Eat Real: Woof (meow)

We at the Osborne house have a cat. We used to have 2, but one had enough of us and just picked up and left. The official story, if you see my kids, is that he ran away to live with an lonely, old lady. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Anyway, over the Christmas cookie binge festival 2 years ago, it hit me. What if I made dog cookies instead of people cookies?! The kids would still get to make something and we wouldn't be overloaded with more sweets. Our neighbors and friends loved it. They received rave reviews from their dogs. I'll tell you the secret ingredient now - keep the drippings from any meat you cook in a can in the freezer and substitute that for the vegetable oil in the recipe. Guaranteed to get any dog drooling!

And for you cat lovers out there - just give them the fat drippings or the skin off your chicken. Our cat loves to lick every drop of it and could care less about a biscuit.

Our pets are near and dear to our hearts. They are so much more than just animals. They are part of our families. We love them like our kids and hurt for them when they are sick. They stand by us when we hurt. They lick our faces, rub against our legs, throw up on our rugs and poop in the bathtub. This is a simple way to show them a little love.

They, too, are gifts from God...

Homemade Dog Biscuits
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup water
2c. whole wheat flour
1 egg
1/3 cup veg. oil

Mix all together. Shape and bake 35-40 min at 350 degrees F.
Freeze or refrigerate - depending how fast you use them.

PS. Frani, tell Odin "This one's for him!"

Eat Real: Vegetables Rising

I usually try to keep these posts short, sweet and leave the politics of health care out of it. But, today, I can no longer remain silent. It's imperative that people know the matrix of consumer insanity that the health care system is composed of. How, us living in a consumer based society have been manipulated to play a part in sickness. It might sound like conspiracy theory to you, but there is hard evidence to back it all up.

This morning's paper has a Senate report detailing how GSK knew of possible heart attack risks tied to their drug Avandia, a diabetes medication. Yet, it's taken years before this information and evidence has become public. After a two year inquiry, it's been shown that clinical trials of Avandia continued even after the USDA estimated that the drug caused 83,000 heart attacks between 1999-2007. That's just one part of my outrage this morning. (reference: News & Observer, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, pg.1, section A)

The second comes from an email I received from my intestinal therapist. Yes, colonic irrigation specialist. It is exactly as it sounds! The information I received is about the S.3002 McCain-Dorgan Senate Bill. This bill proposes to limit, regulate and otherwise control our access to supplements. In our current state of health care insanity, many of these supplements are the consumer's first step towards taking responsibility for their health. I know I used and still use some. And, if it were not for having access to them and the research that goes along with them, I wouldn't have been able to cure myself of shingles, thyroiditis, high cholesterol, depression and inflamed cystic acne. It was my desire to take responsibility for my health and not be dependent on the current state of health care. I wanted to get off the cycle of insanity of going to the doctor and getting yet another 'band-aid' prescription. (reference: Health Freedom Update)

So many of us see the handwriting on the wall. We know there is a better way. We know that God's way of simplicity is the way to true peace, health and happiness. However, along the journey, there are steps and using supplements is a step.

When it comes down to it, food is the only thing we can truly rely on. Real, honest to goodness food that grows in the sun and rain without pesticides, herbicides or genetically engineered components. As it stands now, the USDA (aka. government) controls us enough through what they tell us we should eat, what we should weigh and what we should feel, think and do - all through their 'guidelines'. Is it any wonder that the country is sick and dying when agriculture is encouraged by government subsidies to make more corn, wheat and beef? Have you looked at the food pyramid lately? The biggest area is the 'grain' section. People went from no carb to all carb. All carb means higher blood sugar. Higher blood sugar means more insulin. More insulin means more diabetes, more fat, more sickness. AGHH!

This all leads me to what I believe is the 'next big thing'. Vegetables. Lots of them. You've already seen an influx of books talking about eating mostly plants. There is an undercurrent of folks who are buying local. Instead of fitting in the box, they are consciously fitting out.

Do you want health, energy and happiness? Then you have to do the work. Stop looking to someone else to fix you and look to someone else to teach you. Learn the tools for your body and your life. You'll know when you've found the right person and the right tool when you feel good. Each person is unique, we are not a one size fits all society. Take it upon yourself to learn all you can for the health of you and your family.

Eat Real: Beans

Beans, beans, they're good for your heart, the more you eat them, the more you ----. We all remember that beautiful piece of poetry from grade school, don't we?!

We've been eating a lot of beans in our house as of late. They are low cost, high in nutrients and quite filling. Beans, or legumes, including peas and lentils, are an excellent source of plant-based protein. Beans are found in most traditional cultures as a staple food. They offer grounding and strengthening properties that help increase endurance. They have a highly absorbable source of calcium for the body and are a fantastically inexpensive source of nutrition.

The only reason beans have a bad rap is from the gas they cause. Digestive distress is the politically correct term... The reason for this is usually from undercooking or being improperly prepared. Soaking beans overnight prior to cooking, increasing cooking time and/or adding spices like bay leaf, oregano or cumin can help. Adding kombu, a sea vegetable, when cooking is a great way of adding more minerals to the meal and helping digestion.

Look at the shape of the bean. Does it remind you of any body organs? Maybe the adrenal glands or kidneys? If you subscribe to the theory of food energetics, you can see how eating beans can help restore vital energy to an overtaxed body. Because of this, they can help restore sexual energy... just thought I'd throw that one in there!

Here's one of my husband's favorite recipes:

1 can of organic black beans
1 can of organic kidney beans
1/2 lb. of grass fed beef
1 28oz can of diced tomatoes

Brown the beef, drain and rinse the beans. Combine all in a crock pot and cook on high 4-6 hours.

I like to add onions, a pinch of salt and garlic, but he doesn't. He likes it plain. So do the kids. Experiment and see what you come up with!

Eat Real: Programming

Something surreal and commonplace happened today. I carpool with the neighbors since our kids go to a local school. However, the neighbor girl I pick up was not coming home with us today. So, I pick up the kids and drive home and drive right past my driveway to the neighbor girls house. Hey, what just happened? I'm programmed. I saw it clearly. I'm programmed to drop her off first and then go home, so my subconscious did what it has been programmed to do. It led me to her house first!

The stage had been set and like Pavlov's dog, I followed the predetermined response. Now, this got me to thinking - how many other things in life are we programmed to do and don't even realize it? Our subconscious is a super computer that holds all of our programming. It takes 6 weeks to create a new habit and 6 months for that habit to become part of a lifestyle. So, if we are doing affirmations or trying to change our behavior in some way, we could expect 6 weeks for it to take hold. But, what I'm thinking is this - if we can set the stage so that we create a new set of circumstances and create a new habit around that - would it happen even quicker?

Did you realize that you make 200 or more unconcsious food choices a day? What are you watching on TV, reading or the computer? All this information is being programmed into your subconscious. Are you addicted to stress? How much of the media do you consciously allow into your life? How controlled are you? How free are you, really? Package sizes, plate sizes, portion sizes... If you could reprogram yourself, what would you download? What would you erase?

Lent is fast approaching our Catholic community. It is 6 weeks long. We usually fast, meditate and practice introspection. Is it a coincidence that it's 6 weeks? I don't think so. I think 'they' new even back then what it takes to change behavior and create inner peace. How about fasting? You are what you eat. Is it any coincidence that it's right before Spring, the time when our bodies naturally want to cleanse? How about meditation and introspection? Isn't that easier when the stage is set through diet and creating time for oneself? I love Lent. It is truly my favorite time of year. It is a gift to be able to have this time set aside to focus on opening my connection to God and clearing the way for a more profound relationship with Him. I've been consciously practicing Lenten behaviors since June 2009. It feels like I've come home now that it is upon us.

Now, let's put it together... programming our subconscious and opening our connection to God. We become a receptive vessel in which to change our programming. So, as Lent approaches and whether or not you practice it or not, I invite you to take this journey with me for 6 weeks and open yourself to creating a greater relationship with yourself. And in doing so, creating a greater relationship with Source, the Universe - God.

Eat Real: Recovery with Sweet Potatoes

With the whole family recovering from a nasty virus, I dipped into my bag of healing food recipes which offer nutritional support. Sweet potatoes was first on the list! I was looking for something creamy and warm to eat Friday night and sweet potato casserole hit the spot.

These root vegetables are packed full of vitamin C and beta carotene. They have a healing affect on the spleen, pancreas and stomach and improve energy and circulation. All traits sorely needed in the household now. It's cold, rainy and damp outside. This casserole is warm, creamy and satisfying inside. Talk about balance!

The high beta carotene content of this vegetable protects us against cancer, colds, infections and other diseases. Hum, think I should have been eating them as a preventative measure?! The older it gets the more the beta carotene content increases. It is important to eat sweet potatoes with fats like eggs or a little butter because the fat stimulates the secretion of bile which helps convert beta carotene to Vitamin A. This little vegetable is also a good source of iron, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin B6.

Sweet potato casserole:
5-6 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 egg
pat of butter
1/4 of milk - almond, cow or goat

Boil or steam the chopped sweet potatoes in a pot with about 2 inches of water until they fall apart with a fork. Drain and reserve liquid. Mash or mix with mixer. Add egg, butter and milk (or reserved liquid). Put mixture into casserole dish and bake at 400 degrees F for 30 min.

Be Real: Balance

My family and I have spent the last 5 days sick. My husband, who never succumbs to illness rode the couch for 3 days. It's been a thoroughly fantastically sick time. Of course, I am thinking "What did we do to deserve this? Haven't I been doing everything right? How could I let this happen?" Yup, all ego. This is the thing - God showed all 5 of us in a very big way that we were out of balance. We've been sloppy, letting too many little unhealthy things get in the way and build up.

One of the biggest things this illness has shown be is the blessing we have to be grateful for and what is really important. It has been an exercise in letting go of what I think I want and surrendering completely to the NOW. It's been a great time, albeit we've been coughing alot. We've spent so much time together wrapped up in blankets and coughing our heads off.

The true pearl I've gained from all of this is inner peace. A constant knowing that all unfolds perfectly according to God. All I can do is put out my intention, without attachment, and watch how God delivers it. When you put out the intentions I do, sometimes it requires going to really dark places within. Not by choice, it's just where I'm led by the Spirit. I figured this out after reading a Bible scripture yesterday that Jesus was "led by the Holy Spirit into the dessert for 40 days." It was not his human choice. He was tended to by angels and beasts as he was led to this dark place within to deal with 'satan'. Satan is not a thing, but a piece of us which we all have. I've concluded that it is my ego.

Instead of trying to live in duality of ego vs. soul, the key is recognizing the ego and making the choice to follow it or the soul. Recognizing it, bringing it to light, allowing the dark feelings, attitudes, and anger out. Giving it truth. Speaking it's name and releasing it without attachment. Then embrace this ego along with your soul and you become a more peaceful image of yourself. Or, you can succomb to it's temptations for glory, richess, fame and try to feed an insatiable beast.

I've been shown once again that this existence is about balance of all aspects of self. Acid vs. alkaline, oxygen vs. carbon dioxide, ego vs. self, light vs. dark, cold vs. hot, rest vs. activity. If anything is out of balance in any area - mental, emotional, physical or spiritual - it will manifest somehow and somewhere. I'm lucky, God communicates to me through physical health. I see the signs now... my back was aching for 2 weeks prior, the cold weather has put a damper on my exercise pattern, I was snacking on 'treats' way too much, allowing ego to run rampant and WA-LA; sickness! It's a beautiful thing to look back on and realize. Now that I see it, could I have stopped it? Maybe. Would I have? I can't answer that. For all the darkness I've seen and experienced, I've also seen the light on the other side. And each time I see the light it gets brighter and bigger. Isn't that what our souls are here to do - experience dark and light? For how would God know himself if not through our experience. And how would we know ourselves if not for the dark and the light. It's all relative.

I'm so grateful to have learned so much in such a short time. Once I verbalized all the dark, I felt better, I let it all out and gave it to God. Now, there is so much peace. And, I have a ton of material for a new Series of classes I'm beginning with a collegue. Yeah baby!

Check out the Soul Series: Practical Discernment. Would love to see you there!