A Special Request

M's Chocolate Mousse

I was chatting about the Advanced Plan with one of our Practice Members the other day.  After I had finished telling him and his wife that they needed to eliminate all sugar, all grains, and most fruit from their diet, he looked at me with determination written all over his face and said, "Ok Steph, I can do this.  But I would really reaaaalllly love to have chocolate mousse once in a while."  We all chuckled.  But everyone has got their thing.  Their vice.  Mine is muffins.  His was chocolate mousse.  Pretty cute.  So anyways, after some experimenting... here it is, chocolate mousse!  You can still have a life AND eat on the Advanced Plan.  Honest.  :) 

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• 2 tsp. liquid stevia (more or less, depending on your preference)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (make sure to sift - there's nothing worse than lumpy mousse!)
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup organic full-fat coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. brandy or rum (obviously an optional ingredient, and maybe not so Maximized, but live a little!) 
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon (another optional ingredient, but I think it makes a big difference.  It doesn't add a real cinnamon flavour, but it really helps to cut the super-sweet after taste of stevia, which is important in these sweet dishes when so much stevia is used.)

Method

• Place all ingredients in the food processor (a blender can be used in a pinch) and process until completely smooth and creamy.
• Dollop into pretty bowls or ramekins and refrigerate. 
• Garnish with strawberries, slivered almonds, mint leaves, whatever your heart desires!

The Top Ten Most Toxic Foods

The following is a list of THE most toxic foods out there... avoid these like the plague!!  Read over labels with a critical  eye, or, even better... buy foods WITHOUT labels. 

#10. SEASONED/PACKAGED FOODS

• Avoid frozen meals, anything with flavour packets, chips, snacks, and store bought soups – they are PACKED with MSG and many other terrible toxins.
• Alternatives: buy natural options (make sure you read ingredients!), or make your own spice mixes and food flavorings.

 #9. COMMERCIAL DAIRY PRODUCTS

• These are loaded with antibiotics, growth hormones, and vaccines and processed in extreme high heats; denaturing the proteins - BAD!
• Alternatives: If you are going to consume dairy, ensure that you purchase organic, unpastuerized, non-homogenized, RAW milk in its purest form. For another tasty option, try almond milk or coconut milk.

 #8. GMO ANYTHING

• Genetically modified products are unrecognizable to the body and are extra toxic because they are heavily sprayed with pesticides! Beware of soy, cotton, canola and corn as they are the most common genetically modified sources.
• Alternatives: Stay away!!

 #7. DIET SODA and SODA DRINKS

• Man-made, chemically altered, un-natural junk! Not only is it full of excitotoxins that over-excite the brain cells and cause death, but it’s also makes you hungrier so that you want to eat more.
• Alternatives: Stevia sweetened natural “pop”, sparkling water, green tea.  Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming recipes for yummy lemonade, and other thirst-quenching beverages! 

 #6. MARGARINE

•  Man-made poison! Added colors and chemicals toxify the body and all cells causing inflammation. STAY AWAY.  Don't fall for "heart-healthy" advertising!
• Alternative: Use butter, olive oil and healthy fats! Remember- butter is NOT bad!

 #5. SPRAYED PRODUCE

• HUGE toxic load! Many of these chemicals have barely been studied (or not studied at all!) and are known to cause neurological damage.
• Alternative: Follow the ‘Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen’ guide for buying produce.

 #4. WHITE BREAD

•  The grains used in these breads are highly sprayed and stripped of anything nutritious, they’re also full of sugar and turn into sugar as soon as ingest.
• Alternative: Look for sprouted, whole grain, and stone-ground, or better yet, don't eat bread at all. 

 #3. DELI or PACKAGED MEAT

• Poor quality, loaded with MSG, preservatives and additives, as well as nitrates which have been linked to many types of cancer – there is NO nutritional value in these meats!
• Alternative: Buy organic, grass-fed meats from a local farmer or the health food store. 

#2. CANDY

• SUGAR! Also full of toxic food dyes and artificial chemicals
• Alternative: kick the candy! Get your sweetness from berries or make some yummy sweet treats using stevia (recipes to come!)

and the number one MOST toxic food is...

 #1. SALAD DRESSING

• Full of MSG, bad fats, artificial colors and flavors, and high-fructose corn syrup!
• Alternative: make your own. Use olive oil or hemp oil mixed with lemon juice or vinegar; add your own mix of herbs and spices.

Now that we have identified the bad stuff, check out all the good stuff! Keep your pantry stocked with these SUPER FOODS: 

Coconut
Look for coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut flakes, coconut vinegar and for a grain-free flour option, try coconut flour! (The list goes on!) This is THE healthiest oil on the planet and one of the most potent super foods there is!

 Olive Oil

Look for Extra Virgin and Cold-Pressed. Buy the good quality stuff to make your own homemade delicious salad dressings.

 Avocado

Packed with 20 essential nutrients including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, and also acts as a “nutrient booster” by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients.

 Greens

Extremely nutritious, but beware because greens/lettuces are among the most highly sprayed, so make sure to buy organic!

 Grass Fed Meat

Avoid grain fed meat for the most healthy and nutritious meat possible. And don’t consume something that’s already consumed toxins (ie. Hormones and antibiotics)!

  Wild Cut Fish

Avoid farmed fish and lots of canned fish.

 Broccoli

Packed with incredible amounts of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber. It’s also loaded with carotenoids- antioxidants that are known to help with weight loss.

 Nuts

A great source of protein and healthy fats! Be sure to buy raw nuts (can be found in the refrigerated section at the health food store), as the high heat from the roasting process causes the natural nut oils to go rancid.

 Berries

Hello, antioxidants! Use fresh berries on salads, as snacks, and use frozen berries with some almond milk as a great breakfast smoothie.

 Free-range Eggs

Look for eggs that are as naturally raised as possible and are organic and cage-free. Also check to see what kind of chicken feed is used.

Hello (And Some Protein Bars For The Journey!)

Hi! 
Welcome to my blog!  I'm glad you're here. 
First, I thought I would start with a few tips  for following the Maximized Living Plans (there will be lots more, trust me):
1.  Have fun and be creative.  Food should be fun.  Even when it's healthy.  Experiment with different herbs, spices, and ingredients, modify recipes and make your own. 
2.  Trust the process.  There may be days when you would rob a bank if you were promised a donut in return.  But this too shall pass.  Once your body adapts to all the amazing nutritious (sugar FREE) food you're feeding it, you'll be able to walk through the bakery without a second glance.
3. PLAN.  This is so much easier with a little planning.  It's when we are on the run, completely starved, with nothing to eat, that grabbing a muffin or a sub sounds like a good idea.  Planning makes everything better.
4.  Know your WHY.  If you have a big enough WHY, then any HOW is possible.  WHY do YOU want to fuel your body with healthy, nutrient-rich, organic food?  Why do you want to be healthy?  Once you have that, the rest is a piece of cake.  (Made with almond  flour and stevia... sugar-free, of course). 

Nutty Protein Bars

To start things off- one of my all-time faves. These little babies got me through my first week of sugar cravings and mid-morning munchies. This recipe is in the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans book, but I changed a few things to my liking. Feel free to do the same. Experiment with different nut butters and different seeds. I make a double batch on Sundays and freeze them in ice cube trays; they pop right out - super easy! The only down-side, they are much yummier cold. I actually love them frozen. They don't hold up too well if they are in a warm office or car all day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 scoops flavoured whey protein powder
• 1/2 cup raw almond butter (or cashew butter)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 5 drops liquid stevia (more or less to your taste)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 
• 1/4 cup hemp hearts

Method

• Place almonds, cashews, coconut, protein powder, almond butter and salt in food processor, and pulse briefly- about 15 seconds.
• In small saucepan, melt coconut oil over low heat.  Remove from heat and add stevia, cinnamon, and vanilla.
• Add coconut oil to food processor mixture and pulse until the mixture has turned into a coarse paste.  
• Press mixture into an 8'x8' glass baking dish (lined with parchment paper for easier removal) or dollop into ice cube trays.  Sprinkle with hemp hearts. Refrigerate or freeze for at least one hour.