WILL YOU COME OVER FOR TEA?

This Christmas I got a beautiful gift from my father and mother in-law. So permit me to brag about this wonderful woman (my mother in-law) for a second. I feel blessed that we are so close and that she knows what I like. She is one of the sweetest people I know, so soft spoken (like me) and loves, loves pink. Anyway, she and Nina had been holding on to this surprise for a while but nothing prepared me for the uniqueness of this gift and yes, it's all organic too: (and oh, the pretty pink antique tea set is a gift from her as well)

THIS TEA BLOOMS!

Flowering teas is what they are, different flowers, different colors, awww, too cute,  it starts off as a very small bud and then slowly expands to almost fill the glass jar, how cool is that? The perk of having a mother in-law who loves you and knows what you like :)

My beautiful tea set all so PINK!

Just had to drop a cinnamon stick in there!

BEAUTIFUL

I feel like a princess every time I drink from this set

My little Ninashka, modeling the tea set and tea for mommy :)

Well, thanks for joining me for tea today. Hope we do this again soon.  Here are a few smoothies we've been enjoying for breakfast.

I made some ALMOND MILK yesterday

THIS BLENDER WAS ALSO A GIFT FROM my mother in-law, thanks 'Mema'

Freshly made almond milk

Ingredients:

2 cups almonds, soaked overnight and then rinsed
4 -5 cups of water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dates

Liquefy in a high speed blender and pass through a nut mesh bag or a cheese cloth if you don't have a nut milk bag. Save any left over almond chaff for later to use in pies and biscuits.

BLUEBERRY MOUNTAIN:

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen blueberries
2 bananas
1/2 cup almond milk

BLACKBERRY SMOOTHIE:

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen blackberries
1 cup almond milk
1/2 tsp coconut oil

Here's a photo my daughter took of me while I was working out. It came out blurred. I decided to make use of it and love the outcome.

Till next time, remember to EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU"LL THANK ME LATER!

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO UNLEASH THE ENERGY WITHIN

Yesterday I had to cook food for everyone else in the house and something different for me. It is pretty amazing how rejuvenated and alive one feels on a raw or mostly raw food diet. I wake up feeling like I can carry the world, ALL THIS ENERGY! what a difference. I am still mourning my food processor but I will live for the next few days until I can get a new one :)

My two angels having fun

My mornings starts the same, exercise (with my 8 year old trainer, if you think I'm joking come and get a session with her). Eventhough my thighs were sore from her 'Froggies' I still managed to push through and we had a blast. I do add my own exercises in between but I let her have the upper hand (she feels like a pro). Our juice was quite delicious....

SWEET-VEGGIE Juice

Ingredients:

4 carrots
1 cup red seedless grapes
1 whole lemon
2 red delicious apples
3 HUGE handfuls of spinach leaves

Juice and enjoy!

I had a head of cauliflower in the fridge and I had always wanted to make a mock rice, so I used this opportunity to do just that.

Not- rice and nut-sauce

Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower, (lightly steamed) you can eat it raw but I wanted to steam mine a little
2 Tbsp green onions, chopped
1 heaping Tbsp almond butter
1Tbsp agave nectar
2 Tbsp water
Juice of half a lemon
dash of black pepper
dash of paprika (optional)
dash of salt (optional)

Directions:

Mix first two ingredients and set aside
Mix the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl until it makes a smooth paste. Pour Nut sauce over cauliflower and mix. This was surprisingly quite satisfying and delicious and also very filling. I definitely will make it again. Feel free to make different variations of this and experiment with another nut, say cashews?

For Supper I had a huge bowl of spinach salad, love my spinach, can you tell?

Simple Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups of spinach leaves
1/3 cup of walnuts
A handful of dried cranberries or raisins

Dressing:

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp agave nectar
1 tsp dried mustard
1 garlic clove, minced

Mix all ingredients well in a bowl, pour on salad and toss. Enjoy!

Okay I made this beautiful veggie juice the other day look what I found after I was done juicing...

Is that pretty or what? what lovely colors...I love beets :) This is what it looked like after I was done:

Looks like blood huh? no worries, no vampires any where close

Here is what I made for everyone else..and yes, they all loved it.

Baked salmon on a bed of raspberry vinegretted (if that's a word) white asparagus and some rice. I may share  the recipe one of these days.

Okay, gotta go, have a great day and remember to EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

Every Disappointment Shows You a New Turn To Take

Happy New Year Everyone and hope your year is going great so far. Mine was going good until my favorite kitchen appliance broke up with me. My 2-in-1 Cuisinart food processor of 8 years finally kicked the bucket! And right when Nina and I were about to make a Raw Vegan Mango Cheesecake. We hadn't even gotten to the cheesecake (cashew and co) part yet and the food processor gave up right in the middle of us making the crust, well, the crust was almost done too. Either way I had to use my my back-up blender to come up with something different for dessert. But first here is how my day went:

My 8 year old Personal Trainer, Nina

I decided to let my daughter be my personal trainer for the morning and she almost killed me, seriously, an 8 year old made me work so hard that I almost cried, I am not joking when I say this, I was aching all over when we were done and the morning after. SHE IS GOOD!!! hahahahahahaha I have to give her that. We've made an agreement for her to coach me in the mornings, also gives us time to spend quality time together, have fun and all while exercising, not a bad deal huh? Then we made a vegetable juice for breakfast, well, for me mostly, the kids decided to do their usual banana/strawberry smoothie:

GOOD morning Vegetable Juice

2 Lbs bag of organic carrots
1 lemon, seeds removed
3-4 Granny Smith apples, cored
2 handfuls spinach leaves

Run all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy. I had a glass of this deliciousness at around 11 am and another around 4pm.

For Lunch I decided to go for a tasty Nori-wrap

Tasty Vegetable Wrap

4 nori sheets (or lettuce leaves)
1 big parsnips (some people call them white/albino carrots), grated
2-3 Tbsp agave nectar
2 small avocados (Haas), thinly sliced
1/4 cup Braggs Apple cider vinegar
3-4 big carrots, julienned
1 medium jicama, thinly sliced

Directions:

Soak julienned carrots in Braggs apple cider vinegar and set aside
Sprinkle a dash of salt and paprika on sliced jicama and set aside
Double nori sheets, lay on a flat surface. With fingers, lightly smear water all over the sheets (don't have to do this is you are using lettuce leaves)
Start vertically adding ingredients to roll in nori sheets; parsnips, drizzle of agave over length of parsnips, carrots, jicama and lastly avocado.
Roll tightly and use water to seal ends of nori sheet.

This was very delicious and quite satisfying.

For dinner we were going to make a mango cheesecake but disappointment turned into a sweet surprise when our food processor broke down ( Can't do without a food processor, have to get one really soon because I make most of my raw foods and desserts with it)

The- mango- thingy- that -was- meant- to- be- a- mango- cheesecake- but- couldn't

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 cup almond meal (ground almond)
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup dates
pinch of salt

Put in food processor with an 'S' blade and blend till it starts to stick together and form and dough. Press half of the dough 5' pan and set aside. * Since my food processor broke halfway my walnuts were coarse which really gave it a crunchy feel, yummmy!!!*

Mango pudding:

3 cups frozen mango
1 cup coconut flakes, (dry)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Tbsp coconut oil
3 Tbsp water

Add all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend till smooth and creamy. Pour a layer of mango pudding over crust and then sprinkle the rest of the dough over first mango layer. Top with the remainder of mango pudding, cover with an aluminium foil and freeze for about 1 hour. I just couldn't wait so I got mine out sooner and it was semi-firm but still wildly delicious.

EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

ALMOST THANKSGIVING!

I haven't blogged for a little while but you must know I have been super busy. As usual I always have more than one project  going on at the same time. Recently I've been busy with the 3G MOMS. Have I told you about the 3G MOMS? Well, you're in for a treat so why spoil it now?


I have been doing my hair, yup, I do my own braids and I'm getting better with practice. See? My daughter calls them Rock N' Roll Twists, others call it City Twists. It is a very trendy hairdo that people pay $300 to have done at an exclusive location here in Atlanta, BUT I HAVE BEEN STUDYING IT FOR MONTHS AND FINALLY CRACKED THE CODE! So I am mighty proud of myself :)

Now let's talk about food. My little Wonder aka Nina and I have been experimenting on breakfast smoothies all week and came up with some pretty delicious stuff.  Even my 14 month old son loves it, when he hears the blender he runs to the kitchen screaming "Banana, banana!" it is the cutest thing I ever heard :)

"Mommy, this is the best and most fun part of my morning!" 

Our Raspberry Explode:

3 ripe bananas
2 cups of Soy milk (vanilla-flavored) *You can also use Almond milk if you want*
1 Tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp Lacuma powder
5-6 frozen raspberries *You may use your favorite frozen fruit*

Directions:

Blend the first four ingredients until smooth and then pour about 3/4 of it into a glass. Next, add the frozen raspberries and blend until smooth. Pour the rest of the smoothie from the blender into the glass. Be creative with your designs and let the kids do theirs, they come up with the best designs and ideas. This is a great way to enjoy a healthy breakfast. Have fun!


Our Meatless Meatballs:

I was in the mood for some meatballs today and remembered I had some meatless meatballs in the fridge. I also had some cabbage which I'd blanched, squeezed and then stored in the freezer. This was my lunch. The pictures above show just the meatballs before I added my cabbage. Hope you like it if you do try it.

Ingredients:

1.5 large yellow onions, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cm fresh ginger root, minced
2 plum tomatoes, diced
1/4 tsp onion powder and garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/2 dried oregano
2-3 Tbsp curry (I love curry)
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 vegan vegetable bouillons (or salt to taste)
9oz Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs (You can find this in the organic section of your local grocery store)

Directions:

In a saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the onions, fresh garlic and fresh ginger. Once the onions become lightly translucent add the rest of the ingredients except the meatballs. Let cook for about 3 minutes covered and then add your meatballs. Cook for another 5 minutes on low heat. (If you decide to add spinach or cabbage, add about 2 cups of either at the same time you add your meatless meatballs and let cook together). Serve with pasta or eat as is. I enjoyed mine very much. Next time I will add some pepper to kick it up a notch. I like spicy food :)


Hope you're preparing for THANKSGIVING. What are you cooking this year?  In my house we always have an International-style Thanksgiving and this year will be no different. I will be making a large pot of eru (my favorite traditional meal from Cameroon)...thinking about it makes me smile already :):):)


EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

Yvette Odom, Week 2

The week has flown by but not without great news. Remember I told you I will be giving you updates of Yvette's FYR journey? Okay drum roll please !!!!!!!! You will be happy to know that after 7 days on the FYR program Ms. Odom has dropped 5 pounds! I was very excited for her as we watched the scale go down, down, down :)

She is more motivated than ever and before I write down her struggles and triumphs from the past week, I want to add that she consciously works out every morning as well. We text each other every morning and then wake up to exercise. You can do that too, set a time to consciously wake up and exercise. The time Yvette and I decided is 6:00am every morning. As you know I have two kids including a one year old who wakes up at night but no matter how tired I am I still push myself to get up because I made a commitment to myself and I hate letting myself down. So if I can do it, you can do it too. Yvette is doing it and so can you! I know you can!

YVETTE's NOTES:

Week 1 recap
Challenges
 gas
Multiple bathroom trips

Solutions
Alkaline water, smaller meals, no skipped snacks, increased exercise & general activity in the morning

Benefits
Increased energy, less stiffness, feel better during the day & better sleep at night

Other unexpected advantages
Feeling good all day & loss 5lbs the first week, nails & skin looks healthier already.

Next weeks goals
Lose 5-7lbs
Better food planning & organization
To increase flexibility during exercise




Are you ready to join the FYR clan? email me bernice4fyr@gmail.com

My Raw-vegan apple pie

Raw-vegan apple pie



Recipe coming soon...





EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER.

Yvette Odom, Week 1

FYR is about to do something we've never done before: I love working with people on a one on one basis. In the past we've gotten testimonies after the person has done the FYR-detox program but this is the first time I will be tracking/documenting the progress of a new FYR enthusiast. Meet Ms. Yvette Odom.

I have known Yvette for about 3 years now and she's been flirting with the idea of doing the program for sometime now. When we talked on the phone a few days ago she told me she was ready. This time I truly believed her because we all know that we usually only make that BIG decision when we are truly fed up. I am so very excited for Yvette and have no doubt that she will be as successful as she decides to be.

We started by charting her measurements and going through the food list found in the FYR e-Book. Then we both headed out to the local farmer's market so I could help her get the things she will need for her FYR journey. It was a blast shopping with her and picking up all her staples. We discussed key points , hints and many other important things that you will find in your FYR e-book (Yvette had already gotten her FYR e-books many months ago and has read it over and over in order to get the basics down). By the end of the our shopping experience we were both excited beyond belief. I love working with people especially someone as determined and enthusiastic as my friend Yvette.

Thank you Yvette for letting us document your journey and sharing your heart with us. I have no doubt that you will inspire so many people as you begin to LOVE YOURSELF A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

Here is a little interview I did with Yvette yesterday in preparation for her FYR journey (which starts today, October 10th).

ME: "Hi Yvette, howdy?"

YVETTE: "Hi Bernice, I'm doing great!" she giggled. She is a full-of-life, bubbly person and her laughter is infectious.

ME: "Can you tell us what is and has been your inspiration to undertake this journey?"

YVETTE: "I was and am inspired by a dear friend of mine (you). She is very disciplined and it shows very well. I see her success and how happy she is and I want to follow in her footsteps."

ME: "Well, thank you dear." I was smiling from ear to ear. What can I say, we were having a blast, yes, we had to control the laughter and concentrate on the interview, oh boy, is that hard!

ME: "Do you have any fears as you start the FYR program?"

YVETTE: "Yes, I fear that I won't do well. I know I will succeed to some degree which by the way my goal is to lose 133 pounds but most importantly I want to achieve optimum health. I want to avoid the stigma of my family background when it comes to diabetes and blood clots due to poor circulation. I know eating a healthier diet will alleviate these issues for me."

ME: "In the FYR ebooks I talk about the process of finding your 'Emotional Why' have you found yours?"

YVETTE: " I have always seen myself as someone with this inner style and personality but I don't think it reflects on my outside as much as it is inside. There is this girl in me that I know so well who is dying to come out of this outer shell. I want to have children, a family, I want to watch my children grow."

ME: "What are some tangible things that motivate you?"

YVETTE: "Janet Jackson. I don't necessarily want to be her size but growing up she has always being my role model for someone who openly portrayed a positive body image. She worked out and did it the way way. I want to do this the right and healthy way. I have been big all my life and I want to show people they can do it too. Most importantly I want to become my own role model."

ME: "Why did you choose FYR when there are many other programs out there that you could choose from."

YVETTE: "I don't want to feel guilty anymore of what I'm eating. FYR makes the most sense to me and is sincerely the very best option for what I want to attain with my health. I want my healthy looking skin back, healthy hair and energy back. FYR not only does it the right way but also the natural way. Plus I have you in my head and ear all the time, so I can't go wrong."

ME: "Don't forget to have a little fun and not take life too seriously while you're on the program, if at anytime you do deviate a little from the program, remember not to feel so disappointed that you abandon the program, just forgive yourself and get right back on board. But I know you can do this and I am so proud of you for making the best decision for your health.  With the Forever Young Revolution together we can encourage one another to love ourselves a little differently."

YVETTE's Weight Loss Goal: 133 pounds

Ms. Yvette Odom

"Our environment is our external metabolism."-- Dr. Max Gerson

"EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!"

I HAVE ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST because I CAN!

I AM YOUR GENIE, YOU CALLED AND HERE I  COME TO SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH

How about a RAW-VEGAN YUMMY ICE CREAM?

Ingredients  for raw-vegan ice cream:
2 ripe bananas, sliced and frozen overnight
1 tsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp water or coconut water (to add as needed)

Blend till smooth and store in freezer(if you prefer a firmer ice cream rather than soft serve) for about 15 minutes

Ingredients for Strawberry Syrup:

5 ripe strawberries
1/2 tsp coconut oil
2 cubes of ripe mango
1 Tbsp agave nectar

Blend all together until smooth and drizzle over ice cream, you may also add nuts and berries over ice cream. For this recipe I added pineapple chunks, a sprinkle of pecan flour and crushed walnuts. YES AND YOU CAN EAT ALL YOU WANT!!!

This is so delicious that your little ones will love it, how about that? we will be bringing you more raw-vegan recipes and more desserts for those of you with a sweet tooth like me xoxoxoxo ENJOY!

Softer version of ice cream with strawberry syrup YUM-ME!

Click on this text to view our new facebook page: 

Firmer Ice cream: CAN YOU TASTE IT?

Our Amazing chef, Nina Lakota, Official Face of FYR, getting ready to make her very first raw-vegan ice cream

Thank you very much Ms. Nina. Please let us know how you liked it when you make it for you and your loved ones.



EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

HAPPINESS IS FROM WITHIN...: This is why I am happy, This is my story, this is ...

I just had to share this powerful testimony about Jenny on the FYR program. She is also a contender in the FYR 90-day superstar challenge. Read and be inspired....

HAPPINESS IS FROM WITHIN...: This is why I am happy, This is my story, this is ...: "This is my story, this is my joy...Now the fact is, I never really talked about my struggles with my weight because I felt that’s personal a..."

The Great American Seduction

We live in a country where food seduction is in competition with marriage. Over 51% of marriages end up in divorce and over 50% of America’s food is highly processed. So which one is stimulating our pleasure centers in the brain more? I think we all know the answer. I was watching a certain commercial yesterday where a company was advertising their ‘Good Mood Food’ and I leaned forward to see what would give such a happy smile on someone’s face and it was interesting to see that it was a sandwich packed with some kind of animal flesh, cheese, and extra grease. I thought oh boy, is there anyone out there who really believes this? It was being advertised as a serving for one person whereas three people could actually eat that and be full.

With so many different ingredients being packed into food to make it addictive, is it any wonder why we can’t seem to stop eating? The reasons why these additives have been added are numerous, some of which are to add flavor and color to a food item that has been totally depleted and robbed of its nutrients.

I can safely say I have been addicted and have fallen for the sweet seduction of such foods twice in my life. The first time it was condensed milk and crackers. I used to rush to the store to buy a big container of condensed milk and crackers and would finish it in less than an hour. I used to feel so sick after that but do you think that stopped me? Another time I got fixated on captain crunch cereal, a box a day was my addiction. It sickens me to remember how horrible I felt afterwards but somehow I could not stop until I decided to ask myself one day why I still felt so ‘Horrible’ inside if all these foods were supposed to make me happy. I was putting myself on a periodic sugar high; I would be happy while eating the food and then sad a few hours later. Thank goodness I got the courage to stop misusing and abusing my body.

Here are a few ways to stop unhealthy food addiction:

 Do a periodic fast or detox: (I recommend the FYR 21-day detox found in the eBook on sale on this site). Somehow after a detox your body starts to crave only good and healthy foods, almost as if it knows what it wants and is begging you to stay the course. The moment you stray and start eating unhealthy again imagine that yucky feeling is your body asking you “Why? why are you doing this to me? Don’t I take good care of you? why don’t you take better care of me?”

My 7 year old took this picture of me this morning. I like to exercise when my 6 month old and my husband are still sleeping but Ms. Nina always seems to catch me just right when I'm about to begin. She likes to work out with me. If not, I usually have the whole house to myself. I call it 'Mommy's quiet/power' hour.

Exercise: I love exercising; it is a healthy addiction because it releases the real ‘Feel good’ hormones and keeps you on your toes all day. When you exercise you are more conscious of what you put in your mouth.

Eat your fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds and nuts: Go back to the basics. These foods would keep your blood sugars from spiking all over the place and keep you from being moody throughout the day. You don’t want to drive anyone crazy, would you? J would you?

Sleep: I don’t think I will ever have a television in my room and definitely not in my children’s room either. It is safer for me to keep it in the living room. A restful sleep is a powerful addiction breaker.

Start your day with a great breakfast, fruits are ideal and in any form: I love green smoothies. It is so much fun and definitely a great-mood-drink.

Have a support system: If you don’t have people who support what you’re doing it can be very challenging. Make your decision and go for it, don’t let anyone talk you out of it. It may come from a sincere place but at the end of the day it is you alone who knows how you feel inside and your health is in no one’s hands but your own.

Drink lots of water: I always start my morning with a big glass of water. Sometimes when you think you are hungry, all you may need is a glass of water to quench your thirst or dehydration. Drink up!

When I juice carrots I love to do my carrot soups then and since I am a lazy cook, raw food usually suits me well especially with something like the carrot soup where you just pour-all-in-and-blend. If you want to warm it after that it's all up to you but here are the simple ingredients:

My Liquid Gold

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh carrot juice

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 soy or almond milk

2 Tbsp agave

Juice of 1/2 a lemon or 1 lime

2 Tbsp coconut oil

1/4 cup almond mill or ground cashews (to thicken it up)

salt and pepper to taste

A dash of curry

Blend all together and serve. YUMMY-GOLDILICIOUS.

Drink and eat to your health, you'll thank me later!

FEAST FOR YOUR EYES Session 1

Some days all you think of is food, hopefully good food right? here are a few to feast your eyes on :)

SIMPLY CARROT JUICE

ORANGE-MANDARIN BROCCOLI SAUCE ON WHOLE WHEAT PASTA

SIMPLY BROCCOLI-GREEN ROCKS!

COCONUT-MASALA SAUCE WITH SPINACH PASTA AND VEGAN SAUSAGE

COCONUT-CURRY SAUCE WITH VEGGIES & TEMPEH ON A BED OF QUINOA

'I DREAM IN CHOCOLATE' CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

'MAKE ME BEAUTIFUL' SMOOTHIE

ALMOND CHOCOLATE CUPSENSATION

'RED GODDESS' SIMPLY TOMATO JUICE

'BERRY BERRY HAPPY' SMOOTHIE

'BERRY BERRY HAPPY' SMOOTHIE

COCONUT-OATMEAL DELIGHT DRESSED IN CHO-CO-LATTE

SPINACH MEDLEY

PITA PIZZA

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE

DATE NIGHT APPETIZER: BAKED TOFU DRIZZLED WITH AN IRRESISTIBLE SAUCE

SIMPLY SALAD

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

HUNGRY YET? YOU CAN FIND SOME OF THESE RECIPES IN BOTH eBOOKS FOR SALE ON THIS SITE....Drink and eat to your health, you'll thank me later!

WHITE CHOCOLATE APPLE DESSERT WITH COCONUT SHAVINGS

POTATO SALAD WITH AN FYR TWIST

CHOCOLATE HALVA

SIMPLY TILAPIA