Halloween Candy: What's a Parent to Do?

October is a fun time to revel in the crisp fall weather and colors, dress up in costumes, and enjoy the company of friends and family.  In American culture, it is also a time when candies, created with industrial food additives, inundate our society.  Running errands, we may easily find a dish of candy awaiting at most every stop – the bank, hairdresser, auto repair, and even the doctor’s office.  What’s a caring parent or a sugar addict to do? Here are tricks to help you manage your treats.

Leave the house satisfied

We crave sugar when we have insufficient fat in our diet.  One of the best ways to avoid nibbling sweets is to eat rich, fat filled meals before you leave the house. Take the time to enjoy some avocado, bacon or eggs in the morning. If you tolerate dairy, add organic full fat yogurt or cottage cheese to your lunch. Choose raw dairy if it is available. Snack on my delicious No Bake Lemon Coconut Drops to satisfy your need for fat with a hint of sweet.

Have snacks with you

Great news, the cooler weather means we can more easily get away with having foods available on the go.  Either in a purse or bag or in the car – tucked under the seat, in the glove box, or in a box in the trunk, savory snacks can save you when you’re out and about.

My favorite, go-to, portable snacks:

• Crispy nuts
• Canned sardines or mackerel from Vital Choice Seafood
• Beef Jerky
• Sliced cheese with crackers, apple slices, or other favorite pairings
• Smoothie – sometimes there is a little leftover from the morning or the day before.  Just pour some into a portable jar or your favorite spill proof mug, and you’re golden while stuck in traffic or running errands.

The Hungry Goblin, Candy Fairy or Great Pumpkin

For those of you with children, consider letting them select a specific number of candies from the trick or treat booty.  Then have them set out their remaining candies for the Hungry Goblin, Candy Fairy or Great Pumpkin to come and eat. In trade for your child’s candy, this Halloween Visitor leaves behind a small gift your child will have fun playing with or treasure. If you or your child is on the GAPS protocol, leave all the candy. A few organic, GAPS legal sweeties may be left for children who gave up all of their trick or treat tasties. The candies would be gone in days or weeks with lingering ill health effects. The gift, however may be played with for months or cherished for years. A joy your family can share together.

This article appeared in the October 2014 Savor Your Health Newsletter. Sign up in the Sidebar to get more tips, tricks and delicious recipes delivered to your inbox every month.

For the Goblins, Witches, Princes, and Fairies: Lemon Coconut Drop Candies

Easy No Bake Candies

After a full nourishing dinner, have your little ones stock up on these before going out trick or treating.  Their bellies will be full of the natural sweetness of creamy coconut with a touch of raw honey and they will have little desire (or room) for all the toxic candies being handed out.  You don't have to celebrate Halloween to appreciate these lemon drops of yumminess.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup *coconut cream concentrate
• ¼ - ½ cup raw honey (less is best!)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated **lemon zest
• Juice of 1 meyer **lemon (or the juice of 2 regular **lemons)
• 1-3 Tbsp. of coconut oil or ghee
• Optional: Dried coconut flakes, toasted if desired
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Note: As always, I only recommend sourcing and utilizing organic ingredients for this and all recipes. You're worth the extra investment in your health!

 *Coconut cream concentrate is also known as coconut cream, coconut butter, or coconut spread, depending on the brand that produces it.

**Limes can be substituted in place of the lemon juice and peel. I enjoy them both and have even done a lemon lime comination when I was low on both!  
🎶 Put the lime in the coconut and eat it all up! 🎶

Tip: Warm the coconut cream concentrate to peanut butter consistency before you make this.  You can put the jar in a bowl of hot water to help soften the coconut cream concentrate.

Instructions: Mix the first 5 ingredients together until well mixed and smooth. I use my food processor, high speed blender, or hand mixer for this step. 
Form into balls and roll them in the coconut flakes (optional) and refrigerate or freeze. You can also put them in candy molds or a mini muffin pan (with or without the coconut flakes sprinkled and gently pressed in on top) to get a different look. They will harden when they're cold.

These little bites just melt in your mouth and are wonderfully tart and lemony, blending beautifully with the creamy coconut.  Even if you think you don't like coconut but love lemon or lime, make these. They're quick and easy and make the perfect treat. I love to make a double batch and share as little gifts and freeze a bunch so I have them on hand when I want a premade homemade treat for myself or others. Yum!

Addition: I have also started keeping some in little jelly jars so I can scoop a bit out when I want to use it as a toping to add to other fabulous dessert treats. So good! Let me know in the comments section if you'd like to know more. 

This recipe was modified from one submitted to Tropical Traditions, a wonderful company that sells coconut cream, coconut oil and many other healthful, tasty products.

This article appeared in the October 2014 Savor Your Health Newsletter. Sign up in the Sidebar to get more tips, tricks and delicious recipes delivered to your inbox every month.

This or That...

We are bombarded with media about farming, food production and the value of GMOs.  Some of these articles and videos are cleverly disguised as "news" content, which in truth are advertisements for the sponsors.  Many of us may feel overwhelmed by the variety of options available.  Or we may freeze in the grocery aisle trying to balance the needs of our wallets with what we've seen or heard.  When the choice is made, it is a reflection of our personal economy and values. 

Many of us make choices without following them to their source or conclusion. We trust what we are told because it’s easier in our busy lives. We prefer what’s cheap because we’ve been taught to value immediate cost before other considerations. I know I have and sometimes still do. As human beings, we make choices with short-term glasses. As a result, the true scope of what we support is not apparent.

What Do You Support?

Option One: I support big agribusiness.  Though I may not have considered it before, this means... I support the use of petrochemicals leading to soil degradation and water pollution in the pursuit of business profits. I support ‘food products’ manufactured with genetically altered (GMO) seeds and toxic chemicals. I am in the dark, in company with many people, about what we eat, creating a national health crises of chronic conditions: digestive issues, diabetes, heart disease, dental challenges, weakened immune systems, brain imbalances, toxicity issues, skin problems and much more. 

OR

Option Two: I support sustainable food production, which means... I support stewards of the land and sea who grow and harvest real foods in accordance with nature’s principles.  I prefer fresh, local foods from small farmers, when possible.  I seek out businesses that produce without the addition of toxic contaminates to our soil and water.  I understand that the full cost of food production is more than what I pay at the cash register. I support giving people information they need to choose for themselves. I want the availability and clear labeling of real foods so my purchases become a reflection of my and my family’s sustainable healthy values.

I know real sustainable foods help me and our planet thrive. I enjoy feeding them to my family. I know how much better I feel when I gratefully enjoy them. I recognize that my health care savings help off set my budget for real foods.

One way we can all support sustainable healthy practices is by voting.

This election cycle you have the ability to let these values be reflected every time someone in the state of Oregon goes to the grocery store. You can Vote YES on 92. Click Oregon Right To Know for more information and to donate. When we label our food, everyone has the chance to make a conscious choice.

If big business was proud of their products they would Vote Yes on 92.  If big business was confident consumers would choose their GMO products, they would be thrilled to Vote Yes on 92. If big business wasn't afraid that consumers empowered with information would change their shopping preferences they would Vote Yes on 92.  But... Big business isn't proud. They are spending millions of dollars to defend their secretive practices. They want to hide what's in their products because they know it is of substandard quality.  Big business isn't confident because their accountants and legal advisors tell them to worry.  Big business is afraid that you, armed with information, will change your purchasing habits.  Big business knows that without your ignorance, their profit margins will suffer.

If you Vote Yes on 92, you will more easily be able to choose for yourself what you put into your body and into your family's bodies.

If you Vote Yes on 92, you will be able to support sustainable producers and keep more money in your community.

If you Vote Yes on 92, manufacturers will change their American product packaging and people beyond Oregon will be able to choose for themselves.

If you Vote Yes on 92, you are taking a stand for the health of yourself, your family, your friends, your community, your state and the world.

We do have choices and I for one feel incredibly empowered when I pay attention to the small changes I can incorporate into my busy schedule. I can take a few moments to fill out my ballot. We all can. Please share this post on Facebook.

What do you choose? What small and big actions are you taking in your life to live in a healthy sustainable manner? Please respond below with your comments.  I like hearing from you.

This article appeared in the October 2014 Savor Your Health Newsletter. Sign up in the Sidebar to get more tips, tricks and delicious recipes delivered to your inbox every month.

Take the No GMO 30 day Challenge

Hi Everyone,

I hope you will be inspired to:

Join the folks who are saying "No" to GMOs as they say "Yes" to their health! 

The goal? To put pressure on food corporations to stop using GMOs in their foods. We believe that if just 5% of the U.S. population consciously started avoiding GMOs, they could be purged from our food supply.

The strategy: Avoid GMOs for 30 days and spread the word via digital media --email, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. as well as word of mouth. 

Be sure and vote YES on Measure 92 to get GMOs foods labelled in OR state!

With Gratitude,

Summer Waters, LAc, NTP, CGP

Homemade Mustard

Store-bought mustard is usually made with vinegar from genetically-modified corn. While certified organic mustards are available, it's deeply satisfying to make your own. Furthermore, you can naturally ferment the condiment to get that sour flavor rather than relying on vinegar. This boosts the probiotics, turning your condiment into a veritable health food.

Makes 2 cups.

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup whole yellow mustard seeds*

1⁄2 cup water (pure, non-chlorinated water is best)

2 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar*

1 Tbsp. honey* (local, raw honey is preferred)

2 Tbsp. probiotic whey* (the liquid drained off living yogurt or kefir)

1 tsp. sea salt

1 lemon*, juiced

1 clove garlic*

*It is best to choose organic ingredients to avoid increased exposure to toxic pesticides in conventionally raised foods.

Method:

Put all ingredients in your food processor and blend until smooth.

Transfer to a small, pint sized jar and close the lid tightly.

Leave on your counter for two to three days to ferment, then transfer to the refrigerator and use.

Original Recipe from “Simply Salads by Season” by Kristen Michaelis with modifications by Summer Waters, LAc, NTP, CGP