Gentle Ways to Detox Your Body

I was a guest on the NBC 10! Show again last Thursday. Here’s a clip from the show that discusses gentle ways to detox your body.

Come Spring time, I’ll be doing an in-depth teleclass on the ins and outs of detoxing. Stay tuned for details!

Also, if you like this kind of information in the mainstream media, please post a comment letting them know. The more we can get the truth about food and health out there, the healthier and happier we will all be.

That and a Steeler Super Bowl win on Sunday!!!

View clip here

I’m in the Mood for Some Comfort Food Sweet Potatoes

So Winter officially broke me this past week. The wind, the chill and the limited sun… I’M DONE! You win as usual Mother Nature. So while my spirit is slightly broken, my commitment to healthy eating is not..and either should yours with this yummy, comfort food, sweet potato recipe:

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

3-4 sweet potatoes
1 T butter
1/8 cup of almond or rice milk (can add more depending upon thickness preference)
2 T of maple syrup
cinnamon and salt to taste

1. Bake sweet potatoes ahead of time. They will keep for about 3 or 4 days (or put sweet potatoes in crock pot in the a.m.)

2. When ready to bake them, mash them together in a pan with heat on low.

3.  Add rice or almond milk (depending upon how runny you like your mashed potatoes), maple syrup (2 T gives it a hint of sweetness), a little salt and cinnamon if you prefer.

4. Stir until heated through.

I like to keep the skins on the potatoes as it adds some great texture to the recipe. I make the entire recipe and then it lasts the entire week. Kids will love this one too. Yum!

We are ONE

This was the name of the concert that HBO pulled together for the inauguration last week. What a show! I found it moving on so many levels. I spend a lot of time in my head but found that this past week, I was in my body feeling inspired and overwhelmed with emotion. I am so proud of our country (even the people who didn’t vote for Barack Obama allowed a peaceful transition which doesn’t happen in many parts of the world) .

I think the reason Obama is such a phenomenon is because he reminds us of our greatness, the wholeness in all of us. Believe it or not, many of us are afraid of our power. And for the past eight years, our country has been operating out of fear versus the hope, ambition and optimism that founded this country and the democracy concept in the first place. But we learned that playing small doesn’t work very well. Let’s move on – and fast!

It’s clearly time to step into our individual power and call upon our strengths. It’s a great way to be a Patriot! In Obama’s inauguration speech, he clearly explained that it’s not just about him – it’s about us too. And we have a lot of work to do.

So I ask you, where are you playing small in your life? Where can you make better choices so you feel whole, confident and ready to change your part of the world?

To get started, I suggest looking at what we in health counseling call your primary foods. Primary foods are what feeds your soul: Career, relationships, spirituality and physical activity. These are equally important as what you feed your body. When these things are balanced in your life, you feel that oneness, that wholeness that we crave more than chocolate.

So just start with ONE change. Maybe it is your diet. That will definitely aid in your confidence, energy and mental clarity. Or maybe it’s being a better friend or trying that yoga class you always thought about.

I know for me, once I got my nutrition right, I gained the energy and chutzpah to jump off the corporate ship and hang out my own shingle doing something I passionately believe in. I’ve never felt more alive in my life. I never knew such small changes would add up so big.

So whatever changes sounds exciting to you, go for it. And instead of thinking “What do I have to lose?” think “What do I have to gain?”. It will be a new era for you and our country.

And if you need some inspiration, check out U2 at the ONE concert:

Spring Clean Your WHOLEself Workshop for Women

It be hard to imagine with the wind, the layers and the downright chill, but sun dresses and inspiration for change are just around the corner when Spring brings its long awaited sunny and warmer days.

Be ready! It’s time to dust off the cob webs inside your body and outside your life! Fast track getting your WHOLEself in shape for 2009 and beyond with the “Spring Clean Your WHOLEself” workshop. It’s time to stop putting your life off and jump in!

Come join Certified Health Counselor Ali Shapiro, Psychologist Dr. Nicole Lipkin and like minded women for this workshop designed to balance your Mind, Body and Spirit.

During this four week boot camp, you’ll benefit by walking away with:

• What foods work best for your unique body
• The real equation to permanent weight loss, including identifying certain food and attitudes that keep on the pounds (hint: it’s not about fat and calories)
• Strategies for managing and eliminating cravings
• A healthier relationship with food and exercise
• The savvy to fit healthy eating and a balanced mindset into your busy life
• Cutting-edge exercise science to show you how to get more out of your work-outs in less time
• Understanding how to eliminate self-sabotaging behavior and keep your priorities straight
• A detox workbook and action plan to support you in doing a spring detox designed for your body and life
• Development of a healthy mind, food and spirit action plan to keep you motivated throughout the year

Come connect with other women while getting incredible support to help you make the changes you desire in your life. Each session is from 6-8 p.m and will include healthy snacks and recipes.

March 11: Finding the Best Foods and Mindset for Your Body and Your Life
March 18: The Best Way to Exercise Your Body and Strengths to achieve a body and life you love (with special guest and Philadelphia premier trainer Brandon Mentore)
March 25: Detoxing Your Body and Life for Spring
April 1: Making Healthy Habits Last

You will have the combined expertise of well known Philadelphia professionals who have been helping individuals accomplish their goals and preferred lives for years.

Investment for this workshop, which will provide you with strategies for sustained life change, is only $349 per person and payable by credit card or check. Bring a friend and you each come for $299. Payment is due upon RSVP (deadline for sign-up is March 1) as space is limited. Contact Ali Shapiro at alishapiro@pyournutrition.com or 215.279.7491 for questions or to RSVP.

Location: 525 S. 4th Street, Suite 471, Philadelphia, PA, 19147

Corn-Quinoa Muffins

These muffins are Fabulous! They go great with winter soups and the chili recipe I posted last week. And they don’t come out crumbly like many gluten-free baking goods. I always make the entire recipe and then have them for at least two weeks…if no one else gobbles them up!

A variation I want to try is adding blueberries. I think that would taste delicious. If anyone does, let me know. Or if you have your own ideas on recipe twists, I’m open.

Enjoy!

Quinoa-Corn Muffins
1-1/3 cup quinoa flour (you can grind quinoa in a coffee/seed grinder)
2/3 cup corn meal
2/3 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. Celtic sea salt
1 egg
1 cup milk, buttermilk, almond milk, or unsweetened soy drink
¼ cup grape seed oil

Mix dry ingredients together.
Mix wet ingredients together.
Pour wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until lumps disappear.

Put into greased muffin pan or muffin cups in muffin pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 minutes until a toothpick pushed into muffin comes out dry

Probiotics: Plugging the Bugs

Ah. A cold Monday in January. Yet, I am not blue! I’m over joyed with the Steelers win yesterday and hopeful with Obama coming into the White House. Time will tell how this all plays out. But for now, I’m basking in the glory.

One thing I’m still rooting for is an improvement in most of the main stream media’s coverage of nutrition. Blogs are supposed to be short so I won’t go into my list of grievances on that topic, but let’s leave it at less than whole (sort of like the food most Americans eat).

I was initially excited then, when my Dad called to tell me the Wall Street Journal was “covering probiotics and some of the scams behind them”. Once I read the article, which you can find below, I was happy that it exposed product claims aren’t always what they seem. But, I was disappointed that 1. It mentioned products, and not foods that naturally have probiotics and 2. The irony of eating non-organic dairy with probiotics.

For point number one, you can check out my TV clip on NBC here on my blog. I discuss probiotics in foods and why they are so important. I did forget to mention miso soup and Chinese green tea in the clip. So that’s a bonus for the readers.

The second point of contention, which I did write to the editor about both these points, is that non-organic dairy is pumped with hormones and antibiotics. The antibiotics wipe out healthy bacteria. So while you may get probiotics added back in by the company who destroyed them in the first place with their animal treatment, you are still eating diary laced with antibiotics. It’s so inefficient. Especially if you cannot even digest dairy, one of the most allergenic foods in our food supply. Coming from the WSJ, a paper whose lens is all about free-markets and their efficiency, I find it ironic.

C’est la vie…along with the importance of the Quality of our food. Please don’t forget that when you digest any nutritional information.

To a wonderful week, filled with historic and inspiring importance.

Wall Street Journal article, Bug Crazy:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123180831081775767.html

Hunker Down and Watch Some Football Turkey Chili

I made this chili on Sunday as I watched the Steelers and Eagles pull out feel good victories in the NFL playoffs. It comes from the Healthiest Meals on Earth Cookbook.

I made some adjustments so the recipe would be gluten-free. If you are GF too, make sure your spices are GF as companies use gluten as an anti-caking agent in spices. I know McCormick spices are GF.

This chili is so wonderful and warming. It makes enough for meals through out the week…or if your team is still in the playoffs, for another football Sunday.

Turkey Chili with Cashews and Kale

Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Ingredients

1 T of Olive Oil
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
1.5 pounds of ground turkey or chicken
1 tsp dried oregano
2 T chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp cayenne pepper (I omitted this)
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup of gluten free beer (Red Bridge is a great choice)
2 T tomato paste
1 can of kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup of colored bell pepper (I used frozen peppers)
1 small zucchini or yellow summer squash, sliced into half rounds
1 cup kale, stemmed and torn into bit-size pieces
1 carrot, grated (I just thinly sliced the carrots)
1/4 cup of cashews. chopped (put in a plastic bag and use a hammer to chop)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 to 2 T fresh lime juice, optional

In a 4-6 quart saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the turkey and cook until browned, for 5-6 minutes. Add the oregano, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and salt and saute for 2 minutes. Pour in the broth and beer. Stir in the tomato paste. Add the kidney beans, black beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, zucchini or squash, kale and carrot.  Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cashews and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cilantro and lime juice, if using.

Enjoy!

Michele’s Magical Aha’s

Thank you doesn’t seem adequate to convey my excitement and gratitude towards you! Working with you these last six months was more than I imagined it would be. The nutritional information was key, however I didn’t expect to learn SO MUCH about myself, my motivations, and my attitudes toward my health and food.

You are amazing and I will forever be grateful to you, my Young Yoda! I have loved our time together and look forward to working with you in the future!

Michele Giletto
Whitehall, PA

O’ Oprah

I’m excited. Partly because the Eagles and the Steelers have a great chance of being in the Super Bowl. I’m a Steeler fan by birth and choice, but cannot help root for the Birds because of my love affair with the city of Philadelphia. But I’m also excited because the conversations around weight, and thus health, are starting to evolve.

I have to give Oprah a lot of credit for this. She has openly discussed her struggles with weight and how it is never about weight. She has also introduced spirituality into the lexicon of the everyday American. This is great because the two are inseparable (Spirituality doe not mean religion, it’s more feeling connected to something greater than yourself).

And while I think Oprah is a visionary in many ways, I’m not surprised that she’s still talking about weight (what caught me more off guard in her recent show is that Oprah went to four doctors and not one figured out she had a thyroid issue. OPRAH – who probably has access to the best doctors in the world, was diagnosed by her viewers. How’s that for an argument to be your own healer and health advocate).

Oprah’s Best Life Diet Plan that she has on her show is created by her trainer Bob Greene. Bob knows a lot about exercise, training, the body and about fat and calories. And he espouses the importance of the emotional tie to food and having to sort out your “stuff” so you don’t turn to food. So to lose weight, exercise, sort out your emotional mess and then eat the Best Life endorsed products. Right, right, WRONG!

Here’s the problem: you are still eating products and not food. 90% of the average Americans diet goes towards processed science experiments and not towards food. Food is something usually without a label, or if it does, you can identify everything on the label as a whole food. And your Great Great Grandmother would know what it was too from back in the Old Country. Potatoes yes, ketchup no. Lettuce yes, Luna bar, no.

Real food connects you to the earth that provided it to you, it connects you to the people you cook and eat with. Above all, it provides a life force that no chemicals can match.

See when you start eating whole, real food and not fragments of food, you become whole yourself. The equation looks like this: Whole foods = Whole self = Best self.

Best self = the confidence and self esteem to put yourself on your priority list and the joy that comes from those decisions. That’s how you never fall off your priority list, lose weight and keep it off. You get a life you love. It doesn’t have to be a battle forever.

It’s about finding what feeds you on and off your plate. But to do that, you must start with eating food*. I think Oprah will get there eventually…maybe us, her viewers, should tell her.

*For a great read on this, check out Michael Pollen’s “In Defense of Food”.

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In the Mood to Reboot Your Life? Read This First.

Welcome 2009!

But first, with fondness, I say good-bye to 2008. This past year was definitely one that signaled many changes. From a historic election to a Philadelphia Sports Championship to our economic meltdown, I’m sensing 2009 will brings several effects of these changes to fruition: Hold on tight!

But, before I go any further, a couple of fun media/business updates. First, I was on NBC in Philadelphia. Check out my TV debut here. Second, I’ve started a blog, www.pyour.wordpress.com. I’ll post twice a week; the first post will contain general health information (or commentary—you know I always have an opinion!) and the second a mid-week recipe to get you motivated to cook. My blog also includes other media coverage, client testimonials and previous newsletters. Please do get in on the conversation or discuss recipes and cooking tips.

Another major change to my business is the shift in my program from six to four months. Given how uncertain many of you feel about your job and financial situation, I want to do my part to work with you in these volatile times. Also, since I’m fortunate to be in a field that is growing exponentially, I want to be able to reach more clients. The U.S. needs major help! I believe this change in my program will be best for my 2009 clients and my business. I will, of course, provide renewal options for clients who want continued support beyond the four months (as I do now).

Now back to 2008 briefly. When I was at my parent’s home over the holidays, I read an article quoting Porter Novelli, a well-respected and international marketing firm, that laid out several themes expected to play out in society over the coming year.

The one thing that struck me was this concept of rebooting our systems. They believe that with a new administration, people sense a fresh start. That they want to focus on fiscal responsibility, reigning in spending and focusing on what really matters.

I am pulling for you America. But the one thing I cannot help but ask is: Is it worth rebooting when you still have the same operating system that got you into this mess? And by that I mean your body and mind, which together affects your thoughts, moods and behaviors?

I often use this concept of rebooting your life through the power of nutrition to explain what I do because that is what balanced nutrition offers us. It physically changes who you are which, in turn, changes how you think, feel and act. Who doesn’t feel like they can take on the world when they have boundless energy and optimism while at their healthy body weight?

I’m fortunate that I have early adapter clients. They get it. They get that what you eat ultimately determines the quality of your life (for a very real idea of what I mean, check out a recent client testimonial here). And this same quality of life determines how you eat: It’s cyclical. Even Oprah is catching on with her new approach to eating (I’ll blog next week about my admiration for Oprah but my qualms with her Best Life eating plan).

I understand that some people won’t value their health until it’s too late. Kind of like the out-of-shape guy who I saw slump over his steering wheel from a heart attack three weeks ago while his construction truck continued down Broad Street. His operating system had crashed.

But for those of us who sense our best days are ahead, let’s make a fresh start this year. And given it’s winter and more a time for thinking than doing, can I suggest starting with how you view “healthy”? It’s not about tofu, sprouts and doing exercise you hate. It’s about cooking fresh food with friends, taking dance or yoga classes that connect you to your body, it’s about laughing more while relaxing in the park. Health, just like joy, is our natural state. Implant that chip into your navigation. Envision what you want your life to be like and then follow that feeling with the decisions you make. Are your food choices and decisions matching with how you’d like to feel? Deep breath…one change at a time.

To a joyous 2009,

Ali

P.S.Here’s a great recipe for winter. Ginger is a warming spice and carrots are grounding for our hibernating days. Enjoy!