Fresh-eat-grape - Yes

New research from a Fordham University cell biologist suggests that a diet rich in anti-oxidants and begun at a young age can significantly reduce age-related blindness.

Silvia C. Finnemann, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, conducted the three-plus-year study by comparing the vision of three groups of mice fed differing diets: One group received a diet rich in freeze-dried grapes, a fruit very high in anti-oxidants. Another group received a diet rich in lutein, an anti-oxidant derived naturally from marigolds. The third group, the control group, received a normal diet.

All of the mice used were from the same genetic strain, said Finnemann—one prone to developing retinal damage in old age in much the same way as human beings do.

Results showed that the mice in the control group experienced a 74 percent reduction in retinal function, while the mice fed the lutein-rich diet experienced a significantly lower 29 percent reduction in retinal function.

Those mice fed a grape-rich diet, however, did dramatically well: retinal function decreased by only 16 percent.

“We’re not suggesting that you need to eat grapes like crazy, but that a life of having a healthy diet of natural anti-oxidants makes a difference to changes in the human eye,” said Finnemann.

Finnemann’s study also showed that, in order to be effective, eating anti-oxidant-rich foods should begin before the onset of advanced age, preferably in youth or young adulthood.

Mice who were not fed a grape and lutein-rich diet until they were the equivalent of a human age of 60 showed little or no improved retinal function, she said.

“Once the changes have started to happen, it may be too late to reverse them,” she said.

According to statistics, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness or partial blindness in the elderly, affecting about 25 percent of the population over 70 years of age in the United States. Finnemann said she hopes her study will lead to the development of new ways to prevent AMD, especially among the bourgeoning elderly population of baby boomers.

“Our research shows that, when it comes to AMD, a healthy diet may be better than supplements, and the earlier you begin it, the better the results,” she concluded.

Finnemann was assisted in her research by Chia-Chia Yu, M.S., and Ying Dun, Ph.D., both from her laboratory at Fordham University and Emeline Nandrot, Ph.D., a biologist from the Paris-based Institut de la Vision. Funding was provided by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health and The California Table Grape Commission.

Results of the study were published in December 2011 in Free Radical Biology & Medicine.

--Janet Sassi

Fresh-eat-grape - Yes

Salt free diet is based on the rejection of salt in the ration. There are different types of salt free diets that differ in the menu and timing.
If you observe the diet correctly, you can lose weight, cleanse the body, and put yourself in shape. Waiver of salt leads to getting rid of edema, cellulites, high blood pressure, varicose veins, migraine. Salt overload the work of internal organs, vessels, and contributes to fluid retention. During the diet, you can lose up to 5-8 kg.

Salt free diet for 15 days
This diet will last for fifteen days for which you can lose up to 8 kg.
The first three days – you can boil or bake in the oven chicken without skin and fat.

The second three days – you can cook in the oven or boil half a kilo of lean fish.
The third three days – you should eat cereals (boiled buckwheat, oats or barley). During the day, you can eat up to two hundred grams.

Fourth three days – eat fresh vegetables (exclude potatoes). Necessary to use up to two kilograms per day.

Fifth three days – you need to diversify the diet of fresh fruits. Only need to abandon of bananas and grapes, which contain much sugar.

Drink at least two liters of water or green tea.

Salt free diet for 2 weeks
During this diet you will need to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals should be fractional.

For breakfast, you’ll need to drink a cup of freshly brewed coffee. It should be natural.

For lunch and dinner you can eat fish, baked in the oven, or boiled or steamed veal.

You can drink water, a glass of tomato juice or a cup of fermented baked milk.
Exit from the diet should be gradual. You should eat more fruits, boiled chicken and replace coffee with green tea. Exclude from your diet all the sugary, fatty, spicy, pickled dishes. During the diet, you can lose up to ten kilograms.

Products that can be eaten: bread, veal, chicken, turkey, rabbit, fish, porridge from cereals, salads, raw and cooked vegetables, vegetable broth soups. One boiled egg per day, low-fat cottage cheese, juice, tea, dried apricots and raisins.

Foods that should be excluded: fat, salty, spicy, pickled, sweets, lamb and pork.

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Food For Thought: Grapes

by SavingAddiction on March 29, 2012

Grapes

Grapes are some of the best fruit on the planet! Taste and healing benefits, both. With that said they are on sale this week for a stock up price so grab some. You can also freeze them so you will have plenty more when not on sale!

Grapes help with many health problems. Grapes are highly recommended for any cardiac conditions and artery disease. Grapes have lots of iron so are great to help with anemia (raisins are a great source too). Grapes increase bile production which will help with many liver disorders. Grapes can aid in intestinal disorders, renal disorders and hemorrhoids. Gout and fatigue can have positive affects from grape consumption. The skin of grapes has anti-tumor properties that can aid in cancer or cancer prevention!

Drinking grape juice or eating raisins can give you some of the same benefits but with more calories. If you are concerned about calories you will want to eat the grapes fresh!

Grapes have 2 simple sugars that pass directly to the bloodstream, glucose and fructose. Grapes are the best fresh fruit source of B6. Also greater amounts of B1, B2 and B3 than most. Potassium and iron are the most abundant mineral in grapes, but they do contain calcium, phosphorus and copper. Also have a significant amount of fiber for a fruit. Grapes also have those amazing photochemicals; organic acids, flavonoids, resveratrol, and anthocyanidines.

Red wine can exercise the same actions that are good for the circulatory system BUT with drawbacks. Wine has fewer sugars or vitamins and also contains a toxin ethyl alcohol which has to be “burned” in the liver to eliminate it from the body. Grapes or grape juice is far better than wine for protecting the cardiovascular system with no side effects!

(This week you can pick up grapes for only $0.97/lb at Meijer)

Fresh-eat-grape - Yes

New research from a Fordham University cell biologist suggests that a diet rich in anti-oxidants and begun at a young age can significantly reduce age-related blindness.

Silvia C. Finnemann, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, conducted the three-plus-year study by comparing the vision of three groups of mice fed differing diets: One group received a diet rich in freeze-dried grapes, a fruit very high in anti-oxidants. Another group received a diet rich in lutein, an anti-oxidant derived naturally from marigolds. The third group, the control group, received a normal diet.

All of the mice used were from the same genetic strain, said Finnemann—one prone to developing retinal damage in old age in much the same way as human beings do.

Results showed that the mice in the control group experienced a 74 percent reduction in retinal function, while the mice fed the lutein-rich diet experienced a significantly lower 29 percent reduction in retinal function.

Those mice fed a grape-rich diet, however, did dramatically well: retinal function decreased by only 16 percent.

“We’re not suggesting that you need to eat grapes like crazy, but that a life of having a healthy diet of natural anti-oxidants makes a difference to changes in the human eye,” said Finnemann.

Finnemann’s study also showed that, in order to be effective, eating anti-oxidant-rich foods should begin before the onset of advanced age, preferably in youth or young adulthood.

Mice who were not fed a grape and lutein-rich diet until they were the equivalent of a human age of 60 showed little or no improved retinal function, she said.

“Once the changes have started to happen, it may be too late to reverse them,” she said.

According to statistics, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness or partial blindness in the elderly, affecting about 25 percent of the population over 70 years of age in the United States. Finnemann said she hopes her study will lead to the development of new ways to prevent AMD, especially among the bourgeoning elderly population of baby boomers.

“Our research shows that, when it comes to AMD, a healthy diet may be better than supplements, and the earlier you begin it, the better the results,” she concluded.

Finnemann was assisted in her research by Chia-Chia Yu, M.S., and Ying Dun, Ph.D., both from her laboratory at Fordham University and Emeline Nandrot, Ph.D., a biologist from the Paris-based Institut de la Vision. Funding was provided by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health and The California Table Grape Commission.

Results of the study were published in December 2011 in Free Radical Biology & Medicine.

--Janet Sassi

CigarBrief.com Wine: Hot Weather Wines - Cigarbrief.com

Hot Weather Wines

By Kay Pfaltz

 During wine tasting last week the temperature outside was in the high nineties and the temperature on the outdoor porch where we were assembled probably eighty-five. Therefore, perhaps it should not have surprised me when one of my most faithful students, who usually has no trouble tasting, or perhaps more accurately belting down, her wine, left several glasses untouched.

“I just can’t drink when it’s hot,” she said surprising me more. This got me thinking about climate and wine. And she’s right, of course. When it’s hot, the last thing we ought do is gulp wine, further dehydrating ourselves. Hot weather calls for lemonade, cold beer, iced tea and water. But wine will always be tied to food and continued to be drunk with meals, weather hot or not. And of course rarely do we really gulp, for it is wine’s nature to be sipped and savored.

Just as it makes sense when traveling to eat the food of the region, so too is it not only sensible, but also fun, to match food with climate. Apples, mushrooms, butternut squash in the fall. Stews and fondues in the winter. Fresh spinach and asparagus in the spring. And the bounty of summer fruits and veggies in summertime. While we might be able to buy strawberries from Chile year round, when we do so we lose the special joy and recognition we associate with seasonal foods, their smell and taste, in mini Proustian moments, evoking the season itself.

Likewise, for heightened gustatory pleasure we adapt wines to climate. Lighter wines for hot weather. Full-bodied, denser wines for winter.

The following are wines I’ve found to pair particularly well with hot temperatures.

Manfred Breit, Piesporter Goldtropfcher, Riesling, Kabinett, 2003 – Riesling is a great grape when the Fahrenheit climbs. This is a stunning and well made Riesling that never disappoints. It is both simple (one grape varietal) and complex (a palate of white flowers, white peaches and lychees greets you). And perfect for hot weather. Why? Low alcohol levels of 9%, unusual in today’s norm of 13.5 and 14%. Perhaps this is a turn off for some people, but in heat highly alcoholic wines should be avoided as they tend to turn flabby.

Sauvignon Blanc is another good choice for summer, because of Sauvignon’s characteristic acidity and cleanness. The following are both from Marlborough, the north end of New Zealand’s south island, famous for making exceptional Sauvignon Blanc.

Kennedy Point – Clean and crisp. Perfect balanced acidity with gooseberry fruit.

Main Divide – A bit more substance with notes of lychees, gooseberries, passion fruit and elderflower.

Barth René, Muscat –Muscat is that wonderful grape that really smells and tastes grapey rather than of some other fruit or substance! Refreshing on a hot day as it’s like eating fresh grapes. Perfect as an aperitif.

–First Published in Nelson County Life Magazine–

No Portion may be copied or used in any other work.

Organic Acids In Grapes | Panlabs.com

Today, women as well as men are susceptible to heart disease. The scary thing that many teenagers and even children are obese and subject to developing heart problems. The main guilty party is a diet overloaded with convenient fast foods, sugary, and starchy junk foods combined with a sedentary lifestyle.

A Heart Smart Diet first and foremost seeks to significantly reduce, if not totally eliminate the saturated and trans fats from everyday diet. The second objective, which is like two peas in a pod, is lowering cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic recommends having no more than 300 grams of cholesterol daily (200g if you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol), and reducing your saturated fat intake to less than 7% of your daily diet. Any trans fat should be less than 1% of your diet. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are allowed. They can be found in olive oil, avocados, flax oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and nuts and seeds. These oils should be used on a daily basis because they are rich in essential fatty acids (Healthy fats), especially virgin olive oil. As much as possible, eliminate the use of shortening, butter and lard in cooking. Use Smart Balance margarine and mayonnaise or other heart-healthier margarine and mayo substitutes. Creamed soups, dressings, gravies and coffee creamers are also things to avoid. Unfortunately, so is chocolate.

A Heart Smart Diet also includes white chicken, turkey and legumes (beans), or fresh fish only, however, lean red meats must not be consumed more than once a week. Always boil, bake or grill meats and fish, never fry them. Shell fish such as shrimp, crab and lobster should be only eaten occasionally and never breaded or fried. Pork sausage, bacon and ham should be avoided. One good alternative to significantly reduce your cholesterol is to substitute meat for soy protein. There are excellent soy products out there that mimic sausage, chicken and hamburger, but be careful. They are often high in salt content, which is another thing to limit on the heart smart diet plan.

Why limit salt? Salt encourages the body to retain water and can raise the blood pressure. Often, people with high blood pressure are more prone to have heart disease. The two go hand in hand. Limiting your salt intake is like a double insurance policy. Be very watchful of the amount of salt hidden in frozen and packaged foods, even the so called weight-conscious dinners. Trade canned for fresh whenever possible. Limit the cheese, and if you must have it, have lower fat white cheeses instead of cheddar or American cheese. Cheese is saltier than you think. Use salt substitutes and herbs or pepper to flavor your dishes. If eating out, tell them you are on a salt free diet. Most restaurants can now accommodate that request.What about garlic? Garlic is a natural cholesterol lowering herb. There are garlic supplements you can take now that is released in the intestinal tract so your breath and taste buds do not seem garlicky.

Include natural black honey in your daily diet and avoid late night snacking. Eat fresh or freshly frozen fruits and vegetables, experts suggest that you keep slices and bite sizes handy in the fridge for quick snacking instead of cookies, crackers and chips. Have a bowl of grapes and bananas, apples and peaches out on the table. Good raw veggie snacks include carrots, celery and broccoli. Super charge your health by consuming soluble fibers found in fruits, vegetables and oatmeal with healthy microbes found in fermented dairy products such as low fat yogurt and butter milk. It’s highly recommended including Acai Berry, Pomegranate juice and Cranberry in your diet. (ingest them as fresh fruits or can be replaced by supplements if they’re difficult to find in your local store).

If you want to burn more calories using a natural and organic diet pills that can boost your energy and kick start your weight loss journey, please visit the following site at http://www.advancedhealthstore.com/weightloss/index.html

Moaz Derfasi, achieved his Masters degree in Nutritional Science from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.

Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Heart-Healthy-Diet–Your-Ticket-To-Health/1144351

The wealth around us – Wild edibles: Muscadine grapes S2E39

Fresh-eat-grape - blog*spot

New research from a Fordham University cell biologist suggests that a diet rich in anti-oxidants and begun at a young age can significantly reduce age-related blindness.

Silvia C. Finnemann, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, conducted the three-plus-year study by comparing the vision of three groups of mice fed differing diets: One group received a diet rich in freeze-dried grapes, a fruit very high in anti-oxidants. Another group received a diet rich in lutein, an anti-oxidant derived naturally from marigolds. The third group, the control group, received a normal diet.

All of the mice used were from the same genetic strain, said Finnemann—one prone to developing retinal damage in old age in much the same way as human beings do.

Results showed that the mice in the control group experienced a 74 percent reduction in retinal function, while the mice fed the lutein-rich diet experienced a significantly lower 29 percent reduction in retinal function.

Those mice fed a grape-rich diet, however, did dramatically well: retinal function decreased by only 16 percent.

“We’re not suggesting that you need to eat grapes like crazy, but that a life of having a healthy diet of natural anti-oxidants makes a difference to changes in the human eye,” said Finnemann.

Finnemann’s study also showed that, in order to be effective, eating anti-oxidant-rich foods should begin before the onset of advanced age, preferably in youth or young adulthood.

Mice who were not fed a grape and lutein-rich diet until they were the equivalent of a human age of 60 showed little or no improved retinal function, she said.

“Once the changes have started to happen, it may be too late to reverse them,” she said.

According to statistics, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness or partial blindness in the elderly, affecting about 25 percent of the population over 70 years of age in the United States. Finnemann said she hopes her study will lead to the development of new ways to prevent AMD, especially among the bourgeoning elderly population of baby boomers.

“Our research shows that, when it comes to AMD, a healthy diet may be better than supplements, and the earlier you begin it, the better the results,” she concluded.

Finnemann was assisted in her research by Chia-Chia Yu, M.S., and Ying Dun, Ph.D., both from her laboratory at Fordham University and Emeline Nandrot, Ph.D., a biologist from the Paris-based Institut de la Vision. Funding was provided by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health and The California Table Grape Commission.

Results of the study were published in December 2011 in Free Radical Biology & Medicine.

--Janet Sassi

You Eat Like That Every Day?: Grilled Cauliflower, Sweet Potatoes ...

It's grill season ! So, most everything we eat goes on the grill, unless it's raining, or we are eating salad.

It was Ray's birthday, so we splurged on a GIANT ribeye steak. One is enough for both of us to eat. Well, Ray could eat it on his own, he was kind enough to share it with me. I wanted to make something different for the side dish, rather than our usual potatoes or salad. We had a Minnesota Food Blogger get together earlier this week at Create Catering. I tasted a roasted vegetable salad that had cauliflower, squash, celery root and roasted tomatoes. They also had some house made lemon oil, fennel salt and feta cheese, and a sauce I never did find out what was in it.

So, this is my homage to that dish, and I definitely took some liberties with what I had on hand. I think the similarities end with the color palate, and the fact that they both contain cauliflower, but this was a really nice departure from our usual grilling fare. And I liked the cauliflower, which I don't normally. Score one for the grill!

Grilled Cauliflower, Sweet Potatoes and Grape Tomatoes

1 head cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 pint grape tomatoes
Olive oil
Salt
Fresh cracked black pepper

For the sauces:
Roasted red pepper sauce (or pureed roasted red peppers

1/2 sour cream mixed with 2 tablespoons horseradish

Feta cheese crumbles, for garnish
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh chives for garnish

In a large bowl, drizzle cauliflower with olive oil, and salt and pepper liberally. Toss to coat, and lay on a large square of aliminum foil. Seal into a packet. Repeat this process with the sweet potatoes and grape tomatoes. Place on grill over high heat. Start the sweet potatoes first, then cauliflower about 10 minutes later, then tomatoes 10 minutes after that. Turn the packets frequently. Tomatoes will only take about 10 minutes total. Remove these to the top rack of your grill to keep warm while you grill your main dish.

Remove packets from grill and cut open. Place a tablespoon of each of the sauces on the plate, then top with vegetables. Sprinkle with feta cheese, drizzle with lemon juice and garnish with chives.

UK: Bus driver fired for eating a grape - Fresh Fruit and Vegetable ...

Michael Shepard, a 66 year old bus driver from the West Midlands, has been given the sack by national Express for the heinous act of eating a grape.

Mr Shepard was spotted putting the fruit into his mouth on CCTV and was promptly suspended, despite the fact that he was not driving at the time, but was sat stationary in his cab.

He said: "I am so angry. I thought I would be given a disciplinary for eating a grape, but not sacked.''

He said: "I don't eat or drink while I am driving but I was just sat stationary at the bus terminus in Bedworth for a few minutes and took a grape to wet my mouth a bit."

Mr Shephard has lodged an appeal against the sacking with the bus company which he hopes will be heard in the coming weeks.

A spokesman for National Express said: "The driver in question hasn't exhausted the disciplinary process that we have as a company and as a result we cannot make any public comment.

"However we do hold ourselves to high levels of safety and customer care standards."

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fresh-eat-grape - Yes

Now that I’m trying to be gluten free for the last three week’s of January ALL I WANT TO EAT IS BREAD… How yum does this Roasted Grapes with Thyme, Fresh Ricotta and Grilled Bread look? If you want to make it check out the recipe on Sacramento Street.

image from Sacramento Street

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Fresh-eat-grape - Yes

Hey Peeps!

The Saturday before Christmas I decided (for well-being reasons! LOL) I needed to escape the everlasting coldness and gray skies of Wisconsin and replace it with sand between my toes and sun shining on my back. Totally spontaneous…

So off to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beach my teen daughter and I went! (hubby stayed back for a previous committment-attending a Packer game on Christmas day). We spent a fun Christmas and my daughter’s 15th birthday on the beach.  I’m digging the unconventional beach holidays!

Just what my well-being needed. Fun times spent with my daughter, sunshine, blue-green ocean to swim in,  sand to sink my toes into, an abundance of fruit, and beautiful boutique style ocean-side hotel for chillaxin.

*My daughter 500 feet in the air on Christmas Day*

She was able to see sea turtles and jelly fish from way up there!

I heart this fruity lifestyle~

Hubby booked us in this stunning ocean-view room (10th floor) at the B Ocean Hotel. Thanks, hubby!

The B Ocean Hotel was formerly the Holiday Inn, which was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.  Completely remodeling it, it became the chic (yes, it was designed by a chick!) beachfront B Ocean Hotel in 2010.

What I Ate on Christmas Day~

(not everything is pictured)

• nanners
• papayas
• cukes
•  cantaloupe
• bunch of celery
• 3 large toms
• 3 large apples
• water
• romaine

My cantaloupe tower. I plowed through these sweet babies one morning. Can you imagine the hotel housekeepers arriving in my room? I tried to be creative with my fruity mess…

Yes, I share my nanners with others!

A large fig tree in Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.  along the Intercoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale. We had never seen anything like it before! Directly around the corner from our hotel, we explored this park a few different days, walking trails and taking in the variety of foliage, lizards, spiders, coconut trees and sapodilla trees (see more park pics below).

My fruit ripening stations…the top of the dresser…

and the breathtaking window sill…. We woke up to this view & the scent of ripening fruit every morning. Heaven~

16 Tips for Frugal Fruitarian Travel

1) Save $$ on Water: On the day of arrival, buy gallons of water for cheap (I picked some up at nearby small market for $1.99/gallon) to keep in your hotel room so you can fill up your stainless steel water bottles all day as necessary. Versus spending $2.50-3.50 for one small individual size plastic water bottle in the tourist shops and/or restaurants. Stay hydrated and drink LOTS of water when on vacation.

2) Book your hotel stay near a local grocer, farmers market or fruit wholesaler: Before booking hotel, be sure to research to find out where you are going to obtain your fruit. The nearest fruit supply this trip was a Publix grocery a short 10-15 minute walk (depending how fast you walk!) from our hotel. This made it easy to supply myself with abundant fruit.   On the few occasions my fruit haul was too heavy to carry, I relied on a short cab ride ($5 one way) back to hotel.

3) Save $ on Food: If your hotel is near a grocer, you can rely more on preparing your own meals and snacks in your hotel room vs. eating out at local eateries for every meal & snack, which can add up $ quickly. Prepare your snacks in your room and always carry a backpack filled with goodies. This way, you and your fam will be less tempted to eat out at every turn.

4) Book a hotel with a fridge in the room if possible: This is optional. I survived (and thrived!) 5 nights at a beautiful boutique beach-side hotel without a fridge. Our hotel didn’t provide them in the room but you could request one upon arrival and if they had it available, they would provide for free. I asked during the stay on a few different days and they were never available. I even used “I have a special diet” bit and they asked “do you have diabetes?”. No but..

A fridge is nice to store your greens, cukes, apples, and celery. I learned to enjoy eating these all at room temperature. However, I didn’t consume the amount of greens I normally do due to they wilt quickly in the humidity if not stored in cool place. As for the gallons of water, I prefer my water at room temperature.  All the fruit ripened beautifully on the windowsill and on the dresser counters, no need to put in fridge.

5) Save $ on transportation: Location, location, location! Be sure your hotel is in a location near attractions, the grocery, etc. so you don’t have to rely on a car rental if you don’t have to.

Instead rely on your feet to take you where you want to go. We had such an active stay this way walking everywhere and walking far. When you are surrounded by beautiful scenery (hello…palm trees, white sandy beach, ocean), you don’t even realize you are getting exercise! OR better yet, rent a bike or scooter.

We really enjoyed taking a water taxi one day which featured many stops. You pay a flat fee. We were able to see all of Fort Lauderdale this way. Fun! In addition, if there is a bus system at the location, this can be an economical way to travel if you need to get to the other side of town or further.

One of the stops from the water taxi was the Museum of Discovery and Science where we took in a fascinating 3D film called Sea Rex: Journey To A Prehistoric World, at the 300-seater IMAX theater, which featured a 5-story high screen and is home to the biggest screen in South Florida.

6) Plan Your Fruit Haul Ahead: Plan on making a large fruit haul from local grocer the day of arrival and then plan accordingly for more as necessary. I was in Florida 5 nights and visited the grocer 2 days. If you are going to rely on a cab to take you back to the hotel with your fruit haul, make it worth it. Stock up!

What I Ate On This Trip (Dec.24 afternoon through Dec.29 afternoon)

Note: Because I didn’t have the luxury of all-I-can-eat ripe nanners and fresh organic medjool dates (my staples at home) at my destination (and no blender!), my caloric intake was considerably lower than if I were at home.  But for this short of time, it didn’t affect my energy levels and overall feeling of optimal well being.  We do the best we can, given the circumstances and can still thrive!

• 9 papayas
• 1 HUGE $10 watermelon (yep, had to take a taxi-cab home from the grocer for this one–this watermelon weighed more than I did!)
• 6 cantaloupes
• 5 lbs apples
• 2 lbs nanners
• 2 cactus pears
• 1 pineapple
• 3 lbs tomatoes
• 10 cukes
• 3 bunches celery
• 6 Romaine Hearts
• 2 lbs red grapes
• 30 kumquats
• 1 quart fresh blueberries
• 2 pummelos
• 1 lb dates
• water
• 2 salads eaten out in restaurants

7) Leave your vitamix, large cutting board, meat cleaver & veggie peeler at home! I  totally rely on my vitamix, meat cleaver,large cutting board and veggie peeler at home, but I know that when I vacation, having these luxuries is not necessary. I can do without!  Isn’t the purpose of vacation to get out of our comfort zone and mix things up?! Think simple.

8) Pack a small cutting board. I brought along a small wooden cheese board. Used it every day in the room to cut my fruit. Going through security, they wanted to go through my bag. They claimed the cutting board looked like a bottle of liquor!

9) Prepare Salad on the Go: For rawkin’ peeps, pack in a large ziplock bag: some romaine hearts, cuke slices, toms, red pepper slices. This makes a great beach picnic or eat-on-the-go.

For the non-raw peeps,  stock up on pita bread and pre-packaged salad bags, along with small individual salad dressings at the local grocer. Filling up the pita pocket with some salad mixture, then drizzling a little dressing over top, makes an easy delicious meal.

10) Ask for kitchen tools upon arrival. Upon arriving at the hotel, I went to one of the hotel restaurants and requested 1 knife (small simple dinner knife) and 1 spoon, to be used during my stay in my room. No problem.

Here is the knife and small cutting board I used all week.  Believe it or not, this small knife worked well slicing the papayas, pineapple, cataloupes, watermelon, and all my other fruit. I didn’t have a veggie peeler either so used this to cut peeling off my cukes too.

This is Fort Lauderdale’s famous beachfront coastline that goes for miles featuring shops, sidewalk cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, all with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. It goes for miles, and we enjoyed daily walks here, to and from our hotel.

11) Bring walking shoes.There’s nothing worse than a complaining tourist with blisters on her feet! Wear your comfortable sneakers on the plane so you don’t have to pack them.  You can bring flip flops on your warm destination trip but don’t leave behind your most comfortable pair of walking shoes!

12) Pack backpack w/fruit & water. For airport travel, as well as when you are at your destination, always have a backpack filled accordingly with fresh fruit, greens, dates, and your stainless steel water bottle.  The key to this lifestyle is to always plan ahead and have fresh fruit & water on you at all times!

13) Choose easy backpack fillers for snacks or meals on the go:

• apples
• stalks of celery
• Romaine Hearts, medjool dates (fill a romaine heart with dates)
• sliced cukes (in your hotel room, peel cukes (I didn’t have a peeler so I used my knife) and slice them lengthwise, put in ziplock bag)
• large tomatoes– delicious eaten whole like apples
• Clementines–(bring extra bag for peels)
• kumquats
• nanners
• stainless steel water bottle

14) Have a standard “go-to” meal when eating at restaurants:

We went out to local eateries often while on this trip (usually twice/day). And while I kept my daughter company at the restaurants, I only actually ate out on 2 occasions myself.  I usually delighted in eats from my backpack or in the hotel room, absolutely not necessary to order out a salad (that wouldn’t fill me up anyway!) every time we made a stop. That would be $8-15 per salad/per stop, depending on where we went. And being that it would take 5-6 of these salads per restaurant to actually fill me up, you do the math$!

This Romaine lettuce-tomatoes-cukes-herb salad above (NO dressing!) with lemon slices on the side to be used for dressing-is my usual “eat out at a restaurant” meal . This is my go-to meal when at a restaurant and am always pleased with the presentation. Each place presents it a little differently.

I enjoyed this particular salad above at The Cheesecake Factory on Las Olas Bouleverd on my daughter’s birthday while she ordered…

The biggest enchilada you’ve ever seen!  And for the birthday girl’s dessert…

Of course, one of  The Cheesecake Factory’s 50 cheesecake creations…

Three handsome waiters delivered the cheesecake to her and surprised her by singing Happy B-day! She was just a little embarrassed.

14) Share The Abundance! I feel so blessed to be living this fruity lifestyle, I wish to share it with everyone! Upon arrival, when I saw peeps who had fallen on hard times, I wanted to do my best to share the abundance.  Some of the best moments on vacation are shared with others we reach out to.

We had noticed a homeless man (the Annual Report on Homelessness Conditions in Florida 2006 reports that  “the impact of 2004-2005 hurricanes that hit Florida and it’s neighboring states have destroyed many low cost housing units and have contribute to a rise in the cost of housing statewide.”) hanging out under a palm tree on the beach for a few days so on my daughter’s birthday….

coming back from having dinner at Briny Irish Pub  with leftover Shepherds Pie in tow, we decided to deliver it to our friend.  We looked for him and he wasn’t there, passing on to another location.

So, the following day, after acquiring more than enough food items in our hotel room & wanting to share the abundance, we decided to put together a bag of  pre-packaged salad bags (my daughter couldn’t eat these fast enough), individual pre-packaged salad dressings, some oranges, package of pita bread……

and some fresh untouched leftover breakfast items from Primanti Brothers, one of our fave eateries near the hotel-see pic above in hopes that our friend would be sitting under the palm tree. (No utensils needed when you can fill a pita bread with just about anything!)

Our friend wasn’t sitting under the tree but I knew we would run into more friends along our walk on the famous Fort Lauderdale coastline bustling with tourists and locals alike. We came upon a woman and her companion on the beach, surrounded with bags of her belongings, I knelt down and looked into her eyes and said, here is a bag of food for you.  Her response, “I love you, I can’t wait to dig into this, I love you!”

Not 30 minutes later my daughter and I were coming out of…..

Sonic Beach and saw our friend eating the pita bread. It’s a picture we’ll always remember!

According to Poverty in Florida,“On any given day, there are an estimated 83,931 persons living homeless in Florida (Pierce, 2005). Why? Among the major causes is the devastating impact of the 2004 hurricanes, which destroyed over 20,000 homes and caused major damage to over 45,000 rental units. This alone left over 17,800 people homeless and increased burden to Florida’s already limited housing stock (Pierce, 2005).

We enjoyed kumquats for the first time!

15)Try some new fruits that you can’t find at home. We tried kumquats and were delighted to also find cactus pears and pummelos.

How to Eat Kumquats:  First wash them. Next, according to Foy Update, “roll the fruit back and forth between your fingers with enough force to squeeze the fruit.  This releases the oil in the skin, and it will look shiny.  The oil has a sweet citrus smell and taste.  If the kumquat isn’t rolled the peal tastes bitter. Then just bite into the fruit skin and all.   The inside is juicy like a tangerine and the skin is tender enough to eat.”

Delicious prickly pear (or cactus fruit)! How to Prepare: I used my knife to skin it (spines and all!). I then sliced into bite size pieces. I chose to eat the seeds too, chewing very well as they are rather large. However, you can choose to scrape off the seeds if you prefer not to eat them. Prickly pear makes a wonderful snack.

Succulent pummelos (pronounced pom-EH-loh)! They resemble a large grapefruit (they are relative to the grapefruit). I slurped through a few of these and have been picking them up in our local stores lately. Mmm! To see a vid on how to peel and cut them, click here.
Here’s my go-to salad I dove into at The Parrot Lounge.

~~Enjoying  Hugh Taylor Birch State Park~~

16) Take A Time Out In Nature!

This is a sapodilla tree …another fruit I’ve never tried before. But alas, I brought a sapodilla home from Florida that is ripening on my table now.

About sapodillas: Sapodillas are also known as chikoos or sapotas.

According to nutrition and you.com, “Sapota fruit is brown in color with sandy “potato like” outer surface. Internally, the pulp is white with sticky latex called as saponin in unripe fruits. Latex disappears once the fruit ripens and the pulp turns to brown color. Pulp is deliciously sweet with smooth or grainy texture and contains 3-10 black colored smooth, shiny “bean” shaped inedible seeds in the center.”

How to Buy Sapodillas: nutrition and you.com explains, “In the store, buy fresh sapodilla with smooth intact skin and without cuts/cracks, bruises or wrinkles.

When they are ripe: Once ripen, the fruit just yields to gentle thumb pressure.  Mature but unripe fruits must be kept at room temperature for 7 to 10 days to ripen. Firm, ripe sapodillas can keep well for several days in the home refrigerator.

Can you see the hawk?

Nature = beauty

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