Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy and balanced holiday this season!

If you’re looking for some healthy recipes to try out over the next week or so, check out these past Live Lighter posts:

• Healthy Holiday Meal Alternatives
• Chewy Eatme Bars
• Healthier-For-You Brownie Recipe
• Witches’ Spicy Hot Chocolate
• Kathy’s Healthy Party Mix

We’ll be taking a short break from posting for the holidays but will return in a week’s time. Just in time for The 2010 TV Detox!

(I will be checking intermittently for your 20 minute TV detox plan so we’ll be prepared for this amazingly, fun New Year’s resolution alternative.)

If you’ve decided to detox TV with us for the month of January, here’s an easy, 20 minute process to help you use that off button!

It’s the holiday season and hopefully you will find some personal downtime in between celebrations. If you’re time-crunched but still want to feel prepared for your TV detox (8 days and counting), this post is for you.

The following process will be easier if you’re relaxed. Take 5 minutes and do some deep breathing or, if you have more time to spare, take a bath/shower or a walk to get the creative juices flowing.

Also, it may help if you make your plan somewhat flexible. You lay the ground rules but the idea here is not to get caught up in the planning process!

Your 20 Minute TV Detox Plan

TIP: Apparently January is a slow month for TV so if you’re looking for more of a challenge, try including the web, music and/or movies!

Step #1: Determining TV time to detox (10 minutes)

Ask yourself:

1. How many hours do I typically spend watching TV in a week?
2. What shows are my absolute favs? The ones that make me feel good? Choose these shows (if any) to enjoy for the month.
3. How much TV time will I detox a week? Subtract the TV time in answer 2 from TV time in answer 1.

NOTE: If you want to really test yourself or you don’t usually watch a lot of TV, feel free to detox 100% of your TV time!

Step #2: My personally meaningful activities (5-8 minutes)

Read the rest of this entry

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TV addicts and those looking for an interesting New Year’s resolution alternative are doing the 2010 TV Detox! If you’re sitting on the fence, find out how it works in this short video blog post!

A few weeks ago I invited everyone to participate in a personal development group challenge,  The 2010 TV Detox. In that video, I explained the idea was to replace a certain amount of TV time with other personally meaningful activities for the entire month of January.

But a lot of details were left out so if you want to know what you’re committing to, check out this 1:20 minute video:

*If you’re using Internet Explorer, you may see a white box rather than the video. I’m looking into how to fix this but for now, please access the video directly from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-_9o6jwmag.

Special thanks goes to Emmanuel Lopez – Motivatorman for contributing his video production and musical skills for this video! Please visit http://motivatorman.com/ to learn more about Emmanuel’s varied talents as an award-winning illustrator, motivational specialist and social media consultant.

For the readers:

This is YOUR TV Detox so you’re free to do what you want! You decide how many and which TV hours you’ll detox; AND what activities you’ll replace your TV time with.

That said, this is what I envision:

1. A 20 minute personal planning session
2. We share our plans with each other before December 31st and start January 1st
3. Then we check-in every Friday in January to share our challenges and accomplishments

Sound good?

If you need some ideas or an easy process to follow in creating your TV Detox plan, read “Your 20 Minute TV Detox Plan” which will be published on Wednesday, December 23rd. I’ll be sharing my personal TV Detox plan in that post and will be encouraging you to share yours there, too!

Stay up-to-date by signing up to have new posts delivered right to your email or feed reader. Thanks for tuning in and I can’t wait to see your 2010 TV Detox plans!

Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland and Bindu Grandhi proves it in Spice Up Your Life: The Flexitarian Way. If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for your health nut or to add an incredible item to your wish list, this recipe book might be it!

You may be wondering, like myself, what’s a flexitarian?

High in nutrition and fiber, and low in saturated fat, a flexitarian dietary approach focuses primarily on plant-based foods composed of grains, nuts, legumes, vegetables and fruits, and occasionally includes protein from lean meat, fish, poultry or dairy.

Ms. Grandhi points out in the introduction that the health benefits of this diet are unrivaled: studies show that people using this approach generally weigh less and reduce their risk of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and prostate and breast cancer. (Primary source: CNN)

So far I’ve tried 6 out of more than 100 healthy, tasty recipes in Spice Up Your Life. Every one of them has been absolutely delectable!

I LOVE spice, however, my Honey is a little sensitive to the burn. But he’s always willing to try new meals and he went absolutely ga-ga over Bindu’s sweet and zingy (his words) “Sauteed Plantains”!

Indian-inspired, these are unusual recipes (for me, at least) and extremely flavourful. Among the others we’ve tried:

• Seasoned Kale
• Bell Pepper and Potatoes (fried and very yummy)
• Broccoli Soup (made with garlic, ginger & jalapeno peppers)
• Rice Pilaf with Red Lentils
• Salmon with Cashew Red Pepper Sauce (this nutty, sweet sauce is to die for!)
• Mango Swirl Smoothie (lovely and light)

By the way, if you have an aversion to green chilies or dried red chili peppers (or red chili pepper) because of sensitivities or health reasons, the author says you can omit them and promises that the finished dish will still be delicious.

I will try creating some of these recipes without the spice later and report back to you but for now, I love spicing up our lives!

With Spice Up Your Life, you’ll always have an interesting recipe for any occasion:

1. Appetizers
2. Side dishes
3. Chutneys, sauces, dips and raitas
4. Breads
5. Vegetarian dishes
6. Chicken dishes
7. Seafood dishes
8. Drinks
9. Desserts

The complimentary chapters are a bonus! In “Tips, Tools, and Techniques,” Bindu explains how to select fresh ingredients and provides lists for spices and kitchen companions. My favourite, as well as Mama Granhi’s, is the chapter on “What’s Good For You” which promotes the health benefits of the ingredients found in the book.

I especially love that Ms. Grandhi uses a variety of fresh herbs and Indian spices throughout as a basis for most of the recipes. This means, if you have the other fresh ingredients on hand, you can change your mind last minute and try another recipe that’s caught your eye!

At a very affordable price of less than $15, Spice Up Your Life is available online or  in stores like Barnes and Noble, Borders and other independent bookstores.

What do you think, Readers? Are you ready to Spice Up Your Life (or the life of your favourite health nut)?

Editor’s note: Planning to give your health nut a blender this year? Then you’ll love this guest post from Frank at BlenderBenefits.com.

Since all of the detox drink recipes on Live Lighter depend on maximizing the nutrients one can consume from each plant, it is important to use a blender able to retain as much nutrients as possible during the blending process. Better yet, if you use a blender that actually makes it easier for your body to assimilate the nutritious goodness found in fruits and vegetables, then you’re made in the shade.

Luckily, there are a couple of powerful blending options available to properly blend detox drink recipes and maximize their nutritional value.

You may have seen the very viral video series “Will it Blend?” starring the Blendtec blender. If you’ve seen any of them, you’ll know this blender is one of the most powerful kitchen appliances available (it turned an iPhone into iDust.) [Click here to read Frank's Blendtec post on his Blender blog.]

Although intimidating, it does a tremendous job blending anything you want to add to your concoctions. Harder ingredients like flax seed, nuts and kale, are easily handled by a Blendtec blender and unlike cheaper blenders, blending ice is a breeze.  Recipes like the Ginger Root Boost, will come out smooth and consistent even though you are blending tougher/drier items like ginger root.

The Blendtec blender is renowned in raw foodist circles due to the beneficial health benefits it can provide. High powered blenders like this and the Vita-Mix Blender [read Frank's article here] actually rupture plant cell walls, making it easier for to assimilate the plant’s natural nutrients.

The Blendtec blender is definitely more expensive than other blenders, but the added benefits are worth it. It is the best blender to own if you plan on blending regularly, as it has a very customer friendly 3 year warranty.

For these reasons, the Blendtec Blender is the perfect choice to blend Live Lighter’s detox drink recipes.

Until next time – stay healthy and keep blending!

Visit BlenderBenefits.com to learn how blenders can benefit your life through thoughtful blender reviews and scrumptious blender recipes, and join the community by submitting your own reviews and/or recipes!

What do you do when it’s cold outside and your Honey brings you home a 5+ pound head of cabbage? It’s cabbage roll time!

Now my Mom taught me the old-fashioned way: roll up the meat, rice & spices into balls, wrap them in cabbage leaves and roast them in the oven with the tomato juice. But my dear, sweet, highly effective hubby suggested I try it the bachelor lazy man’s way.

And it worked like a dream! Seriously, there was practically no work except for the cabbage debris from the chopping and maybe the dishes.

But, hey, if you cook, it’s only fair that someone else does the dishes. Right?

This recipe will suit those with sensitive taste buds; and for people who like a little more zip, try a little hot sauce or add a little more sea salt!

Lazy Canadian’s Crock Pot Cabbage Rolls

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour on high, 3 hours on low
Crock pot: 9 gallon/liter

Ingredients

• 12 large cabbage leaves, de-stemmed & chopped
• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 1 cup brown rice, uncooked
• 1 tbsp cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1.36 L Heinz tomato juice
• 2 tbsp oregano
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Worcester’s sauce
• 3 cups water, filtered
• sea salt & pepper (to taste)

Preparation

1. In a frying pan, cook onion, garlic and ground turkey until cooked through.
2. Meanwhile, bring pot of water to boil and cook cabbage for 3 minutes. Drain well.
3. Layer ingredients (except tomato juice) in crock pot. My combo (4 x’s): cabbage, meat mixture, rice, sugar, lemon juice, sauce and seasonings.
4. Pour tomato juice and water over layers.
5. Set timer and enjoy 4 hours later!

Are you a little anxious about getting the right gift for your beloved health nut(s) this year? No problem. With 2 solid weeks left of shopping and this handy post, all you have to do is mosey on down to the mall and pick ‘em up!

This is Live Lighter’s 3rd holiday season and with this post, it’s now officially become tradition for us to provide you gift ideas for the health nuts in your life.

Upon reviewing past lists, 19 out of the 20 items (the Magic Bullet failed to impress me) remain as valuable and killer as the day they were originally posted:

Top 10 Gifts for a Health Nut (2007)
10 Gift Ideas for Health Nuts (2008)

This year, we’ve decided to give you 12 ideas for added variety based on your budget and your health nut’s level of health nuttedness:

1. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. ($10 – $30) Written by integrated health practitioner, Elson M. Haas, M.D., this book contains fascinating and comprehensive health information combining Eastern and Western medicine. It has health recommendations for each season, a ton of recipes and helpful questionnaires at the back to record your past health, measure progress and even quiz you on the book’s content! It’s so useful that we’ve written about it here, here, here, here and here.
2. Yoga mat & tote bag. ($30 – $120) Buy them as a set or separately. They come in a variety of colours, types, sizes and makes. There are even eco-friendly mats! No need to get overwhelmed, though. I have a basic waffle mat, 1mm thick, that I picked up at Winners for about $25 and not only does it do the job perfectly, it’s lasted for nearly 6 years. (*hint hint* Time for a new one, Honey?) Read the rest of this entry

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Have you ever been impulsive? The emotions surge and we make a snap decision. Sometimes it works out but most times… not so much. This post was inspired by our lovely holiday Bowflex tree and the lessons I reflected on while decorating it.

Now, as much as I appreciate the beauty of our Bowflex tree, I understand that there’s something (maybe a few things) desperately wrong with this picture.

Lesson #1: Try Before You Buy (especially big ticket items)

We’ve had our Bowflex machine for over 2 years now and it’s been used about a dozen times between myself and my hubby.

1st issue: Lack of space. (Hence, a Bowflex tree and not a Christmas tree). This machine is much larger than it looked on The Shopping Channel.

2nd issue: Does not suit our taste or needs. I tried. I really did. I watched the DVD that came with it. I installed and used it’s progress tracking software. Even had a routine but none of it stuck.

Now, the hot Bowflex granny says it worked for her so it may also for you (that’s what I was hoping when we ordered it).  But if our Bowflex taught us just one lesson, it’s to make sure your purchase suits you before investing a chunk of money into it.

By the way, what DID work for me was old-fashioned, accessible (and highly economical) floor work and easy-to-store free weights!

Lesson #2: Beware of Unbelievable Deals

The Home Shopping Network is notorious for it’s remarkable deals. Our Bowflex came with loads of extras, including believable and inspiring testimonials and sharp-talking sales reps.

What really cinched the deal for us was the promise of weight-loss and fit, healthy bodies. The advertising tickled our emotions and desires. We thought that if it worked for these people, it would work for us.

Besides, if we were investing this much money into equipment, surely it would motivate us towards a healthy routine! (We didn’t know at the time that change comes from within, not in `things’ outside ourselves.)

Lesson #3: Respect the Energy of Money

The energy of money is like the energy of food. For health, we want the most nutritious calories because it’s the empty (and less satisfying) calories that adds to our weight and drains us of long-lasting energy.

The same holds true for money. When we exchange our hard-earned money for something we truly value and appreciate, we respect ourselves and the energy of money. When we do this, we invite more quality and money into our lives.

In this case, exercise equipment has fulfilled it’s purpose and added real benefit to our lives when we use it on a regular basis to gain muscle and health. Not as an $1,100 pseudo-Christmas tree.

Moral of the Story

While it’s always recommended to make the most out of every situation (see photo), it’s in our best interest to perform due diligence before purchasing and avoid emotion-based impulses so that we use our resources wisely and consciously.

Have you ever used an impulse buy for something it wasn’t meant to be used for just to appease your guilt for being impulsive? I’d really like to hear your stories so our Bowflex tree doesn’t seem so lame! 

By the way, if you’re in the Toronto area and you think a Bowflex machine will suit you, contact me (stephanie [at] livelighter [dot] ca) and we’ll talk shop.

Are you tired of making (and breaking) New Year’s resolutions? Here’s an alternative that’s fun, totally personalized, has a low commitment level and runs for ONLY for the month of January!

Who loves TV? Raise your hands.

Like many of our favourite past-times, TV can become habit or an addiction. Sometimes we don’t even realize the power an activity has over our minds and behaviour until we stop doing it.

One way to kick a habit is to detox it from our lives and replace it with something more constructive and even more fun!

So, inspired by Darius Bashar’s TV challenge on DailyChallenge.org and for all those who are looking for a New Year’s resolution alternative, check out what Live Lighter is planning for January, 2010:

*If you’re using Internet Explorer, you may see a white box rather than the video. I’m looking into how to fix this but for now, please access the video directly from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIITnnyL24M.

Special thanks goes to Emmanuel Lopez – Motivatorman for contributing his video production and musical skills for this, Live Lighter’s 2nd video! Emmanuel greatly improved the quality of this video for you in a very short amount of time. (I have much to learn about video production!)

Please visit http://motivatorman.com/ to learn more about Emmanuel’s varied talents as an award-winning illustrator, motivational specialist and social media consultant.

Will you be participating in the 2010 TV Detox, Readers? Or do you need more information before you’re as psyched as I am?

Isn’t it the best feeling when you see a child’s eyes light up as you offer them candy? If you’re health conscious, however, there’s probably a tiny part of you that cringes because you KNOW what’s in it. With organic candy, there is no guilt!

Pure Fun™ provides “Better For You Candy” to North Americans. Although sugar content is typically high in any candy, Pure Fun manufactures and distributes old-fashioned candy similar to what our parents and grandparents enjoyed as children.

Were there food allergies and intolerances back then? Maybe. But you didn’t really hear much about it.

Today, with all the synthetic ingredients found in most products, it seems like every second person has some sort of digestive or health issue!

Unlike most candy products today, Pure Fun promises their products are:

• USDA Organic Certified (soon to be certified organic in Canada)
• Gluten Free
• GMO Free
• Fair Trade
• Kosher Pareve / Vegan
• Dairy & Casein Free
• Fat Free & Cholesterol Free
• Preservative &  Pesticide Free

There’s a lot of free in that list!

Made with organic brown rice syrup, organic evaporated cane juice, natural flavours (peppermint oil) and natural colours (organic fruit juice), Pure Fun candy is ideal for children and adults who suffer from food allergies and intolerances.

For all this, plus the peace of mind you get from serving such quality, Pure Fun is asking for less than $0.40 for each large candy cane and $0.25 for two mini canes. The retail price of a box of 12 large candy canes will run you about $4 and a box of small candy canes goes for about $14 per pound. 

Now, edible tree bling is one thing but Pure Fun doesn’t stop there.  Check out their products and you might just find a couple of gift ideas in there for the health nuts on your list!

(The Root Beer Barrels are my favourite!)

You can buy Pure Fun candy at Whole Foods and other smart retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

If you’re in the U.S., look for Pure Fun candy canes at Whole Foods, Kroeger and independent natural food stores. If you’re in Toronto, try looking in your local Loblaws and Pharma Plus; and if you’re in Quebec, look for Pure Fun candy canes in Metro and Sobeys!

This holiday season, will you dress your tree up in organic candy canes?