Confessions of a Junk Foodie

So, I have a confession to make.  Though I own a health food company, I LOVE junk food like pizza and burgers.  But let’s face it…after seeing how they treat those poor cows and seeing pink slime all over Facebook, I can’t bring myself to eat what's out there in the way of junk food.  (I mean, it’s called JUNK food for a reason…as far as I’m concerned, we can drop the ‘food’ part of it and just call it junk.) 


In the spirit of summer and for all you fellow junk foodies out there, I've included two healthy, delicious recipes ~ Socca Pizza and Chickpea Burgers.  Both are under 500 calories and naturally gluten-free.  

Socca Pizza

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup garbanzo bean flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 cup water

4 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tsp minced fresh basil (or 1/2 tsp dried basil)

1 tsp fresh rosemary (or 1/4 tsp dried rosemary)

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 

2. Combine flour, salt, and pepper into bowl and gradually whisk in water to create a smooth batter. Then, stir in 2 tbsp olive oil and herbs.

3. In a 10-12 inch cast iron skillet, swirl 2 tbsp olive oil.  Then, pour batter and place in oven.

4. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until center is firm.

While crust is baking, prepare pizza toppings.

Pizza Ingredients:

1/2 - 15 oz can Muir Glen pizza sauce 

8 oz (1 pkg) Daiya Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

2 cups kale

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 diced medium onion

After crust has baked and center is firm, pour half can of of pizza sauce over crust and brush evenly.  Next, add vegetables (or substitute for your favorites).  Finally, top with Daiya Mozarella cheese.  Bake for another 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Chickpea Burgers

Ingredients:

1 cup garbanzo bean flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp parsley flakes

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp garlic granules

1/4 tsp onion powder

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup hot water

2 tbsp olive oil

1. Combine all dry ingredients and blend thoroughly..  Add in lemon juice and hot water, then stir until combined.  

2. In frying pan, heat olive oil over medium. Then add batter (approximately 1/3 - 1/4 cup each) to make 4 patties. 

3. Fry on both sides until golden brown.

Serve with organic BBQ sauce on a bun or in a pita pocket.

The Introvert's Guide to Accountability

So, summer is officially here.  Is your (spiked) lemonade glass half empty or half full?  Are you thinking, "Hurray, summer fun, relaxation, longer days, and travel!" OR "Oh crap, it's swim suit season!"  Whether it's personal or professional, I can tell you that the key to health/weight/feel good success is accountability.  The gurus out there have great tips for creating accountability, but what about those of us that are a little more private?  If you at all read these weekly emails, you know that I'm not a classically defined introvert, but I also don't need all 297 of my Facebook friends to know how much I weigh or what I ate for breakfast just for the sake of accountability.  Nor do I feel comfortable or make time for meetings, support groups, or online community forums.  

So, here it is ~ quick and easy, down and dirty:  The Introvert's Guide to Accountability

 Take 5 minutes every night to track these 5 Daily Metrics:

1. How did I feel today?  (Rate 1-10):  This means physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, everything.  Take an average of the entire day, with 1 feeling crappy, pathetic, and depressed and 10 being Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah ~ Ain't life Grand!  You may have other health goals here, like weight loss goals or medical goals but I'm telling you, the more 10 days you have, the closer you'll be to looking good and healing fast.  As you progress in your tracking, make it a priority to find out how to get 10's (or at least close to it) for yourself more days than not.  

2. How much sleep did I get in the last 24 hours?  (# in hours)  

3. How much did I move today?   (# in minutes)  Note:  This can be exercise or even chores.  Light cleaning like vacuuming, changing sheets, and taking out the trash burns 86 calories per hour.  (One hour of Zone Defense for two toddlers burns 106 calories...how ironic...the exact number present in a glass of Pinot Noir.)  

4.  How many greens did I get today?  (# in servings)  Tracking all of your food can be overwhelming, so just count your servings of greens.  (One serving is the size of the palm of your hand.)  Aim to get over 7 each day.

5.  How much water did I drink today?  (# of ounces)  Optimal amount = your weight divided in half equals the number of ounces.  

So, here it is, my privacy preferring people.  It may not seem like much, but I promise you in 30 days, you will see results.  As we say, Conveniently Natural was born out of the idea that life, especially a healthy life, just doesn't have to be that hard.  

Joe Knows Healthy Food

We're back with our Kitchen-renowned Butternut Squash Enchiladas, All Star Healthy Joes, and Family Fav Polenta Pizza next week (shovels optional).  And, YES, we will be delivering on Monday!  We'll be rockin' out this weekend in the kitchen to help you get back on track after the Memorial Holiday weekend.


Do you have picky eaters at home?  Don't be a short order cook!  To satisfy everyone and get a little more variety, try our Healthy Joes ~ 3 Ways!  


1.  Mediterranean Joe Sandwich:  grab a bun, scoop out some Joe, and sprinkle a bit of feta cheese on top.  For a great home-made vegan feta (ready in 5 minutes), try this one:


Ingredients:  
1 pkg Central Soy Garlic Herb Tofu
2 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp vegan parmesan cheese (optional)
1/2 tsp nutritional yeast (optional)


Super Simple Steps:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Crumble tofu with your hands and mix in additional ingredients.
3. Bake for 5-7 minutes, tossing once to avoid crispiness

2.  Taco Joes:  fill a row of corn tortillas with our Healthy Joes, then add lettuce, tomatoes, Daiya cheddar cheese, and optional guac.


3.  Healthy Joe Salad:  on a bed of crispy romaine, toss Healthy Joes in with your favorite salad dressing.  (Hey, Joe already has corn, carrots, tomatoes, and peppers - you're just getting extra credit if you want to add in your own veggies.)

Click here to order for next Monday!

We Quit...

That's right...exactly one year ago, we quit the corporate rat race and the nice warm security blanket of a steady paycheck.

After trading in dress shirts for organic cotton tee's and high heels for flip flops, we've been serving up delicious healthy meals and delivering RESULTS!  Here are just a few of the things YOU have said about us this past year:

“Thank you Conveniently Natural.  We love the food. My wife has had acid reflex problems for years and has taken medication for it which is very expensive. She hasn't had to take any medicine for the last 3 weeks [since ordering your food].  We appreciate how affordable your food is and I also definitely feel the benefit of eating this food.”

David A., Blue Springs, MO

“I love the food and service that your company provides.  Once the school year starts, I will be working full-time and going to school full-time, three nights per week.  There is no way I could create the delicious meals I now enjoy and be successful in the rest of my life too. . .It is just such a treat for me, that after a long day at the office, I can come home and have dinner ready in 5-10 minutes with no messy kitchen to clean up afterwards.  It makes me feel super-spoiled, almost like I’m eating out every night, but without the expense of dining out.  Thanks for making my life easier and healthier.”

Mae O., Kansas City, MO

"It is as if you guys read my mind - to have delicious organic prepared food delivered to my home  - in suburbia Kansas no less - wow!  This must be what it feels like to be Oprah!  Thanks so much."

Shelley H., Olathe, KS

"I'm munching down on some yummy BBQ and Buttery Mashed Cauliflower for lunch.  How lovely to have life delivered!"

Diane G., Lawrence, KS

We can't tell you just how much good clean fun we've had this year!  Thanks to everyone who completed our survey.  As a result, we will be making some improvements in the upcoming year, including:

• New menu items with more local, seasonal ingredients and variety in taste
• Raw food add-on's
• Less email newsletters:  We know you're busy and don't want to clog up your inbox!  Our emails will go out on Fridays, however, we will be adding more features to our blog to include:  
• Whole health advice from local practitioners
• Quick, easy tips and recipes to make your healthy life even more convenient
• Suggested pairings and ways to makeover our meals
• Crazy Faux Asian stories (continued...)
• Conveniently Natural news and events

We raise our forks to you for your love and support!  Conveniently Natural served over 2000 people this year and we're just getting started.  Our plates runneth over...

A MUST for Mom's Survival Kit: Hello Kitty Sunglasses

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13.  You still have another week to purchase your gifts.  In addition to offering you a FREE e-book, Make Peace with Your Plate, with your purchase of a Conveniently Natural gift certificate, we wanted to throw out another idea:  Hello Kitty sunglasses.

Listen to this podcast, recorded back in November by local Beatnik Radio host, Derek Olson, to find out:

•  Why Brian left a corporate job with the "Fortune One" company
•  How an organic, plant-based diet can help you with your acid reflux and other digestive issues
•  Tips to starting a small business
•  Why Hello Kitty sunglasses are a crucial part of every mom's survival kit (gotta listen to the out take at the end for this one)

FREE FOOD ALERT!

*Contest rules are not valid as mentioned in the podcast.  But in honor of our moms, we will offer a FREE week's worth of meals equipped with a pair of Hello Kitty sunglasses for suggesting a new summer recipe on our Facebook page.  As we change seasons, you will start to see some new dishes and we want YOUR input!  For giving us a new recipe that we choose to incorporate into our menu, you will win a week's worth of meals for FREE ($102 value) plus the sunglasses ($Priceless).

Click here to listen

Salad Fit for a Quinoa

Queen-oh-ah…Queen-wee-wah…Kan-oh-a.

How in the grain do you pronounce this ingredient, you say?  Yes, we’ve heard you speak all of these iterations and we’ve used them all ourselves at one time or another.  So, we wanted to give you once and for all the most common pronunciation.  (We are not ones to say ‘the correct’ pronunciation, because we don’t really care how you pronounce it ~ we just want you to experience this delicious, nutritious grain-like seed.)

We know that some of our ingredients are awkward to say, and adopting a new way of eating can feel like learning a new language.   For me, this was reminiscent of marrying into the Army life.  The phonetic alphabet is actually pretty cool, but all those acronyms left me confused and on edge.  We’d leave a party and I’d ask Brian if I was privy to classified information about 9/11 or was I being invited to go grocery shopping on post? 

Keen-wah

So there it is.  Quinoa.  A grain-like seed that might as well have its own crown and action figure.  Per heaping handful, it offers 14 g of protein with a balanced set of essential amino acids (making it a complete protein) and is also high in fiber, magnesium, and iron.  Food fit for a Queen. 

We thought you might enjoy as we begin this early summer.  Fresh mint.  Lime juice.  Why, it’s practically a mojito in a bowl.

Ingredients:

1 c dry quinoa

1/4 c organic extra virgin olive oil

Juice from 2 limes

2-3 fresh mint sprigs, leaves removed and chopped

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Handful of cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 chopped scallions

1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced

1-2 cloves minced garlic

Step 1:  Cook the dry quinoa according to instructions (typically 2 - 2 1/2 cups of water per 1 cup quinoa).  We used our rice cooker.

Step 2:  Combine all ingredients with cooked quinoa in a bowl and toss lightly.

Step 3:  Cover and chill.

The Sharing of Food...

I don't know about your family, but with my large, Catholic, Italian family food is always the centerpiece of any family get together.  Whenever something has happened in the family either celebration or other (or anything for that matter), we always get together at someone's home for a meal.  Since my immediate family and I have gone down this journey of eating a plant based diet, it has made these get togethers a bit more intricate, but still wholesome and nourishing nonetheless.  I suppose I have been very blessed in my life, but I very much enjoy and look forward to family get togethers.  My family has always been very accepting and understanding.  There is just something about 'breaking bread' to celebrate or soothe with one another that is good for the soul.

Perhaps I am a bit of a romantic, but I think these get togethers are critical for the family unit as they allow people to establish and reinvigorate loving relationships.  Is the food just a by product of these meetings - I mean we all have to eat so the gathering is usually around meal time - OR - is the food and the sharing of food central to the get together itself?  I tend to think that the sharing of food with others is akin to sharing a part of us, especially when we have lovingly prepared or even purchased the food.  What could we share with each other that is closer than something that gets put into our bodies?  I tend to think that my wife and I are both outgoing and gregarious people.  The sharing of food with others is our excuse to visit with and really get to know someone else.  I find most people to be simply fascinating....

The other night my wife and I were out to dinner and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  After having a wonderful meal, it came time for dessert.  Now since my wife and I don't get out much (having a two daughters ages 4 and 2 at home keeps us pretty busy, plus we like to spend time with them), we will usually imbibe in dessert.  If you have been following us at all then you know that I am a BIG fan of chocolate.  I mean I really like chocolate.  Not just any chocolate mind you, but the pure dark chocolate, in fact, the darker the better.  The lovely bittersweet taste that just melts, anyway I digress.  SO, this particular restaurant had a flourless chocolate cake.  Now normally, I would jump at this dessert as this is pure decadence for me.  However, I was feeling different that night so we opted for a berry and apple dessert.  It just so happened that the two ladies sitting next to us had ordered the flourless chocolate cake.  Now, we had not spoken to them all night as my wife and I were very engaged in our own conversation.  However, as I stared over at her chocolate cake, we made eye contact.  I immediately said, "I'm sorry, I was just staring at your chocolate cake as I almost got that myself."  What happened next simply blew me away.  She cut her cake in half and offered it to my wife and I, saying, "Here have a bite."  I sat there and stared for a second and then immediately told her that absolutely not I couldn't take your cake away from you.  She insisted, but we refused just as adamantly.  We both went back to eating, but I continued to be astounded at this woman next to us.  A few minutes later as we were leaving, I went over to her and her friend and said, "You have made my night.  I would have never offered part of my cake to anyone else, let alone a perfect stranger.  Thank you sincerely."  She just smiled and said your welcome.

I left the restaurant both invigorated and yet full of questions.  With my faith in the human race restored, I began to examine my own life.  The sharing of food is really powerful and moving.  Perhaps we are at our highest and best when we are sharing?  While I am still not sure I can bring myself to share my chocolate cake, I know there are others out there who will and that makes me smile.  Thanks for reading.  Peace.