Mama Mia for Chia! Mini Parfait Energy Recipe

MAMA MIA for CHIA!  Mini Yogurt Pudding Parfait

Momma Mia, do I love Chia!  Energy boost bar none. Tons of fun to experiment with in different recipes and foods.   I have noticed that I can work longer and harder without getting hungry by adding chia seeds to my morning smoothies, salad dressings, and energy bon bons – they are great with desserts as a pudding parfait or a breakfast parfait with granola.  Chia has a wonderful property of soaking up any liquid it comes in contact with, delivering a gelatinous texture so loved in puddings. 

Try my morning powerhouse cocktail and enjoy the adventure and medicinal joys of this tiny but mighty daily energy vitamin.

FOOD FOCUS : CHIA (Salvia HIspanica) 

A flowering plant from the mint family and native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. Eons ago, Aztecs and Mayans used it daily to sustain energy for long periods of time.  How does chia increase energy? The high fiber content in Chia along with the fatty acids (ALA and Omega 3’s) in addition to their protein and mineral content pack in the nutritional energy.  They are easy to digest too which is less work for your tummy and more energy for you. Americans consume only about 14 grams of fiber a day and we need 30-40 grams for maintaining the best digestive health.  More fiber = more weight loss too.*  Examples of other fiber-rich foods include:  whole fruits, beans, whole grain breads that list ideally 3 grams of fiber per slice, root veggies, popcorn, and berries.

RECIPE: CHIA BREAKFAST PARFAIT

One serving

2 Tablespoon scoops of greek or greek-style yogurt

1 ounce of Coconut water

1 ounce of Chia seeds

Let sit for 5 minutes

Add blueberries and/or 2 Tablespoons of granola

Enjoy.

There are so many ways to enjoy the benefits of Chia and to think I used it to create a chia pet with these seeds that came in a tiny packet and now have a large bag in the fridge- my new superfood.  
Happy Summer Days!
Warmly,
Marie Frohlich, Health Coach

*CAUTION: because they are so high in fiber, limit your daily intake to one or two ounces. More may cause stomach upset.

*http://foodreference.about.com/od/Ingredients_Basics/a/What-Are-Chia-Seeds.htm

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-chia?page=2

MARIE’s CURRENT PROMOTIONS

MY CHAGA PRODUCT ON FOX NEWS! In June, My chaga tincture was recommended on Fox News online articles by Chris Kilham. Great info on the benefits of Chaga.   I have been getting some great feedback from clients using this product both as an anti-tumoral for cancer patients post surgery and as a preventative for colds and flu. It has huge anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being a super immune builder.  

More about my product: Marie's Herbal Products

ANNOUNCING SEASONAL HERBAL GIFT BOXES – AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2013

Beginning with the Fall season, I will be offering custom ordering options for

an array of seasonal herbal products which will include teas, tinctures, essences, balms, salves, creams and more.  Please email me your interest and I will send you  a flyer outlining the products and prices.  

26th Annual NEW ENGLAND WOMEN’s HERBAL CONFERENCE and CELEBRATION Join me with a cast of 500 women at the New England Women’s Herbal Conference this summer.  August 23-25^th  A fabulous experience for all ages and all walks of life on so many levels.  The workshops, big tent entertainment, healthy food and incredible expo all with an outdoor experience of your choice on NewFound Lake in New Hampshire is the best you will find for the price anywhere.   Check it out here and register now while places are still left at Womens Herbal Conference .

BECOMING A HEALTH COACH – FREE SUMMER WELLNESS GUIDE

If you are interested in learning about becoming a health coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  I would be be happy to talk to you about it and may be able to link you up to a significant discount, promotions are available for alumni to refer interested parties.   Today, please enjoy this free Summer Wellness Guide

My Herbal Garden is a Teaching Garden 

2014 Taproot Herbal Garden Gathering July 18-20 

Details coming soon..

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Purslane for the Brain and Other Weedy Wonders

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Happy Garden time!  I just planted Purslane for my brain. Why? It has more Omega 3- fatty acids than found in some fish oils.  It is known as Portulaca Oleracea and is sometimes referred to as pusley, pigweed or verdolaga.  Native to the Indian sub-continent, it is now spread across continents as a wild weed seeking our friendship, truly.   Our brains are starved for fat in a low fat promoting world and this is one non fishy way to get some.  I love going out to the garden in the morning to just nibble on it.  Hardy, low-lying, very easy to grow just about anywhere.  The yellow flower buds are also edible.  Add to salads for a succulent slighty sour and salty punch.  I want to experiment with adding it to pestos this summer.


 Other weedy wonders, you may ask?   Read on and click on these amazing links for the absolute wonder of Dandelion - a full body pick me up for spring de-tox, cleansing the liver and supporting the kidneys.  I just made some dandelion vinegar, now steeping flower heads and leaves for several weeks in slightly heated apple cider vinegar.  I plan to use it in salad dressings and as a morning alkaline boost supplement straight out of the bottle. I teaspoon in hot water will do too. 

Fun things to do with Dandelions 
and one more with excellent weedy wonder options!
Herbs and weeds every mother should plant 

If you are interested in getting linked into a great boomerbrain blog archive I update now and again on keeping your brain healthy.. let me know at MarieFrohlich@gmail.com

Please pass this onto a friend, sign up to follow my blog and visit my website, if you are interested in getting some break-through health coaching for yourself  or health coaching support at your workplace.   I work with a holistic team of professionals at The Coaching Center of Vermont's division of Vital Wellness and welcome your inquiries.

Enjoy what is left of our leafed out Spring - as you warm into the summer months of garden growth and glowing health.

What's in Your Office/Desk Pantry for Energy and Focus?

 Do you crave that special something at 2-3 in the afternoon?

I recently listened to a Public radio station program on cooking with a microwave at work. Things like making a microwave mac 'n cheese in a coffee cup and even a brownie dessert!  It got me thinking about office pantries and snacks in desk drawers and the tired items in vending machines most of us have access to at work.   I thought this blog might help you shift to some other ideas and encourage me to keep some of these goodies and tips on hand for myself. 

I Want to Keep it Simple  Fruits, veggies with hummus, miso soup, or an apple with almond butter - small baggies of nut and seed mixes... all some of the best snacks for their fiber and protein.  Your fridge at work can hold hard boiled eggs for days, cheese, greek yogurt.  Energy bars.. read the labels for sugar and avoid soy protein isolate.

I love Cheese - a great source of protein and calcium. Since protein curbs hunger and keeps you feeling satisfied after meals and snacks, cheese can help you to lose weight. As part of a well-rounded nutrition plan, the protein in cheese can slow down the absorption of carbohydrates eaten at the same meal or snack and therefore help balance your blood-sugar levels and improve mood as well.
from Joy Bauer  I love these Cabot 3/4 oz cheese snacks with an apple in the afternoon - just when you need a boost of energy.

Addicted to Seaweed!.. roasted, salted, seasoned.. yum!  I am actually addicted to these and buy them at costco in bulk.  A wonderful packet to keep in your car, drawer and office pantry.  Seaweed snacks actually cut cravings and help mineralize your system, often depleted from lack of greens in our diets. "Three minutes of jogging or eight minutes of weightlifting burns the 30 calories from eating 6 g of seaweed snacks. If you ate a 1-oz. serving of potato chips instead, you'd have to spend more than 15 minutes jogging or 41 minutes weightlifting to burn off the 150 calories that snack contains." Read more

What I know about Pumpkin seeds - Power Packed Protein
A. I love them and know that the zinc in them helps keep colds at bay.
B. Zinc is known to reduce depression.
C. They’re high in the sleep-enhancing amino acid tryptophan that converts to serotonin in your body and helps ensure a good night’s sleep;
D. The high levels of easily-digestible protein helps stabilize blood sugar when eaten as a snack throughout the day.  Stable blood sugar means weight loss if you’re trying to lose. E.  High in Omega 3s, pumpkin seed oil has been shown in studies to reduce the incidence of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)—a condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged. Read more

Plan your snacks - when you shop for the week ahead, consider your needs at work for snacking and get enough to bring with you daily or stock your office pantry together with your workmates.  Bulk buying can pay off and more and more healthy foods are available in bulk.   Happy healthy snacking!

MARIE's HEALTH COACHING CONNECTIONS
Workplace Wellness  --Vital Wellness at the Coaching Center of Vermont
One hour Health History Session and 3 or 6 month programs:  MarieFrohlich.com
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