Here are some pictures of what we have been up to the past few weeks. My 4-year-old participated in a Frozen dance camp. This is her with her big sister and best friend.

My 4-year-old also started learning to cheer like her big sister. She loves being able to do some of the things her sister can do!

My 8-year-old particiapted in a hip hop camp. This picture is from Luau day.

My son has been busy playing in lacrosse tournaments. He is #17.

My 4-year-old performed in her first ballet recital.

My 8-year-old went to see Katy Perry with two of her friends!

We went to a carnival with our best friends!

Pop pop (my dad) came for a visit! Grandma came for some visits too, we need to get pictures of that next time.

Lastly, we have been experimenting with new desserts! It has been so hot so I have not been in the mood to turn on my oven much, so we have been making sweet treats in the blender, refrigerator and freezer. Stay tuned for more of what we have been making!

This chocolate mousse from The Detoxinista is one of my favorite new recipes that we found. I find myself soaking cashews everyday in preparation to make this amazing dessert! I have also been doubling the recipe because it does not last long in our house. It takes as long to prepare as a smoothie, super quick and easy!

Cashews are so good for you and I love being able to give my family a dessert that promotes health! Did you know that 2 handfuls of cashews is the therapeutic equivalent of a prescription dose of Prozac?  Inside you, the essential amino acid L-tryptophan is broken down into anxiety-reducing, snooze-inducing niacin. Even more important, tryptophan is also made into serotonin, one of your body’s most important neurotransmitters. Serotonin gives a feeling of well-being and mellowness. This is such a profound effect that Prozac, Paxil and similar antidepressants usually either mimic serotonin or artificially keep the body’s own serotonin levels high. (Source)

This recipe also uses cacao, which is sooooo good for you! It is the most antioxidant-rich food in the world. Cacao also contains natural mood-boosting compounds, making it a good food for people suffering from anxiety, sadness and depression.

I love that this mousse is sweetened with maple syrup instead of sugar. Maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese and a good source of zinc. The trace mineral manganese is an essential for energy production and antioxidant defenses. Zinc and manganese are also important allies in the immune system. Most traditional pancake syrups contain added salt, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and sodium benzoate. Both corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are potential GM (genetically modified) ingredients.

There are two varieties of maple syrup to choose from, USDA Grade A and Grade B. Grade A is the most popular, with a light maple flavor and a relatively thin consistency. It’s a good choice for pancakes, and can make a great topping for desserts and other foods.

Grade B maple syrup is much darker and has a stronger flavor. It also is a bit thicker, tending towards the consistency of pancake syrup rather than the runnier Grade A. Grade B is often recommended for baking because its stronger flavor comes through more readily, but it can be a better choice for pancakes or waffles than Grade A if you are a fan of the flavor of maple in general. The two are interchangeable as far as what will work in a recipe that calls for maple syrup. Grade C maple syrup, it is now called Grade B. Thus, Grade B & C are the same.

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Decadent Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse

See Detailed Nutrition Info on

WholeFoodRealFood.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked 2 hours
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse the cashews well, discarding the soak water.
2. Combine the soaked cashews, almond milk, melted coconut oil, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt in a high-speed blender, and blend until completely smooth and creamy.
3. Pour the mixture into 4 ramekins, and place in the fridge to chill until set, about 4 to 6 hours.
4. Serve chilled, with shaved chocolate, sliced almonds, raspberries or any other topping of your choice.
5. Enjoy!

Notes:

Recipe source: http://detoxinista.com/2014/03/chocolate-pots-de-creme-vegan-paleo/

Decadent Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse

• 1/2 cupraw, unsalted cashews, soaked 2 hours
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (I prefer the taste of the type without alcohol)
• Pinch of Himalayan pink salt

1. Drain and rinse the cashews well, discarding the soak water.
2. Combine the soaked cashews, almond milk, melted coconut oil, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt in a high-speed blender, and blend until completely smooth and creamy.
3. Pour the mixture into 4 ramekins, and place in the fridge to chill until set, about 4 to 6 hours.
4. Serve chilled, with shaved chocolate, sliced almonds, raspberries or any other topping of your choice.
5. Enjoy!

To receive daily health tips and gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and sugar-free meal/snack ideas, like us at www.facebook.com/wholefoodrealfood.

“When you know better, you do better.”

My kids are anxiously awaiting their teacher assignments today for the new school year and it got me thinking about school lunches. Here is a quick round-up of some ideas.

People often ask me how I get my kids to eat this way.  I do this by getting them involved in the process. They pick out what goes in each compartment and help wash & cut the food. They choose from the choices in our refrigerator/pantry — I choose at the food store. If they feel in control, they are more likely to eat it and try new things. They see it as their choice, not mine.

For more lunch ideas, visit http://www.schoollunchmakeover.com.

The lunchbox they use is a PlanetBox.  You can purchase these from Amazon.com or Pottery Barn Kids. Here are some details about the lunchbox — my favorite part is that it is non-toxic and dishwasher safe!

• Complete eco-friendly solution designed to make packing healthy lunches easy and fun
• Includes stainless steel lunchbox, 2 round lidded containers; a soft carry bag, and set of hip magnets
• Individual compartments ensure foods don’t touch each other and arrive looking neat and appealing
• Made out of safe, non-toxic, and recycled materials – no lead, PVC, phthalates, or BPA
• All in one piece design for easy care and cleaning – no mismatched lids to lose – dishwasher safe

There is a pouch that holds a thermos or Klean Kanteen water bottle on the outside of the lunch bag, we always fill this with water and frozen lemon chunks. The frozen lemon keeps the water cold and provides health benefits. Lemon is one of the top six alkaline foods (others include cayenne, root vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens & garlic). An acid body is a magnet for sickness, disease, cancer and aging. Eating more alkaline foods helps shift your body’s pH and oxygenates your system. Alkaline foods keep your body healthy and functioning correctly, preventing and combating cancer. Cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment.

Another option for water bottles are frozen juice cubes using juice made from a juicer. They help keep the water cold, add some flavor and add a boost of real, natural vitamins.

Read why we don’t give our kids organic milk boxes here.

Paleo School Lunch Ideas

1. Organic turkey & ham, organic cucumbers, organic pickles, organic grapes, organic peaches, organic plums and Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks.

2. Organic grapes, organic carrots, organic pickles, organic plums, organic turkey & ham, nitrite free pepperoni and enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks. Applegate farms sells nitrite free pepperoni. If you grocery store does not carry it, talk to a manager and request it if pepperoni is something you enjoy but do not want to consume the nitrates/nitrites.

3. Organic celery (I like to cut the celery in little pieces because I feel like it is easy for them to choke on when cut the long way), organic carrots, organic raisins, mango, kiwi, organic eggs stuffed with tuna salad. The tuna is Wild Planet Tuna mixed with Organic Veganaise & Whole Grain Mustard.

We use Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna, No Salt Added – this tuna has no water, oil or fillers added. Further it contains no BPA, is sustainably caught, is low mercury and high omega 3. Another great thing about this tuna is you don’t have to drain it — the tuna steaks are hand-cut and packed in a micro-cannery process allowing all the omega 3 oils to be retained so no liquid needs to be added.

Some of you have voiced concern about eating tuna due to of the possibility of the tuna being exposed to radiation as a result of the 2011 tsunami in Japan and the subsequently damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. Thus, I wanted to share a document written by the President and Founder of Wild Planet, Bill Carvalho, which provides clear, concise information regarding radiation in Wild Planet products. In summary, the best definitive course of action one can take regarding radiation in the food supply is to do precisely what Wild Planet has done; test all loads of fish coming into cold storage before they agree to pay for it. They have found no detectable radiation in any of their last 91 samples of albacore since July of 2012. Carvalho believes that North Pacific fish caught outside of the actual shoreline of Fukushima is very safe. Wile Planet continued the testing protocol throughout 2012 and 2013, and will continue such into 2014. In the past year, Wild Planet has had very few tests with any detectable levels of radiation at all, down to a detection limit of 0.5BQ/kg.

4. Organic chicken breast, watermelon, organic blueberries, organic raspberries, organic carrots, organic pickles and Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips. I prepare the chicken by coating it with coconut oil or avocado oil and a sprinkle of Himalayan pink salt & black pepper. Broil for 10 minutes on each side.

Read about why we use coconut oil here.

Read about why we use Himalayan pink salt here.

5. Shrimp, organic carrots, organic oranges, organic raspberries, organic raisins & Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks.

Shrimp help fight cancer, keep skin, hair and nails healthy, help prevent anemia, boost energy, help build strong bones, help process fats, help fight depression, help promote prostate health, help to keep your thyroid healthy and help stabilize blood sugar levels.

“Shrimp are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which starve tumor cells and help fight cancer. Studies show that eating 8 or 9 shrimp a day can reduce your breast cancer risk. Instead of shrimp, you can substitute any seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids; options include salmon, haddock, flounder and sardines.” – Dr. Oz

6. Chicken salad, organic oranges, organic grapes, carrot and cucumber flowers and pomegranate. Veggie Cutters: http://tinyurl.com/k2gc8o6

7. Egg whites, organic green beans, organic pickles (cut with veggie cutters), organic strawberries & Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips.

8. Organic chicken, organic strawberries, grapes, green beans, carrots & Enjoy Life Chocolate Chip Chunks.

9. Organic carrots, organic dill pickles, organic strawberries, mango, Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips & tuna salad. The tuna is Wild Planet Tuna mixed with Organic Veganaise & Whole Grain Mustard.

10. Grilled chicken, pineapple, spinach salad with egg, cucumber, avocado and raw sunflower seeds. We use the lemon as dressing.

11. Grain-Free & nut-free banana muffin, cucumbers (this is the vegetable cutter I used to cut the seeds out), organic hard-boiled egg, organic carrots, organic blackberries, organic raspberries, organic grapefruit and Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

12. Grain-Free & nut-free banana muffin, nitrite free pepperoni (Applegate Farms), organic strawberries, organic roasted cauliflower, organic raspberries, organic grapefruit, organic oranges, pistachios and Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

13. Organic ham, nitrite free pepperoni (Applegate Farms), organic kosher baby dill pickles, organic strawberries, mango, organic oranges, apple crumble and Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

14. Tuna salad (we use Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna, No Salt Added), organic kosher baby dill pickles, organic strawberries, organic carrots, grain-free granola and Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

15. Chicken salad, organic blackberries, organic strawberries, organic dill pickle slices and Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Mega Chunks.

16.  Organic ham, organic turkey, nitrite free pepperoni (Applegate Farms), organic kosher baby dill pickles, organic carrots, cantaloupe, organic apples and Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

17.  Organic ham, nitrite free pepperoni (Applegate Farms), organic apples, organic blackberries, organic cucumbers, banana blueberry muffin, pistachios and Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

18.  Organic ham, cantaloupe, watermelon, organic apples, organic carrots, sunflower seeds and a chocolate chip scone made with ground cashews and sweetened with maple syrup.

19.  Organic strawberries, mango, grilled chicken (this was leftover chicken from a salad we had at a restaurant), organic carrots, organic apples and sunflower seeds.

20.  Organic chicken breast, organic carrots, kiwi, spaghetti squash, watermelon and sunflower seeds.

21.  Organic turkey hot dog, organic yellow mustard, organic broccoli, organic cucumbers, organic carrots, organic strawberries and Enjoy Life Mega Chunks.

To receive daily health tips and gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and sugar-free meal/snack ideas, like us at www.facebook.com/wholefoodrealfood.

~ We need to teach our children TO EAT REAL FOOD. No Fast Foods. No Junk Foods. No Processed Foods. Just Honest, Nutritious, Real Food.