Beef cake

So my husband has started to go to the gym again. He has been lifting weights since he came out of the womb! Since we have had children there has been as much time to go and work out. After a hard work out and slinging heavy objects around he was tired and hungry. He said that he "needed" meat. I was curious about this "need". We train our bodies from a young age about what we "need". These "needs" become so ingrained in our lives that we don't think about them and accept them as normal patterns. I took the opportunity to educate my husband about meat and possible alternatives. Animal protein provides a full spectrum of amino acids. Amino acids help us to build muscle. It also contains heme iron. Heme iron is more readily absorbed by the body. Non-heme iron is found in dark leaf greens. Animal protein is also considered a higher grade of protein. Having said all of this, there is a dark side to animal protein. It takes a lot more work for the body to digest meat, which may make us feel tired and lethargic. In the book China Study, the most extensive study done around nutrition and its affects, the researchers found over 8000 correlations between diseases that we attribute to aging and eating animal proteins. Lastly, producing animal protein requires lots of resources that can contribute to environmental distress. Obviously ones decision to eat meat is a personal one, but we have learnt that we "need" meat and haven't questioned the reasoning behind it. I personally don't believe that we "need" meat. I instead look to plant based foods for my protein. Granted I have to eat more food and I like the idea of that! Quinoa has all of the amino acids that one needs and also provides quite a bit of protein. We don't need to eat all of the necessary amino acids in one meal. It is suggested that we eat them within the same day. Nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, sprouted seeds and beans, mushrooms and tofu all contain muscle building fuel. Eating these things can aid us in keeping up our energy levels, being kind to the environment and other animals, respecting our bodies and aid in general feeling of aliveness. So the next time you feel the "need" to eat meat think about what is behind that "need". I would invite you to think about other choices that maybe healthier for our bodies and the environment.

What Kate Ate 3/16/10

Orange
Oatmeal
Spaghetti with sauce
Celery and pita with hummus
Steamed bok choy and carrots with spicy tahini sauce

The case of the growing child

I went to the grocery store with my 2 and half year old daughter this weekend to pick up a few things. She promptly told me that she wanted blackberries. Delighted that she was making such healthy choices I picked some up. She also informed me that she wanted pizza! Why oh why does her school have to corrupt my sweet little girl into a junk food deposit?! They fed them the most nutrient deficient food you could imagine. If you have ever had a discussion with a small child about food you will know that it often involves lots of crying, yelling and persuading, on either side. I told her that yes she may have some pizza, but that broccoli would also be on the menu. We came to the frozen pizza isle and I asked her which one she wanted. She of course picked the most unhealthy one there was! I instead showed her one that was made from organic ingredients, had a multi-grain crust and lots of vegetables on it. She surprisingly said yes. As a parent I have learnt that you have to be willing to compromise and to teach your child how to make healthy choices about foods that we consider junk food. Even though she had pizza this weekend, I am happy to report that she was quite content when she shoveled down beetroot, quinoa, kale, salad, broccoli, berries, granola, and sardines on toast. I often let her pick what she is going to eat and if I deem it "unhealthy" I try to make it more mommy approved.

What Kate Ate 3/14/10

Banana
Ceral with rice milk
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with cucumber
Yogurt and berries
Cauliflower curry with brown rice

The Top Ten

I recently had to come up my top 10 foods for a school project. I thought I would share with you what my picks are and why I choose them.

Broccoli: Broccoli is a well rounded vegetable and contains many useful nutrients. Indole-3 carbinol helps to protect DNA and increases the amount of "good" estrogen you have. Sulforphane increases phase-2 enzymes, which fight carcinogens. You can eat the stalk, head and leaves. I can see you turning up nose, but it really is quite tasty! It is also one of the least contaminated foods.
Kale: Kale is part of the cabbage family. It dose the best job of all vegetables of fighting free radicals. Like broccoli it contains sulforphane. My mother tells me that kale is used to feed cattle and that she doesn't want to eat it. Well, call me a cow because I love it!
Kiwi: Kiwi is the most nutrient dense fruit. It has the highest level of vitamin C and lots of magnesium. They contain more potassium than bananas. Kiwi can help to prevent oxidative damage and help to repair damage that has occurred. Kiwi has the ability to thin blood as aspirin does but without the harmful side affects. It is also one of the least contaminated foods.
Quinoa: Quinoa is a grain like seed. It has all of the essential amino acids and is a great source of protein. It has a low glycemic index, so it is ideal for diabetics.
Pomegranate: Pomegranate contains lots of antioxidants called flavonoids. The flavonoid level in a pomegranate is higher than green tea and wine. They help to combat cancer and heart disease. Pomegranate may also prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized.
Sardines: I know, I know. Sardines are yucky! Have you actually tried one? If not, they are edible and are tasty when served on toast. They contain omega-3 fats that are vital for heart health among other things. Because they are small you can eat the bones. This provides one with 25 to 38 percent of your daily calcium. They also contain significant amounts of selenium and B12. When buying Sardines pick ones package in their own oil, olive oil, tomato sauce or mustard. When packed in vegetable oil you will be consuming omega-6 fats that can cause inflammation.
Walnuts: Walnuts have the highest level of omega-3 oils of all nuts. The omega-3 oils can help to lower triglycerides and help to support brain function. When picking walnuts, I suggest picking the ones with white flesh. Yellow flesh indicates that the oil has gone rancid.
Garlic: Garlic has been used through the ages as a medicinal agent. The greatest of its qualities is its ability to help lower cholesterol, fight off bacteria, parasites and viruses, reduce hypertension, and has antioxidant qualities. I also think that garlic tastes great and keeps vampires at bay!
Ginger: Ginger is also used a medicinal aid. It can help to soothe upset stomachs and nausea. Ginger contains antioxidants that have been shown to help soothe inflammation and inhibit cancer cells from growing. It is possible that ginger may cause the body to absorb other drugs at an increased rate and can act as a blood thinner.
Lentils: Lentils are high in fiber. This fiber can help to reduce cholesterol and control ones blood sugar levels. They are easy to cook and taste great.

What Kate Ate 3/10/10

Orange
Oatmeal with raisins and almonds
Beans on toast
Spaghetti with tomato sauce and a salad with yummy sunflower seeds and cranberries
I also had green tea, Chai tea and immune system support tea. I think I like tea!