Ginger Spiced Cookies

Here's a holiday cookie that won't leave you in a sugar coma. Grain-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free! How can you beat that? Of course most of you are asking the question," Can these cookies even taste good?" The answer is a resounding,"Yes!" We made these delicious discs at my Healthy Holiday Cooking and Beyond class last week. Everyone agreed they were tasty!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups blanched almond flour


• 1/2 cup molasses


• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup


• 3 T palm shortening


• 1 T coconut milk


• 1/2 tsp cinnamon


• 1/2 tsp ground ginger


• 1/2 tsp ground cloves


• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a sauce pan, heat molasses to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add maple syrup, palm shortening, and coconut mil. Stir ingredients until combined and remove from heat.

In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Mix wet and dry ingredients together until fully blended.

Drop spoonfuls (silverware teaspoon) of batter onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Yields approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Nutritional Breakdown per cookie: Calories - 82, Carbs - 6.8g, Sugar - 4g, Fat - 5.6g

Are You Trying to Out-Work a Bad Diet?

Have you ever heard the saying," You can't outwork a bad
diet."? It's true! (although I got by with it a lot in my late teens and 20's!) Don't you just loathe those people who can eat whatever they want, not gain an ounce and still look lean? Trust me when I say those people are definitely the minority.
When I became interested in nutrition my eyes were opened up to the amazing benefits of a healthy diet - not just on the scale, but also with respect to energy, mood, sleep and overall well-being. I can't tell you the last time I've had an afternoon lull and wanted to take a nap!

Most people think starting an exercise program is a magic pill. They declare," I'm going to workout five days a week." The problem comes when they are consistent with their program and really don't notice a whole lot of difference. Yes, they are getting in better shape. They can most likely run faster, lift more, and the like (which is great!) but they will begin to get discouraged when the scale doesn't move and their clothes don't fit differently. So what's the solution?

Let's digress and do some math for a moment. Let's say you decide to exercise 5 days a week (because 7 days a week is unrealistic, who has that kind of time, and yes, you do need a rest day!). You only have to make that choice 5 times per week. You throw on your workout clothes and go for a walk, go the gym, pop in a video, etc. On the nutrition side, let's assume you eat 3 meals per day with a mini-meal or snack added in several days a week too. The total times per week you have to CHOOSE what to eat is 25! Five times more than the amount you have to exercise! So is nutrition five times more important than exercise? Let's put it a different way.

To get the results you desire, success is
80% nutrition and 20% exercise.

I know this statement is not what you want to hear, but it is absolutely, 100% true. If you have made the commitment to exercise and are not seeing the results you want, it's time to analyze your food. It's also time to ask yourself some questions:

What are my goals ? Be as specific as possible.
Why do I want to change? (get more energy, sleep better, improve blood work.
Am I willing to cook more often?
Are my daily vices ( chocolate, cereal, fast food, etc) really worth how they make me feel?
Am I using food as a substitute for something else and/or is it filling a void in my life?

Answering these questions is a crucial part of moving toward success. It will help you assess your readiness to change and empower you when faced with those 25 meals per week.

Confused on how to eat healthy? Here's a great place to start. In his book The Primal Blueprint Mark Sisson developed the primal food pyramid, which is vastly different from the USDA food pyramid. The USDA food pyramid is definitely NOT the blueprint for good health, but that's a whole other post! You can also check out his blog , Marks Daily Apple, for a wealth of information including recipes, research, and success stories.

Made to Crave

I have to share with you an amazing book I recently finished. It's called "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst of Proverbs 31 ministries. I literally devoured it in 3 days!

Lysa shares her lifelong struggle with food and how diets never work. I'm sure this resonates with a lot of you. Her revelation came when she finally decided to look for her "WHY" - Why did she want to lose weight and why was she always battling with it? What a great question!

Lysa realized that just wanting to fit into a pair of skinny jeans was not a good enough reason to keep her motivated or for her to maintain her weight loss.

I've worked with many people over the years who have met lofty goals, only to see themselves slide right back into their old habits. Why does this happen? Maybe they were trying to fit into their wedding dress, or look good for their class reunion, or prepare for an upcoming race, or lose weight they had gained while they were pregnant. Numerous reasons abound for making a change (either losing weight, getting in shape). The problem comes after the event and you find yourself saying,"What now?" The satisfaction you feel from reaching the goal fades and the old habits creep back in. Sound familiar?

When Lysa decides she is ready to tackle her weight and health once and for all, she realizes she must find the "why" and the "want" in this battle. Here is an excerpt:

The book you hold in your hands could be the missing companion you've needed with every healthy eating plan you tried and cried over. I believe it will help you find your "want to." In addition to helping you find the desire to conquer your unhealthy cravings, it also holds the key to something very significant for most of us women - spiritual malnutrition. We feel overweight physically but underweight spiritually. Tying these two thing together is the first step on one of the most significant journeys you'll ever take with God.

You see, being healthy and/or losing weight is not just about looking good in the mirror (but is a great benefit!). It's feeling your absolute best so that you can do the things you were called to do. It will make you a better mother, father, partner, friend, employee, sister, daughter, son. You'll have less lethargy so you can play with your kids, clean your house, and stay alert at your desk. You'll have more mental clarity to plan your day, focus on your client, listen to your spouse,and help your child with their homework. The benefits are too numerous to list and go way beyond fitting into that size 6!

So how can we shift our focus? Lysa describes it as "Tying our happy to the wrong things"

Tying my happy to the wrong things is partially what caused my weight gain in the first place. There were too many experiences I enjoyed primarily because of the food that was attached to them. The movies were tied to popcorn. A birthday party was tied to cake. A ballgame was tied to a hot dog. School parties were tied to cookies. A morning meeting was tied to gourmet coffee. Getting gas was tied to snack crackers and a soda. Watching TV was tied to chips. A summer outing was tied to ice cream. A winter outing was tied to hot chocolate.

Tying my happy to food, skinny jeans, or anything else sets me up for failure.

If any of this resonates with you and your struggles, I encourage you to get this book. Lysa opens herself up and exposes her struggles with raw honesty - the kind of honesty we need to have with ourselves to really have lifelong, impacting change.

Healthy Holiday Cooking and Beyond

Thanksgiving Dinner. Christmas Parties. New Years Celebration. Do all these events conjure up pictures of food? Or should I say, unhealthy food?! Do you let caution go to the wind from Thanksgiving to New Year's and then worry about it January 1?

It's time to take a deep breath and calm down. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming holidays one of the solutions is coming your way. I will be helping you navigate through the food maze by sharing nutrition information and healthy holiday recipes. We will cook them together and then taste their deliciousness. You will also go home with leftovers, some amazing spice rub, a book full of recipes, and a wealth of nutrition knowledge - gifts to last you much longer than the holidays!

Johnny Tugwell at Ferguson Enterprises has been gracious enough to "loan" one of his beautiful kitchens for the evening. Here's the details:

Date: Tuesday, December 6

Time: 6pm

Place: Ferguson's - 160 Smith Street

Class size is limited to 15 participants. Reserve your space by emailing me at lisalineberg@gmail.com Cost for the class is $65. I can't wait to see you there!

"Exercise" Your Brain!

Do you ever feel like your brain is on "overload"? After a good workout I always find that my brain is swirling with ideas like it just woke up! Is this a coincidence? Absolutely not!

In addition to a plate of omega-3's, our brains thrive on a serving of exercise. Research shows that exercise has a direct benefit to the brain which results in improved cognitive performance, a decrease in depression and improved tolerance to stress.
Now, most of us know this as adults, but what about our kids? Numerous studies support the same results with our children, yet our schools have decreased the amount of physical education and recess.

My son's first grade teacher ( pictured above on Halloween) loves to exercise. She knows how it benefits her students so she has a creative way of "sneaking" in more physical activity with her class. Her supply list that she sends home includes 2 cans of food that we send in at the beginning of the year. Nope, it's not for donating to a food bank. These little ones use the cans for hand weights! Before lunch, most days of the week you will find Mrs. Hoy's first grade class up out of their chairs, "weights" in hand, doing all kinds of steps and moves. They follow along with an exercise video and get moving!

So, what are you doing for yourself and your family to "exercise" your brains? It doesn't have to be structured and planned. In fact, unplanned, unstructured, free play is the best kind of exercise!

Terrific 10 Rub

This rub is amazing! I found it in a magazine a while back, looked at the ingredients and knew it was going to be a hit. Brown sugar is one of the ingredients, which is not paleo or primal, but the amount is minimal and totally worth it! Once you throw it all together you will have enough rub to last you for a few months.
I used it this week on a pork shoulder roast that I got from Monroe Farm Market. If you live in Charleston you need to get you some MFM meat! They deliver to Charleston every other week (in the summer it's every week). You will be supporting local farmers who raise their animals with love and care. You owe it to yourself and your family to eat the highest quality meat possible. The biggest hesitation from people when we talk about high quality meat is the price. My response is always," spend it at grocery store now or at the hospital later." Why would you want to eat beef that's from a cow who's eaten corn and soy? Grass-fed beef is higher in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, beta carotene and CLA. Read more about the numerous health benefits of grass fed beef here.

Ok, back to the rub. Score the meat and apply a generous amount of the rub all over. Let that rub soak in for at least 24 hours. For the roast I heated some coconut oil over medium high heat and seared the roast on both sides. Then I turned the heat down to medium low, added a little water, covered it and let it cook the rest of the way through, turning occasionally. You can also put the roast in the oven after you have seared it. Add some water to the drippings in the pan so you can scrape them off the pan and put on top of the roast when it goes into the oven. Use a meat thermometer

to determine when it's done. All that's left to do is enjoy a plateful of deliciousness!

Terrific 10 Rub

• 2 1/2 T paprika


• 2 1/2 tsp ground black pepper


• 7 T light brown sugar


• 2 1/2 T kosher salt


• 1 1/4 tsp celery salt


• 2 1/2 tsp garlic powder


• 5 tsp dry mustard


• 5 tsp ground cumin


• 5 tsp chili powder


• 1 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients, making sure brown sugar is evenly distributed. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups.

It's a Blog Revival!

Wow! I can't believe that over a year has gone by without a post. Is that really possible? It's amazing how time flies by without us even realizing it. When I looked at the date of my last post I realized what happened - a full time J-O-B! Last summer a new position became available at the wellness company where I work and I felt called to take it. Somehow I forgot how much I dislike managing people and putting in long hours. Needless to say after 6 months in that position I threw in the towel. My job was controlling me, I was in a bad mood all of the time, my husband and children did not want to be around me, and I was trying to get away from myself too!

Long story short, it's taken a while to realize that I want to get back to doing what I love, which is helping people get the most out of their lives by eating right, exercising and practicing good health in other areas.

With that said, the first step in the process is reviving this blog. I promise to reach out to you several times a week so get ready!

Here's an easy recipe to start us off ......

Crustless Quiche

Ingredients:

6 eggs (farm fresh or organic)
1 1/2 cups coconut milk or organic heavy cream (I used some of each)
1 T melted pasture butter
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 - 1/2 cup grated cheese (optional)
Veggie of your choice - I used spinach and sauteed it for a few minute in olive oil
You can also add meat too - bacon, sausage, ham - if you'd like

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter a 10 inch round or 13X9 in square baking dish. Whisk together eggs, coconut milk/cream, butter, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir in veggies and cheese (if using). Pour into baking dish and bake 20 minutes until set in the middle. Yield: 6 servings.

This quiche will keep for several days in the fridge. Just reheat and enjoy!