For two years Jerry lived without sight.  He worked from home, living with his wife and loved son.  The doctors told Jerry he would never see again and that he should go on disability.  But then a miracle started to happen – his sight came back to him!

Jerry is now 53 years old and has a wonderful 9 year old son, a supportive and loving wife, and now a VERY successful business.  He says he owes all of this to his prayer and perseverance through the very tough times of life.  And he is ready to take the next steps to make sure he is around a lot longer to live.   He has lost 25 pounds over the past 3 months by watching his food intake and participating in regular activity.  He has a goal to lose another 35 pounds.

Jerry is a true INSPIRATION.

And his story reminds us that life is about everyday waking up and making the decision to put one foot in front of the other and work at being better.  There will be hard times,  there will be very challenging times, and there will be times when you want to give up.  But if you PERSEVERE and keep focused on the goal and life you want to achieve and live – you can do it.

Jerry’s story, along with so many other clients I have worked with over the years who have shared their story of hope, recovery, success, failure, and perseverance has inspired me to create Foodspirations™.  Foodspirations™ began in 2008 when I was working with a handful of clients on a weekly basis who felt they needed more to keep focused and motivated to continue working towards those goals.

Over the past few months I have been working with designer Stephanie Weibring from Dallas, TX on creating a full line of Foodspiration™ products that can be purchased by consumers to use as “inspiration” to live a healthier, happier, and more balanced life.  5% of all proceeds will go to the non – profit Fed Up Inc, an organization that is committed to educating boys and girls ages 5 – 25 on a positive self image, self esteem, and healthy living with the ultimate goal of preventing eating disorders.

Today we are excited to announce the release of our first product – “For the Love of Food” wall art.

An inspiring piece of work that looks great in any kitchen!  Custom sizes and prints are available!

Finally, If you are ready for a jump start to your 2012 goals before Spring is here – you won’t want to miss out on this Weight Loss Jump Start Package.  A comprehensive program to help you get a jump start on feeling great so you can live and enjoy the gifts of life!   Click here to learn more and get started.

Take a moment and be grateful for something YOU have accomplished or achieved in 2011.

As we come to year’s end I find people all around are stating the things they want to accomplish or achieve in 2012.  Which is wonderful – I personally love setting goals and Iove being around people who like to set goals.

If you are looking for a last minute gift to share with those around you – go ahead and whip up this easy but nutrient packed batch of soup.  I hope you enjoy and please share any comments or additional suggestions.  Oh and one of the great things about vegetable soup is that it is easy to improvise with what you do have in your fridge or freezer.

Enjoy – and remember to not stress about the little things but embrace the moments around you!

Ingredients

3 quarts water

2 large carrots, sliced

1 cup chopped onion

3 celery ribs, sliced

4 sweet potatoes, diced

1 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes

1 small can tomato paste

2 cups broccoli florets

1/2 cabbage shredded

1 small bag frozen green beans

1 small bag frozen corn

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

3 tablespoons picante sauce

2 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme

2 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh basil

1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups cubed cooked and seasoned chicken breast (or substitute a shredded rotisserie chicken)

Directions

1. In a large soup kettle, combine water, carrots, onion, celery, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add broccoli, cabbage, green beans, corn, garlic, bouillon, picante sauce and seasonings. Cover and simmer for an additional 20 – 30 minutes or until broccoli is tender. Add chicken. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through.

Amaranth is a high protein, gluten free grain that is also a good source of calcium, lysine (an essential amino acid) and other vitamins.  It is reported to have 30% more protein than other grains such as wheat, rice, and oats.  It is also a great source of fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese.  This grain has been gaining popularity in the U.S. since the mid 1970′s and today it is found in many health food stores; amaranth flour is used as a substitute for many gluten free baked goods.  Amaranth can be cooked as a cereal, made into pasta, flat breads, and pancakes.  It can also be popped like popcorn, sprouted or toasted. 

To cook amaranth, bring 2 ½ cups liquid such as water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth to a boil.  Add 1 cup amaranth seeds and boil for 18-20 minutes.  You can doctor this dish up by adding fresh herbs, lemon juice, or olive oil to the mix.  
Quinoa is another gluten free, high protein grain.  Due to its balanced set of essential amino acids, this tiny grain makes a complete protein source and is a great vegetarian alternative to meeting your protein needs.  Quinoa is also high in fiber, phosphorus, magnesium and iron.   Quinoa is a great alternative to white rice or couscous.  Once cooked it has a light and fluffy texture with a bit of a nutty flavor.  Cooking quinoa is pretty simple, a very similar process to both amaranth and brown rice.  However, there is one prep step that needs to be done in order to remove the saponins (or outer coating) of the grain.  Prior to cooking, it is recommended that you soak the grain for a few hours and rinse using a fine strainer or in a cheesecloth.  This step helps with digestion of the grain – if you consume quinoa without soaking, then you may experience a laxative effects.  The good news is though, once again food manufactures have heard our cry to make eating cleaner easier in this fast paced world, most of the boxed forms of quinoa have been pre-rinsed, therefore all you need to do is cook!

To cook just bring 2 cups of water or liquid of choice to a boil.  Add one cup of grain and cover and cook on low for about 15 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.   To make it even simpler, you can also use a rice cooker to prepare.  Can we get any easier?  You can also find quinoa flour, flakes, and pasta.

If you are interested in learning more information about cooking quicker, leaner, and cleaner consider signing up for one of my new nutrition e-courses “How To” Eat Cleaner or “How To” Cook Quick and Lean.  Go to www.foodtherapyonline.com for more information.

1200 Camellia Blvd
Suite 202 G
Lafayette, LA 70508

Over the past few weeks I have been working on TRANSFORMING my office and I must be honest, many life lessons were “revealed” to me during this time. Today I am sharing the physical TRANSFORMATION that has occurred with my office space and how this experience relates to each and every one of us as we embark on any type of journey to TRANSFORM ourselves into becoming our best self. I especially want to share how this experience relates to our decision to change our eating, nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle habits. I hope you enjoy these “revelations” …and if you are ready to TRANSFORM your eating, nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle habits to become your best self send an e-mail to yvette@foodtherapyonline.com and we can explore what is best for you.

The Transformation

1. Change is scary. I will be honest; I was petrified to move. I knew it was time to move the location as well as design of my office, but I was scared of the unknown. This feeling is similar to the feeling we may have when needing to change our eating and lifestyle behaviors. We may know that a change is needed, but it is scary to embark on the journey. The thought of replacing favorite comfort foods, beginning a new exercise program, switching evening habits and routines can be a little scary and maybe overwhelming at times. But you can do it with a little faith, patience, persistent, and guidance that the changes are in honor of becoming your best self.

2. Change can be uncomfortable. Making a change means you may need to have some conversations or experiences that make you uncomfortable. For me it was uncomfortable to tell some of my office mates I was moving. It was very uncomfortable (and a little painful) moving the large book case out of the office and into the new one. It was uncomfortable to paint with oil based paint! But stepping out of my comfort zone and making the move was worth it. Any time we make a change we may experience a little bit of being “uncomfortable”…but that is where the true progress lies.

3. Change may take “$change$”. Yep, that is right, it may cost money to make a move. I like to think of it as an investment. When it comes to your health, you are making an INVESTMENT in YOURSELF. Invest some resources to become your best self. You don’t need to spend a ton of money – as you will see in my next tip to “work with what you got.” To make the true transformation you are looking to achieve you may need to invest some “$change$” in yourself.

4. Work with what you got and make improvements where you can. While I knew I had to invest some money to make my office transformation, I also knew my limits. Therefore, it was important that I worked with what I had. In my case, I worked with the furniture I already had – and invested in black paint, two chairs, a piece of art, and two pillows. When it comes to transforming our body it is important to know you cannot change everything. You body is God’s gift to you. There are things you can improve and transform to bring out the best in you. But, there also comes a point in your journey to recognize what can be transformed and what you need to accept and work with.

5. Change takes time. While the office transformation only took about a week, the actual move really took about a year. From the beginning thoughts of “should I make a move” to doing research and searching for the right space, to signing the lease, painting the furniture, and moving in. Time is needed with any transformation. Give yourself the time needed to reach your goals. Recognize that change is a process.

6. Friends and family are invaluable in any life change. There is no way I could have made the office transformation without the help of my best friend who drove up from New Orleans to help paint the furniture. As well as my cousins, aunt, and husband who helped move the furniture. The list can go on. With your decision to make a personal transformation – tell your friends and family. Ask for support and help when needed and remember to return the favor.

7. Seek the help of a professional. I am not a decorator; there is no way I could have made the transformation without the help from a professional. Luckily, my mother in law and sister in law are FABULOUS designers so they were my decorators. I had to ask for help. I had to listen and implement their advice and suggestions. I had to trust the process. The same is true with your health, nutrition, and fitness goals. Seek the advice of a professional – ask for help, listen, implement, and trust the process.

8. Remember you are on a journey and be grateful for what you have. Through the journey of life there are times when you will be up and you will be down, the point is to learn from your experiences. If a diet or fitness program you tried has failed in the past, see this as an opportunity to learn from it. How can you improve yourself and what you are currently doing? Finally, be grateful for the body you have. Be grateful for the gifts in life. Work at TRANSFORMING yourself to be YOUR BEST SELF.