Week Fifty Two: Happy trails to you, until we meet again...

Maybe you read every post and took just a little something from each one.  Maybe you read one or two posts and devoured them.  Maybe you intended to follow each week but lost track after a while.  The beauty of a blog is that it's here for you to read and re-read anytime you'd like. This is week 52 and my last post. Thank you for reading, following and sharing, as I know many of you have each week.  I wish you the best and hope that you are on your way to a healthier, happier you every day.
I want to leave you with this quote.  I find it refreshing and hopeful, and a great reminder when we are tempted to beat ourselves up.  "The beauty of the human body is its ability to recover itself."-- Dr. Oz 
Be well, God bless and never stop working towards optimal health.
~one body, one life~
Jennifer
p.s  If you would like to know what I'm up to in 2011, you can go to  www.jenniferpohlman.blogspot.com.  In the last 52 weeks my passion for raw foods and the lifestyle has evolved into a nice business and I feel blessed to wake each day loving what I do.  It was nothing that  I intended or planned, the opportunities just came to me, as is what happens when we are ready to receive.  I'm teaching raw food classes, presenting at workshops, expos and in classrooms.  I'm preparing and selling 3 day raw food detoxes and my Jenergy Bars™.  Some days I even feel a little guilty - by inspiring and teaching people how to become the best version of themselves, I am doing exactly what fulfills me and am so incredibly happy.  

Week Fifty One: Compassion and Love

Check out Organic Avenue founder Denise Mari (the youtube link below).  Her first sentence is so true and important.  I also love her thoughts on imposing our perspectives onto others.  We can only suggest and inspire, and when it's time to evolve and grow we will.  Thank you Denise for sharing your passion with us!
I hope you all are creating a wonderful and healthy 2011.
~one body, one life~
Jennifer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUGry65UXbQ

Week Fifty: RIP Jack LaLanne

Below is an interview with legendary fitness and health guru Jack LaLanne.  He was quite the spirited man - an original.  Enjoy this interview as I hope it brings you the same bit of inspiration that it brought me.  RIP Mr. LaLanne.
~one body, one life~
Jennifer

http://www.shareguide.com/LaLanne.html

Week Forty Nine: How About Those Resolutions?

We are a few weeks into the new year - how are those resolutions are going?  So many people are against making New Year's resolutions.  I'm not one of them and I hope you're not either.  It is important to be able to set goals and hold ourselves accountable in order to evolve.  "Life is about movement," a friend recently commented.  Yes, life is about movement and moving forward is so much cooler and more rewarding than regressing and moving backward. But let's face it, we all regress from time to time, like maybe now, with our new year's resolutions.

So, now what?  Well, we can wallow in our guilt and disgust with our inability to stay on track with our goals.  Yes, that's easy, we can do that.  Or, we can start over - today, right now, this minute.  As difficult as this may seem, we can do it.  We need to do it.  We don't need to wait until next year, or the first of the month, or a certain day of the week.  We need to do it right now.  Forget about failure, or any self-doubt that creeps into the mind.  Right now is a new second in our lives and right now we can start over.  

So what is it?  Did you smoke?  Did you drink?  Did you swear?  Did you over-eat?  Did you not take time for your family/friends?  Did you let procrastination get the best of you?  Did you not take time for yourself? Did you let days go on without exercising?  

So what?  You did it, it's done and it's time to move forward.  Forget the things you can't change.  No, you can't change what happened one second ago, but you can change what is going to happen one second from now.  So do it.  Move, evolve and find peace with yourself.  Life is too exciting to continually beat yourself up and quite frankly, it's just not necessary.  

I wish you all the best as you begin again.  Here's to "keep on keepin' on" friends....cheers!

~one body, one life~

Jennifer   

Week Forty Eight: No Thanks McDonalds

Do you care about your (and your children's) health and quality of life?  I am quite sure McDonalds doesn't.  Read the article below and ask yourself why you continue to support these corporations?
~one body, one life~
Jennifer

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/whats-infast-food_b_805190.html

Week Forty Seven: Homemade French Fries

Making french fries is so easy and much tastier than anything out of a bag.  

So easy, even my 10 year old can do it.  

Cut washed potatoes into thin strips.

Keep your fingers safe!

Put in bowl.

Mix approximately 1 T of olive oil to 5 potatoes.  Stir to evenly coat.

Add Seasoning.  I like celery salt, garlic granules, sea salt and pepper.

Spread onto baking sheet.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, depending on desired crunchiness.  

I like to broil mine at the end for 3-4 minutes for added crispness.  

Sweet potato fries are also a favorite in our house.  Same recipe!

Enjoy these knowing you are eating one less processed, packaged food.  They're more cost effective too!

~one body, one life~

Jennifer

Week Forty Six: Dr. Oz On Calorie Restriction

I find this theory very interesting.  There is a lot of information out there on calorie restriction, and I found this article informative and unbiased.  Take a look.
How are you making 2011 your healthiest year yet?
~one body, one life~
Jennifer
http://www.oprah.com/health/Dr-Oz-on-Living-Longer-with-a-Calorie-Restriction-Diet/5

Week Forty Five: High Fructose Corn Syrup

Read these articles and decide for yourself - do you want HFCS in the foods you put in your body?  Wondering why companies use it?  It's cheaper and more shelf stable.  Is it in the consumer's best interest?  No.  Does it put more money in the food manufacturers' pockets?  Yes. Should you be angry about this?  No, however your dollar is your voice.  You have a choice in how you spend your money and what you put in your body.  Do you really want to take your dollar, spend it on cheapened, less healthy "food" so the food companies can make more money?  I know I don't.  Below two experts, Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola, give you the facts.
I hope 2011 is your best, healthiest year yet!
~one body, one life~
Jennifer

http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/01/15/dr-oz-reveals-the-sneaky-sugar-in-your-food/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/03/high-fructose-corn-syrup-even-worse-than-weve-been-told.aspx?aid=CD945

Week Forty Four: Pan Roasted Mushrooms

I was in the grocery store buying salmon when a chef was demonstrating this recipe. Intended as an appetizer, my husband and I enjoyed the mushrooms as our dinner with a rosemary olive oil bread, dipping it in the remaining liquid. So delicious!

1 lb cleaned mushrooms (I like baby bellas but any mushroom will do)
3 garlic cloves, whole, peeled
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped parsley
splash of white wine
salt and pepper to taste

In a heavy bottom skillet heat oil and garlic on hi, until garlic is browned.  Remove garlic - the recipe said to discard, I used the soft cooked garlic as a spread on the rosemary bread. Either works. Add mushrooms, parsley - mix and cover.  When steam starts to appear, uncover and let the mushrooms brown. When brown, add wine and add the rest of the parsley and salt/pepper to taste.  Remove mushrooms from liquid to serve. As I mentioned, we saved the liquid and enjoyed dipping the good bread in it!
~one body, one life~
Jennifer

Week Forty Three: Salmon Recipe

Salmon is a weekly staple in our house.  Full of omega 3 fatty acids and delicious warm or cold, I prefer the wild caught to the farm raised.  Salmon should not have a fishy smell and is best cooked within a day or two of purchasing.  I buy 1 1/2 to 2 pounds for our family of four.  This allows us to have left over fish to eat chilled the next day either by itself or on a salad (my personal favorite way to eat salmon).  Enjoy the recipe below!

Fresh, wild caught salmon
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbls olive oil
1/2 cup good soy sauce
2 tbls maple syrup plus extra for drizzle
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp sage
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients.  Place salmon flesh down making sure all parts of the filet are being marinated.  Cover and chill for a minimum of 30 minutes up to a few hours. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Remove salmon from marinade and place skin side down in shallow, glass baking dish.  Spoon a small amount of marinade over the fish, gently pressing the herbs onto the top of the fish.  Do not pour all over the fish as the marinade will burn in the bottom of your dish.  Bake for 15 minutes, remove and drizzle a small amount of maple syrup over the fish.  Bake for another 5-15 minutes.  I find, depending on the thickness of the fish, 20-30 minutes is perfect.  You do not want to overcook.  When checking the fish, take a fork and gently peel apart the thickest part of the fish.  If it is ready, you will be able to do this with ease and fish will be slightly flaky.  I begin checking at 20 min and continue every 5 min until done.
Remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes before serving.  Use a spatula to easily peel fish from skin and enjoy!
~one body, one life~
Jennifer