You+Me= A perfect PEAR

Pears are lovely. Crunchy, juicy, snuggly and tasty. They freeze well, shred well, blend well and travel in your purse well and can be made into all kinds of fashionable snacks and appetizers. They are eaten largely by dairy and meat-eaters alike with things like ham, cheese, on tiny crackers and slivered onto fantastic vegan salads. Pears are smothered in butter and cinnamon, sauteed in frying pans and baked with holiday roasts. They are mashed into purees for tiny baby eating, given to college students as snacks on plane rides and picked fresh off trees in pear tree states.

What's not to like about a pear?

RAW PEARS! Crunchy and scrumptious! YES! Photo by: www.sugoodsweets.com

While they are often eaten softly boiled and skinned, RAW PEARS make for a delicious and nutritious treat anytime of day! Reasons why we should all be slamming on some raw pears right now: Ahem...Number 1 - Pears can be paired with just about anything!

Pears in all their colorful glory! Photo by:www.ridgeroadgardencenter.com

When it comes to whole foods eating (or proper food-combining as some call it) pears are best eaten with other sub-acidic fruits but can also be combined with acid fruits as well. What are sub-acid and acid fruits, you ask? Check the list below!

Fruits for food-combing:

Sub-Acidic: Peach, Pear, Plum, Raspberry, Grape, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Lychee, Mango, Apple, Loquat, Nectarine, Apricot or Cherimoya. Or Acid fruits like: Cranberry, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Kumquat, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Strawberry, Tangerine, or Tomato. 

Pears are among the most easily digested foods and are usually okay to eat even for those on low-allergy diet plans. This is often why they recommend pears as one of the first solid foods to introduce to a baby's diet. 

RAW WHOLE PEARS! Easy. Photo by: www.beyondkimchee.com

Reason #2 - Pears are easy to eat. Back in the early days of yonder I believe humans ate whole fruits and vegetables. That's what so curious about this shift back to whole foods eating. It's in our nature. Before the days of TV dinners and microwaves...we ate RAW WHOLE FOODS.

So how does whole foods eating apply when it comes to pears?...well...it means that you can eat the WHOLE THING. Yup. That's right, everything but the stem just about, I will gobble down (seeds too!). Now that's just me, doesn't have to be you...all I'm saying is that pears actually require no utensils, no prep, no fuss. Just yummy, easy, juicy deliciousness.

Pears for everyone! Photo by: www.thekitchn.com 

As a matter of fact, studies show that eating pear skin is actually MORE HEALTHY than eating pear flesh! It's not too often that we are recommended to eat the skin of our fruits and vegetables, however, especially when it comes to pears, we may want to think twice before skinning. This is because the skin holds between 3-4 times MORE of what's called phenolic phytonutrients than the pear flesh. These phenolic phytonutrients are where we get our anti-inflammatory flavonoids, antioxidants and potentially anti-cancer phytonutrients (like cinnamic acids) from!


Here's another fact to blow you over...Pears can help increase insulin sensitivity, therefore they can help decrease the risk of Type 2 diabetes in men and women! Whoa! Check me out! This is due to certain flavonoids found in the pear skin (flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and anthocyanins to be specific) and among all fruits and vegetables analyzed for their flavonoid content...the apples and PEARS combination is among the most consistent in their ability to decrease our risk for Type 2 diabetes.

RAW Sliced Pears with little bit of cinnamon, lemon juice and raisins to top! Sweet and satisfying.
Photo by: healthninja.wordpress.com

The intake of pears has been associated with a decreased risk of many chronic inflammatory dis-eases which include heart dis-ease and Type 2 diabetes, which are a results of excessive oxidative stress in the body. Pears are great because they even decrease the risk of all kinds of cancer! The fiber in the pears binds together with the secondary bile in the digestive track (excess amounts of secondary bile can cause a whole host of intestinal problems), decreases the amount of acid concentration and keeps things moving along regular.

Pears have been noted to decrease the risk of gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and esophageal cancer. 

Fresh Vanilla Pear Juice with ice cubes (I'll take it sans vodka), hehe. Photo by: www.two-tarts.com

Not fond of the texture? PEAR JUICE is a great, simple way to include pears in your diet (and those of your kids)! No excuse! :-) Just be sure to get (or make) your pear juice with pulp, non-pasteurized and organic where possible. (When the pulp is removed the antioxidant benefits drops about 40%)

Reason #3 - Pears have lots of fiber! Vitamin C and Vitamin K. For those who are not so keen on Metamucil and other strange and nebulous fiber drink powders...pears provide about 22% of our daily fiber intake. Pears are an easy way to increase your fiber intake.
NOTE: About half of the fiber found in pears is in the skin, so to get the optimal fiber intake, include those skins in your consumption!

SO many pears to pair with! Photo by: pears.usapears.org

There are over 3000 varieties of pears enjoyed world-wide. China produces approximately three-quarters of the pears consumed world-wide, roughly 15.5 million of the 21 million tons eaten. In the US Washington is the largest pear-producing state with California and Oregon to follow.

Slice em', Dice em', Crunch em', Munch em'! Photo by: www.cookinglight.com

Pear-eating Ideas: 

Pear Ginger Tea

Pear Arugala Salad

Pear Cranberry Spinach Walnut Salad
Honey Roasted Pear Salad 
Apple Pear Salad 
Iced Pear Protein Smoothie (note* I suggest to use green superfoods powder instead of whey)

Pear and Arugala Salad. Spectacular! Photo by: 86lemons.com

Tips on selecting pears: 

When buying pears, you want to check the "neck." If it is firm but gives a little the pear is ripe, if it is squishy that pear is likely over-ripe and should probably be best used for baking or making pear-sauce. The skin should be smooth and free of bruises, however speckles and spots are welcomed as this indicates a more intense flavored pear. After picking a perfect ripe one, keep in the fridge up to 2-3 days for best results.

Speckles welcome! Photo by: uncooking101.com

If your pears are hard, place them in a brown paper bag to induce ripening, but no plastic bags! Pears need oxygen so paper is best. Also, note that they tend to absorb whatever is around them, so keep them away from strong smelling foods while storing.

Honey Roasted Pear Salad with spinach, cranberries, red onion and chopped hazelnuts. Ooooh... Photo by: http://danazia.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/fat-is-friend/

Sooo...next time you're out grab a few pears for your basket! You will be pleasantly pleased that you did. :-)

Su-pear! Du-pear!

Live. Love. Well. 
~h

Peachy keen...you know what I mean.

Aren't they such majestic beauties! Photo by: commons.wikimedia.org 

Smooches! Love, Peaches.

Delish! Peaches engage many of the senses and make for a wondrous treat ANY time of the day. They are easy to travel with, can be sliced, juiced, mashed or munched, have a soft, supple skin and delicate juicy-ness that even young babes can appreciate. Peaches rarely leave you unsatisfied and yet somehow begging for more. They make a bit of a mess, not too much; just enough to let your sweet sticky fingers gently remind you they were there.

Heart-healthy, skin-smoothing sweet, sticky snack! Photo by: examiner.com 

Peaches have a beautiful coloring ranging from light yellow to deep rouge and range similarly in taste according to the ripeness. They are best eaten when the darker swirling colors are present (the mixture of red and orange and yellow).

Sliced peaches perfect for a tantalizing mid-day snack! Photo by: nyccityeats.com

Filled to the brim with Vitamin A, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C, Niacin, and so much more, peaches can be enjoyed year-round and are very easy to can or freeze. They make great companions in smoothies, teas, juice recipes, on salads, in homemade popsicles and even make a delightful summer soup. (If you haven't had peach soup throw you inhibitions to the wind! You will surely be rewarded. I certainly was.)

Tasty, Peachy, Juicy! Photo by: theimprovkitchen.blogspot.com 

Tried peach juice yet? No? Do it. A frothy full-bodied juice that is as refreshing and light as summer salad and a soft kiss, it will leave you wanting just a bit more. And why not? At only 46 calories per peach you can be certain this is a "Weight Watchers" approved treat we can all indulge in!

Peaches come in all sizes, shapes and colors! Just like you and me! Photo by: marigoldmom.com

Let's talk about some of the health benefits! Peach juice can act as a natural laxative to help flush toxins out of the kidneys and bladder to help prevent kidney stones! Peaches are a great source of water and fiber and allow you to get fantastic nutrients, feel "full" longer all with a wonderfully succulent taste and aroma.

Peach Tea Smoothie! Oh my Gawd! Yes. Photo by: eatsimpleloveyoga.com 

Got a bad cough? Have a peach. Peaches are known for their ability to soothe a dry cough, you can even make the juice into a warm soothing tea. Those with rheumatic pains and abdominal colic are also recommended to incorporate peaches into their diets.

Healthy food-combining approved meal: Peaches and Raspberries! Yummo! Photo by: theskinnyonlowcal.org

Peaches help ease digestion and inflammation. They protect nerve cells and if eaten early in the morning can help regulate intestinal infections and maintain alkalinization of the blood due to their low acidity. Regular consumption of peaches can help prevent the onset of many types of cancers and aid in weight loss. Peaches are good for the skin to help regenerate tissue cells; you can even rub peach juice into your skin for that soft peachy glow!

Happy to be here sliced and cored peachy keens! Photo by: inspireandindulge.wordpress.com

Peaches are rich in iron, so very good for those with anemia. Peaches can help treat high blood pressure and facilitate cardiac health due to the potassium found in them. Peaches are helpful in lowering cholesterol in blood and preventing cardiac diseases.

Peachy Mint Puree, perfect for your tiny sweet someone somewhere.
Photo by: theartofcomfortbaking.blogspot.com

Peaches contain Vitamin A,  B1, and B2 which help to strengthen the immune system, balance the nervous system and maintain magnesium levels in the body. Peaches are HIGH IN ENERGY and are great for pregnant women and those wishing to regulate their weight!

Fresh Home-canned Peaches! Makes for easy livin'! Photo by: piccantedolce.blogspot.com

So what do we know about peaches? Peaches even have their own color...Peach. How many other fruits can top that? To follow the suggestions of food combining for maximum digestion...peaches are best eaten with other like fruits: apricots, plums, nectarines, mango, pear, apple, cherries, grapes and other berries.

Fresh, tasty and nutritious! Go get some today! Photo by: statesymbol.usa.org

With health benefits for the whole family, peaches certainly fit the bill when it comes to SIMPLE EATING. That's the motto around here. So many reasons to eat so many peaches!
Moral of the story? Try adding peaches to your diet today! Your whole body will thank you for it!

Live. Love. Well.
~h

Dino Kale...COLOSSAL!

Look at the pretty kale plant! Beautiful AND delicious! Photo by: home.howstuffworks.com

Hmm...Kale. A cruciferous vegetable. Until recently kale was a relatively secret food. Anyone whose family made "greens" knew about kale but they NEVER would have thought about eating it...you guessed it...RAW~!

Perfect for wraps, dips and general munchies! Photo by: rbgsocialclub.wordpress.com (check their site, these guys are the truth!)

I really really like raw kale. I eat it dipped in hummus instead of pita chips...chopped finely (like you would a cabbage) and eaten as a salad with a nice balsamic dressing...left overnight and it turns into a coleslaw of sorts super yummy! I eat it steamed with a squeeze of lemon juice and almond slivers...ooh and use it in place of "bread" for my sandwiches wraps and tacos. I could go on and on!

Yummy kale salad with blackberries, strawberries, kiwi and a citris dressing! Photo by: nutrition4women.net

I recently put my aunt and uncle on to kale and they were pleasantly surprised at the taste as an alternative to other lettuce options. We mainly eat it as a salad but kale can be blanched (basically quick steamed) also!

You can boil or steam. I personally prefer steaming and using the large leaves as "taco shells" or "bread" and rolling just about anything up in that sucker. YUM! ...recipes at the bottom. :-)

NOTE: Steaming the kale kicks up the fiber-related components and makes them more effective at binding together with bile acid in your digestive tract.

Couldn't get any better than this! Could it? Nah. Photo by: www.karenville.com

Back to our mega dino dose of kale...

Kale! Great for smoothies, dips, patés, pestos, and in place of chips! Photo by: www.alexandracooks.com

Kale makes GREAT SMOOTHIES and the juicing options are seriously endless. This is one of the main reasons why kale is such a staple in my daily food choices, it's just so stinkin' versatile! And yes, I do a green smoothie every* day. (*mostly every day) :-) hey...I'm human too okay.

Kale smoothies for kids (and grown-up kids too!) -Ingredients: (3) Bananas, 12oz. Apple Juice, and 3-4 large pieces of Kale. Blend it, Drink it! EASY! Photo by: www.fortheloveoffoodblog.com

Why do vegans, veggie-tarians and carnivores alike love kale? I could seriously write a mini-series on the benefits of kale there is so much to know, so here we go!

Let me just start by saying KALE CONTAINS: Antioxidants (prevents oxidative stress by boosting our cartenoids and flavonoids), Anti-Inflammatory (prevents chronic inflammation), Cancer-preventing (bladder, breast, colon, ovarian, prostate), detox-activating properties.

Did you catch that? Per Calorie, Kale has more IRON than beef, MORE Calcium than milk AND 10% more Vitamin C than Spinach. Hello! Photo by: fittipdaily.com

Kale also contains crazy amounts of Vitamin K (like somewhere around 1300% of our daily recommended intake!), 354% of our daily Vitamin A intake, 88% of our daily Vitamin C intake and a long list of other vitals like manganese, fiber, copper, calcium, vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B6, vitamin E, iron, potassium, magnesium, protein, omega-3 fats,  folate, phosphorous! ...ALL IN JUST ONE CUP OF COOKED KALE! Which by the way is only roughly 36 calories! Ahem, you do the math here.

Simple, easy and nutritious! Photo by: localfoods.about.com

As a transitioning raw vegan I LOVE KALE for it's yummy taste as an alternative to other lettuces, for its easy preparation and best of all its nutritional content. As someone transitioning to raw veganism it is important to make my meals as nutrient-rich as possible and kale certainly fits the bill!

I hope you will incorporate some kale into your family's diet this week! Just give it a try! Worst case, you steam it and add some toasted almonds, a squeeze of lemon juice and some seasonings...you won't be disappointed.

Vegan mega-salad with all the fixin's! Get it! Photo by: www.thevintagemixer.com

My favorite kale juice recipe to date:
2-3 handfulls of chopped kale, 2 apples (add another one if you need more sweet), and 1 lemon! Easy! 20 more great kale recipes HERE!


Take my advice and eat you some TODAY!

Live. Love. Well.

~h

Leggo my Mango!

Mangoes come in all shapes and sizes, just like me and you! Love them! Photo by: www.mango.org 

That's right, you heard me! Get your own! Silly

I have loved mangoes since first taste. The adventure, the thrill, the challenge, the taste, the mess...a kid's dream of how life should be when it comes to eating! Sweet and sticky and so much FUN!

As grandma would say: "Go for what you know!" There's no wrong way to eat a mango! Photo by: darlinggourmet.com

Mangoes come in many shapes and sizes and can satisfy even my most desperate of hungers.

"Why would I want to eat a mango?" you might ask...glad you did. Here is vivacious vegan to spell it out for you:

M: Memory. Mangoes have been linked to increased concentration and memory due to the glutamine acid in them. Don't forget to eat your mangoes!
A: One word: Antioxidants. Mangoes contain tons of antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat. These hard-to-pronounce elements protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
N: Neutralizes! Mangoes are fantastic at bringing balance to a highly acidic body, as they have wonderful alkalizing properties.
G: Low glycemic levels. Mangoes are great for diabetics, especially the leaves! You can boil the leaves, then let them soak overnight in the same water, drain and drink in the morning for a natural way to regulate your insulin levels.
O: Open your EYES! Mangoes are well known for high levels of Vitamin A and C. Just one cup of mangoes can provide up to 25% of your daily Vitamin A intake and 76% of your daily Vitamin C intake. Eating one mango a day can help you see better at night and help prevent dry eyes.

Mangoes make such lush smoothies! Makes you want to get one RIGHT NOW! 

The best way to know if a mango is ripe and ready for eating is two ways (in my experience):
1) Check the firmness of the mango. Squeeze it gently and assess: is it hard as a rock, toooo soft and squishy or a bit pliable to the press yet you couldn't make a thumb print in the skin even if you wanted to. This business of fruit picking can certainly seem tricky, but as with all things, practice will bring progress.

So venture out on your first 10 for $10 mango spree and test out your skills!

See the little knob at the top? (bottom left of the fruit) That's what you'll pop off to check for ripeness.
Photo by:  www.veganyumyum.com

2) Press right at the top of the "stem" or at least where one once was. There is often a small knob that can be plucked off, if this knob is next to impossible to flick with the tip of your thumb, it's not ripe enough. If it is easy to pull off, that is a good sign the mango is ripe.

Now there are as many ways to EAT A MANGO as there are households in my neighborhood so I won't go into detail here...but like my grandma always said..."Go for what you know!"

Delicious, sweet and nutritious! Photo by: www.wearenotmartha.com

Whether you slice them or peel them with your fingers...eat them in neat chunks or suck all the juice from the top...get you some mangoes in your life TODAY!

*TIP: If they do not carry them at your local grocery, check your local Hispanic/Mexican market or Asian market. Also here's a great post on how to cut a mango. Show them some love!

BONUS: Mango Salsa Recipe:

Mango, Avocado, Lime, Red onion, evoo, sal, peppa, cilantro, jalapeno, tomato, garlic....YUM!
Click the link for the mind blowing recipe! Photo by: www.makeitnaked.com

Easy Mango Salsa recipe!

Live. Love. Well.
~h

Avocado me now!

Shout out to all my AVOCADO LOVERS! Photo by: pinterst.com

On to a topic I thoroughly enjoy...the loving super food of AVOCADOS! (also known as the alligator pear...what a funny name lol) They have been enjoyed by millions over the past thousands of years all over the living world!

I love avocados the most because they are tasty and fit the bill when it comes to simple livin'. A splash of lemon, dash of garlic and you're good to go! Some like it with a squeeze of lime juice and a bit of evoo, mash it up and eat up! Or just eat it plain straight from the gourd! Others even make simple guacamole...there are so many uses and it's such an easy way to eat. Let's talk a bit about the benefits other than how tasty avocados are and how easy they are to prepare.

Oh man! When I tell you I have a new avocado smoothie-on-the-go/ice cream/popsicle recipe you will LOVE! You've just got to believe me...and better yet you've JUST GOT TO TRY IT!

Here we go:
1 medium sized avocado (peel and pit it)
1 cup "milk" (coconut milk or almond is my go to but I'm sure you can experiment with others)
4 ice cubes
4 tsp of sugar (this is optional, some like it sweeter others less so, if you add a little bit you can always add more)

Directions:
add milk, ice cubes and sugar to blender, blend well. Then add the avocado and blend until smooth. If it's too think add some water if too thin add some more ice (or avocado depending on how much you want to make) but be sure to TASTE IT before straying too far from the recipe. MMMMMMM YUM!

How to make ice cream out of it...throw it in a tupper ware and let it get a little more solid. How to make popsicles...get some popsicle molds, spoon the mixture in and freeze according to the directions. This is a GREAT WAY to get kids (and stubborn hubbies and lovers) to eat "green" popsicles and get lots of vitamin E, Omega-23 fatty acids, folate and beta-sitosterol in their sweet little bodies!

Yay for the wonderfulness and versatility of lovely avocados!

A great tasty recipe above! Photo by: OasisAdvancedWellness

Zip-Zap-SMOOTHIE!

The wonderful carrot-filled rainbow! Photo by: blog.bountifulbaskets.org

While in transition to a raw vegan diet or even just thinking about it...there are alot of easy meal ideas you can use that will be beneficial for your mind and body.


Here is are some great starter recipes to get you on the move! Photo courtesy of  http://douladivinity.tumblr.com/, one of my FAVORITE tumblr page's of all time. :-) Show her some love.

 One of the easiest and dare I say, most nutritious meals a human can feed it's body is JUICE!

Baby's love it, grandparents love it! IT'S EASY TO DIGEST AND GOES DOWN SMOOTH. Great for moms and dads and kids on the GO! I mean, seriously who doesn't like a nice refreshing juice at almost anytime of the day!

Baby's love GREEN SMOOTHIES! Photo by: www.greensmoothiegal.com

What I love about these recipes is they are properly combined for best absorbtion and digestion (yes, your body "digests" juice) and they really taste great.

I have a very basic juicer myself and have been able to enjoy many of the amazingly tasty benefits of juicing and make AT LEAST ONE MEAL A DAY a smoothie or juice feast meal.
*NOTE: This is one of my tips on how to lose 20 pounds in 3 months...stay tuned!

Vitamin A-Z can be found in these suckers! I love eating fruits! Photo by: mr-ginseng.com

As a natural vegan it is IMPERATIVE that I get certain minerals, vitamins and live ingredients in my diet at as many meals as I can. Smoothies/juices do it all.

Love. Love. Yum. Photo by: www.plantpoweredliving.com  

APPLE SNAP
3-4 apples (any sweet or tart variety), 7-8 carrots, 1-2 inches of ginger, 1-2 whole lemons = light sweet JUICE with a little KNUDGE! :-)

If you don't have the time/resources or interest in juicing...start small. Use your blender and try some of these recipes:

A little seedy, tart and summer time sweet! Photo by: www.thedevilwearsparsley.com

BERRY BERRY TASTY SMOOTHIE
1 cup strawberries, 1 cup raspberries, 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup orange juice, 1 banana, 2 tbsp ground flax seed, 1 cup ice (or use frozen fruits) =- YUMM!

Ingredients: Banana, mango, pineapple, spinach. Photo by: dontwastethecrumbs.com

HAPPY GREEN MACHINE SMOOTHIE
1 large banana, 1 can of pineapple with juice (or 1/2 live pineapple sliced), 1 handful of raw spinach, 1-2 large mangoes (to your taste) = my favorite GREEN SMOOTHIE

Ingredients: Kale, almonds, banana. Simple and easy living! Photo by: blog.vellumandvogue.com

ALMOND JOYFUL SMOOTHIE
1 cup almond milk (or coconut or goat's or rice milk whatever you like), 1 banana, 1 handful of kale = TASTY STARTER smoothie

Ahh yes...a staple on the run go to smoothie. Great trusted brand! Photo by: www.tumblr.com

Last but not least...when I'm on the super-go-go and I know I need to get my smoothie or juice in for the day...I breakdown and buy it. I know this may seem not that awesome...but honestly I pay around $6-10 for the average "meal" on the go...so why not spend $5.99 on a 64 oz. Bolthouse Green Goodness smoothie and still have some change to spare for an extra 20 oz juice? Savin' dollars and livin' easy. :-)

I hope you will be inspired to add a smoothie to your day today! Post your very own smoothie/juice recipes below! Good health CAN BE YOURS!

Live. Love. Well.

~h