Thanks to a reader question, today's post is all about cleaning and storing your produce! I have been wanting to try out video on the blog, so here's my first vlog (video blog) with a video tutorial on what happens to my produce when it gets home from the store. Check it out and then read below for my takeaways on washing and storing your produce.
Stuff to Remember When Washing and Storing Your Produce:
1. Wash it when you buy it: I like to clean my produce the minute I get home from the grocery store so everything is clean and ready to go when I want to use it. This makes things quicker and easier, especially for my morning juicing.
2. Buy what you need for the week: To make #1 more efficient, I plan what I will need for the week and buy it all during my weekly grocery trip.
3. Store properly: Check out this guide from Vegetarian Times for storing fruits and vegetables. I have wire baskets in my pantry for onions, garlic, avocados, tomatoes and potatoes that fair better outside of the refrigerator. In my refrigerator, I organize my produce in drawers categorically:
1 for citrus (lemons, grapefruits, limes and oranges)
1 for non citrus (apples, berries, grapes, peaches, etc.)
2 for my greens
1 for herbs and "dipping" veggies (celery, carrots, snap peas, cucumbers)
1 for other veggies (broccoli, Brussels, etc.)
I store produce that needs to be contained, such as broccoli, in these great produce bags from Crate and Barrel (I also use them for grocery shopping instead of those plastic ones at the store). I have also used these great Debbie Meyer Green Bags. I keep my fruits stacked loose in their drawers (apples, oranges, lemons, etc.)
4. Take some pre-washed help: Because of the amount of greens I go through in a week (juices and salads), I purchase pre-washed, organic bags of kale, spinach, and other greens for my week. This is a lifesaver. To keep opened bags fresh as I use them during the week, I use a bag clip to close the plastic bags, removing the air first and rolling down the bag as much as possible.
That's it! Wash, store, and it's ready to use when you need it. Thank you, Lisa, for the question! Please keep them coming!
Monday, April 28, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Mindful Parenting
Mindfulness has become a very hot topic these
days. I hear it often as a buzz word in
the health and wellness community. I
personally love my subscription of Mindful magazine, reading it cover to cover each
month. I am familiar with mindful topics
surrounding self-care, stress management, and even nutrition, but I was
recently interested to hear it applied to parenting.
I wanted to learn more about
this topic, and luckily have an expert right in my own backyard! Bahar Rinsler, is a psychotherapist who just
happens to be one of my best friends.
She regularly conducts presentations in Los Angeles on this topic,
leading parents through exercises to
achieve more mindfulness in their parenting.
I invited her to share some of her wisdom with us today.
VM: What is mindful parenting?
BR: Mindful parenting is the practice of responding to your children instead of reacting to them at any given moment. In order to be able to be a mindful parent, one has to engage in bringing her awareness to the present, paying attention to what you are doing or seeing and how you are feeling about it without judging yourself for the thoughts and feelings. When we bring this attention to our time with our children, we are better able to make appropriate decisions about how we wish to engage with our kids.
VM: What are 3 things parents can do today to start being more mindful?
BR: Three things parents can do today to cultivate their ability to be more mindful are:
Play or hang out with your kids for at least 20 minutes without any distractions on your end, while following their lead. Enter into their world for a bit and be present to the experience.
Eat breakfast or dinner as a family. Mindfulness as a parenting practice is about connection. Ask your kids what they look forward to for the day or about their best and not so great parts of their day.
Stop time traveling. Most adults spend the majority of their time thinking about either past events/upsets or future worries/to do lists. When you catch yourself doing that, bring your attention back to the present and what is right in front of you.
VM: What do you see as the biggest challenge parents face in trying to be more mindful and what can they do to overcome it?
BR: A big challenge for parents in trying to become more mindful is judging themselves harshly for not getting it perfect! Mindful awareness is cultivated over time. When you are mindful, you are activating your brain's prefrontal cortex and creating new neural pathways. With continued practice, these neural pathways will become more favored by your brain and you will slip into states of mindfulness automatically.
VM: Being mindful is a family affair! Do you have any strategies for teaching our children to be mindful?
BR: An easy way to cultivate mindfulness in children is by having them focus on what they are grateful for and what they are noticing during their day. Every day you can ask your children questions like "Who was a good friend to you today?" or "What new thing did you notice on your way to school today?"
VM: You are a working mom of two, who practices what you preach! Do you have a daily practice or "go-to" ritual to keep you on track to be a mindful parent?
BR: My daily practice of mindful breathing meditation helps me in my desire to be a more mindful parent. It is simple to do and I often do it while waiting in the car for my kids at school. I set the timer on my phone, close my eyes and begin paying attention to my breath. When my thoughts wander, I gently bring my attention back to my inhalations and exhalations. This meditation refreshes me. I feel like I've had a little vacation during my day.
VM: Are there any resources you can recommend for parents who want to learn more about this topic?
BR: There are wonderful books on this topic for parents. My favorites are The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel and Mindful Parenting by Kristen Race.
VM: I am on a quest to live the "good life" in every sense of the word. What does the "good life" mean to you?
BR: The "good life" means living authentically and with awareness of all the delights that surround you in your life.
VM: Can you share your favorite quote?
BR: "Think of all the ways that life conspires for you every day." Rabbi Naomi Levy
Thursday, April 24, 2014
I Am Moving!
I am so excited to announce that VeegMama is moving! The newly designed blog is beautiful and I can’t wait to share it with you. In addition to some cosmetic changes, I have also added a recipe index, and a link to my weekly newsletters (sign up below if you’d like to receive this newsletter). It will also be friendlier for social media, allowing you to easily “pin” and share posts to Facebook and Twitter. You will also be able to see what I am doing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest directly on the blog!
The new address will be http://veegmama.com. Be sure to update your bookmarks
and blog feeds today. We go live tomorrow! If you are already a subscriber to my weekly
newsletter, you don’t need to do a thing to get your Friday news, but if you have a feed to get the posts delivered directly to your inbox, you will need to resubscribe at the new blog site..
I look forward to hearing what you think about
the new look. I hope you will enjoy it
as much as I do. Let me know!
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