WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: A "Souper" Summer Recipe

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air." 

                                                                                --Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

The beauty of summertime is that we have so many wonderful choices:  should I sleep in late today, go for a swim, read a book, or eat chilled watermelon?  In the Midwest, July is corn season.  Fresh corn is showing up at the New Albany Farmers Market.  My heart is happy!  Should I make corn on the cob, corn & black bean salad, Mexican street corn, or cornbread?  

Here is one of my favorite recipes for corn soup.  This 6 ingredient recipe is great to make with your kids.

GROWING HEALTHY KIDS:  Our Recipe Collection

CORN SOUP

CLEAN husks and silks from:

·        5 ears of fresh corn

REMOVE kernels from the cobs using a sharp knife and set aside.

MELT in a medium saucepan over medium heat:

·        2 Tablespoons vegan butter

ADD:

·        1 medium onion, diced

·        1 clove garlic, minced

SAUTE until onion is softened, about 20 minutes. 

ADD:

  Corn kernels

·        1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar

·        4-1/2 cups vegetable stock

REDUCE heat and simmer until corn is tender, about 10 minutes. 

USE a slotted spoon to remove 1 cup of the corn-onion mixture and set aside. Transfer remaining soup in small batches to blender and puree until completely smooth, about 3 minutes per batch.  Return to saucepan and stir in reserved corn-onion mixture.

REHEAT until steaming.

SEASON to taste with salt and pepper. 

SERVE topped with smoked paprika.

With love,

Nancy Heinrich, MPH

Founder and Wellness Architect

Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: 3 Reasons to Go Plant-Based

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian." 

                                                                             --Paul McCartney

Kids and mentors learn about healthy eating at a Growing Healthy Kids' workshop.

The evidence continues to mount in favor of the power of plant-based eating for improving health outcomes.  In working with children at risk for childhood obesity and diabetes and the root causes, it is clear that kids and their parents are targeted by food manufacturers, fast food companies, and the pharmaceutical-medical industrial complex.  “We’ll sell them food loaded with salt, sugar, and fat, then we’ll sell them drugs for the diseases caused by consuming processed foods filled with food additives, food dyes, and chemicals with no nutritional value.”

Choosing to go plant-based is an easy decision if you want to feel better.  Here are 3 reasons to help you consider going plant-based:

1. The environmental damage caused by the cruel factory farming of animals for human consumption is a major contributor to global warming. 
2. Eating primarily fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains is proven to control, manage, and reverse – yes, reverse – diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
3. When you start choosing a plant-based way of eating, many people report an increase in energy, clearer thinking, and better sleep. 

Take the first step towards plant-based eating.  Choose to eat less animal foods this week. 

With love,

Nancy Heinrich, MPH

Founder and Wellness Architect

Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: 7 Books for Summer Reading

"People don't realize how a man's whole life can be changed by one book."

                                                            --Malcolm X

I have always loved to read.  Perhaps my love of the written word is why I am so passionate about improving health literacy for children and their families.

Knowledge is the key to great power.  If you want to be in control of your own health, it helps to understand the causes of chronic, preventable diseases and how central what we eat is to the state of our health - or lack of it.  Once you learn what foods to NOT eat, then you can begin to focus on foods that promote health, wellness, and longevity. 

Here are seven of my favorite books by four physicians who are leaders in plant-based nutrition that I routinely loan to people who ask for advice after they have had a heart attack or been diagnosed with diabetes.  Funny how it takes a catastrophic or life-threatening event to grab one’s attention about what good food is and why it matters. Take time this summer to enjoy my recommended reading:

1. The Cheese Trap by Neal Barnard, MD
2. Your Body in Balance by Neal Barnard, MD
3. Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr, MD
4. How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD
5. How Not to Diet by Michael Greger, MD
6. The How Not to Die Cookbook by Michael Greger, MD
7. Undo it!:  How Simple Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases by Dean Ornish, MD

Fill this summer with great family time and good books!  

With love,

Nancy Heinrich, MPH

Founder and Wellness Architect

Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.