To mEat or not to mEat?

As many of you know, I am a strong advocate of vegetarianism. It started because I had a food allergy that I couldn't diagnose and when I started cutting meat from my diet, I made healthier choices. Thus correcting the issue. (The allergy happens to be anything fried or processed.) I'm also a strong supporter of eliminating meat to lower my carbon footprint. Being a veg reduces the same emissions as 8,000 miles driven per year. An added bonus to all of this is that my diet is full of whole, healthy foods.

For the last week, my body has had strong cravings for meat. I tried upping my protein intake, but to no avail. Last night, I finally broke down and gave in to my craving. I had a great dinner of baked rosemary chicken, spinach and sweet potatoes. (I can't take any of the credit, BF played chef). Today the craving is gone and I'm back to my normal diet.

There are a couple of theories on meat cravings. One is that it's a very grounding food. I have been making a lot of changes to my schedule lately and been trying to ground and center myself. That's legitimate.

Another is that meat cravings come from excessive muscle breakdown when your body wants protein to repair it. I sustained an injury last week, just came off a dance tour and have another show this upcoming weekend.

Coincidences?

Our body intelligence continues to amaze me. Since eliminating processed, unhealthy foods, I have become more in tune with what my body needs and when. It never fails.

Try skipping all the center shopping aisles this week and stock up on whole, healthy foods. See if your body starts to tell you what it needs once it has some time to cleanse itself. The results will amaze you!


In health,

Joanie


Joanie Johnson, HC
joanie@motivatednutrition.net
www.motivatednutrition.net

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th celebration of Earth Day and there are events going on all over NYC, not to mention the rest of the country. New York has started an entire marketing campaign to support the event. www.earthdayny.org/ime. Posters and bulletins have been everywhere lately. The marketing is nice but I wonder how many people are actually going to take an action to make some changes? I recently read a book by Colin Beavan called No Impact Man (Check out his blog at http://noimpactman.typepad.com/) It inspired me to make some changes in my everyday life, more than just switching light bulbs. You're going to have to do more than that, I'm sorry.

Here are a few of the changes I've made. Maybe they will inspire you to make your own impact.

*Stop buying bottled water. Start carrying a stainless steel/ BPA Free bottle instead
(http://www.kleankanteen.com/)
*Ride a Bike
*Eat more veggies and less meat or ALL VEGGIES and no meat!
*Take the stairs instead of the elevator
*Cut out the plastic and carry your own shopping bags- not just for groceries, for EVERYTHING you purchase.
*Make less new purchases. Shop your local thrift store.
*Switch to hankies instead of tissues! (I get a lot of stares for this one and proudly feel like a little old man. I'm starting a statement here...just wait!)
*Use public transportation, it's so much cooler.
*Be inspired by No Impact Man, Eating Animals, Tapped, Food Inc.
*Shop your local farmers market and eat locally. It's fun to get to know where your food is coming from!
*Join a Food Share. I'm now a proud supporter of Free Bird Farm
*Take shorter showers (I happen to hate water so this is easy for me)
*Tell people they have dropped something when you see them litter! They will either be embarrassed, pick it up and say thank you or mutter a disgruntle comment. When this happens, pick it up for them and happily say "That's ok, I got that for you". Kill em with kindness.

Share with us a few of the Earth Saving things you have been doing! Happy Earth Day!

In health,

Joanie


Joanie Johnson, HC
joanie@motivatednutrition.net
www.motivatednutrition.net

Vitamin D

We want to know how you have been enjoying the spring weather and soaking up your Vitamin D! As you can see, my sister and niece are doing it up right!

I have been dying to ride my bike but I have 2 flat tires and no air pump in sight. I'm vowing to get it back into commission this week. If you like adventure and haven't had the (somewhat terrifying) experience of riding your bike through NYC traffic, put it on your list of things to do in life! Helmets are required. My final ride last summer was a 40 mile trip to Far Rockaway and back. I remember how thrilling the last 5 miles were after an exhausting afternoon of pedaling. I can't wait for my stamina to return!

We would love to hear what gives you your springtime kicks. You may motivate someone to take up a new hobby or experience something new. Feel free to post if you are looking for someone to join you. You may make a few new friends!

Happy Spring!

Joanie


Joanie Johnson, HC
joanie@motivatednutrition.net
www.motivatednutrition.net

Too tired to cook

I don't finish up my Thursday nights until 9pm and after a long day of back to back rehearsals and teaching a boot camp class, I'm starving and exhausted. The last thing I want to do is stress over what to eat and then actually take the time to prepare it. I usually spend Thursday evenings catching a sun burn from the light in the fridge with a growling stomach and no brain power to play creative chef. I googled a recipe on my way home tonight and then swung by the market to pick up what I needed. Here's what I came up with. It was fast, easy, healthy, delicious AND I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. You can't beat that. The sauce was really good. My advice is to make more than recommended. Otherwise it's a little bland. It took me about 30 min from start to finish.

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1/2 onion, sliced
* 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
* 8 ounces firm or extra firm tofu, sliced into bite size pieces
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 tablespoon honey
* 1 tablespoon soy sauce
* 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
* 1 red, yellow or green bell pepper, seeded and cut into slices
* 2 Heads of Broccoli, chopped
* 4 Crimini mushrooms, chopped

Directions

Heat oil over medium high heat in a large skillet or wok. Stir in onions and cook for 1 minute. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in tofu and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. In a small sauce pan combine water, honey and soy sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes and stir in cornstarch mixture. Simmer until sauce thickens. Add bell pepper, broccoli, and mushrooms to the skillet and cook for another 5 minutes. Pour thickened sauce over vegetables and tofu. Serve immediately with brown rice.

Do you have a go-to recipe that you fall back on when you are hungry and tired? If so, please share. I'm going to need another meal next Thursday night!


Be well,


Joanie



Joanie Johnson, HC
joanie@motivatednutrition.net
www.motivatednutrition.net