Pineapples from hell!!!

Ok so I was a little disappointed to find out the hard way Pineapples are dangerous!!

This morning I started my day off with a smile, woke up and decided to juice for the day. While juicing I decided I didn’t want to waste the pineapple chunks I had left, so I packed them for a mid-morning snack. So 10 am finally arrives and I’m beyond excited to eat my chilled pineapples (I binged a little) bite after bite I devoured the pineapple chunks. Minutes later I begin to get a stinging feeling in my mouth….which then turned into a harsh burning of my tongue. Needless to say I can’t taste anything else that I consumed today.  I feel like majority of my taste buds are burnt (Ouch!) after my work out tonight I will research a remedy to stop the irritation… I dotn normally eat fresh pineapple unless it’s truly in season, and has a sweet aroma. However this pineapple I only planned to juice and didn’t check for ripeness. (big mistake)

Today’s Lesson:

Select the ripest fruit possible from the grocery store. Ripe pineapples are naturally sweeter and less acidic than those that have not ripened fully on the farm. You can choose a pineapple by selecting one that has a firm and yellow skin and then turning it upside-down. Smell the bottom of the pineapple; it should smell aromatic and sweet. A lack of aroma indicates an unripe pineapple.

Slice the pineapple and remove the core, which can be extremely acidic. Cut the bottom and the top from the fruit, then slice the pineapple down the middle. The core is the lighter yellow strip that runs down the center of the fruit. Once finished, rinse the cut pieces you plan to eat to remove some of the acidic juice.

Place pineapple chunks or slices into a large bowl and sprinkle with a teaspoon of salt. Salt is highly basic, which counteracts the high pH of the pineapple. Using a small amount of salt won't alter the flavor of the pineapple but make it less acidic so it doesn't burn your tongue. If you're bothered by the idea of salt on your pineapple, soak the slices in salted water and rinse clean before eating.

As I prepare for my 60 day vegan journey these are a few ideas I came up with to keep me interested and on the right path.

When there is no challenge or any excitement when approaching anything, it is hard for one to stay focused. I like to challenge myself weekly to try something different in hopes of finding alternatives that will keep me devoted to what’s ahead of me. I am aware that becoming a vegan is a challenge, people will have their doubts and question your decisions but when it’s all said and done….you have to ask yourself who are you living life for? When is the last time you've done something for yourself? When is the last time you've done something worth being proud of? While others may think I’m crazy, I just can’t shake the feeling of gravitation!

Here's a few recipes that have become my favorites thus far, Enjoy!

Looks like money Smoothie

Spinach

Kale

Celery
3 Mango chunks
4 Strawberries
3 Pineapple chunks
2 Peach slices 
1 Whole Kiwi
7 oz of sugar free apple juice (unfiltered) Substitution: Coconut water, or Natural H2o

Cauliflower Rice 

Take one whole cauliflower, remove leaves and shave off any brown spots. Chop it up, and remove stalks. Place in blender, but not for too long. This can be used for a veggie stir fry dish!

Prepare rice by using:

1 table spoon of olive oil

 Minced garlic

Pinch of sea salt

Pinch of pepper 

Thug Passion (Sweet tooth killer)

Recipe: 3 carrots 1 pineapple 1 whole sweet Potato 1/2 of a lemon 1 whole orange 

Prepare in a juicer makes 2 servings 

Meatless Chili 

1 whole onion

1 Red and Green pepper

1-2 Carrots 

3 Garlic Cloves 

2 tbl spoons of chili powder 

2 tea spoons of cumin 

1 can of tomatoes

1 can of  black beans 

1 can of corn

 1 cup or 8 oz of tomato juice

 Season to taste and let it all simmer 30-45 min makes about 6 servings 

Vegan Ice cream

Ice/Snow 
1 tea spoon of vanilla extract 
2 tea spoons Truvia (Due to being chemically processed some vegans use it some don’t, however stevia will work just fine as well!) or 3 drops of stevia (to your taste)
Dash of Kosher salt 
½ cup of Almond milk (Or less depending on how rich you want your ice cream)

Prepare ice first!! This is a must ice should be in complete shaven form

Add the rest of the ingredients as you would prepare a snow cone

Stir Enjoy!

Vegan Challenge Countdown

And so it begins…… my official countdown to July 21st I plan to challenge myself to stick to something for once. I am excited about starting my new journey….lately I have experienced different sicknesses when it comes to consuming meat or dairy products.

I know that as we grow older, or bodies also ensure many changes, and may even develop new never before had allergies. Few years ago I found out that dairy products don’t mesh to well with my body any more… I’ll explain in a later entry why dairy isn’t good for me, and possibly you!

I am moving towards a vegan lifestyle because I am over feel lethargic and fed up with not having any energy. As a young woman I need to take ownership over my own destiny while I can. The saying “you are what you eat” is a factual statement. For so long I never fueled my body with any nourishments, I never drank enough water, and if it wasn’t greasy, sweet, or full of  sauce I didn’t desire it. I never ate vegetables and I assumed that being active was only for the athletic. Lately I have incorporated working out with a trainer, juicing, and clean eating into my life style. While I know everything takes time, patience, and faith I also want to be clear that I am not thinking about becoming a vegan for weight loss….mainly to build a better me, spiritually, mentally, and physically. I will try to log my experiences on this journey as much as I can!

Stay tuned for:

Recipes

Ideas, Tip and Tricks

Venting Session

Deals and Savings