April was a busy month! I’m excited to get back into routine, which includes my Sunday farmers market trips.  And the month of May could not be more enticing…there are tons of new fruit and veggie crops that will brighten market aisles, as well as my dinner plates.  

Here’s this months list of what’s in season!

• Apricots (1st month!)
• Artichokes
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Basil (1st month!)
• Beets
• Blackberries (1st month!)
• Blueberries (1st month!)
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Cherries (1st month of only 2 months!)
• Collards
• Garlic
• Kale
• Lemons
• Mushrooms
• Nectarines (1st month!)
• Onions
• Oranges
• Peaches (1st month!)
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Raspberries (1st month!)
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Summer squash (1st month)

Amazing list! Enjoy filling your fridge this month!!!!

I absolutely loved this meal.   Such a refreshing and light take on a traditional baked salmon dishes, and uses such fresh and beneficial whole ingredients.  Best of all - yeah, it might look like a gourmet dish, but takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.  

Cucumber Mint Wild Salmon

1. Prep wild salmon by rinsing, dressing with a dash of olive oil, pink sea salt and lemon.  Wrap in parchment paper and place in 350 degree oven.  Start your timer. 20 minutes.
2. Dice 1/2 organic cucumber, 1/2 organic red onion, 1 organic garlic clove, and a heaping handful of de-stemmed fresh organic mint leaves.
3. Whisk in 1/2 cup of organic plain Greek yogurt.  I love Wallaby Organic brand, found at Whole Foods.
4. Mix all above ingredients into bowl and flavor with 1/2 organic squeezed lemon and 1/4 teaspoon of cumin.  
5. Check salmon at 20 minute mark and be sure cooked through to your liking.
6. Dress salmon with your mint chutney, and serve with a side of steamed organic broccoli.

Not like I have to sell this anymore, but the dish is 100% gluten-free, VERY low dairy intake due to the Greek yogurt variety, no sugar, low salt, and about a bajillion health benefits on your plate.

Another salad recipe, but this one is specifically packed with virus and cold killing ingredients, and is sure to give your immune system a kick in the butt!

The base of this salad is dark leafy greens, the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food.  TONS of antioxidants and beneficial proteins, giving energy to your immune defense and cell walls.  I used organic dino kale and organic spinach.

Ooh, the toppings! 

• Pumpkin seeds for zinc.  Zinc stops viral replication.
• Avocado for Vitamin E.  It’s the best fruit source of this vitamin, which promotes antibody production to fight off infection and disease.
• Celery for its anti-inflammatory properties and rich water content.
• Zucchini for Potassium.  Potassium serves as an electrolyte that helps to maintain your fluid balance
• Baby grape tomatoes for the antioxidants and Vitamin C.  One cup of raw red tomatoes gives you almost half your daily intake of C!
• Cilantro! The king of virus killers! Contains phytochemicals that promote immune system activities.
• Parsley for it’s luteolin.  Luteolin searches out and rids the body of free-radicals that cause oxidative stress in cells.
• Quinoa, yes quinoa.  For its super-protein power, filling you up and giving you energy.

This is all tossed in organic extra-virgin cold pressed Olive Oil (great source of mono-saturated fat), tons of lemon (rich in vitamin C), a tablespoon of flax oil (helps to encourage your cells to absorbe all of the above benefits), and salt/pepper to taste!

Good luck you cold/flu virus.  You dont stand a chance. 

This is one of the most important posts I have written to date, and is a food practice I’ve been introduced to that has the potential to change many lives.  

Heard of ‘The Budwig Diet’?  

Johanna Budwig was a European Cancer Research Scientist and Biochemist who passed in 2003, but has left a true mark on natural healing and cancer prevention/curation through food.  

Lets first talk about the body as it is prone to cancer, disease or immune dysfunction.  In the traditional American diet,  hydrogenated fats and chemically processed foods are ingested every day.  These oils and toxins are harmfully deposited within the body, damaging cell walls, and oxygen can no longer flow into cells to renew and achieve optimum cell health.  These cells then become inorganic, and cannot be protected from free-radicals in the body…which is one of the major causes of cancer and ailment.

Ok, now what does a healthy cell environment look like?  Healthy cells, let alone, the functioning of the entire body, rely on good fats.  Fats are vital for brain function, cell renewal, and for all growth processes in the body.   Specifically, cells need true polyunsaturated, oxygen-rich lipids to function efficiently.  This type of fat is most abundantly found in raw flaxseed oil.  However, these high quality fat lipids are most easily absorbed and become water-soluble when combined with a sulfur-rich protein.  

Enter, Mrs. Budwig, Flax Oil (the optimum fat) and Cottage Cheese (the perfect and pro biotic-rich protein).

She discovered that when combining Flax Oil and Cottage Cheese, the energy-rich fat lipids are stimulated by the protein, and the body is able to readily accept the oxygen and benefits…freely flowing into cells and giving them the air they need to breathe, grow and revitalize!

Ok……that is about as technical as I will ever get.  Now on to the FOOD!

The Budwig Protocol:

I have been eating this for breakfast three to four days a week for the past two weeks, and I have never eaten anything more energetic, powerful and TASTY!  I can literally feel my cells and body soaking up the healing properties of this mixture!

You will need 2 kitchen appliances, 3 basic ingredients, and about 7 minutes.

• Dump 1 cup of Low-Fat Organic Cottage Cheese into medium size mixing bowl.  Through my research, I’ve found Nancy’s Organic brand is best quality, it’s made with pro biotic lactic cultures. It’s at Whole Foods or Real Foods.
• Add in 4-5 tablespoons of Flax Seed Oil.  Barlean’s 100% Organic Unfiltered Cold-Pressed is favorable.  It’s the black bottle, again, found at WF or RF.
• Blend cottage cheese and flax oil with immersion hand mixer.  This is the stick-like appliance…should be around $20 bucks at your local target or even hardware store.   You will want to blend until the mixture is fluffy and custard-like; about 2 minutes on medium speed.

• Grind 2 tablespoons of whole flax seeds in coffee bean grinder or small blender.  

It is very important you do not buy pre-ground flax seeds, as these should be consumed within 15 minutes of grinding!! The seeds easily oxidate and go rancid, so only grind what you will be using right away!

• Pour the ground flax seeds into the white fluffy mixture and stir well.  
• Add fresh, whole food ingredients to flavor/sweeten if you wish!

                Here are a few yummy options — raspberries, blueberries, chopped spinach, chopped green apple (my current favorite), walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon — get creative so long as ingredients are FRESH and ORGANIC!

This mixture is incredibly delicious and I cannot stress the benefits.  Please see additional sites, how-to’s and research with cases and testimonials (below).  This has cured many people of cancer and ailments, and is important knowledge to pass on.  

http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/Budwig.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSoddptWL0s 

http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1230105

http://www.canceractive.com/cancer-active-page-link.aspx?n=2105

I know it too well.  It’s that 3:00 in the afternoon mark.  You’ve burned through your lunch and the only foods you have access to are the “all natural” (yeah right) potato chips or crazy high sugar content granola bars down at your snack bar. 

Yes, committing to eating healthy throughout your busy work days takes lots of determination, and I find that snacks are the hardest to plan ahead for.  But, if you have a game plan at the beginning of each week, healthy foods will be readily available, and you will be surprised on how little the prep-work really is.

Here are 10 easy and super nutritious snack ideas:

1. Apples.  Contains tons of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  Choose green apples for lower sugar content.
2. Hummus.  A really healthy energy boosting snack.  Bring sliced carrots, red bell peppers or celery to dip.  For a less starchy hummus dip, try this one made out of organic zucchini: http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2008/07/29/raw-no-bean-hummus/
3. Organic Dark Chocolate. What a treat. Tons and tons of antioxidants.  Choose those without milk to gain the most health benefits, and yes, try to limit yourself on this one!
4. Pumpkin Seeds. Contain magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamin K and a great source of protein.  Roast a couple cups in coconut oil at the beginning of the week using my recipe here: http://localchills.tumblr.com/post/17252818470/roasted-seeds
5. Blueberries. These promote brain function and are packed with an energy boost. 
6. Avocado. Fiber, healthy fats…personally I could eat this with a spoon every day.  Avocado is also super beneficial for your skin.
7. Herbal Tea. A great pick me up when you don’t want anything heavy.  I love the brand Traditional Medicinals.  So many flavors that taste amazing and also have health benefits.  http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/?gclid=CKe3qtL7lrUCFWPhQgodeGUAjw
8. Cucumber. A hydrating and yummy crunchy snack.  Dip in hummus or eat alone!
9. Lemon Water.  Sounds crazy but this actually provides energy to your body.  It will immediately hydrate, get your liver working to expose of sluggish toxins, and give you a burst of vitamins and minerals. 
10. Quinoa.  The perfect protein, quinoa is packed with all of the essential amino acids.  For a snack, try mixing cooked organic quinoa with some chopped cucumber, organic extra virgin olive oil, and a touch of salt, pepper and garlic.

All incredibly delicious, gluten and dairy free, VERY little prep needed, and your body will thank you for each of these afternoon boosts.