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Hi !
Are you feeling gunky? Like a car in need of an oil change? Like your insides are a bit thick, sluggish, or toxic? As spring warms us up (off and on, at least!), it's natural for our bodies to crave lighter, more alkaline foods like salads, greens, and sprouts. During the winter, we accumulate a lot of mucus and phlegm in our bodies. I know: it's not a lovely thought, but it's true. It's easy to get caught in food ruts and keep eating the same foods month after month, year round. Like most creatures in the wild, however, we naturally seek to clean-out and lighten-up in the spring. This can pave the way for weight loss, a stronger immune system, and less inflammation in your body (e.g. aches and pains, headaches, post nasal drip). Did you experiment yet with last month's greens recipe? Give it a try. This month's sprout recipe is a simple, delicious one I recently pulled out for a client.
Looking for an inspiring and fun way to jump start your health this Spring? Check out the next four Purpose group programs! Whether you want to find and keep a healthy weight, stop that nasty acid reflux or nagging constipation, find out how to cook healthy stuff that actually tastes good, or learn the truth about what to feed your kids, there's an option for you! Let this issue help you to Spring into a healthier life.
Be well,
Tracy
 P.S. Many of you have asked for an update on Sam, our new puppy. The boy is happy and crazy in love with life. Full of joy and mischief. As you can see for yourself... His favorite spot to kick back in the yard is on top of the lilly bed.
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In this Issue
- Spring Cleaning for
Your Body
- Tell Me the Truth
- Got Sprouts?!
- Upcoming Spring Classes
- What I Find Inspiring
- Protected In The Garden
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Spring Cleaning for Your Body
Is there value in doing a spring cleanse? I hear this question often. My answer: Absolutely! During the winter we tend to eat "building" foods needed for metabolism and warmth in colder months. Now the body needs the fresh plant foods emerging in spring to cleanse and lighten itself for the warm days of summer. You may find that you naturally seek out or even crave lighter, healing, plant foods as the days lengthen and warm.
There are dozens of different "detox" and "cleansing" programs available. Some are just books, while others offer a variety of foods, teas, supplements, and other products to support your efforts. There is, however, a common thread. Most all of them include a focus on nutrient-dense foods from plants, especially vegetables, and the benefits of eating lots of salads and drinking fresh juices.
Vegetable and fruit juicing allows you to consume more nutrients from these powerhouses than you would be able to consume if you ate all the whole pieces. A juicer can be a fun investment in your health. Of course eating entire fruits and vegetables is important too as we all need the insoluble fiber that is lost through juicing. Juicing, however, temporarily reduces the digestive burden on your body while giving you a big dose of powerful antioxidants. Regardless of whether you choose to add a daily, small glass of fresh juice first thing in the morning or to try a three-day juice fast, I encourage you to explore the benefits of juicing. Involve the whole family!
 Here are a few pointers to get you started. Make sure to wash your produce carefully. Wherever possible, use only organic produce (we're trying to remove toxins, not put more in!). To avoid sugar overload, focus primarily on vegetables and use fruits in small amounts for flavoring. Don't forget to try herbs you enjoy (e.g. parsley, mint, basil, ginger), though be aware that a little goes a long way when juicing herbs. You may  wish to water down most fresh juices for taste or to add cucumbers which have a particularly light flavor. Excellent spring cleansing fruits include oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, and apples. For vegetables, choose a mixture of things such as cucumbers, beets, carrots, broccoli, heavy greens (e.g. kale or chard), parsley, and celery. One of my favorite combinations is entire bunch of kale, 1 small cucumber, 1 broccoli stalk, 2 carrots, a bunch of parsley, and ½ of an apple. If you're new to the flavors of juicing, start simple and try a diluted mixture of carrot and cucumber. I don't recommend a multi-day, juice-only cleanse fast unless you are otherwise healthy and strong.
Thanks to Scott Kahn of www.healthy-juicing-habits.com for his great juicing photos I shared this month. |
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At some point in the spring, it is finally warm enough for seeds to flaunt their vitality and energy by sprouting. Sprouts of all varieties contain the building blocks of life in the form of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and simple sugars. In their early growth state, sprouts are very easy to digest, allowing our bodies to access many wonderful nutrients. Recent research by the American Cancer Society has backed what holistic nutrition has known for years: sprouts contain anti-cancer properties, high levels of active antioxidants, concentrated amounts of phytonutrients, and  significant amounts of vitamins A and C.
In their raw form, sprouts have a cooling effect on the body and therefore are best consumed in warm weather or by robust, warm body types. Those who tend to feel cool can try steaming spouts or adding them to warm dishes such as stir-fries and soups. There is a wide variety of edible and delicious sprouts, each with a different texture and flavor: alfalfa, mung bean, lentil, radish, clover, sunflower, broccoli, garbanzo and adzuki.
Sprouts are easy to find in stores this time of year. Even better: make your own! Buy a sprouting bag or make your own with a square foot of burlap and a cord sewn into the top for closing. Purchase a cup of organic, dried peas, beans, or seeds. Soak them in a bowl of room-temperature water for 24 hours. Drain, rinse, put them in your bag, and hang the bag over your sink. Three times each day, rinse the bag thoroughly, massage the sprouts from the outside, and hang the bag to dry again. In 3-5 days, you will have your own homemade sprouts. Store them in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Here are some great ways to serve up sprouts:
· Add to salads.
· Combine with other vegetables in wraps, roll-ups or stir-fries.
· Garnish soups, stews, omelets, or scrambled eggs.
· Add to rice or whole-grain dishes.
· Use the lengthier lighter sprouts (e.g. clover, radish, broccoli)
sandwiches instead of lettuce.
Spring has finally arrived! Take advantage of nature's natural cleansing tools like sprouts. Give this month's recipe a try for a quick way to explore sprouts, herbs, and fresh lemon juice. |
Upcoming Health & Cooking Classes
Eat and Cook on Purpose
Most people don't eat on purpose. We eat by default, by convenience, at random, or even mindlessly. There are so many conflicting media and marketing messages bombarding our lives. Even those of us who try to make healthy choices are often misled by common health myths. Eating healthily feels hard, boring, confusing, restrictive, or just not fun. Well, it doesn't have to be that way... Join us to learn to Eat and Cook on Purpose. Every class includes fascinating facts and education to overturn many common health myths, a cooking demonstration with sampling, and nutrition handouts and recipes to take home - all in a relaxed, fun setting. Come see and taste how simple and delicious healthy eating can be. $325. Five, biweekly Tuesdays from May 18th, 6:30pm, Hopkinton.
G.I. Joy: Creating a Healthy Gut
Bloated? Constipated? Diarrhea? IBS? Acid reflux? Gas? Belching? Stomach pain? Isn't it time for you to truly (finally) be well? To keep the rest of your body healthy and vital throughout your life, you need a healthy gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. Unfortunately, Americans are experiencing an epidemic of GI discomfort, pain and disease. Increasingly, we turn to medications for a little relief but no true healing. It doesn't have to be that way. Learn the common myths, true root causes, and some solutions to these common American health problems. You can heal yourself. Or learn proactively how to avoid getting sick in the first place! $275
Five, biweekly Wednesdays from May 19th, 6:30pm in Hopkinton.
Sustainable Weight Loss: Mind & Body
Do you want to...
- Love the person you see in the mirror?
- Enjoy and savor your food without guilt?
- Not be a slave to your food cravings?
- Have more energy everyday?
- Stop the negative self-talk that holds you back from your dreams?
You deserve this kind of life. No diets, no fads, no gimmicks. Just natural, enjoyable weight loss that's permanent because we make step-by-step changes that are compatible with your lifestyle and with foods you enjoy. And we work on the emotional health of your life and the positive attitude you need to help lock in your new healthy habits - so they *stick* for good this time. $275. Five, biweekly Thursdays from May 20, 6:30pm, in Medway.
Fueling Kids for Success
Raising healthy kids these days can be difficult. Persuasive food marketing and peer influences are powerful. Health information can be confusing and conflicting. Of course, we want our kids to be healthy - not just today but for a long life of wellness and vitality. The roots of life-long health do indeed begin in childhood. But what choices matter the most? How does food affect your child's emotional, mental, and physical well-being? Parents, come and learn about fascinating scientific research in this area and some surprisingly simple ideas for how to fuel your child for his or her greatest success. We will cover many myth-busting principles of healthy eating that go against what you hear often in the media. Plus, we discuss strategies for getting kids to try and enjoy new foods. $275. Five biweekly Mondays from May 24th, 6:30pm in Hopkinton.
To register, call 508-944-1407 or email tracy@eatonpurpose.com |
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Dear Tracy:
A question about peanut butter. I've been using Smart Balance peanut butter for several years which includes peanuts, evaporated cane juice, natural oil blend (palm fruit and flaxseed oils), salt and molasses. How does it compare to the freshly-ground peanut butter at Whole Foods?
Signed,
Sticky Sweet
Dear Sticky Sweet,
Nut and seed butters are a great way to get healthy oils, fiber, and protein into your diet. Your brand is certainly a great choice along the spectrum of those out there. It does not include the artificial ingredients or toxic fats common in some national brands.
The addition of a little oil makes the butter easier to spread, and the flaxseed oil will also give you a healthy dose of anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fats. For a product most people will enjoy every day, I don't like that they feel the need to add more sugar, but in reality, it's only a tiny bit.
In general, I prefer organic peanut butter because of the higher prevalence of mycotoxins (molds) found in conventionally-grown farming (i.e. with pesticides and fungicides) vs. organic farming. Sometimes people with peanut sensitivities are actually having a reaction to the mold. Thus I personally prefer organic, nothing-added-at-all peanut butter like that you can get at Whole Foods. However, your choice is still an excellent one too offering a different set of benefits.
Enjoy!
Tracy
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Real Results:
A Testimonial
Your training came at a vital time. My work situation changed; I;m blessed to still be employed, but now I work basically 12 to 15 hours a day, 6 days a week. But combining our new eating styles learned from you, exercising and rest has given me the energy to endure the new schedule. Great news: I have lost a total of 41lbs. since we started working with you. We are all doing well!
Alexis Rivera
Technician, Husband and Father of 2
Ashland, Massachusetts
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Spring Sprout Steamer
Have fun with sprouts and light, healing herbs. Takes only 10 minutes total!
1 zuchinni
1 summer squash
1 package mixed crunchy sprouts
(lentil, adzuki, mung, garbanzo)
2 Tbsp freshly minced flat-leaf parsley
1 Tbsp freshly minced tarragon
1 Tbsp melted ghee (clarified butter)
or butter
Freshly squeezed juice from half a
lemon
Seasalt to taste
Slice zucchini and summer squash
in half lengthwise and then into semicircles about 1/4 inch thick.
Heat 1/2" water in a boiler. Place
a steamer basket inside, add
vegetables and sprouts, cover, and steam for about 3 mins or until desired
tenderness. Toss with herbs, ghee,
lemon and salt in serving bowl and enjoy. Try other fresh minced herbs with the parsley like dill, cilantro or mint for a totally different flavor.
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What I Find Inspiring
"Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance."
-Bruce Barton, Congressman & Advertising Executive |
My name is Tracy Harrison. I am a health and wellness counselor and the founder of Purpose LLC. I work with individuals and groups to help them make step-by-step changes to become healthier and happier. Unlike most health fads and gimmicks, my clients make life-long habit changes. It's easy and fun, so it sticks. Permanent results are possible!
You don't have to be sick.
You don't have to feel exhausted and depressed. You don't have to feel old and creaky. You can change your reality. You can rediscover real joy in your life.
To learn more, please visit
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