Another great snack idea!

Thanks to everyone who joined us at Earthfare last night for our first snacks class. During the class we whipped up some easy black bean brownies and sampled healthy popcorn.

Another easy snack option is applies in coconut oil. I discovered this tasty treat last year while experimenting with coconut oil. First I thinly slice an apple. Then I heat some coconut oil in a skillet. Once the oil is nice and hot, I lay the apple slices in the oil without stacking them. I let the apples "cook" for a few minutes. Once they become brown on the bottom, I flip them over and brown the other side. Saute for the crispiness you desire. I then take the apples out of the skillet and lay them on a few paper towels to absorb the extra oil. I will then sprinkle with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice. It's a wonderful snack for kids and adults in that it supples nutrients from the apple but also a good fat source from the coconut oil. Voila!

Healthy Snacks Event at Earthfare

We will be hosting another event tomorrow evening (Thursday, April 1st) at Earthfare entitled "Healthy Snacks". We will discuss the healthy snacks we eat and prepare for our families.

Also, you will be able to sample some of the snacks. We will prepare and bake one of the snacks during our presentation so you can see how easy it is to make. This event is kid friendly, so feel free to bring your family.

We will start at 6pm and end around 8pm. We hope to see you there!!

New date for Pantry Makeover

We have rescheduled the Pantry Makeover event at Earthfare to Thursday, March 4th, from 7pm to 9pm. We are very excited about this event and hope to see you there!

We will be discussing the top 5 things to eliminate from your diet and pantry, and what to replace those items with. Come join us!

Pantry Makeover Postponed Due to Weather

We regret that we have to postpone the Pantry Makeover at Earthfare but we want everybody to be safe during the snowy weather forecast for this evening. We are working with Earthfare to reschedule as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Our next scheduled event is April 1 at Earthfare where we will be talking about Healthy Kids' Snacks. More information to come. Stay tuned!

"Don't eat anything your great-great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food." - Michael Pollan

Amazing Almond Butter Blondies

Since starting a Gluten Free diet a little over a year ago, I have discovered many new foods, tricks, and combinations. These discoveries have opened my palate and senses to another realm of food possibilities! I love trying new recipes and tweaking some of my old recipes to incorporate GF ingredients. I tried a new recipe this morning that was out of this world! I can't take credit for the recipe as it came from Elana's Pantry. Her website has been an amazing resource for me as I have journeyed into GF land. Here is the link:

http://www.elanaspantry.com/almond-butter-blondies/

I only made one change to her recipe. I used Maple Syrup instead of the Agave. The blondies only contain six ingredients and are full of protein. Try it and let me know what you think!!

Pantry Makeover

We had our kick off gathering last night with a free viewing of Food, Inc. We met some wonderful people and are looking forward to our Pantry Makeover! Come join us as we discuss what top five things to change or makeover in your pantry and what to replace those items with.

Our next Gathering details:

What: PANTRY MAKEOVER
When: February 24th
Time: 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Where: Earthfare’s Community Room
10341 Moncreiffe Road

Raleigh, NC 27617

Check out Earthfare's website, http://www.earthfare.com/. Click on "My Health Journey" to see what their pantry makeover is all about. If you bring an item from your pantry that fits their requirements, they will give you a comparable item from their store for free! Don't forget to print your coupon from their website and bring your item to our Pantry Makeover on February 24th so you can exchange it.


“Our mission is to passionately pursue health and healing through traditional means of food preparation and eating nutrient dense foods...put simply, getting back to the basics. We welcome you to sojourn with us!”

Winter Gardening

Although it's cold, windy and dreary outside, I had the pleasure of picking vegetables from my outdoor winter garden today. Here's some of the Russian Winter Kale that I grow in containers in my back day. Even through the snow and cold temperatures, my greens have survived the winter so far. Winter gardening is something you can learn too! Stay tuned.

Back to the Basics

Welcome again to Nourishing Practices!

Well, it is near the end of January and a lot of those New Year's resolutions we promised to conquer in 2010 have disappeared off the radar. Change is never easy and it often requires not only our time and talents, but the cooperation and guidance of other people as well.

For instance, I was talking with a friend today who desires to learn more about making healthy food choices and nourishing practices. She is starting to make positive changes in her life. As she shared with me today about her progress, she sighed, "It feels so overwhelming...to make so many changes at once." As I pondered where she currently is, I, too, have been there. It is overwhelming to make so many comprehensive changes. To stop eating fast food and stop drinking soft drinks and start exercising and start recycling...the list goes on and on. Not to menion, working full time and trying to keep your head above water.

However, real and lasting change can be achieved and we are here to help you!! As Mark Twain said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." Are you ready to make small changes that over time evolve into a whole new way of living? If so, then we invite you to attend our gatherings where we will go "Back to the Basics". We hope to help you build a solid foundation for incorporating nutrient dense foods into your kitchens, menus, and bodies. We desire to foster an atmosphere of community and sharing with each other.

We are excited to annouce our first "Back to the Basics" gathering. Here are the details:

When: Wednesday, February 10th, 6pm to 9pm

Where: American Institute of Healthcare and Fitness (AIHF)
8300 Health Park, Raleigh, NC 27615
http://www.aihf.net/raleigh.aspx (for directions to AIHF)

Room: American Cancer Society Conference Center

What: We will watch the movie 'Food, Inc', (http://www.foodincmovie.com/) share some of our journeys and end with our vision for "Back to the Basics"

After our initial gathering, we will begin the series "Back to the Basics". Our first event will be a Pantry Makeover. The date for this event is TBA and the event site will be Earth Fare in Raleigh. Stay tuned to the blog for more specifics to be posted about the Pantry Makeover and other gatherings!!

Hope to see you on February 10th!

Welcome!

Welcome to Nourishing Practices! Our purpose is to educate, inspire, and empower individuals reclaim healthy food choices. We have discovered that common obstacles include lack of time, money and knowledge. These obstacles are often paired with fear and intimidation. Our desire is to help you gain the confidence and skills needed to make positive food choices.

We have all heard that "it takes a village...", "no one is an island", and "the kitchen is the heart of the home". That is why we want to come along beside you and partner with you. Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Truly, in the end, it is up to us. Change is never easy, but as we have discovered in our own lives, small changes over time will get you where you want to be. The choice is up to you. We can all make a difference in our lives and the lives of those we love. What do you want to do with that power for making change?

Our hope is to have both educational and practical gatherings where we not only provide information to you, but also share and brainstorm as a community. We are not experts in food preparation, chefs, or master gardeners. But our desire for better health and better quality lives has led us down this path. We are sharing what we have learned in our own health journeys and experiences. We hope to provide resources that have proved beneficial to us.

We have also found that as Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see." That's why we are doing this. We are Jennifer Greenfield and Lizzie Branch. Two like minded individuals and friends who have a passion for food and seeing people make positive food choices. Jennifer is a Chiropractic Physician who has learned first hand from her own experience as well as from her patients how challenging making impactful life changes can be. Through trial and error, she has learned what works and what doesn't. Plus, it's a big adventure and a lot of fun! Lizzie is a Life Coach who partners with clients seeking to bridge the gap between where they are in life and where they really want to be. She is passionate about people and food. Her ideal playground is in the kitchen with her family and friends. By the way, we are both looking for kitchen fairies who wash dishes!!!

We desire not to only leave a legacy for those who come after us, but to live that legacy today. Our mission is to passionately pursue health and healing through traditional means of food preparation and eating nutrient dense foods …put simply, getting back to the basics. We welcome you to sojourn with us!

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.