Conventional vs. Organic

Today's Hot-Topic...

Conventional vs. Organic... It's really not an option anymore! 

Did you know that Monsanto, the makers of DDT, Agent Orange, Round-Up and Aspartame manufacture the seeds for the crops that we eat EVERY DAY???

Since I don't seem to get too much response when I post about the detriments of GMO's and "Round-Up Ready" crops, I have to assume that either you are completely informed or completely unaware of the state of crisis our country’s food and health are in.
I just want to make sure that You Are All Aware of their harmful effects on our health, just by eating everyday foods like breakfast cereal, bread, all baked goods, cakes, cookies, all fried foods French fries, ice cream, yogurt, milk, soy milk, fast food, even your Chinese take-out...
Most of the prepared foods we buy whether from a restaurant or store (as simple as a box of cereal or loaf of bread) contain GMO's simply because they contain one or more of these specific basic ingredients such as corn, corn syrup, corn oil, soy, soybean oil, canola oil, rice, milk, just to name few...
Maybe I am posting too much about this highly controversial subject and possibly being redundant, and if this is the case, PLEASE let me know! But from what I'm witnessing at the supermarket, the majority of consumers fill their carts with the GMO saturated cereals, milks, breads, snacks, lunchmeats and processed foods, without so much as a glance at their labels. Even our meats (chicken, beef and pork) are modified with hormones and antibiotics and they are fed GMO's as well. There are still some people today who can't get past whether a food has been frozen, and refuse to eat it believing that it’s freshness has been compromised. Freezing food actually preserves the freshness but might possibly alter it's taste slightly (usually with fish or meats). Fruits and veggies, grains, seeds and nuts retain more of their nutrients and enzymes because they are usually frozen the day they are picked.
My concern here for everyone is that you the consumer are AWARE!!!!
OUR CHILDREN ARE MOST AT RISK!
I know as a parent I wouldn't intentionally want to feed my child formaldehyde (diet drinks, puddings, and ice cream containing aspartame) or foods that would put them at higher risk of sterility, cancer, autism, immune-suppression, and food allergies, (studies point to GMO's).
But, everyday foods being served to our children contain these poisons and most of the time without our conscious

awareness.
“Well they couldn’t sell it if it was bad for you, Right?” ’While still so many many people trust our FDA’s judgment because they are a government agency, the fact is that former corporate employees, researchers and lawyers of Monsanto now head the FDA. This situation certainly does reek of “The Fox Overseeing the Hen House” and has completely revoked my confidence in government health protection and food safety.
There is still a silver lining and hope here and that is ORGANIC! While not all conventionally grown foods are nutritionally compromised or contaminated, the best way to know is by reading the labels. Since GMO labeling is not yet mandated yet in the U.S., you aren’t going to see any warnings on the labels, so the best ways to be certain that you are not buying Genetically Modified foods is by buying foods which are labeled either Organic or non-GMO, NON-GMO Project, Non-GMO Verified.
Organic labeling used to be just about whether some fruits and vegetables were sprayed with pesticides or not… today it’s a whole different deal! Not only do we have pesticides, but herbicides and genetic mutation of our crops as well.
We as a nation are getting sicker and we need to speak up to our government and convince them that we are not sheep and will not be led blindly to slaughter. Many other countries have preceded us in this feat and have prevailed! We as nation can win this battle for the right to healthy foods by doing our part, which can be simply done by not purchasing GMO foods. Our dollars speak volumes and have the most voting power, so vote with your spending and in the meantime your and your family’s health will benefit. It really can be a win-win for us all!

 <3 Green Smoothies Mom

Original artical  posted on May 23rd

Rice Noodles in Peanut Sauce

Rice Noodles with Veggies in Peanut Sauce

This recipe is awesome... I was able to please everyone in the family which is hard to do...
This is so easy and quick to make that it just might become my new Go-To dinner for those crazy-busy evenings.

Rice Noodles with Veggies in Peanut Sauce

1 Lb. Brown Rice Spaghetti or Whole Wheat Spaghetti (Reserve 2 cups pasta water)
3/4 Cup Peanut Butter
6-8 Tbs. Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
3 tsp. Chili Sauce
1 Bag Frozen Vegetable Medley (pref. Asian mix)
2 Tbs. Rice or sushi Vinegar
2 Tbs. Toasted Sesame Oil

1.Mix the sauce while water is boiling for the pasta.
2. Add frozen veggies to cooked pasta during the last minute of cooking. (reserve 2 cups of the water)
3. In a blender  mix all the ingredients for the sauce and blend. Then add between 1-2 cups of the reserved cooking water to the sauce and blend  to a creamy consistency.
4. Drain cooked pasta and veggies, place them into a lg. bowl, pour peanut sauce over the pasta and toss.
These are approx. measurements for 1 Lb. of pasta, adjust them to however much pasta you are making.  I made 1-1/2 Lbs. pasta so I used 1-1/2 bags of veggies and 1 cup peanut butter.

Hemp and Raw Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

                Hemp, originating in Central Asia, has been around for centuries, and is now readily available at most supermarkets.... Many people confuse hemp with marijuana, but hemp is not psychoactive, so food sources of hemp will not get you high. It is considered a Super-food with nutritional properties that are just too great to ignore. Just 3 Tbs. of hulled hemp hearts or (seeds) have 10g of protein, 3g of fiber, and less than 1g of sugar. Hemp is extremely high in Iron, Thiamin, Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc and B Vitamins. It also contains all three Essential Fatty Acids... Linolenic Acid (LA), Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).

Hemp has a deliciously nutty flavor and is an extremely healthy addition to any smoothie, salad, cereal, baked goods or granola bars!

     As Green Smoothies Mom, I am committed to  teaching you how to make the Highest Energy Smoothies, Meals, and snacks possible. This Hemp and Raw Cacao recipe that I'm sharing with you today is a favorite with my teen-age son (and his friends). It's great for whenever he needs an after-school pick-me-up before starting his afternoon activities or sports. It's also a great way to sneak more greens into your children's diet. These smoothies actually taste better than the chemically laden ones from the coffee-houses, so I always make a little extra for myself!

Ingredients:

•  2 C. *Chocolate Non-dairy Milk (almond, coconut, hemp, rice) 
•  2  TBS. Raw Cacao Powder 
•  3-4 TBS. Raw Shelled Hemp Hearts
•  1 TBS. Chia Seeds 
•  1/4  Ripe Avocado
• 1/2  C. Baby Spinach (optional) ( I guarantee you'll never see or taste it!)
• 2 Very ripe Bananas
• 1  C. Ice

Place all the  ingredients except the ice into a blender and blend well, then add ice to blended ingredients and blend again until smooth and creamy.

* You can also use a Vanilla flavored, or an unsweetened milk if you prefer and sweeten the smoothie with Stevia, raw agave, raw honey, or dates.
** This recipe is Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, and Vegan.

Free Kombucha Workshop- Wed. March 13th

Learn how to make your own Pro-biotic drinks at home for pennies...

There are many benefits from drinking kombucha tea like improved digestion, better skin, stronger immunity and anti-aging effects, it’s no wonder everyone is finding out about probiotic-rich fermented foods and drinks.

I will be hosting a Free-Class on how to properly brew your own kombucha safely and in-expensively at home. 

We will also discuss how to make other fermented and healthy drinks such as Kefir and   Yerba-Mate.

For this class you will need to bring a 1 gallon size jar and a 1 quart size jar (with lids if possible)

This class is free and will fill up quickly so only serious 'Bucha-ers need sign up!

Wednesday March 13th, at 7:30 ~  to sign up or for more information, Please message me or email me at greensmoothiesmom@gmail.com

 

Creamy Sweet-Potato Soup Recipe

 

♥ Creamy Sweet-Potato Soup Recipe ♥

I received so many requests for this recipe, so here it is...

It is officially Soup Weather!
The last 2 mornings I've woken up to a frigid 7 f. degrees and have craved nothing but hot soup. Yesterday I went to the store and bought ingredients to make at least 4 different types. Last night I started with a Sweet-Potato soup because I didn't have a lot of time. I was surprised when the family remarked on how tasty it was and that they couldn't believe it had such odd and simple ingredients.
It was Healthy and Delicious! Here's the recipe...

3-4 LBS. yams or sweet potatoes- sliced thin (the thinner the faster they will cook)
1 can coconut cream
2 Limes-(juice)
1 TBS. peanut butter
1 Lg onion or 2 small- chopped
2 TBS. coconut oil or cooking oil
4 TBS. powdered ginger or 3 TBS. fresh grated
6 cups water
2 veg. bouillon cubes (I use Rapunzel w/turmeric) optional
     or 1-2 tsp. turmeric instead
1TBS. Himalayan or sea salt (optional)
Saute onions in coconut oil then add all of the water and all of the ingredients except for the P.B. and lime.
allow soup to boil then simmer for 20-30 min the add P.B. and lime. Take off the heat and blend with an immersion blender or pour into blender, this will make the soup thick and creamy!
♥ GSM

*Recipe from my Facebook Page originally Posted on January 24th

 

February Is National Heart Health Month

                            <3 Happy February <3

  Since February is National Heart Health Month,  Let's focus on our Heart's health and hopefully after one month's time we will establish good heart healthy habits! This month I plan to add a few more articles and recipes regarding the Heart, and this will include a lot about Raw Chocolate, it's what my heart desires and because it's soooo healthy... for that I am Grateful!

      Taking care of your heart is no more complicated than taking care of any one part or the entirety of your body. When we treat our body with respect by making better, more informed basic choices regarding diet and exercise, it will thank us infinitely by allowing us to perform, as well as pursue most anything we desire. 

       Naturally we desire food... Since we must eat in order to survive, we must consider that food is actually fuel for our bodies. Choose natural, healthy sources which will provide you with optimal energy rather than processed chemicals which will slow you down and eventually leave our bodies vulnerable to diseases. If we diligently look we will find that there are delicious healthy foods such as chocolate, when not processed, can actually be healthy. It really must become our responsibility, not our government's, to learn about proper nutrition so that we can choose our own health's destiny. We are taught at a very young age that consuming processed sugar, saturated fats, and chemically treated foods and beverages are all the norm and  necessary to fit into society. We are taught that this nutritionally void food-like stuff is perfectly safe to eat,  because our government headed food agencies tell us so.

          Not sure where to begin? Let's start slowly by consciously choosing to drink more water, eat  a lot more fresh fruit and veggies,  and cut back on the acid and mucous causing sugary drinks, fatty meats and dairy, and chemically laden, processed snacks. Try to stick with foods that are from a plant rather than made at a plant. These few guidelines alone will get you off to a great start toward improving your own heart health!

      Naturally we desire Love...  While Love is often equated with food, food has become for some a substitution for love, and even an emotional and physical crutch. Many people have become emotionally, and especially physically, dependent on chemically treated  processed foods which trick the brain into a temporary euphoric state, which then leads to addiction.  This addiction causes cravings for more of these chemicals and we just feel awful until the next fast-food or junk-food fix! Since most Americans Love to eat, it is no surprise that 1/3 of us fall into the range of overweight or obese. It's not completely our fault that this is happening, but surprising that in this age of communication, we are kept in the dark about what we consume, until it is too late and our health has already been compromised. Even then, due to the Love for money, corporations and the medical industry conspire to profit as much as possible from our illness by spreading their propaganda that drugs are the only cures and by not requiring mandatory food labeling.  We need to open our eyes to such exploits so that we can clearly discern what is being done to us,  and enable ourselves to make the choice whether  to stay on this deadly coarse, or to make the necessary changes. We must choose to  Love ourselves first, then our choices for healthier living will come a lot easier.

     Naturally we desire to active... Well-bodied, healthy, energetic people cannot just physically sit idly. Our bodies and minds need to see, move, and experience all that they are called to be.  When we have a healthy heart and body, there is no stopping us. To maintain our peak well-being, we must remember a few basics, and basics really is the operative word. By continuing to eat a basic diet of unprocessed foods, keeping our bodies physically, mentally, and emotionally fit with basic daily exercise as well as creative hobbies, our hearts will not be able to thank us enough, and will probably want to extend it's life significantly in order to repay it's gratitude!

       Loving  yourself as well as each other is just another great exercise for our hearts... so spread the Love and it will come back to you a thousand fold! 

         Much Love~ Regina xo

Quinoa w/ Tomato and Jalepeno Sauce

Quick and Easy Hot Quinoa One Pot Dinner

      While I'm posting this recipe as a Meatless Monday dish, this fast and filling quinoa dish is my Go-To dish whenever I have very limited time to prepare a hot meal. I was surprised to see how happy I could make my kids with so little time or effort expended. I have to give my sister-in law Ann most of the credit here, since it was her recipe that I expanded on...

6 cups cooked quinoa (2 cups dry+4 cups water)

2 Lg. Cans (28 oz. size) Diced or chopped tomatoes

2-3 cloves garlic

1/4 - 1 whole jalpeno pepper (to taste)

sea or Himalayan salt to taste

        Cook quinoa in lg. pot according to dirctions (approx. 15 min.)
While while quinoa is cooking blend garlic and jalapeno pepper with a few tablespoons water in small bleder or you can chop them finely.
When quinoa is cooked add the 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and your garlic/jalapeno mixture to pot, heat for about 5 minutes more until it stars to bubble and then it is ready to serve.
Add a green salad and your meal is complete!
I always make a lot because my kids like to eat several servings.

GSM Quick Cooking Tip

Make extra quinoa at the same time and store it the fridge to make other dishes during the week like my Quinoa Tabouli Salad or Quicky Quinoa Mexican Salad also posted here on this page.
Quinoa is so versatile for any side dish!