Submitted by guest blogger Kat Calvin. Working out on a tight schedule can be tough. Between family, work, and wanting to have a social life, finding the time and money to go to the gym, find a class, or struggle through the weather for a quick run can be daunting. And what if you’re new to working out? You need something quick, easy, and free. If you can do it in your living room, even better. That’s where YouTube becomes your new best friend. There are a lot of great workout videos on YouTube that take 30 minutes or less and require little to no equipment. Pull one of these up on your phone, iPad, or TV and get in a...
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Broccoli is a cool-season annual vegetable from the same family as cabbage. Its distinctive appearance is easily recognized, and it’s been cultivated as a food crop for several thousand years, originating in the northern Mediterranean. Ninety percent of U.S.-grown broccoli comes from California, though China and India are the biggest world producers. A great source of vitamins K and C, broccoli also can help lower cholesterol when consumed after having been steamed. It is also a moderate source of folate and chromium. When picking out broccoli, look for firm, dark green heads whose buds haven’t opened. Avoid yellow broccoli or stalks that are limp and rubbery, as these are signs of age. Store broccoli in your refrigerator’s crisper, in an...
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So you’ve decided you’re going to build some deep raised beds as a semi-permanent structure in your garden. There are tons of plans available online, so spend an hour or two doing some searching and figure out what type of raised bed and configuration make the most sense for your property. You’ll also want to make sure you have all the appropriate tools and materials before you get started; nothing is worse than having to stop halfway through a project because you don’t have the right drill bit or you ran out of screws. You’ll likely need most if not all of the following, plus other items specific to your project. Boards, rocks, or stone edgingDecking screwsPower drill and suitable...
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Dr. Brian Taschner, of Lee Memorial Health System in southwest Florida, developed these healthy, whole-food, plant-based breakfast options. Give some of these a try during your Jumpstart! Ezekiel (or similar) toast or English muffinsSpread with nut butter and banana, or top with mashed avocado (can season with salt, pepper, lemon, cumin, and paprika). Overnight oatmealSoak 1/2 cup of whole oats with 3/4–1 cup of unsweetened nut milk (almond, cashew, coconut, etc.) overnight. Oats will be soft in the morning and can be topped with fruits (berries, banana, cherries, chopped apple, etc.), nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts, shredded coconut), and seeds (chia, flax, hemp, etc.). Can also use Bob’s Red Mill Muesli, to which milk can be added in the morning. This already contains of variety...
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With thirty entrees to choose from, PlantPure meals are the most convenient, healthy and inexpensive delivered foods available on-line! Our meals have no added oils and are priced lower than most fast foods. Order today at: PlantPureNation.com/collections/Foods
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The folks at Lee Memorial Health System in southwest Florida just wrapped up their group Jumpstart, and Dr. Brian Taschner came up with some great ideas for adding variety to the Jumpstart frozen meals. So while you may enjoy eating your PlantPure meals just as they are, check out Dr. Taschner’s modifications, which will enhance flavor, texture, and nutrient density. Creole Red Beans and Rice, Bourbon Vegetables Easy: Finely chop tomato, green or red pepper, and yellow onion (you can oftentimes buy a pre-chopped bag of finely diced pepper and onion in the grocery store) and add to the frozen meal prior to heating. The vegetables will soften as the meal heats. More advanced: Sauté thinly sliced or diced okra or...
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This time of year is a great time to consider new garden structures, and raised beds can make your life easier and make your garden tidier. You can make raised beds quite simply, with rocks or edging material you already have, or you can purchase wood planks if you want to make deeper raised beds for root vegetables. Cedar planks are great for raised beds; the wood’s natural oil makes it durable and resistant to rot, and you avoid the chemicals in treated lumber. Unfortunately, cedar boards are also quite expensive compared to regular treated lumber. Raspberries in a simple raised bed made with stone edging blocks. Photo by Amy Bissinger. The most important consideration when building a raised bed is...
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Submitted by Health Editor Jo Gustafson. We want to thank those of our PlantPure Nation members who helped Dustin Harder—actor, chef, and colorful host/creator of the Web series The Vegan Roadie (www.veganroadie.com)—reach his Kickstarter campaign goal and then some! Because his Kickstarter was successfully funded, Dustin will soon be packing up his pots and pans to head back out on the road to film season two of the show. Dustin shares the same mission as PlantPure Nation—to spread the health and taste benefits of plant-based eating—and that’s why we were very happy to be one of his sponsors. In this plant-based version of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, he uncovers amazing hidden places to eat out, cooks up some yummy recipes of his own, and offers tips for eating plant-based...
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Submitted by Kim Campbell, director of culinary education. Today we’ll touch on vegan sauces and condiments, and we’ll also discuss xanthan gum, a crucial component of many dressings. Photo by Amy Bissinger. Tamari versus soy sauce Tamari sauce is the Japanese version of soy sauce and a byproduct of fermented soybeans, with the main difference being the use of wheat. Both soy sauce and tamari add salt and distinct flavors to a recipe. I prefer the flavor of tamari sauce over soy sauce. Tamari sauce is thicker, slightly darker, smoother, and less salty than soy sauce. They are interchangeable, but it’s important to note their distinct differences. I like to think of tamari as the gentler, more mellow version of...
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With thirty entrees to choose from, PlantPure meals are the most convenient, healthy and inexpensive delivered foods available on-line! Our meals have no added oils and are priced lower than most fast foods. Order today at: PlantPureNation.com/collections/Foods
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