my wrong turn

I took a wrong turn yesterday...

and this is where I ended up...

From .:Simplicity. Serendipity. Serenity:.

Life has a way of messing with us more often than we'd like it to, but its value is in its ability to remove limitations that we place on ourselves and guide us on priceless expeditions!

Steaming up Winter

Winter is just around the corner and it is getting wildly cold here but this recipe is definitely going to heat up the storm!

Garbanzo Bean Stew
Garbanzo beans and potatoes make this vegetarian soup filling substantial enough to serve as a main dish.


Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients:
3 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained
1 pound red-skin potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
3/4 cup chopped red sweet pepper (1 medium)
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 14-ounce cans vegetable broth


Directions

In a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker stir together garbanzo beans, potatoes, undrained tomatoes, sweet pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

Pour vegetable broth over bean mixture in cooker.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 9 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 1/2 to 5 hours.


Nutrition Facts

Calories 245
Total Fat 3 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 1251 mg
Carbohydrate 46 g
Total Sugar 9 g
Fiber 8 g
Protein 10 g
Daily Values: Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 79%, Calcium 7%, Iron 19%.

Tips on Mindful Eating

“Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.” ~Buddha

1. Count Your Blessings
Honor your food and express your gratitude. Many people skip meals every day because they don't have a choice. Be grateful that you are able to have something on your plate!
2. Be Aware of Your Senses
Eating is more pleasurable when it is a multi-sensory experience. Take the time to notice what's on your plate. Use your eyes and notice what is on your plate. Smell the aroma. Chew slowly so you can appreciate the flavors and experience the textures.
3. Appreciate All Foods Equally
Enjoy all foods and a variety of foods everyday. Appreciate the fact that each and every food can provide you with the essential nutrients your body needs to grow and flourish!
4. Acknowledge Your Feelings
Acknowledge your feelings with certain foods. Don't avoid food because fear of weight gain. Don't overeat foods that are supposed to be healthy because too much of anything will be unhealthy!
5. Take the Stress Out of Eating
Be present and mindful at every meal. Take away any distractions (tv, radio, computers, etc) and just enjoy your meal and the goodness every bite brings.
6. Love Your Food
Love what you eat, Eat what you love!

Cerise

Food for the Mind, Body, and Soul

Currently writing a research paper on cancer therapy treatments and the importance of nutritional support for cancer patients during those treatments. I always had the assumption that people die from cancer because of the devastating effects of the disease itself and never realized what a giant role nutrition plays not only in the prevention of cancer but also therapy and rehabilitation. People diagnosed with cancer and undergoing therapy treatments start to experience changes in their taste buds causing them to lose their appetite resulting in poorer intake of required nutrients to maintain a healthy immune system. This leads to chronic protein-energy malnutrition resulting in cancer cachexia and anorexia. Hence, we often see cancer patients slowly withering away and literally dying because their lean muscle mass is deteriorating and their muscles and organs are no longer able to function properly. Given the adequate nutritional support, cancer patients may have a higher chance of survival. However, sometimes it's not that they don't want to eat, it's because they can't! The effects of the therapy not only causes them to lose their appetite but also fatigue, nausea, and vomitting. Eating is no longer a pleasure and becomes a chore while some patients find themselves eating just to please their family members.

As healthy individuals, we are given so many choices regarding our nutrition. We have a variety of food choices available and because of that, we often take that blessing for granted by feeding our bodies with foods that can do more harm than good. We have to realize that our body is not garbage can that can handle unlimited amounts of junk and start treating it like a fine engine that requires specific fuels to function properly. Adequate nutrition is the only way that will allow the engine to maintain a healthy immune system that will get us through any battle we are fighting whether it be physical, mental, or emotional.

I understand there are a lot of people out there that are fighting their battle with food - myself included. Almost every moment of my life, I find myself in some kind of battle with food. What we need to realize is that food is not our enemy but instead our friend that serves to nourish and protect us. Food provides us with the necessary nutrients to maintain physical, mental , and emotional wellbeings so that we can enjoy and live life. Similar to friends, without foods, our day at the amusement park wouldn't be as fun or exciting. However, we must learn to choose our foods wisely in the same way we choose our friends. Only in good company can we find more joy and excitement in life!