My “Mom-trepreneur” Article in the Florida Today Newspaper

Some publicity for my Sweet Hummus!

newspaper

 

Pick up your Florida Today newspaper this morning and read the article, or go to their website and read it there and watch the video!

 

On a Lighter Note, Pumpkin Pie

This pumpkin pie was one that I made for Thanksgiving. I used Wholly Wholesome’s organic frozen pie crust (which I found at Publix and it was deliciously wonderful!) and adjusted the recipe on the can of pureed pumpkin to fit my “eating clean” lifestyle.

Pumpkin Pie

  • 1 15 oz can pureed pumpkin

  • 1/2 cup organic sugar

  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

  • 2 cage-free eggs or 4 egg whites

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves

  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

  • dash of salt

Mix sugar, syrup,  cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs or egg whites  in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and then add sugar mixture. Slowly add in almond milk.

Pour into frozen pie shell.

Preheat oven to 425° F. Bake for 15 min. Reduce temperature to 350° F and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Loosely tent with foil if crust begins to brown past your liking.  Cool on wire rack for 2 hours.

Our Thanksgiving Day Oatmeal “Parade”

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Like many households, we have a Thanksgiving Day tradition of watching the Macy’s Parade. This morning, in honor of that tradition, we created an oatmeal “parade”. Yesterday the kids colored a turkey and Santa on his sleigh so we could start our parade with Tom the Turkey and finish it with Santa just like the Macy’s parade. Our “parade” line up included raisins, cranberries, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, bananas, and peanut butter. We were able to start turkey day off on a healthy note so we can enjoy the treats later today.  Enjoy your day with family and friends!

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Homemade Sweet Hummus for Sale!

Coconut Lime Hummus

Coconut Lime Hummus with Cucumber Slices ~ Or try it with graham crackers for a Key Lime pie-like treat!

As a wife and mom, I strive to feed my family healthy and nutritious foods so we can work and play to the best of our abilities. As I was feeding apple slices and peanut butter to my kids one summer afternoon, the wheels in my head started turning, and I  decided to try making a sweet hummus and came up with a yummy creation- Cinnamon Raisin Hummus! From that, several other flavors evolved and I began to sell them to family, friends, and friends of friends. Now my product is available at Downtown Produce in Melbourne as well as The Melbourne Beach Market. About twice a month, you can find me at the Brevard County Farmer’s Market at Wickham Park on Thursdays from 3:00-7:00 PM.

All my hummus flavors are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan-friendly!

NEW, LIMITED-TIME CHRISTMAS FLAVOR-

Gingerbread – Chickpeas, Raisins, Almond Butter (Dry Roasted Almonds, Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar, Palm Oil, Sea Salt), Water, Orange Juice, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Molasses, Sea Salt

Cinnamon Raisin – Raisins, Chickpeas, Almond Butter, Water, Cinnamon, Lemon Juice, Sea Salt – Click here for nutrition label

Orange Date – Dates, Chickpeas, Almonds, Orange Juice, Water, Cinnamon, Orange Zest, Sea Salt – Click here for nutrition label

Spiced Fig – Figs, Chickpeas, Almond Butter, Water, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, All Spice, Pure Maple Syrup, Lemon Juice, Sea Salt -Click here for nutrition label

Coconut Lime – Golden Raisins, Chickpeas, Almonds, Unsweetened Coconut, Water, Lime Juice, Lime Zest, Sea Salt – Click here for nutrition label

Sweet Hummus Ideas:

  • A dip for apple, pear, and peach slices
  • Spread on bananas
  • Jazz up the morning- spread on your whole grain waffle, toast, or english muffin
  • Great on whole grain crackers or pretzels for an afternoon snack
  • Turn it into a savory sauce over pork or turkey

These flavors are packed full of complex carbs, are high in protein, and have a good dose of healthy fats. This is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you feeling full!

PRICING:

$7 for 1, 8 oz container

$13 for 2, 8 oz containers OR

$18 for 3, 8 oz containers

To purchase, e-mail me at

wholetothecore@hotmail.com

or call

321-427-5217

I accept cash, check, or Paypal payment.

 If you have any questions, please e-mail me or call!

My Small Business

My oldest, Aleyah, recently asked me what I do with the money that I make from my hummus. I was happy to report that the money I earn from my sales goes towards paying for her and her sister’s ballet tuition. According to the 3/50 Project, for every $100 spent in locally-owned business, $68 returns to the community! I love selling my sweet hummus because it promotes whole and clean eating, it provides me with the means to allow my girls to dance, and I know that I am giving back to my community!

Diet – (n) The food you eat

After fasting from my blog, I return with a link to a study that shows the importance of what you eat- which is the core of my eating “beliefs”.

We all are on a diet. A diet is what you eat on a consistent basis, not a temporary change in what you eat in order to lose weight.

While you can count calories to lose weight, drinking a 140 calories can of soda doesn’t even compare nutritionally to the 140 calories in 1 1/2 cups of grapes.  Soda: no nutritional value vs. Grapes: high in Vitamin C, K, and manganese. If you aren’t eating the right foods, then you aren’t feeding your body what it needs to maintain energy, stay disease-free, and maintain proper organ function. So check out the study conducted by Preventive Medicine Research Institute and read how 35 years of study show the significance of eating the foods that fuel your body rather than those that drain your body.

Nutritional Benefits of Sweet Hummus

The main ingredients in my sweet hummuses are chickpeas, dried fruit, and almonds or almond butter. These foods contain phytonutrients- organic nutrients found in plants that provide the human body with the ability to help fight off disease and promote proper healing. They also stimulate brain function and promote heart, eye, and bone health.

Benefits of Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans

  • High in fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in protein – Along with their significant amount of fiber, the protein in chickpeas helps control hunger

  • High in iron to battle anemia and the fatigue and infection associated with it

  • High in folate which is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells, and in the development of an unborn baby

Benefits of Almonds/Almond Butter

  • High in monounsaturated fights to help promote heart health

  • High in fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in protein – Along with their significant amount of fiber, the protein in almonds helps control hunger

  • High in manganese, copper and riboflavin to help in energy production

Spiced Fig Hummus
Benefits of Dried Figs

  • Fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in calcium which is needed for bone health and growth

  • High in potassium to maintain muscle function and blood pressure control through regulation of sodium levels

  • High in iron to battle anemia and the fatigue and infection associated with it

Orange Date Hummus
Benefits of Dates

  • High in fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in B vitamins to keep energy levels high and the minerals magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese

  • Exceptionally high levels of polyphenols – antioxidants that have shown to prevent cardiovascular diseases, cancers, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes

Benefits of Orange Juice/Zest

  • High in Vitamin C, and Folic acid – These allow the body to get rid of carcinogens, inhibit heart disease, improve fertility, and inhibit mild depression.

  • High in Lutein Zeaxanthin – Lutein and zeaxanthin may help lower the risk of macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

Cinnamon Raisin Hummus
Benefits of Raisins

  • High in fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in the trace mineral Boron which provides protection against osteoporosis

  • High in iron to battle anemia and the fatigue and infection associated with it

    Coconut Lime Hummus
    Benefits of Raisins

  • High in polyphenols – antioxidants that have shown to prevent cardiovascular diseases, cancers, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes

  • High in fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in the trace mineral Boron which provides protection against osteoporosis

  • High in iron to battle anemia and the fatigue and infection associated with it

Benefits of Unsweetened Coconut

  • High in Omega-6 Fatty acids which are important for metabolism, bone density, and reproduction. They also help promote for healthy skin and hair.

  • High in fiber – According to MayoClinic.com, dietary fiber not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly but also helps lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar

  • High in folate which is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells, and in the development of an unborn baby

Benefits of Lime Juice and Zest

  • High in Vitamin C, and Folic acid – These allow the body to get rid of carcinogens, inhibit heart disease, improve fertility, and inhibit mild depression.

  • High in Lutein Zeaxanthin – Lutein and zeaxanthin may help lower the risk of macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

My Sleepy Time Energy Shot

Chia seeds are an excellent source of energy. They are full of fiber and good fats. Drinking 1 oz of tart cherry juice twice a day has shown to have a significant role in maintaining healthy sleep patterns since these cherries are naturally high in melatonin. I do this “shot” in the morning and then just take a swing of cherry juice in the afternoon.

Tart Cherry Chia Shot

1 oz tart cherry juice

2-3 teaspoons chia seeds

Pour juice into a glass and add chia seeds. Allow to stand several minutes to let the seeds soften. I use a spoon to eat the seeds first and then drink the rest.

Also try my Cherry Vanilla Granola. Oats are another natural source of melatonin.

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Purple Rain Smoothie

Purple Rain Smoothie

Joel and I were making lunch yesterday when he asked for a smoothie. I was happy to oblige, so I pulled out our end-of-the season watermelon (still sweet and juicy!) and our beginning-of-the-season purple grapes. I used some fresh squeezed orange juice to balance out the sweetness and came up with a wonderfully bubbly smoothie! He was excited to make his sisters one for their dinner, and did a great job of instructing me on what to do to remake his new smoothie creation.

  • 2 cups watermelon, chunked

  • 1 cup purple grapes

  • 1/2 orange, juiced

  • 1/4-1/3 cup water (enough to get the blender going)

Place all ingredients into a blender and mix. Makes approx. 10 oz. Enjoy your lycopene, vitamin C, resveratrol, and manganese mix!

Handy ANDI

It is often stated that junk food is cheap and health food is expensive. This can be true, but when choosing foods that satisfy and promote overall health, you can actually come out ahead of the budget game (i.e. less trips to the doctor and pharmacy and less money spent there). Knowing which foods do indeed pack more “bang for your buck” allows you to feed your family the healthiest choices without breaking the bank. The chart below is a ranking created several years ago, Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It presents a way for scoring and ranking foods by their level of nutrient density – the nutrients per calories. The higher the nutrients per calorie, the higher the ranking. This system is named the  A.N.D.I. or Aggregate Nutrient Density Index. Levels of the following are used to give a food their ANDI score:

  • Phytonutrients- Plant-based nutrients

  • Trace minerals – Minerals needed by the body, but in smaller amounts like iron, copper, and manganese

  • Anti-oxidants – Vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that protect against and repair cell damage

  • Micronutrients – Vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals per calorie.

  • Macronutrients – Fats, carbohydrates, and proteins that  meet individual needs without excessive calories

  • Potentially toxic substances – Such as trans and saturated fats and sodium- that can lead to health problems

This is a great tool to have handy when grocery shopping in the produce section since it is a good guide to nutrient-rich foods. The ANDI score is geared towards a plant-based diet, so foods high in good fats (salmon, olive oil, and even the fruit – avocado) receive a lower ranking even though they also are recognized as “super foods”. Your best bet is to stick with your salmon and add a Chinese flare to it with bok choy and cabbage to incorporate some high-ranking ANDI score foods.

135/85 = 2x

It may be back to school time, but this is NOT a math equation. This (135/85) is the blood pressure of a teenage girl that we were standing next to at the pediatrician’s office. This makes her 2x more likely to have a heart attack or stroke as someone with a reading of 115/75. I saw the responses of the two nurses standing there, and they were not pleased. This young lady was a bit overweight but nothing out of the ordinary for today’s youth (which is quite sad that this is the new “norm”).
Nutrition and exercise. These are key to our health. That is why I make sure my family eats well and exercises. Mondays are our highly active days. The girls have ballet and Joel now participates in Lil’ sports. Monday night’s meal must be healthy and nutrient-rich to refuel their growing bodies. It’s almost also our “slow cooker” night. This way we are not rushed to just grab something which usually results in a less than ideal supper. Here are some our favorite crock pot meals:

Slow Cooker Mango and Black Bean Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Paprikash

Slow Cooker Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata