Foodie Digest- Eating our way healthy!

As we prepare to start our NEW YEAR!! some of our readers, friends and followers are preparing to go on a month long unprocessed food challenge. We are starting the new year off with the intention on regaining control of our bodies, minds and eating habits. We want you  to walk away feeling empowered and understanding that we all have the ability to change our lives, change the way we eat and the way that we view food. We will be updating our Blog with weekly recipes ( which on our blog is called Foodcipes) that will give you ideas on the foods that you can create for your home and family. Remember if something has more than four or five ingredients that you can't create from home it is highly processed and we want to stay away. Don't let this experience be boring for you. IT WILL BE BORING if you eat salad or the same meal  the whole 31 days. You have to be adventurous and willing to try different foods, foodcipes and desserts that we will feature or that other participants will feature. Walking away from this we want you to have a better understanding of what it means to eat healthy, real and delicious foods, we want to show you  that it is possible to obtain all three of these qualities in one pot, pan or plate. If your on twitter we will be using the #NGFChallenge, #Unprocessed, #Realfood to connect , share stories and encourage one another. We are encouraging you to eat your way smaller and healthier. If you haven't already made the commitment to yourself..There is still time!

As always Foodies,

Thanks for reading& let's eat!

follow us on twitter: @NaturalGFoodie

Foodie Digest- The balancing act of Food

One of the things that we hear often on twitter, our FB and even by email is Eating " Natural is no fun, it takes the joy out actually enjoying food" and the BIGGEST,  " It's just too expensive" each of these come with some truth. But they both can easily be dispelled.  This lifestyle is not for the faint at heart,It's not for the person who is looking for a quick fix or a fad because it takes some serious dedication and understanding of the body before one can even understand the ramifications for not choosing such a lifestyle.

The second issue about pricing can be understood. Somethings can get very pricy when we compare how much it is to it's unhealthy competitors. Frankly if we are honest with ourselves isn't everything that's worth anything more expensive than the stuff that's not? It's the reason many of us would choose an Ipad over a Tablet,  or an Iphone over an Evo,  Gucci over Nike's and ladies Red bottoms over just.. plain black ones.
If this is to be explored we must admit that we are a society that addresses our outer appearance and leave the inner to fend for themselves. It's the reason why we will spend thousands of dollars to look good on the outside and then pull up to McDonald's to tarnish our insides.  Eating is a balancing act, you have got to be able to say to yourself , " I had fried chicken yesterday let's do baked tomorrow." Little things like switching white bread for 100% Whole Wheat, or a Tea instead of a soda. Decisions like these could have you on your way.For me it was an easy and " Natural " sell . It isn't always the easiest.  You have to remember to have fun with it give yourself " Sneak" or cheat days GUILT free.. choose the things that you want to splurge on with your Guilt free days! Always know what you are eating, be aware, be informed and let's learn to treat our bodies good because when we get older we will reap the fruits of our labors!

Love your for listening friends!

Be sure to follow us on twitter @NaturalGFoodie

Foodcipe- Healthified Spaghetti

The one thing that I can truly say that I have learned is that any meal that you create it can be spun into something healthy and delicious! This spaghetti is a traditional blend of peppers, sausages and onions replaced with foods that are a little healthier for you and increases the amount of healthified recipes that you have in your book! I removed any ground beef or Turkey and used.these all Natural Sausages & created a homemade quick and easy sauce.

Ingredients
2 Packs of Aidelle's Sausages
2 Chopped green peppers
2 chopped red peppers
1 Chopped red onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp of Extra virgin olive oil, separated
2Packs of Feta Cheese
2 boxs of whole grain pasta
5 tomatoes
1 tbsp of salt
1 tbsp of pepper
3 tbsp of red wine vinegar
Fresh cilantro
Directions:
In large skillet or wok using 1 tbsp of olive oil saute Peppers, Onions, 2 minced garlic cloves. ( remove and place in a bowl)

2. Cut the sausages diagonally creating an oval shaped sausage cut,  then add the sausages to 1tbsp of oil and saute

3. Return the peppers, onions and garlic  into the pan with the sausages and add red wine vinegar allowing flavors to marinate in one another.

4. In a large pot break down your noodles and add into boiling water.

5. Add tomatoes into a blender with remaining Garlic, cilantro,salt, pepper, 1 pack of feta cheese and olive oil. Blend on high until sauce becomes thick.

6. After 10 minutes or when pasta are tender drain the pasta top with sausage and peppers and add homemade sauce.

7. Garnish with some cilantro and grate remaining feta cheese over the dish.

As always,
Eat like a Foodie!

Be sure to follow us on twitter @NaturalGFoodie

Foodie Digest-Understanding Food

I recently had the opportunity to discuss food and healthy living amoungst other things with a client. Her take on food like soo many other people's was unrealistic and definitely a life sentence to misery. She had been doing research to find the foods that would help her to lose weight because her confidence and self outlook was very low. The day that I visited her she was boiling a whole chicken to cut up and put in a dressing -less salad. She said that it was the only thing that she felt was healthy for her to eat.
Immediately I knew what my job was, I knew what it was that I was supposed to bring to this woman. The same message that Natural Gourmet Foodie brings to our Foodies via twitter, Facebook and here on our blog. The truth... The truth about what "Fake" food does to our bodies and how the affects of how animals, plants and other products are treated are directly connected to our weight, physical make up, and how we feel physically. Never in our lifetime have young people in great numbers had soo many physical and chronic pains. Teenagers both young men and women walking around looking as if they have hit their complete maturity level. We ask ourselves how? Why? It is a simple and logical explanation if we continue to consume animals that are packed with steroids, wont we than negatively benefit from those harmful treatments? How do we expect to eat something that has been genetically modified and reap no benefits from this? Is an unrealistic concept. However, we live in a world where we unrealistically turn our eyes to this truths.  Working with this client allowed me to get a true understanding of the misconceptions that people have about healthy and Natural eating. You have to figure out what is right for your body.  What is your comfort level with food? Never be in a place where you are compromising healthy food for good food. They are both accessible!
Thanks you for reading friends!
Follow us on twitter @NaturalGFoodie

Foodcipe on a budget! Chicken Vidalia

This Foodcipe was actually a bit of a mistake and turned out to be very good!

Ingredients :
1 pack of all natural chicken legs or wings whatever your preference.
1 bottle of vidalia onion vinaigrette
2tbsp of salt
2tbsp of pepper
2tbsp of Cajun seasoning
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of fresh Basil

Directions :
Remove skin from the chicken( if using legs)
Season with salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning.
Pour 1 1/2 cup of water in baking dish after chicken is added.
Allow to chicken to cook 40-45 minutes on 350 until chicken is brown.

Remove chicken from the oven after 40-45 minutes turn chicken and pour vidalia sauce over chicken then add brown sugar coating top of chicken
Allow chicken to cook for 15 more minutes then allow it to sit.
Serve with side of choice.

As always,
Eat like a Foodie!