when it is difficult to drink as much water as we need, Oh and HOW did this low cal drink of water change my life?

Well, let me take you back to the day that the idea of Whole Food Love began…

My sister Shannon and I had just recently been introduced to Masuru Emoto’s Hidden Messages in Water.  A book with beautiful pictures that documents how water exposed to loving and kind thoughts crystallize completely differently than water exposed to a hateful or negative atmosphere.  The water exposed to the caring environments crystallizes in beautiful and symmetrical snowflakes – truly beautiful to see. The water that is exposed to negativity crystallizes into shapeless and irregular forms.

Emoto HMW  Emoto Snowflakes

All of this talk of water got us a little bit thirsty and instead of turning to plain  water, we decided to make a pitcher of Lemon Mint Spa Water.  (See recipe below).

An interesting fact about water and how much your body needs it – Human embryos are 95% water, newborns are 75% water, and most elderly people are 50% water!  So please, try to get your daily intake.  A good rule of thumb is to try drinking at least as many ounces of water as ½ your body weight in lbs.

Example:  If you are 150 lbs. you should make it a goal to drink at least 75 oz of water per day.

Maybe it was all the good vibes coming from the Lemon Mint Spa Water, but, WOW did we get inspired!   We both had passions for fitness, food, and the link between nutrition and health.   (We also both have a passion for saving money but we will save that for another post!)

We had both previously worked in hectic high stress jobs – the life of CPA’s – that did not leave a lot of time for preparing food at home and knew that it was time for a change.  We decided that the combination of Shannon’s nutritional training and food preparation expertise + my ability to organize and plan could be developed into a streamlined program and thus the idea of WHOLE FOOD LOVE was born.

After research, seminars, kitchen experiments, we have discovered, tweaked, and created the most delicious, healthy, and nutrient dense meals (and did I mention desserts) that can be prepared for you and your family.

So make yourself a pitcher of Lemon Mint Spa Water, curl up with a good book or visit with a close friend, and make a positive decision that will change the trajectory of YOUR life!

Share your decision with us in the comment section below!

 

Live your WHOLE life!

Meg & Shannon

 

LEMON MINT SPA WATER

6 Cups of chilled mineral/spring water

8 slices of thinly sliced cucumber

4 thin slices of lemon

4 thin slices of lime

4 sprigs of fresh mint (crushed)

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary (crushed)

 

Combine all ingredients and chill for at least 2 hours.   Pour over ice and enjoy!

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