Sweet, Sticky and Gooey

These words describe one of the world’s healthiest and most renowned sweeteners, honey. Just the word itself makes people happy – and is used commonly in expressions of endearment and love. Nutritionally, honey loves to do sweet things to make your body just as happy on the inside.

It has been around for centuries and there are thousands of varieties. No matter what essence or flower based honey you choose, blueberry, clover, wildflower, buckwheat or orange blossom – just be sure that it is local, pure, unpasteurized or raw. Some people rule it out honey because it is a sugar or because it comes from an animal, but if you choose to savour in its incredible taste and healing properties, just enjoy and use it in moderation, as with all sweeteners.

Why is Honey so good for you?

1. Honey helps to heal the stomach, pancreas and lungs – as it tonifies, soothes and nourishes the linings of these organs.
2. Even though honey is a sugar, it is loaded with nutrients, enzymes and minerals – so you are getting more than just a sweet flavour.
3. Honey contains antibiotic properties that can help to protect against various diseases, ailments and illnesses. From a sore throat to diarrhea – honey can help to build up your immunity and keep your body strong.
4. Honey can be used topically to heal wounds (especially Manuka Honey) like abrasions, burns, sores and chapped skin.

How to use honey:

1. Be sure to use honey raw or at very low heat temperatures to preserve its natural properties. High heat can destroy its natural enzymes and minerals.
2. Honey can be stirred into herbal tea, spooned on hot cereal or smeared on sprouted bread.
3. Honey can be added to dips, spreads, sauces and dressings.
4. Since honey retains moisture – when it is used for baking instead of sugar – your baked goods will stay fresh longer.

Buying and Storing:

1. Honey is available in liquid form but is also available in the comb or creamed.
2. See your local grocery or health food store for different varieties. If you are able to get your honey fresh from a farmer’s market or honey farm directly, that is always the best!
3. Store honey at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Do not refrigerate as this speeds crystallization, which thickens honey and turns it cloudy and grainy. (To liquefy– remove the lid place the honey container in a saucepan with water and heat slowly until crystals dissolve).

One of my favourite ways to use honey is raw by putting it into a salad dressing. See one of my favourite summer dressings below!

Raw Waldorf Salad

What’s In It?

1 cup of arugula, spinach or mixed greens
1 large head of red leaf lettuce (or two cups arugula)
1⁄4 cup peeled jicama or carrots
2 stalks celery, diced
1 apple, diced
1 cup sunflower sprouts or mung bean sprouts

1 avocado, peeled and chopped
1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon hemp seeds

Dressing:
1⁄4 cup hemp oil
2 tablespoons raw tahini (or 1⁄2 cup if no hemp oil)
2 tablespoons Filsingers apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Nude Bee honey
2 tablespoon Bragg’s Aminos
2 tablespoons to 1⁄4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Filtered water (add slowly, only if needed without hemp oil)

How It’s Made

1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 2. Pour over salad ingredients and toss until well coated.

Delicious Knowledge by Marni

When making a salad it’s important to think of colour, texture and flavour to make it interesting and enticing, and this salad has it all. Change up the veggies based on season, maybe use pears instead of apples, spinach instead of arugula, or try olive oil instead of hemp oil. There are endless possibilities. There is enough sustaining energy in this salad to make a complete spring or summer lunch or dinner.

Contest Alert!

I’m giving away a bottle (330g) of Blueberry Nude Bee Honey! Tell me why you love honey and your favorite uses, and I’ll enter you in the contest for a chance to win the bottle! At the end of the week, I’ll choose the best answer to be rewarded with the prize. Good luck Torontonians! Contest closes June 7th, 2012. (Winner must be in Toronto).

In health,

 

 

 

You can get more delicious knowledge by checking out Marni’s Purely Fit e-book, available here:http://www.marniwasserman.com/ebooks/

Looking to buy a bottle of Nude Bee Honey? Just email gethealthy@marniwasserman.com.

 

 

 

Don’t tell Mum…And Get Down with Goji Granola!

The sweet smell of granola baking in the oven is enough to make anyone  feel happy and hot! Even better – knowing the ingredients in your granola are wholesome, rich, and pure. My favourite kind of granola is nothing  short of one  that is homemade.  Of course, being the month of February, love is  in the air. That being said, something sweet and chocolaty with a hint of red is definitely in store!  With the  range of goodness offered by Mum’s Originals Superfoods, there’s more than enough goodies to choose from to make this steamy batch of  granola.

With the heart in mind this month (and not only for health) I made sure each    ingredient was picked with total love and care!

 Oats – Oats are rich in fiber and are excellent for reducing cholesterol and  provide long lasting energy (a perfect way to start the day with your Valentine)

Coconut Sugar – Low glycemic, slow burning and just perfectly sweet. You can’t get much better than this!

Goji Berries – Tender, juicy, red and filled with antioxidants, fiber and protein. The perfect boost!

Cacao (aka chocolate) – Need I say more? Magnesium, calcium and the best source of energy, ahem, and a natural aphrodisiac.

Coconut Oil -  Rich, creamy, and sweet, it makes everything taste delicious. It can be used anywhere on your body too! (Hint, hint)

Banana Powder – Did you know that bananas are full of B vitamins? It helps keep those sex hormones alive!

Hemp Seeds – Shaped like hearts, these little guys loaded with heart healthy omega 3′s and fiber

Sea Salt – We all need a little salt in our diet. It makes the sweet sweeter!

Cinnamon – Sweet, delectable, and spicy cinnamon is great for balancing blood sugar and just makes everything taste good. And it adds a little kick when you need it.

Sweet Loving Granola!

What’s in it?

1 cup quick oats
2 tbsp oat flour
1 tbsp banana
2 tbsp coconut sugar
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp roasted hemp seeds
1 tbsp coconut cacao clusters
2 tbsp goji berries
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt

How it’s made!

1. Preheat oven to 300 F.
2. Combine the oats, oat flour, banana, coconut sugar, coconut oil in a bowl and combine until the coconut oil is melted in.
3. Bake in oven for 15 minutes, stirring once part way through. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
4. Place baked oats in a large bowl and combine with hemp seeds, cacao clusters, goji berries, cinnamon and sea salt.

This Goji Granola, filled with natural boosters and energy-infused ingredients, is a flawless way to begin your Valentine’s Day to keep you and your sweetie invigorated and juiced up into the evening. Try it as a surprise Breakfast-in-Bed, and hopefully what follows next is as hot as the granola!

 

You can get more delicious knowledge by checking out Marni’s Weekday Meal Planning e-book, available here: http://www.marniwasserman.com/ebooks/

Here’s to a Healthy Superbowl Weekend!

Super Bowl Sunday is coming up fast. Although I don’t particularly love football or participate in this event, I can definitely offer some assistance as to how this night can be made that much healthier! We know this is the biggest day for business for fast foods, delivered foods, and processed over-sugared and over-salted snacks. But wouldn’t it just be easier to make your own dish and have something healthy to munch on? If your man’s going to be in another room watching the game, simply take it upon yourself to supply your home (or his party) with some healthy all in one bowl snacks!

Here are some suggestions:

Make a Trail Mix – (recipe below)

Kale Chips – make at least 4 batches or more. They will win over any “sour cream n’ onion” chip lover, any day!

Mesquite Walnut Fig Muffins– for those with a sweet tooth!

White Bean Dip – with some crispy Mary’s Gone Crackers

Salsa – with corn chips

Coco Bliss Balls – because they look and taste better than Timbits! I promise

No time to prepare your own snacks? Not a problem! For some healthy prepackaged snacks including corn chips, snack bars, and more click here for ideas!

Super Bowl of Trail Mix

1 cup almonds – heart healthy

1 cup cashews – makes you happy, who doesn’t love a cashew

1/2 cup walnuts – loaded with omega 3′s and nourishes your brain

1/2 cup brazil nuts – contain selenium a powerful antioxidant

1 cup pumpkin seeds (loaded with zinc – great for prostate health) may as well take advantage while a whole bunch of men will be eating them!!

1 cup raisins or Goji Berries (or both) – some natural sweetness, fiber and antioxidants

1/2 cup hemp seeds – omega rich healthy fats

1 cup cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips – it’s not complete without some chocolate

1 cup coconut flakes – added texture, flavour and crunch

1/4 tsp sea salt – (optional) to balance out the flavours

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl and serve. Refill when done!

Got other ideas?

What are you planning on having at your party?

Sexy & Smooth Chocolate Elixirs!

Benefits:

Loaded with antioxidants (to help prevent illness)

Contain chromium (to help balance blood sugar),

Tryptophan (excellent mood enhancer),

Serotonin (the feel good chemical)

Fiber (digestive system – nobody wants to be backed up)

Manganese, zinc, copper, vitamin C

For some more delicious and protein-packed recipes, check out the Warrior Way which will guide you down the path toward weight loss, enhanced health, and a fitter, happier you. SunWarrior’s celebrity chefs and fitness experts will lead you through meals and mold your body with exercise routines. Their clear and well-defined guidance will let you learn those skills and own your transformation into the Warrior you want to become.

 

 

Join me in the Smoothment!

I just love blending up delicious smoothies in my blender!

Start 2012 off with your Blender!

After being asked by Navitas Naturals, as one of their newest team members I am excited to share with you about there new program The Smoothment!

This program is designed to get you drinking more smoothies daily and to help you along every step of the way. This couldn’t be a better idea! From tips, recipes discounts on amazing superfood products, along with videos on how to make the tastiest smoothies, they’ve got it all. There’s nothing like having your hand held all the way from your blender to your glass! P.S. Don’t forget to sip your smoothie with a glass STRAWESOME straw!

If you are not already making smoothies or haven’t figured out just why they are so good for you let me help you out first:

Top reasons to start the new year off with a smoothie!

Not only are smoothies refreshing and give you energy first thing in the morning – but they are also so much fun to create. Everyday you can create a new theme in your blender using different, flavours, tastes and textures  pack it full of raw organic, fruits, vegetables and superfoods!

Making a smoothie is the easiest way to absorb a whole bunch of nutrients all at once. They are full of fiber and vitamins and depending on what you put into it you can also get your daily dose of protein, antioxidants and healthy fats.

Why not indulge… and drink your next meal? What can be more delicious than a creamy smoothie that fills you up and gives your body the nutrition and vitality that it requires to thrive? There really is no better answer…so let me tell you five simple reasons why you should be making smoothies and blending your way to health!

Time Saver – Smoothies take all of  5-10 minutes to make (depending on how prepared you are) and can be taken on the go, and will last all day in a stainless steel bottle.

Easy to Absorb – liquids are easier to digest and allow nutrients to absorb into your cells for immediate uptake.

All -in -One – you can get a “whole” lot of goodness into one blender – nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fat!

Super Fun– enjoy the “process” get creative with colourful ingredients and textures (add granola and eat it with a spoon!)

Liquid Energy – use superfoods to give you a boost (no booster juice!!!) Make your own blend and enjoy in the morning, afternoon or pre/post work out!

You are in luck because I am going to give simple steps on how you can to make the perfect smoothie everyday.

 

How to blend your way to health:

These can be made in any blender (but a Vitamix or BlendTec are highly recommended!)

1. Start with 2 cups of liquid – rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut water
2. Choose your protein (2 tbsp or more)– raw brown rice protein (Sun Warrior - (Use coupon code MW007 to save on your order)), hemp protein, hemp hearts or almonds
3. Choose your fruit (1/2 – 1 cup of either)– blueberries, raspberries, banana, mango, avocado, dates
4. Choose your green (one handful)– spinach, kale, chard, sprouts, cucumber or (1 tsp) greens powder, spirulina, chlorella
5. Choose your superfoods – (1 tablespoon of one or more) goji berries, acai, pomegranate powder, cacao nibs, maca, mesquite, hemp seeds, raw honey, chia seeds, matcha green tea

Want to win some Superfoods?

Sign up and join the Smoothment and WIN some superfoods!

1. Leave a comment below

2. Join our pages Delicious Knowledge and Navitas Naturals

3. Share The Smoothment on Twitter