Foods High In Iron

     One of the dietary changes that comes along with Clean Eating is being much more mindful concerning not just of what you are eating, but also how you are eating. Where you are eating. What sparks you to be eating. When every bite counts - when every bite enhances your body, you begin to take pleasure in the act of nourishing your body. As your taste buds reset to the factory standard, you begin to appreciate the inherent sweetness in an apple, the umami in hummus and crackers - the simple yet nutritious protein of the edamame. Make eating purposeful, not mindless. Whenever you put food in your mouth, peel it, unwrap it, plate it, and sit. Engage all of the senses in the pleasure of nourishing your body.

This post first appeared on my blog about 6 months ago...and if you are new to Clean Eating or just starting to research it...this will make you stop and think the next time you want to put bacon up on an altar for worship. In a new study, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found that eating a daily serving of processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, or processed deli meats, was associated with a 42% higher risk of heart disease and a 19% higher risk of type 2 diabetes . In contrast, the researchers did not find any higher risk of heart disease or diabetes among individuals eating unprocessed red meat, such as from beef, pork, or lamb.  The processed meats contain four times the sodium and 50% more nitrates than their ( naturally occurring ) unprocessed counterparts. "This suggests that added salt and preservatives - rather than naturally occurring fats - may account for the risks." Harvard School of Public Health :

Recently, I wrote a product review for Sea Pak Salmon Burgers  where I discussed that they are a pretty decent alternate for beef or turkey burgers. When seasoning is added, they are tasty. However - it has recently come to my attention that Sea Pak Salmon Burgers are sourced from salmon raised and packaged in China. I immediately went to my freezer and examined the box I have. Yep - lower left hand corner. Product of China. Seafood imported from overseas is not as tightly regulated as that raised or fished here in the United States. I don't eat foods grown / manufactured and packaged in 2 specific countries : India and China. Both countries have abysmal safety and cleanliness standards. Both countries hardly regulate what is put in the food supply, and less than honest farmers try to get away with whatever they can. Both countries have poor track records for keeping exported food healthy and safe. To be blunt, you just don't know what is in their food. I cannot, in good consci

At my house, Saturdays are typically known as "Seafood Saturday" - we will cook a variety of seafood to share, family style. Last night was no exception. My husband cooked Dungeoness crab, shrimp, a small bowl of mussels, and some salmon. I bought the seafood earlier in the day from our fishmonger - who mentioned something in passing I had known but never contemplated fully: "You want to buy the wild caught salmon rather than the farm raised salmon."  This led me to start contemplating wild versus farm raised salmon, and I was mentally urged to go and seek out information. I found this article over at  fyiliving.com , and it bears a repost. Salmon: The Safe Healthy Salmon Shopping Guide Salmon has emerged as one of the “super-foods” encouraged by health professionals as a highly nutrient-rich food. But while there are many benefits associated with it, there are also many important facts to know about the salmon that shows up on your dinner plate. Health Benefit

This week, there are several good printable coupons for Clean Eaters at both Mambo Sprouts and Coupons.com. Eating clean and organic can be a challenge if you are on a tight budget, so take advantage of savings where you can. Also, don't forget that saving on your other grocery items ( paper and cleaning products, non food items, etc ) frees up money to be spent elsewhere...so using coupons in order to eat Clean actually works! Mambo Sprouts Printable Coupons Some good coupons... .50 / 1 Celestial Seasonings tea $1.50 / 1 Rice Select products ( Excellent rice and grain products; good coupon! ) .55 / 1 Frontera Foods product ( any ) $1 / 2 Helios kefir $1 / 1 McCann's Irish Oatmeal ( steel cut ) Coupons.com Printable Coupons $1 / 1 Olivia's Organic salads .50 / 1 Diamond Sea Salt $1 / 1 McCann's Irish Oatmeal ( if you print the Mambo Sprouts coupon, you can print this one as well! ) $1 / 1 Folger's Coffee many cleaning products as well ** Coupons.com tip : see the zi

   Welcome, new readers to Clean Eating Eve! Over then next week or so, I'm going to be bumping some older posts that will help you as you begin to eat a cleaner, more healthy diet. This post, from November of last year, discusses the CE direction on eating more than the 3 square meals a day. Eating snacks ( healthy ones! ) is important when eating cleanly! Following a Clean Eating path, you are naturally cutting your caloric intake just by the guidelines you are following. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats - all are lower calorie than man made, processed foods. If you are CE for weight loss, it's a great thing. You are automatically doing the "Eat better" and "Eat less" of the old "Eat better / Eat less / Move more" weight loss adage. If you are already slim or CE for purely nutritional reasons, eating more of what is better for you becomes important as keeping weight becomes a necessity.      Regardless of your path, eating 4-6 smaller meals per day

     Yesterday in conversation, someone asked me the difference between Clean Eating and "The Paleo Diet"   ( wherein you mimic the eating habits of our earliest ancestors who yes, did not eat Pop*Tarts )  I think its an important distinction, and one worth investigating. Clean Eating: The removal of all processed foods from your diet. If it grew on a bush or tree, or walked/swam the Earth - you can eat it. Clean Eaters do not drink alcohol, and use things like salt and food preservatives very sparingly if at all. Water consumption and 5-6 meals a day are promoted. Many Clean Eaters adhere to a "if it has a barcode, I'm suspicious of it" feeling on food.. Clean Eating Food Pyramid ( Thanks again, Tiffany ! ) Paleo Diet: Eating those foods that were only accessible to our most primitive ancestors - meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries. No alcohol, salt, oils, beans, or grains. Foods that were only developed in the last 1,000 years ( dairy products, for

 Another mild, firm, white fish - sea bass is an excellent choice for Clean Eaters. Sea Bass is ( generally ) affordable, and is readily available all year round and nation wide. It readily accepts most ingredients you pair it with, and is easily cooked by even novice chefs. This dish has the sweet tang of the mango playing well with black beans ( I love black beans... ) to make a sweet/savory salsa.    Roasted Sea Bass With Mango and Black Bean Salsa Ingredients: 1 pound sea bass (or other white fish) 1 teaspoon oil salt and pepper to taste Directions: 1. Lightly oil you broiler pan to prevent the fish from sticking. 2. Season the sea bass with the salt and pepper. 3. Bake the sea bass in a preheated 450F oven until cooked (no longer opaque), about 10-15 minutes depending on how thick the sea bass is. Mango and Black Bean Salsa Ingredients: 4 small mangos (peeled, stoned and cut into bite sized pieces) 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained) 2 jalapeño peppers (chopped) 2 green onio

     Safeway introduced their "house brand" of Greek yogurt recently to little fanfare. It just showed up in the grocery store - and was significantly cheaper than the other "pricier" brands: Oikos, Chobani, etc. I looked at the ingredients: Border food! Added starches, and definitely more ingredients than the other brands. However, the price was right.( This was ignored warning sign #1... ) Fat free, though - not bad...I chose a few of the honey flavor kind, as they had no vanilla ( which is what I prefer )...( Warning sign #2... ) They were on sale - special promo price of .89 each, and if I bought 3, I had a coupon to get 1 free. I bought 4 ( of a yogurt I had never tried before...warning sign #3 ) Here is what the packaging looks like ( this one is plain ): I brought said yogurt to work with me yesterday, and at my appointed breakfast time, peeled back the lid. Peeled it back to find a very unappetizing yogurt in front of me. Thin - almost watery. I stirred it,

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." — William Shakespeare ( All's Well That Ends Well )

I Stumbled across this very good "portion distortion" quiz over at NHLBI's website: Portion Distortion - Then and Now .  A bagel 20 years ago was 3 inches in diameter and had 140 calories. How many calories do you think are in today's bagel? a) 350 b) 250 c) 150 A cheeseburger 20 years ago had 333 calories. How many calories do you think are in today's cheeseburger? a) 590 b) 620 c) 700 Head over to the Portion Distortion Quiz and check it out. I found it an interesting visual reminder that portions are much, much larger today than they have ever been.

     After a discussion with my friend about stockpiling a recent clearance find on batteries, it was suggested to me that a discussion of Clean Eating and TEOTWAWKI ( The End Of The World As We Know It, or having some sort of disaster preparation plan ) might be of use to my readers. Now, I don't stockpile because I live in fear of some sort of Armageddon scenario ( though I live just outside Washington DC... ) I stockpile because as an active couponer, I weekly get deals on free or nearly free product that I will buy in bulk in order to have a fully stocked pantry. As a side benefit, I am prepared for natural disasters, or anything else the Goblins of the world may dish out. Some of my readers may know I am also a Moderator over at WeUseCoupons.com. Here's a link to a recent article I wrote ( Yes, I am Mavourneen ) on couponing for healthier, less processed foods : Couponing for Healthier Choices: More Fresh, Less Processed Foods. I use coupons to lower my total grocery bill

I've written several times about using Sundays as a "Clean Eating Prep Day" so I start the week off on the right foot CE wise. I prep the groceries I've bought, portion things out in containers and bags so I can "grab and go"...but one thing I've not really mentioned is something I prep on Sundays that has become somewhat of a staple for me; a CE dish I can adjust to suit my mood flavoring wise, a dish that uses up small amounts of frozen veggies from the freezer, or can be frozen and reheated at a moment's notice. It doesn't have a name. I call it my "ground beef dish" and the ingredients are fluid. Browned organic ground beef Mixed vegetables ( usually odds and ends from the freezer; or whatever floats my boat at the time ) Various seasonings and spices. That is it.  This week's fry pan contained  1.5 lb ground beef, diced onion, diced green pepper, and a medley of broccoli, corn, and red peppers. I added some extra organic brocc

Go HERE to register with Horizon Milk. You'll access a .55 / 1 coupon for Horizon organic milk. I don't buy a lot of milk a week; organic milk can be quite pricey. If you ask to be included in future promotions, they will also occasionally email you coupons for milk, too.

"Why does orange juice taste so good with oatmeal? And what is it about olive oil that enhances the flavor of tomatoes? The answers to these questions, it turns out, are buried deep within our instincts. New evidence suggests that certain foods that taste great together also interact with one another in nutritionally positive ways. In other words, two particular foods consumed in combination can actually deliver more benefits than either one would on its own. Epidemiologist David R. Jacobs refers to this phenomenon as “food synergy.” He believes that it might explain why we are inherently crave certain foods together, as well as how they join forces to protect and nourish our bodies. Here are 10 food combos that maximize absorption of the good elements while keeping the bad ones out of your system." 1. Spinach & Beets Popeye has been selling us on the power of spinach for 80 years, but he should skip the canned variety a

           My husband and son are very supportive of my Clean Eating - but they themselves do not follow a Clean diet...yet. My husband has recently munched cookies and bologna sandwiches at night; my son scrounges for ice cream after dinner. Since starting Clean Eating, my grocery habits have changed dramatically. I buy a significant amount of fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat...and very few processed foods. I still buy them their snackie foods, but a subtle shift has taken hold in my house...much to my quiet pleasure.      At dinner, my normally fish fussy husband is trying the fish I cook for myself. He's eating more vegetables and salads - fewer starches and far fewer evening chips and other assorted junk food. Slowly but surely, I'm bringing home less and less snacks for them. My husband, who has always loudly complained "Fish have sex in that!" when contemplating a glass of water has surprised me more than once by having a glass of ice water in his hand. He was

Barramundi is another name for a species of Seabass found mainly around Australia. Barramundi has a mild buttery flavor and a dense meaty texture (think snapper crossed with halibut). It’s not a ‘fishy fish’ so folks that prefer mild tasting seafood love it. It’s a great alternative to everyday fish like cod, salmon and tilapia. Don’t let the exotic name fool you – barramundi is a snap to cook.  Bake it with some bread crumbs, sauté with a little lemon butter, or marinate it with some olive oil, herbs and fresh squeezed lemon and toss it on the grill.  Barramundi has omega-3 levels that rival to wild Coho Salmon, which is unheard of for a mild white fish! With just 137 calories and only 2.5 grams of 'good fat' per portion, it has half the calories of salmon and is ideal for anyone looking to make healthy food choices. Lemon & Mustard Barramundi with Corn & Potato Hash Barramundi: 1/3 cup of lemon juice 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard 1/4 cup of extra virgin o

Yes, yes - the best pasta sauce is one you make at home. I understand this. My schedule, however, refuses to comply. What's a CE girl to do? What is the best Clean Eating pasta sauce? Since I don't eat pasta right now - the point is a little moot...but I do like a tomato sauce on the turkey meatballs I make, and I enjoy it on things like meatloaf. I've been keeping my eyes peeled, and these brands are the Cleanest of the national brands. My standards were straightforward to make this list: no added sugar, no starches, fillers, weird chemicals and preservatives I can't pronounce, and they have to taste good. Simple, no? 1. Francesco Rinaldi "To Be Healthy" Pasta Sauce Ingredients in the tomato & basil flavor? Tomato puree, diced tomatoes, carrot puree, soybean oil, salt, extra virgin olive oil, diced onion, DHA algal oil, spices, basil, and dried garlic. Pretty Clean! The taste is fresh and light - I also like the spicy marinara if you like your sauce on th

1. Apples 1st Choice (Natural State): Apple 2nd Choice (Somewhat Processed): Applesauce Limit (Highly Processed): Apple toaster pastry Shopping Tip: While applesauce is a healthy choice, it has fewer nutrients than a whole apple - and generally added preservatives 2. Oranges 1st Choice (Natural State): Orange 2nd Choice (Somewhat Processed): 100% orange juice Limit (Highly Processed): Orange drink Shopping Tip: Many fruit drinks contain high fructose corn syrup and little real juice. 3. Strawberries 1st Choice (Natural State): Fresh strawberries 2nd Choice (Somewhat Processed): Strawberry preserves ( a lot of sugars! ) Limit (Highly Processed): Strawberry gelatin dessert Shopping Tip: Gelatin desserts usually contain artificial strawberry flavor, not real fruit. 4. Peaches 1st Choice (Natural State): Peach 2nd Choice (Somewhat Processed): Canned peaches in 100% juice Limit (Highly Processed): Canned peaches in heavy syrup Shopping Tip: Fruit canned in heavy syrup has

 Coumadin (01 Mg) [Extracted from the website of www.drugs.com] Warfarin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Warfarin reduces the formation of blood clots by blocking the formation of certain clotting factors. Warfarin is used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots in veins and arteries. Warfarin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Warfarin Tablet (01 Mg) Important information about warfarin Warfarin can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use warfarin if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Never take a double dose of this medication or take it together with other products that contain warfarin or coumarin. You should not take warfarin if you have a bleeding or blood cell disorder, blood in your urine or stools, an infection of the lining of your heart, stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, recent or upcoming surgery, or if you need a spinal tap or spinal anesthesia (epidural). Warfarin may cause y

The news is often filled with the depressing fact that American people are obese and unhealthy. Things have gotten worse year after year. Current national health is compared to the health of people from 50, 100, 200 years ago. Our health has declined. So what is the reason? What is the culprit? Why are we now, as a whole, dangerously unhealthy? What is it now that is different from then that is affecting us so negatively?   There isn't one answer. It likely is a more sedentary lifestyle. Perhaps less 'farm work' and more 'desk work'. It could be the relative abundance and the availability of lots of food. More likely, in my opinion, it is the quality of food that you choose to eat. And how far away what you put in your mouth is from what grows out of the ground. Take a look at what you might purchase, what you can pull out of your pantry. Read the label on a box of frozen something. Or a can of something. Start at the top. The first ingredient in your can of peas is

Here is part 2 of the Tosca Reno radio interview.  More interesting perspective, more thoughts and guidance on Clean Eating. This part is only 3 minutes long.

[An article found in the website of http://www.dilseindia.org. Yet brief and precise, I hope the information attached below, is good to clear anyone's doubts] Heart failure   is a condition in which the heart has lost the ability to pump enough blood to the body's tissues. With too little blood being delivered, the organs and other tissues do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly. In some cases, the heart can’t fill with enough blood. In other cases, the heart can’t pump blood to the rest of the body with enough force. Some people have both problems. Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometimes develop suddenly. The condition may affect the right side, the left side, or both sides of the heart. Right-sided heart failure means the right ventricle of the heart loses its pumping function. Left-sided heart failure means the heart's ability to pump blood forward from

If you are just getting into Clean Eating, Tosca Reno is for many people the "spokeswoman" of the CE movement in the US. She turned her life and health around through Clean Eating - and with husband Robert Kennedy ( publisher of several fitness magazines, including Oxygen and Men's Fitness ) is a tireless champion of Clean Eating. This part of the interview ( taped for a radio show ) is over 7 minutes long - so if you don't have the time now, come back later to watch it. She's interesting, and her talking points both motivational and inspiring.

Since beginning my CE journey, I've made significant changes to my dietary intake. Now, most of the food I consume is clean, having not been processed at all - or minimally processed. One thing I do miss, however - is French Vanilla flavored creamer in my coffee. I miss it. A lot. I've made do with organic milk, cheerfully...but something has been not quite right. I enjoy several cups of coffee in the morning, and it just isn't the same. Non-dairy creamer is a dietary nightmare, and I'm glad to be rid of it. It's essentially sweetened trans fat - gross. However, there's a new product on the market that I would consider a Border / Eh not too bad food. La Creme real dairy creamer is new on grocery store shelves. Ingredients in the French Vanilla flavor? Milk, cream, sucrose ( sugar ) and less than 1% of the following - water, natural french vanilla flavor, disodium phosphate ( keep the product from separating ) , sodium citrate ( a "sour" agent; must be

I think I like the look of this clean recipe mainly because of its use of perlina mozzarella. These will add a creaminess to the sauce once they soften from the heat of the sauce...and the dish is visually very pretty. Original recipe isn't the Cleanest, so I've tidied it up a bit. Tomato Basil Shells with Turkey Meatballs  1/2  lb shell-shaped organic whole wheat pasta Homemade tomato sauce or if you allow yourself, 1  14.5-oz can Muir Glen Diced Tomatoes with Basil and Garlic ( note Muir Glen is an organic sauce, but it does have some "extra" ingredients. ) 1/2  cup fresh basil, chopped 1/2  cup Perline organic mozzarella (pearl size) - Note: If you can't find perline, use regular organic block mozzarella cut into small pieces.  12  precooked turkey meatballs, heated and halved - Note: Not the kind in the frozen food section. Those are incredibly unclean. Please make your own! sea salt and ground pepper crushed red pepper 1. Cook pasta accordi

[There is an interesting article in 'www.medicinenet.com' which I think many readers should be aware of. I have extracted it and posted below for your reading pleasure. Many are still confused by what blood clots are all about, how they actually happened and what are the dangers should they block our blood arteries or veins] ************************************ Blood is a liquid that flows within blood vessels. It is constantly in motion as the heart pumps blood through arteries to the different organs and cells of the body. The blood is returned back to the heart by the veins. Veins are squeezed when muscles in the body contract and push the blood back to the heart. Blood clotting is an important mechanism to help the body repair injured blood vessels. Blood consists of: red blood cells containing hemoglobin that carry oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide (the waste product of metabolism), white blood cells that fight infection, platelets that are part of the cl