The Iron Nun

After a priest encouraged her to start running at age 48 to harmonize her body, mind, and soul, Sister Madonna Buder began running in races.  With her first marathon in her 50's, she became the oldest woman to compete in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon at age 75.  All told, she has competed in over 340 triathlons and more than 40 Ironmans.

In her own words, "If we want to do it, we can. The only failure is not to try, because putting forth the effort is success in itself."

Tour de Veg

American Cyclist David Zabriskie Competing in the Tour de France on a Vegan Diet  

 

"I think a lot of people see food in terms of whether it's going to make them fat or make them skinny," he says. "I'm seeing food in terms of how it's going to make me think and will it give me clarity."  (Full story) 

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