Woman's Best Friend....

This is a really hard blog to write and I suppose it's not entirely appropriate for the 3 Healthy Chicks Blog about living fresh and local but I think for any blog to actually reach people, it needs to be authentic. Personal experience lends itself to authenticity and it is also therapeutic for me..so with that in mind I am going to try to actually finish this entry... I've been working on it for almost 10 days now.

First of all, let me apologize for my lack of updates over the past 2 weeks. It has been a rough one.....on Monday, February 8th I had to put down my 11 1/2 year old Great Dane, Cheyenne. It was the most challenging, heartbreaking and inevitably selfless decision I have ever made. I am still in the midst of the grieving process and as much as I know it was the right decision I continue to fight the guilt over choosing to euthanize my best friend.

On February 6th, Stephen and I came home after dinner and Cheybees howled, jumped in circles and brought us her huge doggie bone with a silly smile on her face. We walked her and then settled in for bed. When I woke up the next morning, Chey wasn't in her dog bed, but was laying lethargically at the foot of our bed. I tried to get her up, but she wanted no part of it. I figured she was just being lazy, as she is definitely not a morning dog. I let her sleep for another hour and then got her up.

I struggled to get all 112 pounds of her moving and outside. She's a geriatric dog and sometimes has rough mornings with her arthritic hips, but could barely walk. I wanted to ignore what was happening. In my heart I knew something was very wrong. We brought her to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. Ex-rays revealed she had bone cancer in her right hind leg. The vet explained, this form of cancer is one of the most aggressive and painful. I could choose to amputate the leg and follow up with chemotherapy or simply administer pain medication for her comfort and let nature take it's course.

Given Cheyenne was well past her life expectancy, I chose to take her home and make her as comfortable as possible. Stephen and I took her home and carried her into the bedroom. I gave her additional pain medication and she drifted to sleep. I spent the day in bed with her stroking her velvety soft ears thinking about the past 11 years of our lives together. I remembered bringing her home to New Orleans from Belle Chase, LA during hurricane Georges and how tiny she was at 10 weeks old.


She used to sleep on my head when she was that young. And might I offer a bit of advice to new puppy owners...allowing your new bundle of joy to sleep on your pillow on your head is not the best idea. On the third night of this sleeping arrangement, Chey woke up to make her way off the bed and onto the puppy pads but didn't quite make it and promptly peed on my face.

I loved her anyway.

This beautiful, gentle, loyal, loving and kind being brought so many riches to my life, one blog post can't even begin to do our friendship and connection justice. She taught me how to be a parent. She taught me patience. And I can honestly say, she taught me how to love with no holds barred. I will cherish every single memory of the time we spent together. Hiking Adirondack peaks, chasing seaweed monsters in Ocean Beach, San Francisco, body surfing in Cape Cod and eating roasted cauliflower with vegan cheese. Who knew a Great Dane could do such things!??

After spending 9 hours in bed on Sunday without moving more than her head to reach up to give me one of her nose kisses, I knew as much as I loved her, I had to let her go. I called my father and asked him to drive down to Jersey from the Adirondacks. By Monday morning she still hadn't moved from the cozy spot on my bed and I could tell that her pain was increasing and the medication was no longer helping. She looked beautiful, loving...and so very tired cuddling her favorite moo cow toy.

At noon, I called the hospital and told them it needed to be done soon. At 2pm my father arrived. At 3pm Stephen and my dear friend Tatum came home early from work. The four of us spent the remaining 3 hours on the bed with her loving her up and treating her to a Reeses Peanutbutter Cup. Chey kept picking her head up to look at Stephen. I think she was making sure he was there, to take care of me when she was gone. At 6:30pm my housemate and veterinarian Danee came home. I laid behind Cheyenne in our favorite spooning position stroking her head telling her how much I loved her. She was surrounded by the most important people in her life. At 6:45pm she looked up once more to Stephen, sighed and was gone. I have never felt such emptiness and pain.

I suppose that with each day that passes it gets easier, but the hurt is still so fresh. When I work from home, the spot on the couch next to me is empty. There are no paw prints in the snow in the back yard. There's no booty swirls or nose kisses. And I don't know how long it will be before I am able to make roasted cauliflower with vegan parmesan, regardless of nutritional content.

I just miss my best friend.

~ Terra

Friday Friend Shout Out - NEW Yoga Basin in Asbury Park!

This week's Friday Friend Shout Out is to the NEW beautiful yoga studio and juice bar in Asbury Park, NJ, Yoga Basin!

Yoga Basin is both a yoga studio and all-natural juice/smoothie bar. The yoga studio will offer everything from gentle flow classes to hot yoga classes with many different in between. They will feature workshops and celebrations regularly including nutrition seminars, drum circles, kirtans and full moon celebrations. Their all natural juice/smoothie bar will provide delicious vegan goodies and healthy drinks. They've got a lovely indoor/outdoor cafe style set up too!

I've been fortunate enough to have been asked to join their staff as a holistic health counselor and couldn't be more excited. Please stay tuned for my monthly nutrition seminars that I will be holding with another holistic health counselor and yoga teacher at the studio, Erin Denardo. Our first one will be on March 6th (time TBA) on Healthy Shopping. I'll keep you posted!

The founders of Yoga Basin, Reggie and Rick Wegel, have had a clear vision on what they wanted their yoga studio to be and will finally be sharing this vision at their GRAND OPENING tomorrow February 20th at 6:30pm! They've formed an eclectic staff who share their same vision and hopes for all who visit the studio. I wish them the best of luck with their new studio in Asbury and encourage you to stop in for a class, juice or workshop very soon! Yoga Basin is located at 603 Mattison Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ 07712. Make sure to check out their website, it's gorgeous, just like the studio!!! Please become a friend on Facebook too!

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

The Yoga of Avatar

I was finally able to see Avatar in 3D last week. After all the hype, I was interested to see if it would live up to what everyone’s been saying, and boy did it ever! I LOVED it, especially its implication. There was such a yogic presence to the storyline. It’s comforting to see a movie do this well with such a beautiful message!

Here’s a breakdown of the yogic elements of Avatar:

Interconnectedness of all beings – the Na’vi link to other beings on the planet through neural-chemical connections. One of the characters, Grace, the biologist played by Sigourney Weaver, calls it a network. And indeed, the whole planet is an organic neural network. The Na’vi practice and believe in an interconnection of all life in balance with nature. Because of this, everything is viewed as sacred.

Unity – when they get attacked, Jake and the Na’vi realize pretty quickly that they’re going to need allies. They rally up the other clans, and together they fight the humans. Even their former predators, the wild animals of the jungle, unite in the battle against the humans and their corporate agenda.

Goddess worshipping – the Na’vi worship Eywa, and believe that all consciousness is infused with her energy. In yoga, this goddess consciousness is known as Shakti, while yoga isn’t exactly a goddess worshiping tradition, there are strong threads of the divine feminine throughout and sects which are devoted to her worship.

Hindu origins - the word “avatar” itself is Sanskrit and is rooted in Hindu mythology (as is yoga). Presently, the word avatar evokes the graphical representation of a computer user, but it’s original meaning is “descent” and it can be “an incarnation or human appearance of a deity, particularly Vishnu.” These incarnations, including one of the most famous, Krishna, have blue skin, and the blue Na’vi beings are themselves meant to evoke Hindu deities.

Rajan Zed, the Hindu statesman who has appointed himself watchdog of American pop culture, has not overlooked these elements. He expressed his initial concerns about the film last spring, and urged James Cameron to “be careful when handling Hindu concepts and terminology.” But he’s been awfully quiet since the film has been on the screens, so perhaps Cameron did a better job than expected.

Despite the strong yogic components of the film, it has managed to become the most popular movie in years and it has captured the collective imagination. It’s fascinating, really, things like the divine feminine and interconnectedness (while not particularly new or radical) aren’t exactly mainstream thinking, but rather yogic! All I can wonder is if the spiritual ideas in the film might just sink in to the viewers, and affect some kind of change in consciousness, somewhere down the line. Let's all hope.

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

Cinnamon Snail Hits the Road!

We have some great news to share for folks in North Jersey! Our friend, Adam Sobel of Certified Orgasmic is hitting the streets of Hoboken, NJ with his vegan food truck, The Cinnamon Snail! Move over Portland, LA, San Francisco and Boulder, Jersey is stepping up to the plate!

This is the nation's very first vegan food truck. Service will kick off on Valentines Day, February 14th, 2010 with the first 100 customers receiving free vegan donuts! (Let me just say, my favorite thing about the Farmers Market in Red Bank is Adam's vegan cinnamon donuts!!)

The Cinnamon Snail websites will be up and running shortly, be sure to bookmark it for future reference. Give Adam a shout out, let him know that 3 Healthy Chicks sent you and remind him that Monmouth County loves him!

Way to go Adam!

Keep it Fresh!
~ Terra

Oh When the Saints Go Marching In!!

Overindulgence and Super Bowl Sunday seem to go hand in hand. This year instead of gorging on unhealthy fatty, salty foods choose foods that will nourish your body and sustain you throughout the long haul of the game. Who wants to miss the impressive half-time show due to indigestion?

Stephen and I are going to try out yet another awesome recipe from my great friend Tracey, black bean and brown rice burgers. We're going to pair them with some home made veggie chili, but they would also go great with Lauren's Sweet Potato Wedges.

I know that most people have money on the Colts, as a former resident of the City of New Orleans, I will be clad in gold, green and purple sequins cheering the saints on. But let's be honest I just might flip back and forth between the Super Bowl and the PUPPY Bowl on Animal Planet.

Black Bean and Brown Rice “Burger”

2 cans black beans rinsed and drained (or ½ pound dried beans soaked overnight and rinsed)
1 red bell pepper (small dice)
1 poblano pepper (small dice)
1 red onion (small dice)
1 can corn rinsed and drained (15 ounce)
2 cloves garlic (almost paste)
2 cups brown rice cooked (about 1 cup uncooked)
6 ounces V8 juice or other tomato juice product
1 egg
1 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup olive oil (more if needed to form sticky)

Spices:
Coriander
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper
Chili Powder
Kosher Salt
Pepper
****all to taste: the c’s about 1 tablespoon for spicy burger.
Manchego cheese for top at last minute of cooking


Tomato (large dice)
Arugula
Fresh Cilantro (small dice or chiffonade)
Lime Juice
Kosher Salt
Pepper
*****mix all together for “salsa” salad on top of burger…..really tower

1. Sauté peppers and onion with garlic until soft. Let cool.
2. Mash black beans allowing some to remain whole.
3. Add all ingredients together with the beans and mix until combined. Do not over mix since the rice will break down.
4. Form into 8 ounce balls (this recipe will give about 10)
5. Sauté for 8 minutes on each side in olive oil.
6. Last minute of cooking put shredded Manchego cheese on the top.
7. Remove from pan top with salsa salad and serve.

Keep it Fresh!
~ Terra

Keep Your Yoga Mat Clean

Did you know that the Sanskrit word “sauca” translates to cleanliness? In fact, keeping yoga mats clean is an important part of traditional yoga, known as “kriyas,” the cleansing practices of Hatha yoga. Yogis believe that cleanliness helps to open up charkas and deepen the yoga practice and experience.

Regularly washing your yoga mat will kept it soft and sticky, prevent bacterial growth and maximize the life of your mat. The best way to keep most yoga mats clean is to wash them by hand, so here are some tips to show you how to wash a yoga mat easily.

Deep Clean Your Mat

For its first wash, or whenever your yoga mat seems particularly dirty, you will probably want to give it a really thorough cleaning.

- Run a few inches of cool or slightly warm water into a bathtub or large laundry sink and add a few drops of mild, non-oily detergent. Make sure you don’t add too much soap or it will be difficult to rinse away completely, leaving your yoga mat unnecessarily slippery.

- Submerge the yoga mat in the water. Let it soak for a few minutes (the longer you let it soak, the more thoroughly it will be cleaned).

- Gently rub down both sides of the mat, top to bottom, using the soft side of a sponge, a piece of terrycloth, or even just your hands. This will help the mat to develop that soft, ‘grippable’ surface for which sticky yoga mats are so prized.

- Rinse the yoga mat out very thoroughly in clean water, making sure you get rid of any soap residue.

- To dry your yoga mat, lay it on top of a dry towel and tightly roll mat and towel together like a cinnamon roll. Squeeze out excess water by pressing with your hands or feet. Unroll and hang to air dry. Make sure you let it dry out completely before storing to prevent mold.

Homemade Yoga Mat Cleaner

For lighter, more frequent maintenance cleaning and a quicker drying time, you can just clean your mat with a spray bottle and soft cloth. Here are two easy recipes for your own all-natural mat cleaning spray:

Lovely Lavender Spray

Take an empty spray bottle and add 3 drops of tea tree oil, two drops of peppermint oil, and two drops of lavender oil. Fill the rest of the bottle up with distilled water. Shake well. Spray your mat lightly with this solution and wipe it down gently with a damp sponge.

It is very easy to make a spray-on mat cleaner that will break up sweat and dirt and kill odor-causing molds and bacteria while at the same time extending the lifespan of your mat. Try either of these recipes.

Water/Vinegar Spray

For an even simpler, natural antibacterial/antifungal mat spray, simply mix 1 part warm water with 3 parts white vinegar. You can also try adding a few drops of essential oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender, mint, or tea tree oil to add a nice aroma and increase the germ and odor-killing potential.

Now that you have a clean yoga mat, put it to good use! Check out a yoga class in your area or stop in to a yoga class taught by one of the 3 Healthy Chicks! See below:

Fair Haven Yoga

Wednesday's with Terra – 7:00pm Gentle Hatha – a combination of traditional Hatha yoga asanas, breath work and meditation. Yoga alignment and modifications of poses accessible to all. $10 drop in fee.

The Yoga and Healing Center

Hot Mamas Prenatal Yoga with Terra - 8 week Session starting May 4, 2010 - Wise Mamas Prenatal will help you reconnect with your innate female wisdom and the natural process of birth, guiding you through a class specifically designed for the journey of pregnancy.

Mommy and Me Yoga with Terra - 8 week Session starting May 4, 2010 - Post-natal yoga class (babies and mom's 6-8 weeks postpartum) focuses on strengthening the spiritual, emotional and physical bond between parent and child. This practice will enhance your sense of well-being, connect with your body, gain strength and flexibility and connect with your baby.

Asbury Park Dance & Yoga

Hot Mamas Prenatal Yoga with Terra - 8 week Session starting June 23, 2010 - Wise Mamas Prenatal will help you reconnect with your innate female wisdom and the natural process of birth, guiding you through a class specifically designed for the journey of pregnancy.

Brahma Yoga Spa

Friday's with Lauren - 5:30pm Gentle Hatha - traditional Hatha asana, breath work and meditation. $15 drop in fee.

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

Friday Friend Shout Out: Nature's Corner Natural Market

This week's Friday Friend Shout Out goes out to Nature's Corner Natural Market in Spring Lake Heights, NJ. If you haven't been there, you need to take the drive to check it out! In our opinion, it's the best health foods store on the Jersey Shore.

Since opening it's doors in 1995, Nature's Corner has been providing it's customers with diet specific offerings including 100% organic, wheat and gluten free, sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan and raw foods. They have cruelty-free, organic body care,

Owner, Ed Levy, CN prides himself on his well trained and experienced staff who are always willing to take great care in providing customers with honest and sound guidance. The store itself has an amazing energy and I can honestly say that each and every time I enter the store (which is usually ever week or so) I am greeted by smiles which is an admirable quality in customer service. What's even more amazing? Every single time I go to Nature's Corner I find exactly what I am looking for! My only complaint is that it's 20 miles away!

So Ed, how about considering opening a Nature's Corner in Red Bank? I could be your first employee and on site holistic health consultant. Think about it ;)

Keep on Keeping it Fresh, Nature's Corner. You rock!!

~ Terra

My new favorite dessert...

is raw and loaded with goodness!!!

I am a dessert junkie and a warrior that has battled the sugar blues. I have ridden the highs and lows of the refined sugar roller coaster and I am very glad to have exited that ride. Even though I ditched the refined sugars, I still want my cake and I want to eat it too!!! How exactly are you supposed to do that in a healthy way? Three words: moderation and raw desserts.

One of the things that attracted me to raw foods were the desserts. Not only are they packed with nutrients, missing refined sugars and much more healthy but they will gave you the sweetness you crave without loading you down with refined sugar that will inevitably make you crash and feel crappy!

When Lauren, Jill and I graduated from IIN we had a little celebration dinner at one of my favorite raw digs in NYC, Quintessence - The Essence of Food... just thinking about that dinner makes me smile. We were so excited to be IIN graduates and to celebrate it with gourmet, raw, organic deliciousness. Healthy foodies on top of the world!

I previously tried many "normal" raw desserts crafted by Red Bank's own vegan raw chef Adam Sobel of Certified Orgasmic such as key lime pie and strawberry cheese cake. But I never really ventured into raw, uncharted territories. At our little soiree, I chose something new for dessert, the chia seed pudding.

Here's a little secret: when I chose the chia seed pudding, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I knew what chia seeds were, but I don't think I had never eaten them and certainly had no idea how they were going to turn thenm into a delicious tapioca-like pudding. Wow. it was indeed amazing. Sweet and nutty and creamy and completely satisfying without a roller coaster ride. I found raw "tapioca" love.

For those of you that don't know what Chia seeds are, or look like, think of this:



Yeah, it's an Obama chia pet head! (I thought I would get a little political given the recent state of the union. Perhaps, I should stick to health, no?) Doesn't it make you giggle? The nutritional chia seeds are the same seeds that the novelty Chia Pet uses! I bet Chia Pet collectors all over are unaware of the nutritional and medicinal value of chia seeds. They contain more Omega-3s than any other vegetarian source and they're high in anti-oxidants, minerals and fiber. Basically, they do a body good. You can learn more about how amazing these little seeds are here. If you want to find chia seeds in your local health foods store, they look like this:



Tuesday night after consulting Elena's Pantry, I went on a little quest to make my own chia seed pudding goodness...and let me tell you, it's better than good. It's great!! This is the recipe I followed:

1 cup (raw) cashews
3 cups water
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
pinch celtic sea salt
¼ cup chia seeds

1. Place the cashews and water in a Blendtec and blend on high speed until smooth
2. Blend in the agave, vanilla, almond extract and salt.
3. Place the chia seeds in a large mason jar (½ gallon size), pour the cashew mixture into the jar and shake well (very well!)
4. Place in the refrigerator overnight
5. Serve

Here it is:


We may be in the dead of winter in Jersey and 3 years ago, I may have reached for homemade donuts as my comfort food. But this is 2010. Health is the buzz word and my comfort food right now is chia seed pudding!

Keep it Fresh!

~ Terra

Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga for Life

This past Saturday was Yoga Day USA! I participated in a few of my favorite yoga classes in my area this weekend in honor of Yoga Day and also went to a lovely Kirtan last night at a new Yoga studio in Asbury Park. It was a great weekend! =)

Yoga Day USA's website had a really great list of 10 reasons to try yoga for life. I thought this was worth posting since we could all benefit from hearing the reasons why yoga is great for everything. If you already have a steady yoga practice, rock on! If you are wishy-washy these days with your practice, plan more time for yoga in your schedule each week. If you are not practicing yoga, consider it!

The health and fitness benefits of yoga have long been reported by practitioners and are now being confirmed by scientific research. Give yoga a try and discover what it can do for your body, your mind, and your soul.

Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga for Life!

1. Yoga for STRESS RELIEF: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

2. Yoga for PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.

3. Yoga for BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body.

4. Yoga for FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga class. Gradually they begin to use the correct muscles. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, making more poses possible. Yoga also helps to improve body alignment resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems.

5. Yoga for INCREASED STRENGTH: Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while these postures strengthen the body, they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension.

6. Yoga for WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and self esteem.

7. Yoga for IMPROVED CIRCULATION: Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.

8. Yoga for CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING: Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardio-vascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.

9. Yoga for FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination, reaction time and memory.

10. Yoga for INNER PEACE: The meditative aspects of yoga help many to reach a deeper, more spiritual and more satisfying place in their lives. Many who begin to practice for other reasons have reported this to be a key reason that yoga has become an essential part of their daily lives.

Adapted from www.yogadayusa.org

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

Randomly Quirky Friday Friend Shout Out

So I am not going to lie, life has been damn busy!!!! Jill is making nutritional waves in Rwanda, Lauren is breaking ground in corporate wellness and I am immersing myself in all things yoga, fertility and pre and post-natal health. It has been a challenge with the three of us so very busy and on different continents taboot! Blogging here is that little piece of wonderful that makes all the craziness worth it. And the three of us know that by pooling our knowledge and resources together we will actively create greater change in people's health and wellness. And that dear readers, is the best high of all!!

So, today's blog post isn't the typical Friday Friends Shout Out. I just really wanted to give a shout out to all of our readers. It makes us feel fabulous to know that someone is reading our blog! And who doesn't love feeling fabulous!!! We love answering all your questions, reading all your comments and it brings a huge smile to our faces to know that we're being read!

So thank you readers for reading and making us feel fabulous!!

Keep it Fresh!
~Terra
3HC

New Year, New Decade, New You!

So I may be 21 days late, but rather than setting New Year’s resolutions, I am sitting down to make a list of goals that I would like to accomplish this year. What is the difference you ask? Well, they are really a list of life goals... the year is just a rough timeline. I think that each year we all say “I am going to do this more” or “I am going to doing that less”, and we put pressure on ourselves to make drastic changes overnight. Inevitably, after a month or two we give up. Just look at any crowded gym in January and then a month or two later... free treadmills again! I don’t want to force myself to make changes, instead I want to make choices in my life in the upcoming months that will precipitate changes in order to create the life I want to lead, in the world that I want to live it in. And I encourage you to do the same.

Not sure where to start? Start by envisioning your future. Picture yourself a year from now, five years from now, ten years from now. What do you see? What will your career path be, where will you be living, with whom will you be living, with whom will you have meaningful relationships? Don’t be afraid to get detailed! Think about the things that are most important to you.

Then take a look at the present. On a piece of paper write down categories for each aspect of your life: work, home, relationships with friends, family or significant others, exercise, hobbies, health, etc. Next to each category write down a number between 1 and 10 indicating your satisfaction with that area of your life, 10 being completely satisfied. Now look at the lower numbers, the areas that need improvement, and think about what you can do to improve them. Write a few words next to each describing the reasons why those things are not fulfilling.

Now make a list of desires. Things that you want in your life that will help feed and nurture you and improve the areas that are unsatisfying. If you scored your home life with a 3, how can you make it a 10? Would redecorating, reorganizing or de-cluttering make your home more comfortable? Maybe you are unhappy with the location of your home and want to move somewhere warmer or closer to work. Whatever it is, write it down. Write down all of the things that would make you happy, whether small or large, but be clear about your intentions.

Lastly, write down at least one step that you can make towards achieving each desire, and take action! Call Bob and get the number for his real estate broker, or go to the store and get the boxes you need to reorganize your closet. As you accomplish each step, check them off and take a moment to reflect on how good it feels. Continue to add steps and check them off if necessary until you reach your desired goal, and be sure to reward yourself in the end!

Keep your lists somewhere where you can see them everyday as a reminder, like your nightstand. As you fulfill your desires, more will come. Write them down too. It is often helpful to start each day by writing down your intentions for the day... what steps you can take during the next few hours to help reach your goals. And don’t forget to take a moment before you go to bed to reflect on your day and check off your steps! If you missed a step or two, do not punish yourself. Instead, state the intention for the next day and find a way to motivate yourself to get it done. To keep track of your progress, re-score your categories every few months. Good Luck!

Winter Squash

I have to keep reminding myself that it is January and winter back home, which can be difficult to do in 85 degree tropical, on-the-equator type weather. While I can’t say that I miss the blustery cold, I can say that I do miss the many varieties of sweet winter squash to choose from. There are so many different types available and accessible in most grocery stores. There are many ways to cook these sweet gourds to help keep warm during those winter months that I am maybe not so fortunate to be missing out on.

Generally best during the fall and early winter months, but thanks to their thick skins, most winter squash have long storage potential. They come in many different shapes, sizes and colors, but cut open any variety and the flesh will almost always be somewhere between a golden yellow to vibrant orange, thanks to its high level of beta carotene. Due to its high level of Vitamin A winter squash boasts anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are also a good source of Vitamin C, B vitamins, fiber, folic acid and potassium to name a few. All of these combined, make them a nutrient rich food that can help ward off cancer and heart disease, help lower cholesterol or blood pressure and fight inflammatory diseases. Every part of the squash can be eaten, including the leaves and skin once cooked, and is often the best way to take advantage of all the nutrients the vegetable has to offer. Even the seeds can be eaten and are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids!

Varieties: So many to choose from it can be difficult.(Helpful tip: some stores, like Whole Foods, have guide books in the produce section with images of all the different varieties of vegetables, making it easier to determine what is what). Here are a few to help you get started...

- Acorn: Dark green skin (there are orange varieties too, just to give you even more options) with a sweet yellow flesh.

- Buttercup: Round with deep green skin and dark yellow-orange flesh with a sweet and nutty flavor and creamy consistency.

- Butternut: Pale orange skin with a deep orange buttery flesh, similar to a sweet potato.

- Carnival: Small and pumpkin shaped. Appropriately named due to its colorful, speckled and striped outer skin, with a sweet yellow flesh similar to butternut or acorn.

- Delicata: Small oval shape with white-yellow striped skin and golden, sweet and creamy flesh.

- Hubbard: Large tear drop shaped with pale, dull green-blue skin and dense orange flesh.

- Kabocha: (Sometimes called Japanese squash and similar to Buttercup) Pumpkin shaped, hard knobby green skin with bright orange flesh with a strong flavor and moist texture.

- Spaghetti: Oval shaped with yellow skin and yellow spaghetti-like flesh.

- Sugar Pumpkin: Small version of the “halloween” pumpkin with bright orange skin and flesh. The stuff pumpkin pie is made from.

- Turban: (Part of the Butternut family) Round turban-like shape with outer color ranging from dark green to bright speckled oranges and yellow-orange flesh.

Selecting: Look for firm, heavy squash with tough skins. Avoid vegetables with bruises, cuts or areas of softness that can indicate spoilage. And of course, choose local and/or organic when possible!

Storing: Some varieties can be stored up to six months before going bad. Generally squash can be kept out for a couple days, but it is best kept away from extreme temperatures and sunlight, so storing in the refrigerator is best. Or, cut them up and freeze them future use.

Preparing: A versatile food, squash can be prepared in many different ways.

- cut up and add to soups or stews

- roast them with a little olive oil and herbs.

- use spaghetti squash in place of pasta noodles with your favorite tomato sauce

- halve, scoop out seeds, bake and stuff with wild rice, quinoa, veggies or beans

- puree sweeter varieties and use in pies, cakes, breads or other desserts

- toast the seeds plain or season with olive oil, tamari, salt, pepper or other favorite seasonings

Try different ones and share your favorite variety or recipe in the comments section!

Muraho from Kigali

So I have been in Rwanda for three months as of today (my how time flies!), and doing a poor job of blogging about it! Mainly because the last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride of trying to decide if I should stay or if I should return to the states. Lots of factors have been at play in this decision (some will remain unmentioned....), but my 90 day visa was running out, I am now homeless, and I am pretty much out of money as I have had some difficulty finding full time work here. Well a quick trip border hopping into Goma (in Democratic Republic of the Congo) solved the visa issues and some generous friends have welcomed me into their home for a couple weeks until I figure out my plans... so now there is just the money/job dilemma to tackle.


Fortunately, things seem to be looking up in that department! I have a few leads on contacts for various organizations that I have reached out to that may be promising. But the most exciting part is that I have had, and hopefully will continue to have, the opportunity to work for an organization called Project Rwanda (PR). Led by National Bike Director Kimberly Coats, PR aims to help improve the economy of Rwanda by helping rural coffee farmers throughout the country run their businesses more efficiently. They do this by supplying them with “coffee bikes” that are designed to transport harvested coffee cherries. In conjunction with the organization is Team Rwanda, the nation’s professional cycling team lead by coach Jock Boyer.

Throughout the year coach holds training camps for the team in Musanze, a region in the north of the country close to the Ugandan border. Jock and Kim wanted me to team up with their cook to develop healthy meals for the team during one of the first training camps of the year. So, last week I took a 2 hour mutatu (public bus) ride up to Musanze and got to work for two long, but very fun days! With a team of 16 very hungry riders, we had a lot of cooking to do!

Each day would start with a trip to the local market, a large open air building similar to the one here in Kigali, and purchase tons of fresh ingredients for the days meals. Back at the house armed with fresh veggies, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, and whole grains, we spent the day cooking a healthy lunch to feed the team after a morning of riding, only to start all over again for dinner once they were all satisfied.

Four meals and two days later, and an exhausted, sweaty mess, I prepared for my trip back to the city while watching coach run tests on the riders using a stationary bike hooked up to his laptop. According to Jock’s recent Facebook status, the team’s performance level has improved during this camp... for the first time a rider put out 400 watts during his test ride, and another 370 watts. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I know it is good! And I would like to think that home cooked, healthy, nutrient-dense, whole foods had some help in the matter!!

All in all it was a wonderful experience working with the team. I am just sad that my camera has broken and I was unable to document my time with them, but I am hoping to be invited back for more camps, and I hope to witness more improvements with the riders as we feed them nutritious meals. There is nothing I love more than finding the freshest ingredients and preparing healthy meals that feed the body and the soul. There is certainly something to be said about the power of food and I am beginning to wonder who is being nurtured more, me or the team!

Check out Team Rwanda, Project Rwanda and the work they are doing: http://projectrwanda.org

2009 - GREAT Year for Music!

Music has always been an essential part of nourishment for me each day. Whether I’m getting ready in the morning, practicing yoga, working, driving in my car, cooking in the kitchen, etc.…I’m always listening to music. What I’m listening to sets the tone of my day and since I listen to such good stuff, it really helps me enjoy each day that much more!

2009 was such an amazing year for music!!! I am excited for 2010 and all of the new albums to come, but I’m worried it won’t be able to beat it!! I CANNOT stop listening to Yeasayer's long anticipated sophomore album, Odd Blood, that officially releases in February 2010, so we are already off to a great start! We’ll have to just wait and see (hear, rather).

Below are some of the best albums of 2009 (in my opinion). I starred a few of my favorite songs on some albums. I wish I could go more into detail for each album/artist but we'd be here all day!!

Top Albums of 2009

- Regina Spektor – Far

*Two Birds *Dance Of The 80’s

- The Swell Season – Strict Joy

- Devendra Banhart – What Will We Be

*First Song for B *16^th & Valencia Roxy Music

- Real Estate – Real Estate

- Boozoo Bajou – Grains

*Flickers *Big Nicks

- Mos Def – The Ecstatic

*Auditorim *Quiet Dog Bite Hard

- Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

*Ready, Able *Foreground

- Wilco – (The Album)

- Atlas Sound – Logos

*Walkabout *Quick Canal

- The Black Crowes – Before the Frost…Until the Freeze

* Aimless Peacock

- Muse – The Resistance

- Metric – Fantasies

*Gold Gun Girls

- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

- Bat for Lashes – Two Suns

- Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk

*Temazcal *Man Named Truth

Of course, I can’t leave out the beautiful compilation album, Dark was the Night, as well as the new Yo La Tengo, Animal Collective, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Antlers new albums of 2009. There were SO many good ones!!!

I had an awesome LIVE run of shows throughout 2009 too, seeing artists such as Andrew Bird, Ani DiFranco, Ravi & Anoushka Shankar, Ray Lamontagne, Monsters of Folk, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, The Black Crowes, The National, Coldplay, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and of course the return of PHISH!!! There is something about sharing a room with hundreds (or sometimes even thousands) of people who share the same love for a particular artist/band. The energy that collects in the room is so fulfilling and inspiring! I will be seeing my first concert of 2010 this Tuesday at Radio City Music Hall for The Swell Season. I am SO psyched!

Photographs: Top = The BEST concert(s) I saw of 2009...Fleet Foxes!!!! Middle = Terra and I in Boston, the night before Phish's Summer Tour opener at Fenway Park, one of the BEST Phish shows I've ever been to! See how excited we are?! Bottom = My last concert of the year, Phish at MSG! Terra and I danced our tooshies off! Another one of my favorite Phish shows EVER!

Did I miss any from 2009? Please share below!!!

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

Friday Friend Shout Out - Brahma Yoga Spa

This Friday Friend Shout Out is to Brahma Yoga Spa in Sea Girt, NJ!
When I first moved to Red Bank, I dropped in for a class at Brahma one morning and knew as soon as I got there that this was a place I wanted to teach yoga at! Luckily, I was able to join their staff and have been teaching the 5:30pm Hatha Yoga class each Friday night. I feel so blessed each week that I hold a class there. The studio is so beautiful!

Lisa Aquino, owner of Brahma Yoga Spa, is such a wonderfully pleasant person. She has an eclectic group of teachers who teach regularly at the studio, as well as special guests such as Wah!, Mahan Rishi Singh, Jacci Reynolds, Gurudev, etc., who come to host workshops, classes and events. Her spa staff is also exceptional, offering therapeutic massages, reflexology, hot stone massages and more.

Brahma has many exciting new events coming up in 2010, along with their own yoga teacher training certification program beginning this weekend. I am so proud to say that I'm a member of their staff!

Brahma is located at 1050 Ocean Ave. in Sea Girt, NJ. Please check out their site for more information and try to stop in for a class, workshop or spa treatment sometime soon!

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

15 Tips To Improve Your Health in 2010!!

Each morning I check my email for my favorite daily digests. Some of my favorites are Ode Magazine (news for Intelligent Optimists) and the Natural News Insider from Health Ranger Mike Adams.Today the Health Ranger posted an article on 25 ways to improve your health in 2010. It's a great list. Rather than repost the entire article, I tweeked it Healthy Chick style listing our 15 favorite recommendations for a healthy 2010. Enjoy!!!

~ Ditch the sugary drinks! Replace carbonated sodas or soft drinks with tea or water.

~ Commit to eating at least one raw fruit (or serving of vegetables) at every meal.

~ Add just 5 minutes a day to your exercise routine. Don't have an exercise routine? Start with 5 minutes a day!

~ Speaking of exercise....Learn some yoga! Yoga is exercise for the mind, body and spirit that will keep you young by ensuring spinal flexibility! Join Lauren at Brahma Yoga on Fridays or Terra at Fair Haven Yoga on Wednesdays!

~ I know it's cold and snowy out, but do your best to get outside at least once a day to soak up a little sun!

~ If you don't already have plants in your home, get them! They purify the air and according to the principals of Feng Shui, a well placed plant can change your family fortunes and harmonize your life!

~ Eat more whole grains Try quinoa! It's a high-protein, low-carb "grain" that can easily replace rice or couscous.

~ Get a good water filter so you can stop drinking bottled water. We recommend Shaklee's Best Water system

~ Take time to pamper yourself!! Take a relaxing hot bath with epsom salts and soothing herbs like lavender. It will do wonders for your mind and your muscles.

~ Get a professional massage! Massage therapy is really, really healthy, and it's a great way to reward yourself for some of the other accomplishments you're making.

~ Take the time to be grateful for at least one thing each morning.

~ Make a point to get at least eight hours of sleep for 2-3 nights a week (or more, if you can). Most people are sleep deprived, and the health cost is enormous.

~ Start visiting local farmer's markets so that you eat more local food in 2010. You'll be healthier and happier as a result. New Jersey Farmers Markets usually open in May. Find one near you here.

~ Got a job you don't like? Quit it! Downgrade your lifestyle to live on less money, then pursue what you really enjoy. Follow your bliss and live the life you love!!!!

~ Make a decision to think of food as nourishment instead of entertainment. Eat what your body needs, not what your taste buds desire.


These tips are short and simple and will help keep you on track in 2010. Need more support than 15 quick tips?? If you want to learn how to cook healthy food, gain energy, lose weight or just stay motivated to live a healthy chick life, join the Healthy Chick Club! It’s an opportunity to benefit from health counseling in a small group environment. The first Healthy Chick Club will be starting at the end of this month and there are only 4 spaces left so don't delay!!

Keep it Fresh!
~Terra

Vegan Quinoa Black Bean Quesadillas

I have a secret to tell you...I have a bit of a sick obsession with Mexican food. I could eat quesadillas for dinner every night and guacamole like ice cream for dessert. Unfortunately, the average quesadilla filled with cheese and pan sauteed with oil or butter isn't that healthy. But hark!!! I have found respite for my demon craving!

I recently ran into an old friend of mine from law school, Tracy McGuigan*. I mentioned my hunt for a healthy quesadilla recipe and low and behold she had one for me!!

Tracy revised the standard cheese filled quesadilla recipe and turned it into a powerhouse of protein and fiber by losing the chess and adding black beans and quinoa. Tracy took my unhealthy quesadilla addiction and turned it into a substantially healthy meal!

Quinoa is a whole grain harvested in South America. It's packed with 14g of protein per serving and contains a balanced set of essential amino acids, which makes it a complete protein source. Quinoa is also a great source of fiber and phosphorous and is high in both magnesium and iron. Next time you have a craving for Mexican, try Tracy's Vegan Quinoa Black Bean Quesadillas!

Vegan Quinoa Black Bean Quesadillas

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa, washed & drained
2 cups water
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 2 fresh limes
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes (108-oz pkg), cut in half
5 green onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions: Wash & rinse quinoa. In a saucepan, bring quinoa & water to a boil. Reduce & simmer, cover & cook until all water is absorbed, about 10-15 minutes. Let cool. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Combine quinoa, beans, tomatoes, & onions in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Stuff mixture inside a whole grain wrap and sauté until lightly browned on each side. Top with salsa and sour cream (try Tofutti to keep it vegan!) and drizzle dressing over. Garnish with cilantro.

* Tracy is currently pursuing a Masters in Nutrition, is a graduate of JNA Culinary Arts and lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and children. She is currently working for Christina Pirello Health Education Initiative in grant development.

Keep it Fresh!
~Terra

3HC Vision Board Workshop

3 Healthy Chicks hosted a Vision Board Workshop this past week at Onsen for All in Princeton, NJ. We had quite the creative group who were hard at work cutting and pasting their dreams for 2010 onto their vision boards. Terra and I enjoyed creating our own 3HC vision board for 2010, but we missed Jill very much! Here is a picture of our vision board.

What is a Vision Board?
A vision board is a collage of images, pictures and affirmations of your dreams and desires. It can also be called a dream board, treasure map or vision map. They are a great way to make you feel positive, and are helpful if you are using the law of attraction. A vision board can set you on a path to achieving dreams and goals that may have previously eluded you. The key to a successful vision board is to post it in a place where you have to look at every day and it can serve as a constant reminder.

If you vision it, it will come!
Do you have a dream or vision of where you would like to be on this day next year? If so, start collecting positive images or words and place them in a 'vision folder.' On a rainy day or when you are feeling particularly creative, whip out that folder and paste those dreams onto a board. The law of attraction is a very powerful thing!

Stay tuned for more 3 Healthy Chicks Vision Board workshops in the very near future!

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

Friday Friend Shout Out: Veggie Brothers

This week's Friday friend shout out goes to New Jersey's own Veggie Brothers. Although located in Bradley Beach, Chef Mark Rasmussen and fellow Institute for Integrative Nutrition graduate Michael Balducci, aim to bring healthy vegan food to people nation-wide with their innovative on-line restaurant!

The two "brothers" were brought together by the love of excellent, healthy and animal-free foods, and together they launched veggiebrothers.com. The website's goal is to make delicious vegan food accessible to everyone; vegan, vegetarian and non-veg alike. By making their menu items deliverable and available to people throughout the country, they make it super simple for people to stick to a vegetarian or vegan diet, maintain a healthy diet, transition to a veg diet or just enjoy some really good food! All meals are delivered directly to your home pre-cooked, all you have to do is heat it up and enjoy!

Mark and Michael are committed to using the freshest, most natural and organic ingredients to create an online vegan buffet. Their menu includes everything from breakfast to dessert! You have your choice of traditional entrees such as black bean or lentil burgers, "meat"loaf and "chicken" pot pie, to Italian favorites such as eggplant parmigiana. Tofu scramble with sausage is available for breakfast, and a selection of pies, cookies and more for dessert!! With so many options to choose from, you can have a different meal everyday and never lift a finger!

See for yourself! Check out the Veggie Brothers website and have a delicious vegan meal delivered to your doorstep! http://www.veggiebrothers.com

Small Steps Towards Lasting Change

Now the holiday feasts and festivities that define the season have concluded, it's time to start thinking about the year ahead and a healthier you in 2010. The key to health in the next year is consistency! Take small steps towards lasting change, rather than sprinting to change and fizzling out by the first week of February.

Healthy is the definitive buzz word for January, and light and fresh is the way to go. Eating healthily doesn't need to mean a world of bland food and restriction. It means being a bit more sensible and the sensible thing to do is to eat fresh, whole foods that taste great!

To combat the chilly weather of the season, the trick is to make sure meals are still warm and tasty. Indian cuisine is particularly good when it's chilly - and brown rice is fabulous complex carbohydrate packed with nutrients that our bodies need. It has a distinct, nutty flavor that lends itself to spicy blends including, Indian, Mexican and Asian dishes. Warming Thai curries are also wonderful, while a spicy stir-fry will warm up your palate and you'll feel great about being sensible!