Its All About Christmas

So, you’ve had enough of the conventional unhealthy food you’ve been eating on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving Day year in, year out? You want to be able to celebrate in style but you desire a different approach in the food department – a healthier approach.

You’ve decided to have a Raw Food Christmas party for a change but are not quite sure what you can make? Perhaps you are a raw foodist or just like the idea of eating fresh and healthy food for a change. You want to abandon the overcooked stodgy food that makes you feel tired and lethargic afterwards and reaching for the alcohol to digest it (well, acid is a corrosive force!)

The thing about raw food today is that it doesn’t have to just be lettuce and fruit. Of course, that is very healthy but in temperate climates your body will eventually demand something more satisfying and filling. The answer is ‘raw gourmet food’. There are numerous raw chefs and even novices out there creating a style of prepared raw food that is inventive, classy and delicious. Why not give it a try? All you need are a few basic ingredients: – fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and seasonings. You can elaborate later with raw cacao, coconut butter, raw sweeteners etc.

A raw fruit pie can be made by grinding 1 cup of whole nuts in a nut grinder or coffee grinder and then mixing with ½ cup soft dates. Press the mixture into a lined pie dish. For the filling, blend 2 bananas with ½ cup blueberries and ½ cup cashew nuts. Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and blend until smooth. Pour the cream into your crust. Set in the fridge for up to an hour. You can also decorate the pie with fresh fruits. This is a very basic recipe but you would do well to get a raw food recipe book to master the art of creative gourmet raw food. You might also consider attending a raw food class where you will learn all the basics in raw cuisine. It’s really quite simple once you become familiar with the ingredients. You can even make your own raw chocolate!

As an experienced plant food eater, what will I be making for my Raw Food Christmas Party this year?

*Apple Spice Punch

*Cream of Parsnip Soup with Petit Pain

*Pecan Nutloaf with Garlic Mushrooms and Pine Nut Sauce

*Honey Walnuts

*Chocolate Torte with Cream

*Festive Mince Pies with (B)randy Sauce

Over the New Year, I will make Mushroom Tarts, Crispy Kale, Cheesy Flax Crackers with Seed Cheese, Scottish Shortbread and Chocolates.

Is your mouth watering yet? You too could also create your very own raw festive feast for you and your family this year. Why not make Christmas and Thanksgiving a healthier celebration for everyone involved and include some tantalising life-giving raw food on the menu? Once you’ve tried raw gourmet food, you will see how easy it is to eat healthily and still enjoy your food. So go on, try some raw food today. You and your loved ones deserve to be healthy. Have a happy and healthy festive time!

For inspiration visit http://rawchristmasandthanksgivingrecipes.blogspot.com

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to start planning and preparing for Christmas. With a festive spirit, and hungry appetites, Christmas can still be a joyous celebration for people with food allergies. Christmas time can be associated with seasonal allergens such as the pollen from Christmas trees and oil from the evergreens, the scent from Christmas candles, and the mold from old Christmas ornaments. Of all allergies that can seriously affect people food allergies are the most serious. Between all the Christmas goodies and the holiday meals, the only cure for people who are allergy-sensitive is to prevent intake of foods which causes them to be allergic.

Common food allergens, referred to as “the big eight” are, milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat. They account for over 90% of the food allergies. Symptoms of food allergies are rash, vomiting and diarrhea, coughing, wheezing, facial swelling, and hives. Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, are more common, but they are not considered allergies because they do not involve an allergic reaction.

Elimination diets can be used to systematically eliminate suspected allergens to see if the reactions disappear. By eliminating possible culprits and adding them back to the diet one at a time, a person can determine some of their own allergies. To confirm a diagnosis, an allergist may order lab tests or perform tests in the office.

It is necessary to avoid food allergy attacks by carefully preparing the food that will be consumed by allergy-sensitive people. To avoid known food allergens; read packaging to check for ingredients such as peanuts that may have been added and ask restaurant staff about specific ingredients in prepared foods when eating out. You can prepare your own meals by using substitutes for the allergy causing ingredients.

Here are some tips if you are preparing “allergen” free food. Egg-Free Diet for those with an over reaction of the immune system in the body, when proteins from the eggs are ingested which causes egg allergy. You need to avoid prepared foods with egg and other egg substitutes if you have allergies with eggs. There are different egg substitutes to use in your cooking recipe such as Tofu and smashed bananas.

Now the holiday season is almost upon us many people will be worrying about how much weight they are going to put on and will want to know how to lose weight after Christmas and the holiday season.  There are so many temptations at this time of year, all those yummy mince pies and Christmas puddings, not to mention the Christmas cake and all those well meaning, but naughty presents of delicious boxes of chocolates.   They are so hard to resist!

But why should you resist?  You have worked so hard during the year and you deserve some treats!  Depriving yourself of treats all the time will only make you feel bad and lead to cravings.  In the end you will give in to these cravings and overindulge in them.  So don’t be too hard on yourself.  Just relax the rules for the holiday period, let go and enjoy yourself.  There is no need to go mad, but a few treats are not going to do too much damage and as long as you make sure to get some exercise, like going for a nice walk after dinner, you will be just fine.

After the holiday season is over here are some simple weight loss tips to help you get back on track:

1.  Never skip breakfast. 

Eating breakfast will help maintain your energy levels and avoid the hunger pangs that could lead you to eat those chocolate bars, crisps and fizzy cola drinks.  If you do not feel hungry enough for breakfast in the morning it is probably because you have eaten too much for dinner.  Try eating smaller meals for dinner as this will make you feel more hungry in the morning.  Eating 3 well balanced meals a day (including breakfast) at regularly intervals will help you to feel full and satisfied and avoid the temptation to eat between meals.  It will also help speed up your metabolism.

2.  Eat more high fibre food. 

Wholemeal bread, brown rice, wholewheat pasta and wholegrain cereals are all high in fibre.  Also fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, peas, beans and lentils as well as seeds and nuts.  Foods that are high in fibre usually take longer to chew, so this will slow down your eating and help you enjoy your food more.   High fibre food  takes longer to digest so it stays longer in the stomach and will help to make you feel full up for longer.

3.  Take regular exercise.

Taking regular exercise will help with your  weight loss plan.  It does not have to be anything too strenuous. Something simple like walking will help.  Try leaving the car at home and taking the bus to work.  Get off one stop before your normal bus stop and walk the extra distance.  Take a walk during your lunch break, even if it is just taking a walk around the shops and doing some window shopping.  Walk up the stairs instead of taking the lift.  Maybe try some aerobic exercises, but be sure to warm up first, start off slowly and build up gradually. 

Just making a few minor adjustments to your lifestyle can make a big impact on your weight loss efforts. So have a happy Christmas, relax and enjoy yourself.  Follow these simple weight loss tips and you will soon be able to lose weight after Christmas and the holiday season.