Raw Diva—Mary’s Thoughts

I was on jury duty for four days recently, my second time in 32 years.  The first time, the jurors were taken out to eat at restaurants each day and all sat together so they could keep an eye on us.  This time we were sent out to forage on our own.  Most of the other jurors bought lunch in the courthouse café.  But since I did not want to pay five dollars for a salad the size of a tea cup, I brought my own lunches.

I decided I wanted to keep it simple and not have to prep too much before I left the house or worry about spoilage before lunch time.  I also had to consider that forks and knives are not allowed past security, so finger foods were best.  Here is what I took—though, not all on the same day :

• Quart jars of green smoothies
• Head of pre-washed lettuce in plastic container with a jar of homemade salad dressing to dip the leaves into
• Jar raw pistachios
• Pint of grape tomatoes
• Big bunch of rinsed raw green beans
• Whole avocado (sliced in half in advance) to eat with a spoon
• Chopped asparagus, sliced mushrooms and chopped sundried tomatoes marinated in oil and vinegar (this took less than five minutes to toss into a container)
• Little jar of handmade raw cookies

Whether you get called for jury duty where you are trapped in the courthouse, need to attend business meetings where they usually serve donuts and pizza or are on a weekend road trip with only fast food restaurants along the way you do not need to sacrifice your tastes, dietary preferences or budget; just take along your favorite portable whole foods instead.  Other great options for “naturally wrapped” snacks are fruits like bananas, pears, oranges and apples…just eat them in the order of most likely to ripen quickest.  Raw corn on the cob is another of my favorites, just shuck and eat.

Happy Eating!
Mary
www.voiceofthevegan.com

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat illness. It is valuable to seek the guidance of an alternative health care professional before making any changes to one’s diet and lifestyle.

Making Resolutions for a New Year

Resolutions

We are about to embark on a New Year! I find it exciting and inspiring to have the opportunity to start out fresh, like a rosebud about to bloom. I am hopeful about all the opportunities that the next 365 days have to offer; opportunities to improve my mind, body and spirit.

Traditionally I have written down a few resolutions for the New Year; but I find that with some resolutions I never quite achieve the original plan. Sometimes I don’t get there because the goal is just too challenging or boring; other times it is just because as I evolve that goal becomes unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

My mom made a suggestion one year that helped me out a lot. She said that I should make some silly resolutions, like resolving to paint my toenails red. I had the most fun that year; I resolved to eat dessert, wear hats and laugh. That was a great year!

My mom is a contributor to one of this year’s resolutions again. As many of you know, I am an avid reader; mostly of non-fiction, as I have always had a thirst for new information. My mom, who works in a lovely re-sale book shop, sent me a dozen novels for my Christmas gift this year, so I am resolving to read one fictional book each month. Easy breezy!

My fitness resolution is to get back to my five days per week of morning exercise. I have been a little lazy the past couple of months, so I have been reading a bit about fitness to get myself re-inspired. I have dusted off my treadmill, rebounder and yoga mat and I am ready to go!

My dietary resolution…I always have one…is to continue to make the best choices from the foods I have available to me to keep me healthy, energetic and strong…as long as they taste good .

Happy Eating!

Mary

www.voiceofthevegan.com

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat illness. It is valuable to seek the guidance of an alternative health care professional before making any changes to one’s diet and lifestyle.