GalaLiving

Nourishing Recipes and Wellness Guides for your Mind, Body and Soul

The Perfect Food Cleanse

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Purple fruit and vegetables

I’m really excited to share with you, The Perfect Food Cleanse. This cleanse consists of only foods straight from nature, in their most natural form, and which you can literally eat for the rest of your life because they contain every single nutrient (more about this later) you need to live your most vibrant life. And let me tell you, this is a much better alternate to the juice cleanse that has become popular as of late.

You’re about to find out how to cleanse the most simple and natural way. So, if you’re ready to jump into real and permanent weight loss, sustainable energy, clear glowing skin, and freedom from any weight loss fads… if you want a way of eating that will initially make you shed pounds fast, will keep you slim for your lifetime, and is so healthy you can really stick to eating this way for the long term, let’s get right to it!…

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The Skinny On Juice Cleansing and Weight Loss

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Cold-Pressed-JuicesI know many of you have been asking me to do this post! It’s one of my favorite topics to cover and I know you have lots of questions about it. But before you make any assumptions, a word of caution, because I’m probably not going to say exactly what you might be expecting to hear, but let’s jump right to it!… 

We’ve all heard of the new detox diet, the ultimate way to shed pounds quickly without compromising our health, avoiding unhealthy eating habits, and even dangerous, pills and diet drinks (like fen-phen, slim fast, low carb, high protein and the like), while at the same time obtaining squeaky clean insides, beautiful skin and a lean physique all by drinking 3 to 6 massive glasses for cold-pressed juices a day and nothing else. 

Well, I know many of you have or want to try it, and why shouldn’t you? Juice cleanses promise fast results, shedding up to a pound a day. And do they work? Yes, you can most definitely lose up to 7 pounds in a week on the cleanse. I have done it, and almost everyone else who has will attest to it as well. 

But, what if I told you that cold-pressed juicing might not be the best way to do a cleanse and reset the body…. Okay, yes, that’s is what I’m telling you. So, if your only goal is to lose weight, by all means go ahead, but for those of us who want to both lose weight and keep it off, eventually moving into healthier eating patterns, I’ll let you in on a little secret… there is a better way, a much better way to do it……

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The Biggest Mistake We Make When Trying to Lose Weight

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Woman with doughnutI’ve spent several years now studying nutrition and, if there is one thing I have learned, it is this: You can live on processed, low-calorie, low-fat foods and diet sodas for a little while but eventually your body will be so toxic that you’ll find it hard to keep your energy up and the weight off. I’ve seen this time and time again; people who have tried every single diet out there, yet they can’t maintain a slim physique. They cut the carbs, count every calorie, ban desserts, use artificial sugar in everything, and spend their lives writing down every food they have consumed. This type of dieting is simply a complete waste of time. Sure, you might lose a belt or dress size or two but eventually, because you body is so out of balance, you will regain it all back.

Why? You ask. It’s really quite simple. Nature did not intend for us to eat this way. Our bodies are not designed to eat this food. Processed, chemical-laden foods have only existed in modern society. Man made food-like substances top the category for largest number of foods on grocery store shelves, and all of it, it’s not only stripping us of our health and beauty it’s slowly blowing us up as well.

When you eat these types of foods your body treats them as foreign substances and begins to store toxins. 
The Nemours Foundation describes body toxins as “a chemical or poison that is known to have harmful effects on the body. Toxins can come from food or water, from chemicals used to grow or prepare food, and even from the air that we breathe. Our bodies process those toxins through organs like the liver and kidneys and eliminate them in the form of sweat, urine, and feces.” It’s the accumulation of these toxins that are the single greatest contributor to weight gain[i].

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Roots and Grits

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Well, it’s official! We’re on spring break, and to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday we all flew into Atlanta for the week. Parents, siblings, spouses, grandkids. It’s been a really fun filled and packed 6 days. 

Every time I come down to this part of the country I can’t believe how fast this city is growing. There are tons of new restaurants, parks, places to hang out…. One of the things I miss most about living in the south are the amazing grits at some of the best breakfast spots in town. 

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Kid’s Favorite Quick and Easy Veggie Stir Fry

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Every Wednesday I take a class in the evening and on those nights I like to throw together a really quick and easy dinner for the kids. In exchange for being able to watch TV while eating dinner (only when mommy and daddy are not home) I usually let the kids pick the entree… with only a few minor stipulations…

1. It has to be “healthy”… no, frozen spinach pies do not count… 
2. Has to contain at least one vegetable… no, ketchup does not count…
3. Has to be served with at least one raw fruit or vegetable on the side that is not the same color as what’s cooked in the bowl…
4. And, yes frozen homemade fruit pops can be eaten immediately following the meal, but chocolate chip cookies… only after daddy arrives…

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Kale and Pea Pesto with Oven Roasted Tomatoes

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If you haven’t already guessed it I’m going to let you in on a little secret. My hubby’s favorite food in the whole world is… pasta! 

Yup, he likes pasta so much that I swear he should have been born Italian. He’s one to fully admit that he is a pasta loving herbivore… There is something about the belly filling, carb loading, endless sauce and veggie combinations dish for him. It’s a complete meal, served hot, in a bowl, just the way he likes it.

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How to Make Vegan Parmesan Cheese

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803A0236-1So you thought when you turned Vegan it would be hard to give up all those yummy things you loved… like butter, milk…and my favorite, cheese! 

Well, I’m hear to tell you, fear no more my friend. Here is a super yummy, super simple, super healthy, vegan parmesan cheese recipe. Not only will it help to substitute out the dairy, it will help to add a super powered, antioxidant rich dose of b-complex vitamins and minerals to your daily indulgence. It’s so yummy you will hardly notice the good for you aspect and just keep sprinkling those yummy spoonfuls one after another. 

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Brussels Sprout-Kale Pesto Pasta with Toasted Pistachio Crumble

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Just when I thought pasta couldn’t get any better, I discovered the magic that is Brussels sprouts.

I know you are thinking the same thing I am… Yup! How can Brussels sprouts get any tastier?

Well, let me tell you… If there ever was a doubt about the deliciousness of these perfect little cruciferous vegetables, this recipe will blow any of that doubt out of the water. 

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