Black Bean Delish!

Dr. Nancy's Delish (and healthy) Soup

Made this soup last night and all my daughter could say is, "this is REALLY good". It was so filling for me that I didn't have to eat anything else. The most amazing thing is that neither my husband or daughter really like cauliflower, kale or sweet peppers, rather they kind of just tolerate them because they know they are really good for them. But, not only did I savor every spoonful, so did my husband. My daughter, just could not eat it fast enough.

2 1/2 Tbsp organic, unrefined coconut oil
3 Bell Peppers (1 Red, 1 Orange, 1 Yellow), chopped
1 Lg Onion , chopped
4 Lg cloves of garlic, chopped
1 Lg head of cauliflower, chopped
Curry powder, fresh tarragon or fresh parsley
4 Cups of Water (approximately)
Kale, washed and chopped
Sea salt to taste

1. In a stockpot, saute chopped peppers and onion until onion is soft in 1 1/2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil.
2. Add garlic and cook gently for a minute or two
3. Add cauliflower and water to cover.
4. Simmer until cauliflower is tender.
5. In another pan, cook chopped Kale in 1 Tbsp of Coconut Oil until soft.
6. When cauliflower is tender, puree with hand blender.
7. Add Kale and blend again.
8. Add seasonings to taste.

Kid-tested, easy and healthy, Coconut ice-cream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK1QEnqKnsk

I'm maybe a bit crazy when it comes to feeding my child. I will go to great lengths to make sure she eats healthy. The first time she tasted ice cream was when she was over 3 yrs old. You'd think she was eating something so incredibly special...unlike anything else she had ever eaten. She savored that ice cream until she was wearing at least half of it from it melting in the hot sun.
I know my friends think that I'm a bit over the top, but I want my daughter to eat the healthiest foods possible. If I can make them tasty...all the better. This is what started my interest in making home made ice cream.
This month, I decided to take two extremely ripe bananas and ripe cherries to make my latest batch. Here's my recipe to make a healthy ice cream that your kids will LOVE.
2 C Coconut Milk (Since coconut milk has so many healthy attributes, I don't bother getting the low fat kind.)
1/2 C local honey
2 Overripe bananas
30 Cherries - pitted and sliced
Gently melt the honey with the coconut milk (about 2 minutes over low heat...until they are no clumps).
After the mixture has cooled, put mixture in a blender with the bananas and blend.
Place mixture in ice cream maker and press "start". After 10 minutes, add the cherries.
Mixing process takes about 35 minutes. Enjoy!

An Easy, Tasty and Healthy Breakfast (or Lunch) Dish!

Tired of the same ole thing for breakfast everyday? Would you like to try something new but worried it might take too long? Here's a recipe that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and easy to make.

For years I've been making sauteed potatoes. The only problem is that it takes time and you have to stir it fairly regularly. With balancing family and a professional life, it isn't always easy to take the time. For me, I do not like eggs, so getting a filling and healthy breakfast is not easy.

So, here's my version of roasted potatoes. There are a couple of options, which I will list depending upon someone's palate along with the nutrients that each supplies.

2 Large Red (or Yukon) potatoes thinly cubed. (Magnesium, iron, potassium, fiber, vitamin C and niacin. If you prefer to use Sweet Potatoes, they are considered one of the healthiest foods. Rich in Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamins C, D & E. Plus, mineral rich.

1 Small Onion thinly sliced. Besides being rich in Vitamins B6, B1 and Folic acid, they also have antioxidant qualities which help remove toxins from your body.

Olive Oil Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which is fantastic for decreasing inflammation in the body. Most heart-healthy diets, including the Mediterranean diet are rich in Omega 3's.

1/2 tsp Garlic Sea Salt. Garlic is known for boosting the immune system, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. The best form of salt to consume is Sea Salt which maintains more of its trace minerals.

or 1/4 tsp Tumeric (has anti-inflammatory properties - great if you have a cold or allergies and wish to decrease your inflammatory response in the body. It's also a digestive aid, antioxidant and anti-septive.

2 to 3 Cups Spinach. Spinach is one of the most beneficial and healthy vegetables as it is packed with vitamins (particularly Vitamin A) and minerals.

1/2 Cup Black Beans (optional). Packed with protein and fiber, they also have antioxidant properties. For that family member that is always hungry, black beans do a great job of filling up the belly.

Feta Cheese. When possible, get feta made from goat's milk as it is more highly digestible than cow's milk. Also, if you are pregnant, be aware that feta cheese may not be good for your unborn baby.

Combine the potatoes, onions and seasonings in a pyrex dish. Use the olive oil to lightly cover the bottom of dish. Put dish in a preheated oven at 365 degrees. After 30 minutes, add the chopped spinach (and black beans) with a little bit of Olive Oil. Mix well before returning to the oven for another 15 minutes.

When the potatoes are done, move potato dish to a plate, add salt and pepper to taste and top lightly with feta cheese. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Healthy Mind and Body: How to tell if an infant might be helped by chiropractic care

http://tarlowchiropractic.com

How to tell if an infant might be helped by chiropractic care

People sometimes look at me like I'm from another planet when I suggest they have their newborn or infant checked by a chiropractor. There are many misconceptions about chiropractic care. For one, many think it's only for neck or back pain, and what could an infant know about either of those problems. Another question people have is if it's gentle for newborns. Any chiropractor that has done post-graduate work in special techniques for newborns and infants can tell you that it is very gentle. In most cases, the chiropractor will apply very gentle pressure to the areas of the spine that are "stuck". With babies, those areas release quite easily.

So, how would a Chiropractor (or parent) know if Chiropractic can help their young child? Here are some ideas.

First, if you were to bring your infant in and your baby has obvious symptoms, the baby might have what chiropractors call "subluxations". A subluxation is an area of the spine with abnormal motion, which causes interference to the nervous system (abnormal function). This interference can cause an organ to not work as effectively as it would normally. (For more information about the subluxation, go to http://www.tarlowchiropractic.com). Some of the symptoms your child might have as a result of subluxations are: colic, ear infections, difficulty swallowing, difficulty latching on, restlessness, and excessive fussiness.

It's not unusual for parents to think that these problems are “normal”. Constipation, when your child is supposed to be pooping 3 - 5 times per day (newborns), is not normal. When your baby screams with colic, that is not normal. Your baby is trying to tell you that they are in pain. If your baby is biting down really hard when latching on, it is usually because of a minor problem with the jaw that is easily resolved. Many moms think that their child who doesn't want to sleep more than a couple of hours at a time is just fussy.

Here's the good news. These difficulties that many newborns and infants have can usually be resolved easily with chiropractic care. It's amazing how most parents see a difference in just one visit. Within 4 to 6 visits, a lot of these problems are usually, totally resolved. Your chiropractor will most likely also make some dietary suggestions if your baby is having digestive problems.

When evaluating an infant for spinal subluxations, the chiropractor will usually look at the following things. Please keep in mind that you can do this as well. While your baby is lying down, check out the following:

1. When looking at your baby's face, is there symmetry side-to-side at the levels of the eyebrows, cheeks and lips?
2. Does your baby’s head tend to tilt or turn to primarily one side?
3. Is your baby’s hip higher on one side forming a “C” shape?
4. Does your baby’s torso look twisted?

You can also gently move the face or torso to one side or the other and see if your baby tends to resume the prior position. If you have answered yes to any of these questions, your child, most likely, has subluxations.

Another way your Chiropractor might evaluate for spinal subluxations are by gently palpating the spine and the musculature surrounding the spine. Also, it's not unusual for subluxations to show as a baby that is very sensitive to light, sound or touch. I had one momma who would tell me that her child did not want to be picked up. That she appeared to be uncomfortable while being held and would sometimes fling her arms or head back. After a few adjustments, the baby loved being held and the mom was grateful to have her child resting comfortably in her arms.

You might ask what can cause these subluxations. Most likely, they are caused by birth. If you consider how difficult birth (even an easy birth) can be on the baby, particularly cesareans, it's easy to see how it can cause subluxations. Another cause might be if the baby was not lying in your belly in a good position. This can put a lot of pressure on the cranial bones and upper neck, where the nerves originate from that go to your entire body. A fall or even sitting too long in a car seat can also cause subluxations. I recently had a mom to come to me with an "easy" birth with a baby who was severely constipated with gas and bloating. After just a few adjustments, the baby was pooping like a champ. With each day and some minor diet modifications, the gas and bloating resolved as well.

It truly is amazing that when you resolve the underlying problem, which in most cases is the subluxation, how all of these problems disappear. When baby is happy, the whole family is much happier. The stress that a parent can feel when they see their baby in obvious pain and feeling helpless is incredible. When you feel that you are doing something, and your baby is improving, will make all the difference in the world.

Most family or pediatric chiropractors will take the time in person or on the phone to explain to you any concerns you might have about having your newborn or infant adjusted. I've seen hundreds of babies over the years helped with these problems. Take that step and check it out.

Healthy Mind and Body: Natural and Effective Ways to Help Plantar Fasciitis

Healthy Mind and Body: Natural and Effective Ways to Help Plantar Fasciitis