Powered By Plants

Plant Power for 2016

Aloha from Hawaii. It's resolution time and all my cooking classes always bust at the seams in attendance during January. Yesterday in Honolulu, was no exception. Many students talked about having a healthier year and are hopeful to make changes towards a plant based Livet ( I like this word over Diet). This always makes me happy, and I am more than happy to help people along their journey to become Powered By Plants!
Something to put into perspective is that choosing wisely is our key to success. Many have made the change to a vegan Livet and still battle with weight and sickness due to unwise choices. You can still be "vegan" and eat junk food (candy, soda, fried foods).
Eating a wide variety whole plant Livet is optimum. When we choose a wide range of beans, legumes, fruits and veggies, we increase the variety of our nutritional intake.
Getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals is easy when we do this. I'm frequently asked where I get my protein. I get it from plants of course, all plants have protein and I should be getting 43-45 grams a day. When I eat a variety of whole plant goodness, I can do this easily. Shucks, lentils alone have 17 grams in 1 cup. 1 cup of kale has 4 grams, and throughout my day I get plenty.
Another thing to remember is that each day is a brand new start, your slate is clean every new morning. So if you struggled the day before with tempting foods, don't beat yourself up, make wise choices today.
Here are some tips to help you overcome temptations and to have a successful plant based year:

• Plan weekly menus. ( I like to make a big pot of beans on Sunday and plan meals for week around using them in a variety of ways)
• Shop weekly at farmers market for fresh, local and organic produce or join CSA farm program and receive weekly produce and plan menu around what's in season. 
• Make meals and eat at home. ( eating out can not only be expensive, but also may not be organic, and also contain GMOs. It can also be unhealthy if fried and full of sugar. When we make food at home, we control what's on our plate and in our bodies, no surprises.
• Don't bring junk food home. ( don't buy it- keep it out of the house).
• Drink water! Water helps fight cravings and is a shower for our insides. Would you shower in juice or soda? Our insides need showers too. I shoot daily to drink water in ounces equivalent to my weight.
• Fast food is fruit and veggies! Banana and apples are my most favorite fast foods.
• B12 is needed when going vegan. Take a supplement, eat moringa and blue green algae ( I put these in my morning smoothie). 
• Organic! Be Organic, choose Organic! Pesticides break down our immune system and eventually cause dis- ease in our bodies. This inevitably leads to various diseases. 
• Choose Raw fruits and veggies- beware you will acquire hidden super powers that you did not know lived inside you when you eat raw! Raw fruits and vegetables contain all vital nutrients with out having been cooked out. I always say, "Salads save lives". Eat a salad a day and watch how your life changes for the better.

Here is how I focus my day whether raw or eating cooked:

• Morning Green smoothie.
• Fruit snack before lunch
• Large.. Very large salad for lunch.
• Green juice before dinner.
• Whole pant cooked dinner or raw when raw.

This year I'll post recipes for this daily paradigm I like to follow. It's simple and satisfying. 

I hope to help and encourage you on your journey to a healthier 2016. Please let me know how I may assist you. You can email me privately at ItalKitchen808@gmail.com I would be honored to be of service. 

️Sending love to you wherever you are. I strongly believe that we are one family! Love you all!

Love,

Mama T