July 4 organic freedom and emotional independence for all
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Jul 1, 2009 | Be the First to Comment
Sammy say Happy Organic July 4th to everyone and reminds you to think about what Independence and Freedom means to you.
“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.”
~ Viktor E. Frankl, Concentration Camp Survivor
The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of our adoption of the Delaration of Independence.
It is the day we devote to Independence and to our freedom. Many celebrate with parades, carnivals, picnics, concerts, barbecues and fireworks. But do we really enjoy our freedom? How many of you are consumed by constant mental mind chatter that degrades your spirit and has you believing you are less than who you are? How many of you still believe in your boggy man? Is that Freedom? Where is your Independence of Thought?
Just as you want to eat healthy and exercise, you want to include “eating” healthy thoughts. Train your brain. Choose to stop believing everything your negative mind chatter has to say. It is just chatter. Choose to fill yourself with self affirming positive thoughts. Listening to negative thoughts means your mind is controlling you and it also means there is no Independence Day for you this year.
Summer beckons us to lounge poolside and read a few good books. Try The Power of Now
or The Path to Love: Spiritual Strategies for Healing
These books will support your personal freedom and assist you in understanding your mind talk. Maybe even mellow your thoughts and offer you more emotional freedom.
A few Independence Day Recommendations to start your July 4 celebrations off with a positive heart beat.
Choose not to react to yucky things that happen. People say stupid things sometimes. I bet you have on occasion said something you wished you hadn’t. I have. Act in peace with love and kindness. Choose to brush off that which does not generate your good will. Catch yourself when you say something stupid or mean spirited. Snap your fingers and mentally banish those thoughts away. Then laugh at yourself as you ring out some of those toxic thoughts.
Be present. Choose your battles and let go of petty gripes. They only add wrinkles and a misuse of our precious lives. Be the solution instead of the stinker.
Read some inspirational quotes. Your mind mimics what you say, keep feeding yourself with positive driven words and discover the beautiful world that you create for yourself.
Just as you love others, love yourself first. No this is not selfish. Practice unconditional kindness on yourself and watch the world reap the benefits.
This Independence day devote your energy in celebrating your own emotional freedom. Declare your independence from negative mind talk. Talk about fireworks!
To Your VIbrant Health, Rochelle Blank Zimmer, Your Holistic Health Counselor - www.a-naturalchoice.com
The Vitality of Fine Green Vegetarian Fare
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Jun 25, 2009 | Be the First to Comment
Early, this past spring, before I got into the throws of planning my green wedding, I gave a green talk at the Princeton Public Library on the vitality of Vegetarian Food. I strongly believe and passionately recommend that everyone eat more plant based foods, and this is what I told my guests at my talk that night.
Bill from Whole Earth agreed as well and he arranged for a large portion of the ingredients that I used for my dishes to be donated from Whole Earth. How wonderful is that! Talk about support for speaking about vegetarian food. Kudos to Bill at the Whole Earth Center in Princeton, NJ.
The picture above shows the green choices I made and served that evening at my talk and demonstration.
From left to right there are some raw hazelnuts decorating the table and leading the way to the delicious hazelnut pate, which also brags on itself in the main picture that uses a bed of cucumber to hold a dollop of the yummy pate. Above the Hazelnut dip, is a edamane and chick pea salad followed by a kale and green lettuce salad followed by some Mary’s Gone Crackers which served as the bed for the tofu “egg” salad spread pictured below the crackers.
The food and talk was received very well. One dish a Hazelnut Pate that I made, was a total love by Bill of Whole Earth He was kind enough to submit the recipe for a column called Local Fare provided by Robin Broomer and published in Town Topics.
Below is the recipe for you to try at home
Hazelnut Pate
This recipe was made for my talk. I adapted it from The New Becoming a Vegetarian by Vesanto Meline and Brenda Davis
The New Becoming Vegetarian -the Essential Guide To A Healthy Vegetarian Diet
I recommend serving this yummy pate spread with whole grain or raw crackers or sliced cucumber or any variety of crudites.
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil
- 1/2 cup sliced onions,
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms,
- 3 gloves garlic,
- 1 cup roasted hazelnuts,
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro,
- 1 tablespoon Braggs Liquid Aminos,
- 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes,
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt,
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper,
- juice of a 1/2 of lemon.
Directions
Heat your oil in a medium skillet over a medium heat. (Careful not too high a heat!) Add onions, mushrooms and garlic and saute until they begin to brown about 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile take your hazelnuts and grind them in a food processor or Vita Mixer. Add sauteed mixture to nuts and process until very smooth. Add parsley, braggs, Nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Blend well. Add 1/2 juice of lemon and or water to thin it.
Would love to hear from you. Please let me know how you liked the pate.
To YOUR Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Health Counselor, Rochelle Blank Zimmer, Your Natural Choice @ www.a-naturalchoice.com or naturalchoicehhc@aol.com
Call or email today for a private consultation
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Serving up organic raw chocolate bars at my green wedding
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Jun 23, 2009 | 2 Comments
Gnosis Chocolate came into my life at the perfect time. I was planning my Green Wedding and mulling over what I wanted to give my guests as their green wedding party favor. I scoured the Internet and came up dry. I knew I wanted something green, something to indulge your health with, and something memorable. I knew the perfect healthy choice would soon appear. And Voila, it sure did!.
A few weeks later - back in March of this year, I heard Vanessa Berg of Gnosis Chocolate speak to an audience of over 1200 students at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC about her successful raw chocolate company - Gnosis chocolate. Vanessa, like me, is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and is also like me, all about using superfoods for sustainable good health. Generously, she arranged for each student and staff member, to receive a free Gnosis sample chocolate bar. That is when I met the chocolate bar of all chocolate bars!
Knowing the health values of eating pure cacao which holds one of the highest antioxidant count on the planet, I couldn’t wait to taste my guilt free raw organic unprocessed NO SUGAR added chocolate bar. It was love at first bite! My body reacted with sheer happiness! I would also like to add that prior, I was not a big chocolate bar lover as some people tell me that they are. But one bite into a Gnosis Chocolate Bar will do you in for sure.
It didn’t take any time for my wheels to start to turn. Bingo GREEN! I knew those sinfully delicious and most nutritious raw chocolate bars ever - would be The perfect green wedding day gift for my guests. I was so happy that my guests could benefit from their gift by eating something that could protect their heart and enhance their mood naturally. - After all, isn’t a healthy heart and enhanced feelings what wedding days and love are all about?
The main ingredient used in the chocolate bar is Cacao, which has the highest natural source of heart healthy magnesium. A deficiency in magnesium, is linked to heart disease, diabetes, joint problems, and PMS. And ladies, magnesium is also good for alleviating cramps!!! Is it any wonder we crave chocolate…
Cacao also enhances one’s mood because of the neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and anandamide that cacao contains. The super high level of antioxidants, neutralizes free radicals - allowing us to live longer and healthier lives. Vanessa, nicknamed chocolate girl told me that raw chocolate has 2x the amount of antioxidant content that are found in red wine and 3x the amount found in green tea! COOL!
GNOSIS CHOCOLATES puts it all together in their super healthy chocolate bars while also redefining outrageously delicious.
You know, the first chance I got that afternoon, I cell phoned Vanessa to ask if she would do a special order for my wedding. An enthusiastic YES was her reply. Yippie! I was walking the road to green wedding favor perfection.
Together, Vanessa and I created the carefully selected ingredients that were used in My special wedding day chocolates which included 100% Organic ingredients. Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Goji Berries, Gogi Berry Powder, Pomegranate Powder, Vanilla Beans, Crystal Manna, Blue Green Alge and LOVE!
Wanting the labels to mirror the wedding invitations, I supplied the design and used the intention I had set for my wedding day - “The loveliest afternoon of the year” as a quote on the label. Vanessa came up with the great layout for my ideas.
What I love about Gnosis Chocolates is that they are refined Sugar free, dairy free, cholesterol Free, Gluten free, 100% Organic, 100% raw, and handmade with Love and Integrity. In addition, NO chemicals, fillers, stabilizers, or unpronounceable ingredients are used! and 10% of the profits go to the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF.org). Even the boxes are recycled! I had it all, great healthy taste, ethical green business practices and working with Gnosis Chocolate - a terrific business to do business with!
One month later, my wedding guests are still talking about their unique healthy organic raw unprocessed chocolate bars with a yum factor that was off the charts… One more happy feather in my green wedding planning.
For more information on Green Wedding Planning, please contact me at naturalchoicehhc@aol.com.
Always, To your Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Health Counselor, Rochelle Blank Zimmer - Your Natural Choice @ www.a-naturalchoice.com or naturalcoicehhc@aol.com.
Rainy days are green good for many things
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Jun 18, 2009 | 1 Comment
If you are living on the east coast, lately you might be feeling like you are living on the West Coast. Seattle that is, because of how much rain and dark cloudy days we have had. You might be thinking, okay everything is as green as it can possibly be - Let’s have some sunshine! and I agree with you. But until the sun comes out, here are a few green suggestions to keep your mood afloat.
- For the gardener in you - Cool and Cloudy days are the best days to transplant plants.
- Cooler, rainy temperatures keep the ground moist and prevent roots and shoots from drying up
- Rainy spring like weather is more conducive to encouraging new growth and from what I can in my own backyard and all around, this checks outs!
- Working with plants supports a happy mind set.
- Planting flowers add healthy lovely fragrances and beauty to your home environment.
- Planting edible plants are a great way to keep you healthy, in touch with nature and eating locally!
- When wet weather reins you in, take advantage of the comfort of warm tea , a roof overhead and focus on something you want to do without the distractions of a warm sunny day.
- Clean out a closet - get ready for an outdoor yard sale when the Sun is back in town
- Try rebounding - all you need is a handy indoor mini trampoline
- Or don your favorite green umbrella and take a walk - the world is filled with vivid green vistas waiting for you to document.
- Many a rainy day has cajoled a reader to curl up on their sofa and read a good book.
- While others may jump into the kitchen and cook something soothing and healthy
- Or maybe you will choose to write in your journal.
- Rainy days are delicious for warm soothing soaks in the tub prepared with an essential oil
- Followed by an afternoon nap or an early evening snooze. Use some lavender oil to support those added zzzzzzzzzzz’s.
- Or snuggle up with your honey or dog or cat and remember we aren’t living in Seattle
- And the Sun will come out again.
What do you like to do on Rainy Days? Write in and let me know, I would love to hear from you.
To Your Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Health Counselor, Rochelle Blank HHC, Your Natural Choice - www.a-naturalchoice.com or naturalchoicehhc@aol.com
Green goes with everything - especially Bella Wedding days!
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Jun 16, 2009 | 5 Comments
When it came time to choosing my wedding invitations, I scoured the internet for eco- invitations that were both enviromentally friendly and elegant. Knowing my invitations would set the tone for my special day, I set a clear intention for my wedding day. My intention was simple, and perfect for me. I wanted my wedding to be ” The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year” (and IT WAS!) With that in mind, I set out to find an invitation that would beautifully reflect that sentiment. (more on setting your intention later on)
My web surfing led me to a company called Bella Figura at www.bellafigura.com who also has a sister company called Smock at www.smockpaper.com There, I was turned onto the regal world of letter pressing, a historic printing method using precision instruments from a lost era of machining. Having a background and love for antiques and good design I knew my fingers doing the eco walking had taken me to the right place. From start to finish I was delighted with Bella Figura and the people behind the company. (Kudos to Tiffany!)
For starters, Bella Figura works with various talented artists who design simply gorgeous wedding invitations. See for yourself and check out their website out at www.bellafigura.com. Bella people are passioniate about good design and the environment. So am I. First fit - very good.
Their cards are made from environmental papers, either tree free or a high recycled content, using 100 % cotton paper.
But they are more than pretty invitations. They walk the environmental walk and inspire me to do more.
- Bella Figura recycles, and keeps harmful stuff out of landfills.
- They donate surplus paper and envelopes to their local Public Schools.
- They are a member of 1% for the Planet, and donate 1% of sales to environmental organizations who are doing essential work to save the planet:
- They are members of Co-op American Green Business Network, an organization of truly cutting-edge green businesses.
- They have partnered with American Forests (the country’s oldest citizens’ non-profit organization) to help slow global warming through the planting of trees
- They are entirely wind-powered through Native Energy helping to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Shipping comes in 100% post consumer recycled materials.
In short, Bella Figura is about elegant beautiful letterpress design and health and their staff is one of the best around.
As I often say, Good Health is a result of more than what we put in our mouths to eat. It is also about how we choose to live our lives. Your Health will benefit from a varied many healthy choices you choose to make, be it food or lifestyle. The products you use, and the ingredients and resources used in making those products will be reflected back to you in your health. Additionally good health includes our relationships with each other, be it family, friends or business. Choose wisely, choose health and choose Green in all of your choices.
To Your Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Health Counselor and Green Wedding Planner, Rochelle Blank- Your Natural Choice - www.a-naturalchoice.com or naturalchoicehhc@aol.com.
Email for a consultation at naturalchoicehhc@aol.com and enjoy a summer savings discount.
The Loveliest afternoon of the Year… begins in Green
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Jun 13, 2009 | 1 Comment
Greetings Friends!
I hope that I am finding you in good health and with happy healthy spirits. Some of you may have been wondering where I have been…
This past May, May 23 to be exact, I got MARRIED! In Princeton, New Jersey. It was the loveliest afternoon of the year!
Prior to this date I was in green wedding planning heaven overdrive. As the weeks got closer, my spare time was focused on this amazing event - My Green Wedding Day! Then I went on a Green Honeymoon and since I have been catching up in many more green ways.
I can’t wait to share with you, how I created a wonderfully green wedding, dazzled my guests with healthy choices and had the greatest day of my life! So stay tuned and hear about bouquets made with kale and asparagus, vegetarian cheese free lasagna, black bean cakes, healthy vegan cupcakes, raw chocolate, organic wine, organic makeup and so much more - it’s all coming to A Natural Choice.
To Your Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Health Counselor, Rochelle Blank, Your Natural Choice at www.a-naturalchoice.com or naturalchoicehhc@aol.com
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Springtime health concerns for pets, children and adults
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Apr 29, 2009 | 4 Comments
My dog Samatha has something to say about pet care and springtime. First, she will gleefully tell any and all to eat their vegetables. Her favorite ones are green beans, asapargus, carrots, brussell sprouts and broccoli. She eats apples right out of my hand and right down to the core. No waste with Sammy!. She loves the crunch factor, while shying away from overly cooked and mushy vegetables or lettuces. She is a natural raw foodist with the exception, and I am a bit ashamed to say - she does love chicken and will happily consume it when feed it. (grandmothers are such spoilers!) What is a vegetarian mom to do!
Sammy also loves the springtime. Finally, after the cold winter her instincts tell her it is time to roll around in the grass and lap up some extra vitamin D from the overhead spring sun. However, her mom (that’s me) is concerned that the heavy spraying on neighborhood lawns could be a dampener on Sammy’s favorite pastime.
Today she was unable to enjoy her favorite past time of frolicking and sniffing in the green grass because the owners of the complex where she lives has put out new dirt that is loaded with chemicals. She does not appreciate sniffing chemicals and has confirmed with me that she gets sick when she smells those noxious chemical fumes. Both her and her mom have had to leave for the day to get away from the smell and the newly intense odors. Unfortunately, they will have to return and have to deal with the toxic chemicals that are now right outside their doorsteps.
So along with eating vegetables refrain from using chemicals on your yards. Let you neighbors know how you feel. Tell anyone you know that has a lawn to think twice about spraying using TOXIC chemicals to beautify their grounds. It is simply unconscionable to use chemicals on neighborhood lawns. There ought to be a citizen’s arrest.
When I approached the management agency last year about their practice of spraying, they were defensive and denied that the sprays could cause any pet or human harm. Now how is that for acting like an ostrich with their head stuck in toxic sand.
Sammy says Safe guard your pet pals from a toxic exposure, she adds that it will benefit you and your kids as well.
Chemical Lawn Treatments - Just don’t use them. Dogs can become heavily exposed and track chemicals into your home. If you walk on your lawn, you will track the chemicals into your home as well. Open your windows and the soft spring breezes will deliver chemicals right into your home, permeating on everything. This is not good.
What about Children? Last time I recalled, kids love to play outside. Do you want your kids playing on lawns that have cancer causing chemicals on them? That make them sick? I think not.
Clean up after your dog. Animal waste from our pets, pollute our waters. Left behind, the waste is washed away by rain, melting snow and ice into our community drains. The drains will then carry the water with the animal waste into our rivers, lakes, oceans and drinking water. This same scenario includes the toxic chemicals. Carried off into our drinking waters, our lakes, rivers and oceans where we swim, and some of us eat fish from. UGH!
We are nature and so are all connected to nature. Take care of nature and it will take care of you. Abuse nature and you are abusing yourself and loved ones.
To your Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Health Counselor, Rochelle Blank - owner of YOUR NATURAL CHOICE
www.a-naturalchoice.com
Green your Home and Garden with non Toxic Products
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Apr 21, 2009 | Be the First to Comment
Being Healthy is not just the result of choosing to eat nutritious food daily and exercising often, it is also a commitment to keeping toxic chemicals out of and off of our bodies. This means keeping these substances out of your home and your outside environments.
With the arrival of Spring and Summer close behind, we will be spending more time outdoors. Tending to lawns and gardens is a common practice with both home owners and corporations. This seemingly healthy activity is often masked by the massive spraying of lawns with fertilizers and other toxic chemicals.
The bee in my bonnet always gets busy buzzing over this issue.
The use of toxic chemicals harm our environment and our personal health. This is a really important issue because the choice to spray lawns, flowers and food with chemical fertilizers effects all of us and our pets. The pathways of these dangerous sprays and fertilizers are quickly carried into our air, soil and water which in turn is ingested by the population near and far. NOT a healthy recipe. Do we, in good conscience spray for the sake of nice lawns and yet at the peril of human and animal health?
Personally, I would rather have weeds and no toxic grass, flowers, vegetables and fruits shaping our landscapes. If you need to fertilize use organic fertilizers. Non toxic alternatives are available for spraying fruit trees. There are healthlier choices out there.
Weeds have a bad rap. They play an important role in our eco system. Like the aches and pains that we all feel from time to time, that are there to tell us that we are experiencing an imbalance of some sort in our bodies, the many weeds existing in nature each have a purpose with something to tell us or give.
Did you know that dandelions only grow in soil that is overly acidic, low in calcium and high in potassium? Good to know if you are tending the soil. Young green dandelions taste really good also! Clover is drought resistant and stays green all winter providing nitrogen for other plants! Mother Nature gives us all types of plants for many good reasons.
Let this Earth Day, coming up tomorrow have all of us start to change some of our habits. One step towards green is your healthy choice.
To your Vibrant Health, Rochelle Blank - Your Holistic health counselor ~ Your Natural Choice.
www.a-naturalchoice.com
Green Goes with Everything - Add more in your Grocery Shopping Carts
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Apr 14, 2009 | Be the First to Comment
Spring is here! even if it is being disguised in rain and raw weather - remember that April showers bring May Flowers which also means fresh local organic green produce in abundance! Yummy Yes!
Here are some spring green food suggestions:
Local Farmers Markets are going to start sprouting up all over. Purchase your produce from these places. Not only will you get the freshest produce available, your senses will be delighted by the smell and visual appearance of these farm fresh foods. I myself am eagerly awaiting this.
Go Organic - as far as your pocketbook will allow. Scientific reports prove that organic is at least 25% higher in nutrition than commerically grown food. Can your health afford the difference?
Focus on organic Flour, Potatoes, Bread, Apples, Pears, Peaches Grapes, Berries - Strawberries in particular, Cherries, Celery, Sweet bell peppers, Lettuce including Spinach, Green beans, Tomatoes and Cucumbers. These are the foods that maintain the highest pesticide residue and so are recommended organic.
The environmental working group (www.foodnew.org) says that Onions, Avocado, Pineapples, Mangos, Frozen Sweet Peas, Asparagus, Kiwi, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli and Eggplant are Lowest in Pesticides. If your budget will be healthier with some savings, these foods are better choices for the non organic route.
However bear in mind that organic farming yields a higher nutritional value in food, so if you can swing all organic by all means do.
When shopping in stores, buy products without excessive packaging. Such as Fruits and vegetables which are your best choices anyway !!! Shop the perimeters of your supermarkets first for your least packaged products.
Choose to include vegetarian meals into your meal choices. Not only will this be an all around healthy choice for you and your families, you will be also be supporting the environment by helping save on water and grain usage, and reduced greenhouse gases!
Remember Green goes with everything!
To Your Vibrant Health, Your Holistic Green Health Counselor, Rochelle Blank ~ Your Natural Choice
Link up with me at www.a-natural choice.com or email me at naturalchoicehhc@aol.com.
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Couch potato no more - Fall in love with Dancing!
Posted by Rochelle Blank on Apr 12, 2009 | 1 Comment
Eating fresh organic fruits and vegetables is vital for a healthy mind and body. But what else is just as important, is to move you body. Couch potato no more, Fall in love with dancing! But… and I know what you will say … no time, too busy, barely able to juggle the many things that you have to do. Right? Wrong! Seriously.
I always say, crank up your favorite tunes and dance right in your living room, kitchen or bedroom. Where ever! Even if it is for one song. Why? because you will feel good and feeling good begats more feel good activities. This is perhaps the best food there is.
What songs inspire you to shake your hips or lip sync into a fake microphone? (a personal favorite activity) Those are the songs you want to play daily or at least often.
I just came across this inspiring U Tube segment. It is poetry in motion, beautifully illustrating the joy of movement and how contangious that can be. Some truly genius person, played Julie Andrews singing Doe a Dear from the Sound of Music Soundtrack at the train station in Antwerp and commuters breaks out in song and dance.
This event starts out small, but then the whole main station of people join in. It is brilliant and wonderful.
I am betting each person had the most incredible day of their life that day. I bet you will have at least a huge grin on your face after watching this short but inspiring clip - I know I did. And maybe be inspired to follow your music… and MOVE like your life depended on it, because it does. Have fun.
Click here: YouTube - Centraal Station Antwerpen gaat uit zijn dak!
