miessence » Life in general

I choose healthy…most of the time.

Mooreganics — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:37:56 +0000

Choosing to eat healthy is just that…a CHOICE. Then the real challenge begins; overhauling your pantry and re-learning (or learning for the first time) how to cook from scratch. Every time I do this the results are so pleasing to the palate, so why do I struggle? If I really think about it, I need to be a better planner. Yep good old time management and thinking ahead makes this healthy lifestyle a bit more simple. As I look back on the past two years, the items I make on a regular basis used to stump me but now are second nature. It is the planning of dinner that gets me most often….as a self proclaimed “Home Management Expert” my duties are to keep house, laundry, food, pets, and most of all our children in order. By the end of my day I am spent and the thought of creating a tantalizing meal sends me running for the carry-out brochures. If only I had been prepared! Thankfully this doesn’t happen as often as it has in the past, so we are making progress. Yay me! But when I do plan ahead I feel more accomplished and the household runs like a fine tuned motor. So if you are like me and struggle sometimes, pick yourself up and start again….at least we are heading in the right direction. Happy eating!!!

“A single bit of specific advice”

Mooreganics — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:43:48 +0000

I recently reconnected with an old friend on Facebook who asked,

You’re into organic foods, etc.? I am not especially, but I am always looking for little ways to improve overall health. If you could give me a single bit of specific advice re: food (not, “Eat organic,” I mean, because that’s too obvious) what would you recommend?

I can’t even count how many times I have been asked this question over the past 2+ years, so I thought I would share my response with you all.

My response:

Hmmm, one single bit of advice is to find one nasty food ingredient and remove it from your diet completely. Once you master that move onto another nasty food ingredient. It is all about baby steps. Now which ingredient to eliminate you ask? High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

I don’t always buy organic foods, however I have a list of ingredients I have eliminated from our foods (although when we are out of our house it is harder to control so we probably maintain this 80% of the time.) I purchase local foods from the farmers market over grocery store organic foods that have been shipped from across the U.S. I have gotten to know my local farmers and although they are not certified organic, I know their farming process well enough for it to be satisfactory.

As for organic products I put on my body, I use Miessence (which I have been marketing for the past 2 years.) I have gotten to know the creator of the products and know they are pure, potent and beneficial so I just stick with them and I don’t have to be a label detective on my personal care products any longer.

So have fun and I am sure you can find a local farmers market…they have loads of yummy goodies!

I hope this gives you some motivation to become a label detective yourselves. Enjoy the adventure!

P.S. My blogroll includes a number of great resources to healthy living too.

Avoid Green-washing tactics

Mooreganics — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:07:24 +0000

Be an informed consumer by purchasing products with full ingredient lists. Don’t be fooled by green-washing tactics like the one shown in this article.

Teriyaki Almonds

Mooreganics — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:06:20 +0000

Well I broke out the Excalibur from it’s box and began the two process dehydration of my raw, unpasteurized almonds. I soaked them overnight, dehydrated for approximately 6 hours today and will toss a nice mixture from a Green Smoothie Girl recipe in a few moments and then dehydrate for another 16 hours. This will be a healthy, savory snack. Next go round I will try the sweet almond recipe and make my decision on which I like best. Most likely I will love the sweet while dear hubby will prefer the savory! Next on my dehydrator “agenda” will be fruit roll ups or fruit leathers. My kids love those for snacks, but at $.50 a pop they tend to be a little pricey.

Technorati Tags: almonds, dehydrate, excalibur

A new year begins…..

Mooreganics — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:04:07 +0000

Happy New Year! 2010 has finally arrived and I am off and running! I am making it a personal goal to keep up much better with my blogging. I think I was getting caught up last year of how I was “supposed” to blog instead of just doing it! So while the split-pea soup is simmering on the stove I thought I would take a moment to jot down some thoughts. Maybe this is more for me, to be able to look back and see how 2010 began, or perhaps you may find some inspiration to make your life a more healthy one.

I began with a quick run to my local natural food store. I loaded up on grains and dry beans. I really want to incorporate more of these into our meals this year. And what better time than the cold winter months than split pea soup and the like? I even branched out a little and bought mung beans and several new grains I have never tried. Now I just need to find some new recipes. I started with split pea soup because I had ham bones left from the local, nitrate free, fresh and never frozen ham we had at Christmas. By the way it was so delicious that I am planning on putting an order in for an Easter Ham as well.

Split Pea Soup

1 ham bone, 2 bay leaves, 3-4 garlic cloves, 1 T butter or coconut oil, 1-2 T olive oil, water, salt/pepper to taste

Soak peas in water for 2-4 hours.

Saute garlic, butter and oil together. Add soaked split-peas and approximately 2 quarts of water to the pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer for an hour. Add milk and extra ham during last half-hour of cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.

This is a basic recipe, so tweak it to your personal tastes. I rarely follow a recipe exactly as it is written.

I also made one request on my Christmas Wish List and my sweet hubby indulged me with an Excalibur Dehydrator. If you have any recipes feel free to add them in the comments. I have several cups of raw, unpasteurized almonds (I bought them via the Green Smoothie Girl group-buy last November) soaking and tomorrow will be my first experience with my new fan-dangled kitchen gadget!

So blessings and health to all of you as we cultivate the body, mind and spirit connection.

Technorati Tags: almonds, dehydrator, excalibur, raw, split pea soup

Toxics in your body

Mooreganics — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:01:48 +0000

Here is an interesting graphic showing how toxins outside our bodies infiltrate various areas of our bodies. Click here.

Technorati Tags: chemcial exposure, toxic

“Stop mom they have food!”

Mooreganics — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:19:18 +0000

Driving home from picking up my kids from preschool today we made a quick stop at a neighbor’s “home grown veggie” stand. I was delighted to see fresh broccoli and my kids squealed with glee. My eldest Angel (4.5 yrs old) insisted on helping me prepare lunch so we started with grilled cheese sandwiches. She is mastering the knife and spread the coconut oil evenly on the bread. A quick rinse of the broccoli and into the steamer got all of our mouths watering. A handful of grapes for each of us, grilled cheese sandwiches and fresh from the garden steamed broccoli…I love it when a meal comes together.

I enjoy watching my kids develop a love of food….REAL food. They often follow me into our own garden to pluck swiss chard for a green smoothie or tomatoes for sauces and soups. Most recently I have noticed they like to smell everything before they taste. They understand that food is meant to nourish our bodies and that an excess of sugar is an unnecessary part of a nutritious diet. I am thankful for the growth I have made in the food choices for our family. It has been a struggle at times, but baby steps and repetition seem to be the key for me. I embrace the learning and sharing these lessons with my children is a gift I hope we will continue to receive for many years to come.

P.S. After my Angel finished her lunch, she informed me that she only likes broccoli that comes “fresh from the ground”. Now who could deny such a request?

MiHome clean and green your environment

Mooreganics — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:52:42 +0000

Choose better personal products. Just because a label says ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it’s kidsafe.
Spy before you buy at www.ewg.org/healthyhome
Eat fresh plant-based foods: Opt for organic fruits and vegies. Choose milk and meat without added growth hormones. Limit canned food and infant formula, as can linings may contain bisphenol A (BPA).
Pick plastics carefully: Some plastics contain BPA, which is linked to cancer. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles and choose baby bottles made from glass or BPA-free plastic. Don’t microwave plastic containers.
Filter your tap water: Use a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter to reduce your family’s exposure to impurities in water. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.
Wash little hands: Frequent hand washing reduces kids’ exposure to chemicals. Skip anti-bacterial soaps, since they can contain pesticides that are absorbed through the skin.
Skip non-stick: When overheated, non-stick cookware can emit toxic fumes. Cook with cast iron or stainless steel instead.
Use a HEPA-filter vacuum: Kids spend lots of time on the floor and household dust contains contaminants. HEPA-filter vacuums capture the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens. Leave your shoes at the door for obvious reasons.

FAQ: What is a HEPA filter?
HEPA stands for ‘High Efficiency Particulate Air’.
A HEPA filter that can trap the majority of tiny particles that slip through a regular filter and simply recirculate back into the air of your bedroom, kitchen, car etc.

Source: MiTime 005 ONE Group

Check out these Green Products for your personal care and home cleaning needs.

Going “green” is for the dogs!

Mooreganics — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:06:35 +0000

Yep! Going “green” is for the dogs and other furry critters we love so dearly. It’s flea and tick season and I am perplexed on how to help my golden retriever’s stave off the itchy-scratchy or blood-sucking pests. I have used in the past various topical concoctions, however when I began to put gloves on myself to apply the poisonous liquid I took a step back. Our pets are part of our family, and if I am so passionate about protecting my human kids from the nastiest of chemical laden products, then why do my fur-babies deserve anything less? A quick online search led me to www.greenpaws.org.

Make Safer Choices for You and Your Pet Flea and tick treatments may contain toxic chemicals that can poison pets and harm people. Many products contain organophosphates and carbamates, two classes of chemicals that have been linked to nervous system disorders and other health problems in people. Even when applied as instructed on the box, these chemicals are not safe, either for pets or humans. To avoid the most toxic chemicals, choose flea- and tick-fighting products with ingredients from the green or yellow columns. Source: Green Paws Pocket Guide

Many of us allow our pets to sleep in our homes and some may even share your bed OR your chidren’s bed. We pet them, we cuddle with them, we just plain love them. Not only are our pets exposed to the toxins, humans are as well through the direct contact with our pets. I hope you find the information at Green Paws helpful and that it offers you some additional choices when making decisions regarding protecting your pet from fleas and ticks.

Technorati Tags: fleas, pets, tick, toxin

Historic Gettysburg Celebrates!

Mooreganics — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:07:30 +0000

It is amazing what summertime brings to our area. Historic Gettysburg is always a place to explore, whether it be the battle grounds or the many shops along the square. This week wraps up a plethora of activities at the annual Gettysburg Festival. There are events for people of all ages so check out the calendar of events to see what suits your fancy. There are even Fringe Festivals held at additional locations. One I know my kids will get a kick out of is the Quarry Critters to be held at the Farm Fresh Market this Friday at the Gettysburg Outlets. Click here for more information.