My Raw Food Diet: A Hot Date with Myself on a Thursday Night
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on July 30, 2010 – -I’m at a conference in Boston for the weekend and stuck at the airport hotel without a decent raw vegan meal in sight. Of course I have my staples…seeds, fruits, dehydrated crackers and green powder. I even have a few celery and carrot sticks and a refrigerator to store it all in. But as I looked at the 3 days ahead and the dwindling food stash, I decided to venture out and see what’s hot in the Boston raw food scene.
Unfortunately the two restaurants I managed to find were a $50 cab ride or 2 trains, a bus and a shuttle away so I moved to plan B…I rented a car for the evening! I found a $23 economy car and off I went.
I took myself to an incredibly charming place called Prana Cafe, In Newton, a couple of towns away just west of Boston.
My meal was delicious, the staff was charming and super friendly, and I met a very nice couple who had just discovered raw food in April and were enjoying a date.
I’ll let my photos speak for themselves.
I started with a Creamy Blueberry smoothie made with fresh coconut and dates. I had them add kale!
Next I had a red pepper soup, deliciously seasoned and loaded with sprouts.
For an appetizer, I had nori rolls. The “rice” filling was turnip and coocnut and they were filled with fermented wax beans, avocado and watercress.
My entree was a buckwheat crust pizza, topped with pesto, cashew ricotta, mushrooms and a variety of veggies. It came with a house salad with a light vinegrette dressing.
Finally, I splurged and tried a sundae with vanilla and cinnamon pecan “ice-cream” . The “ice-cream” was made with cashew and coconut, sweetened with dates and used irish moss as a thickener…which also cut down on the fat and added the nutritional benefits of sea vegetables.
Woops…i got so excited about eating the sundae that I forgot to take a picture. Take my word for it…it was beautiful.
There was far too much food for me to eat, so I took some back for lunch.
I stocked up from their take-out area and my refrigerator is now filled with yummy meals.
My hot date with raw foods was an event to remember
Love , health and joy to you,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: boston, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Living Foods, living foods recipes, Prana cafe, raw and living foods, raw foods diet, raw foods restaurant
Posted in Living Foods, Raw Foods, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
Sunshine and Fun are Vital to Your Health
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on February 28, 2010 – -It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Austin, today. Before I go outside and enjoy it, I thought I’d take a moment to connect.
I encourage you to please use your weekend to regenerate your energy from the week.
Get outdoors and replenish your vitamin D stores. I am discovering lots of vitamin D deficiencies in working with people lately. And be sure to refrain from washing with soap on the exposed areas for 48 hours after you get your vitamin D sunshine dose, or you may decrease your absorption of what your skin creates fromt he sunshine. It can take up to 48 hours for the Vitamin D to be fully absorbed. That explains why iI’ve been seeing deficiencies even in sun worshipers who dont use sunscreen.
Also important for your health is having fun. What will you do that’s fun today? Comment below. Please respect the importance of fun and recreation. They are up there with fresh raw and living foods and exercise.
If you live in or near Austin, join me and my friends for a raw foods potluck tonight. Go to www.drritamarie.com/potluck for more information and sign up to be part of the action at www.drritamarie.com/meetup.
Have a wonderful day.
Wishing you Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: energy, fun, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, recreation, sunshine, Vibrant Health, Vitamin D
Posted in Articles, Immune System Support, Raw Foods | No Comments »
The Sweet Side of the Agave Controversy
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on February 24, 2010 – -My article The Bitter truth about Sweeteners explores the topic of sweeteners, their safety, danger and a users guide to selecting them. I reprinted an article slamming Agave nectar in a previous post. Here’s the other end of the debate: This is excerpted from an article on the Altered Plates Blog, in response to an article that appeared on Natural Health News . It is reproduced here as part of an expose on agave. Read and think about it. The decision is yours.
By Craig Gerbore, President of Madhava
Mr. Nagel’s article is based on the view of a sole individual, Russ Bianchi. I suppose we should thank Mr. Bianchi for pointing out some issues that may have contributed to Iidea’s (the initial manufacturer of blue agave nectar) demise from the market, however I want to be clear, this is not about Madhava or our agave nectar. Once a dominant supplier, as of this past summer Iidea is no longer a major supplier in the agave syrup business. The distributors using them as a supplier have quietly switched to newly formed blue agave companies for their supply.
Madhava has always worked exclusively with Nekutli, the producer of agave nectar from the agave salmiana, a very different species of the agave. However, there is no mention of our agave nectar from salmiana in the article, nor of the differences in the plant, the collection and production of our product. So, the author has blurred the line with his all encompassing attack on blue agave nectar, by his failure to present complete information on the subject of agave nectars. For what purpose was this article written? If it were to educate the public, I think it would include all the information available.
With the errors and misstatements and half-truths, I don’t think this article is about education, it is an all out shotgun attack. I believe Mr. Bianchi, presented as the sole authority on agave nectar, was initially introduced to Iidea’s blue agave syrup product on their entry to the market in the late 90’s. At that time, Iidea was promoting a 90% fructose agave syrup. This is what I believe Mr. Bianchi is referring to. Unfortunately, he ignores the fact that this is not the agave sold on the market today, nor is it representative of Madhava’s product. In fact Mr. Bianchi has never even acknowledged the existence of our agave nectar from the salmiana variety. So, all his comments are apparently based on his experience with Iidea’s product, but I find ourselves caught in the blast. In their zestful attack against the blue agave syrup he was introduced to initially, Mr.’s Bianchi and Nagel have also made inaccurate comments which reflect on agave nectar generally.
As such, I take issue with several of their statements and claims and want to clarify some things as regards Madhava’s Agave Nectar from agave salmiana. Their discussion of the processing of agave nectar is in no way reflective of how Madhava’s agave nectar is produced. There are three ways to convert complex sugars into a simple sugar sweetener such as agave syrup. It can be done thermally, chemically, or enzymatically as ours is.
There are no chemicals whatsoever involved in the production of Madhava’s agave nectar from agave salmiana, nor is it cooked. Our agave is subject only to low temperatures during the evaporation of excess water from the juice. The author states “The principal constituent of the agave is starch, such as what is found in corn or rice.” This statement, which is the foundation of much of their argument comparing agave nectar to corn syrup, has no basis in scientific fact, THERE IS NO STARCH IN THE AGAVE.
How can the author and his source be so mistaken on this statement on which he bases his attack? All plants store energy in one of two ways, as starches or fructans. All agave plants create fructans as their energy storing means. So, agave plants have fructans, not starch. From Wikipedia: Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants. They belong to a class of fibers know as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and it typically found in roots or rhizomes. Most plants which synthesize and store inulin do not store other materials such as starch.
There is no starch in either species of agave, and agave nectar is not from starch as the author and Mr. Bianchi claim. They have tried very hard to propagandize the public with a false fact, either by design, or ignorance, for which there would be no excuse. Such an error of fact certainly casts doubt on the validity of the rest of Nagel’s article, as the lack of depth of his research has to be apparent to all. Really, he is just regurgitating the singular views of Mr. Bianchi. I personally spoke with the author during his “research”, as did at least one other in the industry.
He chose not to include one word of the information given to him by us, which I will repeat below, and failed to make any distinction between Madhava’s Nekutli agave nectar from salmiana and that from the blue agave plant. He only mentions blue agave. The plants differ, the locations differ, the methods and production differ greatly. The information we gave him did not fit his purpose and so was omitted in favor of a generalized attack. Madhava’s source is exclusively agave salmiana. If you haven’t already reviewed our site at www.madhavasagave.com , you will find background information there. Briefly though, the native people supplying the juice collect it from the live plant, by hand, twice daily. There is no heat involved in the removal. The juice is immediately brought to the facility to remove the excess water as it will ferment rapidly if left standing.
It is during the removal of the moisture that the only heat is applied. The juice is evaporated and moisture removed in a vacuum evaporator. The vacuum enables the moisture to be withdrawn at low temperatures. The temp is closely controlled. Subsequently, our agave is handled and packaged at room temperatures. No other heat is applied. And, rather than convert the complex sugars of the juice thermally, we use gentle enzymatic action. Just as a bee introduces an enzyme to flower nectar to make honey, we introduce an natural organic vegan enzyme for the same purpose.
The technical term for the conversion of complex sugars into their simple sugar components is hydrolysis. Inulin is a fructan which is hydrolyzed into the simple sugars composing agave nectar, fructose and glucose. Honey is composed of the same simple sugars.
The blue agave plant is harvested and the blue agave nectar is produced by a completely different method. I will have to leave it to the blue agave nectar sellers to comment on the production themselves. While I know of it, I have not witnessed it as I have Nekutli’s. Unlike the author, I won’t comment publicly on something I cannot verify.
To clarify further on another claim, “Agave Nectar as a final product is mostly chemically refined fructose”. As regards Madhava’s agave nectar, there are no chemicals involved in our production whatsoever. The sugars in our agave nectar come from the breakdown of the inulin molecule through the introduction of the enzyme to break apart that molecule. It is in no way chemically refined, there are no chemicals involved in any part of the production or packaging process.
Our agave nectar is refined only in as much as the excess moisture is removed from the juice of the plant.
“HFCS is made with GM enzymes”. Bianchi’s states “they (agave and corn syrup) are indeed made the same way” This is another false assertion as regards Madhava’s agave nectar at least. Our agave nectar is certainly and clearly not made the same way as corn syrup. There is no starch in our agave. There are no chemicals, no refinement beyond the evaporation of water. And, there are no GMO’s whatsoever. The agave salmiana has never been subject to this and the enzyme is a natural, non GM organic, vegan enzyme.
Other points regarding fructose apply to sugars in general and are a consumption, or overconsumption issue. Certainly consuming large amounts of sweeteners of any kind will be detrimental to one’s health. Suggesting fructose could cause health issues when concentrated amounts are eaten is a statement which should really apply to the overconsumption issue. The information the author links to agave nectar is the result of megadose testing of pure clinical fructose. Not the same thing as normal daily use of agave nectar in the course of our meals. The antisweetener advocates just have to admit that it is the overconsumption of sugars that is the problem. Used in moderation, sugars serve a purpose, to make other foods and beverages more palatable. Imagine a world without sweeteners if you can. Affinity for sweet taste is a human trait that most want to satisfy.
For those who use sweeteners, there are limited choices available and many choose agave for its particular attributes. It is a good choice. Madhava Agave’s neutral flavor suits the purpose. It is in fact low glycemic, organically certified and non allergenic. Many with diabetes and other special diets find it suitable for their use where other sweeteners are not. It’s easy to use and you can use less. And, we guarantee the purity of our product.
Tags: Agave, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, fructose, Living Foods, livingfoods, madhava, Raw Foods, raw foods diet
Posted in Articles, Raw Foods | 1 Comment »
Holiday Health Gifts
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 24, 2009 – -
Christmas is just 2 days away and that’s the day I’m drawing the winners names for my big raffle. Will your name be amongst the winners?
Here’s the scoop. I’ll be giving away the following prizes:
1- An e-book of your choice (value up to $29.95)
2- Eat Your Way Out of Pain Home Study Course (Value $67)
3- Lifetime Membership in Dr. Ritamarie’s Green Cleanse Program (Value $97)
4- A 20 minute private consultation (Value $150)
5- A complimentary membership in my new “Balancing Nutrition Self Assessment Program” (Value $397)
As you can see, these are valuable prizes! And I’ll post the winners names(and website if you’d like) on the Monday after Christmas.
SO how do you enter the raffle?
There are 2 ways
1- Make any purchase between now and December 24th at midnight and you’ll be automatically entered into the raffle. Each separate purchase counts as a separate entry.
Use Coupon Code 15ebook and receive 15% off any item on this page:
http://drritamarie.com/EBookOrderForm.htm
2- Purchase a raffle ticket for only $7.
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/raffle
***I’ll donate 25% of all raffle ticket purchases to Safe Space, a local charity that protects battered women and children.
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/raffle
I wish you a peaceful, joyful and very healthy Holiday Season.
If you’re ready to create the best possible health in 2010, check this out
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/Health
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,Kwanzaa, Solstice, Yule or whatever you celebrate this time of year!
Love, Health and Gratitude,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, gluten free holiday, green smoothie, Living Foods, livingfoods
Posted in Articles, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, Living Foods, Raw Foods, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
Cancer and Children, the SAD Connection: Are Raw and Living Foods Part of the Solution?
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 11, 2009 – -It’s always sad to hear about a child who’s suffering and dying from cancer. It’s heartbreaking, actually. Such a waste of a life, to be stricken down so young. And what a painful experience for a parent…to lose a child is the worst nightmare of every parent.
Yet it happens every day, and it is frustrating to no end to observe the scenario. As you may recall, I lost my sister to cancer just over a year ago, and I watched in horror as they tore her immune system to shreds with the drugs, foods and treatments, in the hope that they could kill the cancer. She, like most cancer patients, died from the treatment, not the disease.
How can you expect a body to heal from cancer when it’s fed hospital food…white bread, milk, sugar, canned vegetables and bottled fruit juice. None of the food has life, and as such it has no ability to create life, or save life. It has only the power to destroy life.
This post was prompted by the story of a young boy named Dominic. I met his mom, Elaina Love, for the first time earlier this year, and again just a few weeks ago when she came to Austin to teach a class on how to make holiday meals that are life giving, in place of the holiday typical menu, containing foods that are life depleting.
Elaina and Dominic
I cried as I read this story and I’m tearing up again as I recount it. I have a son who’s around the same age, and the thought of losing him is unbearable. As I read Dominic and Elaina’s story, I couldn’t help but put myself into her shoes, and feel the intensity of the pain she is experiencing.
Dominic, age 14, became ill with leukemia earlier this year, and much to Elaina’s anguish, Dominic and his dad decided to put their trust in mainstream medicine — chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant. All the while, he continued to eat the food served in the hospital,and the foods he and his dad chose, rather than follow Elaina’s recommendations of green foods, wheat grass juice and no sugar.
They thought it was successful until November 25, 2009 when the doctors told them the leukemia was back and more aggressive than ever. There was nothing more that mainstream medicine could offer Dominic, except to keep him comfortable as they waited for him to die. Their estimate was that he had between 1 week and 1 month to remain on the planet.
Finally, Dominic and his dad agreed to follow Elaina’s advice and take him to the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida, where they are famous for helping people to heal from cancer and where people go when they have no other choice. There Dominic will eat a completely green raw diet consisting of juices and greens, get daily wheatgrass implants , oxygen therapy and other non conventional therapies that the institute has to offer. It is their last hope.
Before leaving for Hippocrates, Elaina took Dominic off everything that feeds cancer- sugar, fruit,bread, dairy, pastries, salt, caffeine, meat,and everything that is served on he hospital cafeteria trays sent to his room three times a day. He started consuming liquid blue green algae, wheat grass , green juice , cucumbers, avocado, lettuce, red bell peppers and only raw, vegan foods that contain no sugar. They stopped the IV, which contained sugar water.
Elaina and Dominic have been at Hippocrates for about 10 days now, and Elaina reports that he seems to be getting stronger. Only time will tell. You can follow Dominic’s progress on Elaina’s blog, at http://elainalove.wordpress.com/
The therapy and airfare combined are going to be close to $20,000 for the first 3 weeks. Drs Brian and Ann Marie Clement are offering a partial scholarship and there is a donation fund being set up.
You can help in a several ways:
1- Keep Dominic and Elaina in your thoughts and prayers. Send healing energy in their direction.
2- Donate, even $5!
http://www.purejoyplanet.com/store/index.php?cPath=26
Any help you can send their way would be so great.
3- Shop at Elaina’s website. Christmas and Hanukkah are coming up. Buy a gift for yourself or your loved ones. Buy Elaina’s books, DVDs, e-books, or a nut milk bag or Irish Moss.
http://purejoyplanet.com/store/
I bought her cultured foods DVD, that includes how to make kefir, saurkraut sour dough crackers, yogurt and more, her Irish moss e-book, Flavors of China e-book, and vanilla, cherry and hazelnut essential oils. Plus I donated $25! Everything helps.
Elaina Love is a professional Chef and Instructor, Lifestyle Counselor and Owner/Director of the raw food store and Pure Joy Planet. She authored the raw, vegan, living food recipe book Elaina’s Pure Joy Kitchen. She is the creator of the Amazing Nut Milk Bag.
Elaina has been teaching raw food courses worldwide since 1998. She is a Chef/Instructor at the renowned Living Light Culinary Arts Institute where she has been on staff since 2000.
Here’s what Elaina has to say:
“It is my life purpose to help people be as healthy, feel full of life force and joy that they can be, and I have helped soooo many people through my teachings, recipes, personal example and website. My family, however, from my son to my ex to my parents, have never wanted to embrace raw foods, and in fact shun it at all costs.
I got over it a long time ago and didn’t give it much thought anymore. But when Dom got cancer in Jan of 2009, my world turned upside down. I wanted so badly to help him with raw foods, but he and his dad just wouldn’t bite (literally and figuratively). So even though I begged, cried and pleaded, they opted for the traditional medical route.
And after awhile my initial rage filled resistance was kept under wraps to protect my son, and spirit told me to surrender and go along with what they had chosen, so I did and embrace it I did, with every fiber of my being hoping with all my heart that it would work.
I have been told by higher power that it’s going to be one of those miracle stories, where instead of the boy getting the girl, he gets the rest of his life…healthy, happy, cancer free and no drugs (the girl comes later)!”
Donations have been pouring in to help Dominic, and Elaina to pay for the expensive treatment at Hippocrates, for which insurance will not pay even a penny. Overwhelmed by the generosity. Se says”The gratitude I feel for you as I write this, even though I don’t know who you are yet, is so huge I want to cry”.
Let this story serve as a wake up call. Your children, our children, the children of the planet, NEED to be fed whole fresh foods, not the packaged, refined, cancer-causing fare served in schools, restaurants and most people’s homes.
We need to wake up, as a culture, to the fact that nature has its “laws“. Just as you can’t defy gravity, you can’t defy your body’s nutritional needs, feed yourself and your family toxic foods,and expect to be healthy.
Over 40% of the US population will get cancer. A large percentage of those WILL die from it. And these numbers are going up. The only way to put yourself and your loved ones on the “safe” side of the fence is to throw all the cancer causing foods and chemicals over the fence, and as far away from you as possible.
It’s painful to lose someone you love. It’s even more painful when you lose them to a preventable illness, as I lost my parents then my younger sister. Make a commitment today to, as Gandhi said, to ” be the change you want to see in the world”. Create vibrant health for you AND your loved ones, one bite at a time. Whatever the temporary pleasure attained from eating SAD food, it’s tainted by the long term suffering of cancer.
Get support if you need it. Surround yourself by like minded people who care about their health. Get a mentor and make a commitment to your health, your family’s health and the health of the planet. Dare to make unpopular decisions, and you’ll live to tell about it.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Cleansing Programs, detoxification programs, Elaina Love, green juice, Hippocrates Health Institute, leukemia, Living Foods, livingfoods, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, sprouts, wheat grass juice, whole foods
Posted in Articles, Cancer, Cleansing Programs, Raw Foods | No Comments »
Healthy for the Holidays: Nourishing Foods for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years Celebrations
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 9, 2009 – -By
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
I can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas? I’m really not ready at all! I haven’t started shopping, writing cards or even finished putting up my tree. My family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, bringing together the best of my husband’s family traditions and mine. And Hanukkah is just a few days away.
I used to bake a lot for the holidays, but since I no longer eat sugar, flour, butter and all the ingredients of my old favorite recipes, and I prefer to eat raw and living foods, I had to develop new recipes. My favorites were for cookies, especially gingerbread, cranberry bread and pecan pie. My new recipes taste as good or even BETTER than my old favorites.
The foods that used to fill my holiday plate did nothing to enhance my health and did everything to clog my arteries, raise my blood sugar, expand my waistline and left me feeling sluggish, bloated, and foggy headed.
When I eat the foods I make using my new recipes, I feel great! I no longer feel bloated or exhausted after eating my favorite Christmas cookies and pies.
Even if you’ve been dedicated to vibrant health for a long time, staying strong and true to your health commitment is a challenge when you’re surrounded by the smells and tastes that remind you of past holidays and connect you with family and friends. You may have even learned to equate these foods with love.
The pressure from friends and family to eat the old favorites can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve only recently adopted healthy eating habits. Add to that the magnitude of the long holiday to-do list (shopping for, wrapping, and exchanging gifts; sending cards; decorating; and making food) and it’s only natural for you to become overly stressed or anxious.
You may have grown up using food to comfort and soothe you.
Certain aromas may remind you of the comfort of grandma’s house on a special holiday, or a special person or feeling that you became connected to early on in your life.
Rather than giving in to temptation, or depriving yourself of tasty foods and feeling angry and resentful about it, you can learn to recreate your favorite holiday meals in ways that are delicious, nutritious and fun and easy to make.
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
Since I’ve been married to Scott, I’ve learned to make Hanukkah foods, too, like latkes with homemade applesauce and dairy free sour cream.
I’ve been working on putting all of these recipes together and finally have them ready in the form of a book. By the time I finished putting in all the recipes and tips for creating low stress holiday celebrations, the book ended up being over 160 pages! And the recipes are all gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free, and made with whole, fresh, plant-based, raw and living foods.
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
I’ve put together a couple of very special packages that include my new book, “Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations”and I’m ready to share them with you!
So go on over to
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
and reserve your copy. The book is in e-book format, so you can download it instantly. I’m working on getting a printed version available too, and those who purchase the e-book during the next couple of weeks will be offered the print book at for a nominal upgrade fee.
I’m so excited about this.
I’ve added some juicy new bonuses, for a limited time only, and a very special “Deluxe Holiday Toolkit”. When you order the e-book, one of the bonuses you’ll receive is access to an online video of me making some of the recipes.
Here’s a comment from someone who watched the Holiday Video when I offered it with the Thanksgiving Feast book:
I just watched the Holiday recipe video…OMG, it was WONDERFUL!!!! And so helpful! I bought the e-book, but it makes such a difference to actually see you putting the elements together!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING THIS VIDEO!!!!
I look forward to hearing from you. The message I’d like to hear is how you stayed healthy throughout the holidays, had lots of energy and enjoyed the connection with your loved ones while eating delicious foods and having a blast.
Please comment below and let me know what your favorite holiday foods are. If health enhancing versions of them are not already in the book, rest assured they’ll be in version 2. And if you contribute a recipe or idea that makes it into the second edition next year, I’ll be sure to send you a free copy.
Go ahead and let me know what foods you really love and have a healthy and happy holiday season.
Love, Health and Gratitude,
Dr. Ritamarie
http://www.drritamarie.com/WinterHolidays
Tags: Christmas recipes, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, fatigue symptoms, gluten free, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, Hanukkah recipes, Healthy Holiday, holiday diet, Holiday Recipes, holiday survival, Living Foods, livingfoods, New Years Recipes, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Articles, Gluten Free recipes, Healthy Holiday, Living Foods, Raw Foods, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
Gluten-Free, Holiday Treats – Organic, raw and whole Fresh foods
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on December 7, 2009 – -Tis the Season to Be Jolly
Holidays are about connection and love, not fretting about food and worrying about feeling deprived while everyone else is stuffing themselves with sugar and fat. If you are dedicated to staying healthy and vibrant throughout the holiday season, yet still have a desire to fit in, and enjoy the holiday cheer, there are lots of resources for you. Here are a couple:
1- If you live in or near Austin, you’re in for a treat. There’s no reason to feel deprived this holiday season. You can enjoy delicious Holiday Cookies – Raw, Vegan, naturally sweetened and gluten Free- festively boxed and ready
to give as a gift or as a treat for yourself. Karen Osborne, my dear friend and the Fresh’n Fun Living Co-op Manager, talented chef and recent graduate of Living Light Culinary Institute in California has created these beautiful and delicious gift boxes for you.
The boxes include a dozen holiday cookies, and will be ready for pick-up in the
Austin area beginning in mid December. The boxes contain 2 each of the
following:
German Chocolate Brownies, Pecan Pie Squares, Not Oatmeal Raisin Cookies,
Lemon Cookies, Rocky Road Brownies and Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies.
Carob can be substituted for Chocolate in these cookies…please specify
your preference when you check out.
Supplies are limited so order early. Orders will be processed on a first
come, first served basis.
Schedule:
2 dozen boxes will be ready for delivery on Dec. 13 or any day of that week
2 dozen boxes will be ready for delivery on Dec. 20.
Each box is $30. Please specify Chocolate or Carob when you order.
To place an order, click on a link below and specify the number of boxes you
desire in our secure shopping cart.
An e-mail will be sent out when the boxes are ready with dates and locations for pick-up in the Austin area.
1 Cookie Box for the week of Dec. 13 $30.00
1 Cookie Box for the week of Dec. 20 $30.00
2) You can learn to make cookies and close to 100 other delicious holiday foods. It’s easy to do when you ahve the right recipes.
My new book, “Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations” will be announced very soon. We’re putting the last minute tweaks on the bonus and graphics pages on the web page. We’re even offering it as a part of a Deluxe Holiday Toolkit. Those who ordered the toolkit have already received the book.
If you already know you want it, you can get it right away by going to www.IndulgeWithoutBulge.com There are over $100 in bonus gifts being offered. When you get the deluxe toolkit, one of the bonuses is an instantly accessible online video of demonstrations of 9 of the recipes.
There are also some blog posts from last year and this, and some tips in my newsletter, www.drritamarie.com/newsletter
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, gluten free holiday, Healthy Holiday, holiday diet, holiday survival, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Gluten Free Diet, Living Foods, Raw Foods | 1 Comment »
Heart Felt Gratitude For all My Gifts
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 25, 2009 – -by
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
Thanksgiving is a special day for me. While I intend daily to express gratitude for all my gifts and to those who make my life so fulfilling and joyful, I sometimes fall short of my goal.
Thanksgiving day gives me the opportunity to reflect on all that I am grateful for. To me, the holiday is more about the connections than the food. My life has been rich and full, and the tough times as well as the wonderful times have contributed to making it so. For both I am grateful.
Here’s a partial list of what I’m grateful for:
* Waking up each day in a warm bed with a roof over my head. Many people don’t have the same experience.
* My daily green smoothie, which energizes and nourishes me more than anything I’ve ever done.
* That my 11 year old son, Kevin, still likes to cuddle with his Mommy.
* That my 15 year old son, Eric, is dedicated to justice and fairness and is willing to risk his own comfort to help his friends when he feels that they’ve been wronged.
* My husband Scott, who makes me my green smoothie most mornings and cleans the kitchen after me when I make his.
* The illness I experienced during my 20′s that spurred me to learn more about my health and become more healthy and energetic today than ever before. That experience has allowed me to impact the health of thousands of people over the years.
* The miscarriages that caused me to decide to adopt children and the women who birthed my beautiful boys. Had the outcome been different for me, Kevin and Eric would be experiencing lives much more difficult than anything they’ve ever experienced.
* Sunshine and warmth and the joy I get from both of them.
* Green foods, and the vibrant health they create in me.
* Learning about the powers of Heart Math, becoming certified and using it to transform my life and the lives of those who’ve learned it from me.
* My “team” that supports me in my life’s work: Jimmy for taking over the web support from me(he’s so much better than I), Tracey who keeps up with my email, sets up my new radio show “Creating a Vibrant Life”, keeps me up to date on facebook and twitter and countless other tasks, Scott who handles all things accounting, my newest helper, Aran who will be handling my blog and video posting, and all those who volunteer in exchange for learning.
* My sister Cathy, who’s death last summer from Lymphoma strengthened my commitment to spreading the message of health through nutrition and self care.
* My surviving 3 brothers and 4 sisters, who all thought I’d lost my mind 25 years ago when I rejected all the foods of my past and adopted the healthy lifestyle I now own. Several of them are now open to my message.
* My father who taught me when I was very young that I could do ANYTHING I set my mind to and was determined to do. I just wish he was still around to hug and thank in person.
* My mom, whose stubbornness and strong will I didn’t much appreciate until I realized how much like her I turned out to be. I’m sure she’s turning over in her grave and having a good laugh about that now.
* My Italian paternal grandmother who taught me to love to feed people.
* My Irish maternal grandmother who taught me about kindness and unconditional love.
* My maternal grandfather who taught me about gentleness and acceptance and whose influence caused me to marry a kind and gentle man
* My English teacher in 11th grade who encouraged me to express myself on paper.
* My cousin Marybeth who taught me how to be playful and have fun.
* My friends near and far who’ve supported me through many an idea that seemed far fetched and unreasonable.
* My vitamix blender.
* My affiliate team who’ve promoted my books and programs and helped me to spread the message of healthy lifestyle.
* My stubborn determination, unwillingness to take no for an answer and dedication to doing what’s right.
* You, for listening to my words and taking action towards a better life.
Thanks again. Have an amazing Thanksgiving.
Please post a comment below and share at least one thing you’re grateful for.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
P.S. On Thanksgiving, I’ll be making the cranberry orange relish, apricot pecan yams, mushroom gravy and pumpkin pie from my Thanksgiving Feast e-book. Post a comment below and let me know what you’re making
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, gluten free holiday, gratitude, healthy thanksgiving recipes, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, raw foods recipes, raw Thanksgiving recipes
Posted in Articles, Healthy Holiday, Raw Foods | 19 Comments »
Gluten-Free Snack Recipe: Sour Cream and Onion Daikon Curls
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 20, 2009 – -On Sunday I hosted a living foods potluck dinner. It was so much fun. I thought I’d share a recipe that was so good, it was gone before dinner even started. This recipe works well with macadamia nuts substituted for the cashews. I tried a variation with sweet potatoes and carrots when I ran out of daikon and it was delicious.
Daikon is a great choice this time of year because it’s such a powerful immune booster and mucous dissolver.
Sour Cream and Onion Daikon Curls
contributed by Gretchen Burk, Austin Texas
Equipment Needed: Dehydrator, Spiralizer or Vegetable Peeler and Blender
Ingredients
- 2-3 large daikon radishes
- 1 small or 1/2 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley
- 7-8 cloves garlic
- 1 whole green onions 4 inches of the greens from another green onion
- 3/4 cup cashews, soaked overnight and rinsed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Ume Plum Vinegar (Oshawa brand, available at most natural grocers)
- 3 1/2 tablesooons lemon juice
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon real salt or pink salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup water
Directions
- Put all ingredients except daikon and the extra green onion tops in blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Add extra water if needed.
- Pulse the extra green onion tops in to just break them up.
- Use the spiralizer on the ribbon setting to create long curls from the daikon.
- Add the onion sour “cream” mixture to the daikon to just coat. If you have extra, use it as a dip.
- Place the coated daikon on the mesh dehydrator trays and dehydrate for 12-24 hours to desired texture. They stay chewy.
Variation: use macadamia nuts instead of cashews. Substitute sweet potatoes or carrots for the daikon.
Gretchen Burk is a gifted healer and a whiz in the kitchen. I’ve personally sampled her body work sessions and her food, and I’m hooked. Gretchen’s practice as a healing arts professional includes Swedish, Sports and Deep Massage, Structural Bodywork, Shiatsu and energy healing, including Reiki and Jin Shin Jyutsu. Gretchen’s advanced body awareness and knowledge of anatomy & physiology significantly enhance her ability to help restore her clients’ health. I always feel great after a session with Gretchen. She can be reached at 512-971-4543
Tags: Gluten Free Diet, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods
Posted in Autoimmune, Cleansing Programs, Gluten Free Diet, Gluten Free recipes, Immune System Support, Raw Foods, Raw and Living Foods | No Comments »
Quick and Easy Healthy Lunch Suggestions: Raw Food on the Run
Written by Ritamarie Loscalzo on November 10, 2009 – -
It’s tough to get quick meals on the run when your goal is to eat healthfully.. in ways that improve your energy and keep your brain clear. If you live in or around Austin Texas, you’re in for a treat. On Friday, November 13, 2009, I’ll be hosting a class called “Lunch & Learn” . Join Dr. Ritamarie Losclazo and visiting certified raw foods chef and instructor Tonya Cole Lightfoot for a fun and delicious lunchtime.
We’ll teach you to make a delicious gourmet lunch using only fresh organic, gluten free, dairy free un-cooked plant foods. Then we’ll serve you the full course meal.
Register early and receive $10 off the already discounted tuition. Pay only $37 for a full course meal, a recipe 
guide, instruction and demonstration, and lots of tips and tricks for making meals in a hurry.
Register by Wednesday November 11 and you’ll also receive a free copy of Dr. Ritamarie’s e-book “Quick and easy Lunch and Dinner ideas for Healthy Meals on the Run”
I sure hope you cna join us for “Lunch & Learn”.
Love, Health and Joy,
Dr. Ritamarie
http://www.DrRitamarie.com
Tags: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, DrRitamarie, Gluten Free Diet, health, Healthy Holiday, Living Foods, livingfoods, raw and living foods holiday recipes, Raw Foods, raw foods diet, raw foods recipes, vegan foods, whole foods
Posted in Living Foods, Raw Foods, Raw Foods classes | No Comments »
