Changes in Body, Mind and Soul

Sheel:
Ok. We all want to know the changes you've seen in your own little body. Educate us (not that I'm even thinking of giving up cow - just curious what's going on in there!!)

Tabitha:
If you saw cows literally standing in 2 feet of manure eating corn from a trough you may think twice about eating the meat of that animal, but no one sees that. It's easy to disconnect when you see a nice steak perfectly cut and wrapped in a clean tray. No one thinks about the animal or the mishandling of that meat during the processing. We think we need steak sauce, right? After researching and watching so many of these documentaries I have only had meat about 3 times in the past three weeks. That's counting the single bite of chicken sausage, one filet of fish and I had some bacon when we had breakfast with friends. I am so tempted to post these images on my blog, but I don't want to be too extreme...yet. I guess more than anything I don't want to support the treatment of these animals and I don't want my family to get sick from the diseases they carry. If you have to cook a chicken until it's cooked completely through so you don't get salmonella, I don't think it's a food choice worth eating. No one would eat raw chicken! So my thinking is why would I want to even eat it cooked?

I have seen a lot of body changes since the change in my diet. In January I was 126 lbs with 25% body fat, then went to 122 with 22% body fat and the last time I checked at the gym I was 118 lbs 19% body fat. I know I weigh 116 now. I haven't checked my BMI since the raw food thing so I want to check soon. I like seeing the physical changes, it's the most rewarding part. My belly is tighter and flatter so I think I have lost a little more body fat. For once in my life I would like to see real abs and they are starting to really come through. My skin is clearer and I definitely feel better. I was so tired in the afternoons that I was skipping the gym and just feeling blah. Now I feel so much lighter and have more energy. I feel happier about the food choices I am making too.

That's why I am doing the blog. I want to educate people on food and making better choices. I don't think people realize what they are eating. I don't want to convert or judge anyone for not being like me. I just want to give people some tools so they can be healthier. I feel like I am a spy letting the people know what they are hiding from us. Like if you have to go to Burger King, get the Whopper Jr. w/o Mayo for 260 calories and drink water. Don't get the Double Whopper with 960 calories. That's about half of my daily calories not even counting the fries and soda.

I am standing in line at Wendy's to get a salad and the 8 year old kid in front of me weighs 20 lbs more than me and it makes me angry and sad. He probably eats that crap all the time and it's killing him. I guess more than anything it hurts me to see children suffer and these mothers who consistently get fast food for their children. I couldn't believe how much sodium is listed in these children's meals at restaurants. I have been researching this stuff forever, I am just now talking about it publicly. My ultimate goal is to expose all this to my family and friends so they will expose their friends and family and on and on.

Hmm..looks like it's time for an article on sodium.

Change Our Food System

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Please visit:http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-issues.php to learn more about the issues. Gain control of your life, body and peace of mind.

Food, Inc. exposes America's industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers' rights. Learn about these issues and take action through the Hungry For Change cafeteria and check out the 10 Simple Tips for making positive changes in your eating habits. Learn more about these issues and how you can take action on Takepart.com.

Beets Cafe- Austin Texas

This past weekend we went to Beets Living Foods Cafe on 5th. I loved the interior atmosphere and the food was awesome! Even my friend who was a bit skeptical liked it. Here's a run down of what we ordered.

Grace:
CHA-LU-PAS - Crunchy corn tostadas layered with “sunflower beans”, topped with shreaded lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and olives, finished with a cashew sour cream drizzle, served with tex-mex cabbage or sprouted lentil salad . Loved it!


Lisa:
JUST-A-GOOD BURGER - A perfect balance of texture and flavor, made with carrot, sprouted sunflower seeds, celery, onion, parsley, flax, olive oil, crystal salt, and spices, served open-face, on crisp romaine with high-vibe sprouts, tomato slices, and a very secret, secret sauce! Served with veggie chips. This was my favorite!

Me and Mea:
E.L.T. - A delicious sprouted almond sunflower flatbread, spread with a creamy cashew dijonaise, layered with crispy spiced eggplant “bacon”, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and high-vibe sprouts, served with crispy veggie chips. This was great too and I normally am not too crazy about eggplant.

Then we all got "cheesecake" which was amazing. Mea got pineapple, Lisa and I got chocolate and Grace got lemon. Lemon was by far the best in my opinion. I have to find a recipe for this!

Visit their website and next time your in town give them a visit!

http://beetscafe.com/index.html



Check out these reviews from YELP.COM


Derek B. Brooklyn, NY - Swinging by via Brooklyn, we were told this raw foods restaurant was the place to eat at. Those recommendations proved true. While not a raw foodie myself, nearly half of my diet is raw, and so I try to check out this cuisine whenever I can as I travel. And this is perhaps the best living foods restaurant I've found so far, rivaling Cafe Gratitude in San Fran. The ELT was ridiculously good. The guacamole was sweet and perfectly seasoned. Sylvia's Favorite smoothie was delectable, and the desert - snicker doodle ice cream over a brownie - was one of the best non-dairy, no refined sugar desserts I've ever tasted. All around solid, and I'll be back whenever I'm in town.
Tracy B. Austin, TX - Who would have thought a completely raw, organic, vegan, gluten free meal would taste rich? I kid you not, I had the carrot ginger coconut soup and though at first the coolness put me off, this was a delightfully rich and satisfying cup of soup. I am tempted to get it to go and try warming it up just to see. The Asian salad I got on the side was enormous- and it was the small salad! The miso dressing was ethereal and I loved the perfectly chopped mix of kale, lettuce, cabbage, cilantro, daikon, sea vegetables (with no yucky seaweed aftertaste) and yummy sprouts. This lunch packed a punch and made me feel very happy and light and free and definitely satisfied my ravenous appetite. In short the living food made me happy to be living!!The service was kind and attentive and the space is bright and inviting. I can't wait to go back.

Marsha M. Austin, TX - Excellent raw food cafe...proof that food doesn't have to be cooked to be delicious! I don't agree at all with a previous posting about the prices. I've eaten at several other raw food cafes and the portions are usually quite small...not so here. The Asian Noodle Salad is da bomb - the flavors explode in your mouth, and the smaller size for $7.25 was very generous and filling. The Curried Carrot Soup is divine, and the Mock Tuna Salad, which my friend ordered, came with a killer spirulina dressing that I swear gave me a rush!