Positive Signs

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to write a post on being positive. I post on this topic often because I feel people become confused by this concept. People ask "how can you just be happy all the time." Or..."thinking happy thoughts won't help all the people starving in the world." These people are absolutely right. However, being positive is not about forcing ourselves to be happy.

No one is happy all the time...the disturbing images coming out of Haiti are enough to sink even the most hardened person's heart. Holding hands and visualizing sunshine and butterflies while reading fairy tales will not pull desperate people out of the rubble. This type of catastrophe does call for people to be positive.

My brand of positivism is best displayed with an addition symbol +. When we add to something we are making a positive contribution. I was not a stellar math student but I did grasp this concept. Whenever we add or move forward me are making positive progress. I understand people will object, stating "if we put more guns on the street we are adding something but it results in tragedy." Once again this person would be correct. However, I am sure if we write out the rest of the equation we will end up with less than we started. People will lose their lives either to violence or to jail. True positivity occurs when our actions, our thoughts, our words add to the totality of human existence. There is no one on Earth who can finish out the whole equation, so we move forward in faith.

Even the smallest gesture can add to the sum. I contributed $15 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort. This was matched by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and I am sure many of my fellow classmates followed suit. In contributed with hope that my positive action would add to the efforts in the embattled country. If I simply turned off the television listened to some John Tesh music and thought about skipping through a magical forest, my gesture would at best be labeled null. I guess I would be one more supporter of John Tesh's lovely piano music....but in my estimation would have done very little.

Being positive is about progress. Each of us can either help one another evolve and in turn evolve ourselves...or we can live survival of the fittest in which each of us takes and takes until nothing is left. I believe human beings got to this advanced state of development through their positive intentions. Call me delusional but I believe it to be so. I would encourage each of you to remember that every action carries with it this potential. When I close my emails with "stay positive", I do not mean "think happy thoughts", I mean continue to evolve, to grow and to contribute to the world around you.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

To contribute to the Haiti Relief Effort see links below

Red Cross

https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=1457186616&df_id=4437&4437.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=iziao0c2t1.app196a

Bill Clinton and George Bush Effort

http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org

International Rescue Committee

http://www.theirc.org

Updated! Celery Root Soup Recipe

I just made this today and made a couple alterations to the recipe. I only tasted it...I am saving it for monday night dinner...creamy and delicous.


Ingredients

Sea Salt
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil(the original recipe called for three :) love olive oil)
4 Stalks of Celery Chopped
1 Celery Root (I was able to find this at the local grocery store...peel an cut into cubes)1 Large Onion
2 quarts of vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 Cup Almond milk
1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt (added this to increase creamy texture and tangy taste)
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 Granny Smith Apple diced
Chives or Green Onions or Scallions (they may all be the same thing...not sure)

Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Sprinkle bottom with a pinch of salt and heat for a minute (this is new). Add oil and heat for another 30 seconds. Add the Celery and onion and saute for 6 to 10 minutes, stirring often until soft but not brown. Add the broth and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes. Add Cashew cream or almond milk and let it simmer for ten minutes.

Give it a try and impress your friends!

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Celery Root Soup with Granny Smith Apples

Hello Positive Eaters,

picture above from http://jewelsfromtherovingstove.blogspot.com (cool blog actually!)

My friend Oprah Winfrey sent me a recipe today from celebrity chef Tal Ronnen. I would not call myself an elitist...but if Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama both like the soup, it's worth knowing how to make in case they pop by one day.

I did not make it yet...so if any of you beat me to it let me know how it turns out. I made some modifications from the original recipe just to make it easier for me to make. I will update you guys after I make it.

Ingredients

Sea Salt
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil(the original recipe called for three :) love olive oil)
2 Stalks of Celery including roots chopped into 1 inch cubes
1 Large Onion
2 quarts of vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 cup Cashew Cream? (I am just going to use Almond Milk)
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 Granny Smith Apple diced
Chives or Green Onions or Scallions (they may all be the same thing...not sure)

Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Sprinkle bottom with a pinch of salt and heat for a minute (this is new). Add oil and heat for another 30 seconds. Add the Celery and onion and saute for 6 to 10 minutes, stirring often until soft but not brown. Add the broth and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes. Add Cashew cream or almond milk and let it simmer for ten minutes.

Allow this to cool and then blend ingredients in blender. Add diced apple and scallions when serving...place a spoonful in the center of the bowl.

Now you are prepared in case the leader of the free world comes over. You can also just make it for your family and friends and pretend you are leaders of the world. I bet you guys would think up some pretty good answers for some of the challenges we are facing.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Washing my hair with dirt!!!!

Hello!

I truly hope you all enjoyed your holidays and were warmed by both primary and secondary food experiences.

I wanted to tell you about a gift I received from my sister Alison. On the show "Dirty Jobs" they were highlighting a company that makes self care products out of dirt! Using dirt to get clean....interesting paradox. She realized the company was based only a short drive from her home and picked me up a bottle of "Sultry Spice" shampoo. We all got a good laugh, as I read out the ingredients.

Pure Earth Hair Wash —

Organic Sultry Spice

Ingredients: Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals: aka dirt, organic extracts° of organic linden flower°, organic nettle°, organic chamomile°, organic shavegrass° and organic vanilla°, essential oils of organic sweet orange°, organic patchouli°, organic true lavender°, organic petitgrain°, organic atlas cedar°, organic cinnamon leaf° and organic pine needle°.

°USDA Certified Organic

I decided to give this a try after my run the next morning. I followed the directions and applied it to my hair. This felt quite strange because the shampoo does not lather at all. I felt like I was putting mud directly into my hair. I applied three teaspoons and rinsed and repeated three times. The water turned all ruddy and brown on the shower floor. I was actually getting dirty in the shower for once!

The rest of the day my hair felt incredible. As a guy, I always laughed at how much money women spend on hair products. I will now admit that your whole day brightens up when you step out with clean flowing locks. However...the shampoo companies are in trouble if word gets out that you can receive the same effect with mud!

The company is called Terresentials and they make skin, hair and body wash as well as deodorant. If you are wary about putting dirt in your hair...you can always buy it for someone else as a joke gift :)

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Blessings from Positive Eating!

Hello All,

This is a great season! We get together with the ones we love and enjoy a time where we embrace giving to one another. This time of year, every one of us seems to believe in peace, harmony and love. The best part is we celebrate these holidays with food and laughter, two powerful forces that nourish us on every level. Laugh and eat too much at the same time and our heart becomes so excited it sometimes burns :)

Positive Eating wants to thank all of you who followed this blog throughout the year. Getting it back going and maintaining it is a joy and I look forward to contributing each and every week. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa or Chanukah...I am wishing you great food, time with wonderful friends and loving laughter as 2009 comes to a close.



Stay Positive,

Matthew

The "Expert" Advice we all need

Hello Positive Eaters,

Since I started this blog, I try to remind all of you that I am not an "expert." I am just on a journey to make the act of eating a positive experience for myself and the people I come in contact with. Given the holiday season, you will soon see all sorts of "experts" coming out of the woodwork offering all sorts of "expert" advice. These "experts" want to tell you all about your body and how you should treat it.

I hold a high amount of regard for people who possess a large body of knowledge and wisdom. This displays a commitment and enthusiasm towards a specific subject of interest. I also believe that sharing this knowledge and enthusiam is important for the world. However, holding onto a body of knowledge and using it as a source of power to control people's actions and behaviors is absurd.

This idea was first propogated by Plato, who felt that an intellectual elite (meaning himself and his friends) were to be privy to truth and knowledge and responsible for disseminating this at "appropriate times" to the general population. This may or may not work out. I am not sure...I unfortunately did not fall into the ranks of the elite and do not know Who Shot JFK or if extra terrestials actual run the whole show.

I do know this. The intelligence of the human organism is provided in its entirety at birth. The more we learn about ourselves and the more we tune into our own bodies the more we will know how to treat it. This is not to say ignore the work and words of experts. I read and fill myself with their knowledge regularly. I use this is a pathway from brain back into my body. Real wisdom comes from learning and applying it to yourself as an individual.

With nourishment it is important to always make your eating choices "your eating choice". How often do you hear someone say, "I've been eating seaweed all week because Dr. Octagon says it will help me lose weight." Check in with your body...maybe a piece of advice inspires a choice...only your body can tell you if it is right for you. A person is always operating from their own plane. A priest will tell you to seek God, a doctor will give you a prescription or surgery, a nutrititionist will tell you to eat healthier, an energy worker will tell you to balance your chakras all for the same problem. The truth is all these experts can be "right" at the same time..it is you that will decide the path that works best for you. The most powerful educators see themselves as guides and not as an instructor. Even geniuses were once pupils...such people can only be guided in a safe and positive direction. They will reach heights that no instructor can ever lead them.

You are the genius of your own organism. I hope what is written on this blog inspires you to realize this intelligence. Be safe and enjoy your journey!

Stay Positive,

Matthew

No Egg Nog!!!!

Hi Positive Eaters,

When I was a kid the holidays were full of anticipation and excitement. For many children they are waiting to hear hoofs on the rooftop and go rushing downstairs to find presents under the tree. I was rushing past the Christmas tree and into the kitchen for that magical elixir known as egg nog!

The first glass was served up on Thanksgiving by my father in a tiny glass (that I always wished was bigger). Peppering the top of this delicous thick liquid was a sprinkling of nutmeg that seemed to make my mouth come alive. This was the ultimate positive experience with food!

Now that I try to make most of my own food...I checked out recipes for egg nog. It should come as no suprise that egg nog calls for the use of raw eggs. Well...I simply am not Rocky Balboa. The idea of cracking a couple raw eggs into pitcher with milk, sugar and spices did not sit entirely well with me.

This weekend I met a friend at the Revitalive Cafe in Newburyport and saw on their menu "No Egg Nog". This was a vegan joint so it did not suprise me. I quickly ordered a glass and asked them how to make it. It was incredible! I still need to try my hand at making it myself but after some internet research I compiled together several recipes to get the concept down and came up with one of my own. If you beat me to it let me know if it works.

3 Cups of Coconut Milk or Vanilla Soy/Almond Milk
2 Ripe Bananas
1 Vanilla Bean or a 1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Tablespoons Agave Nectar or Maple Syrup

Blend all ingredients


I plan to make this up for myself (and maybe a few friends) while watching "It's A Wonderful Life" on a snowy December evening. Okay...I got a thing for the holidays :)

Stay Positive,

Matthew

The Heart Attack Grill

Hi Positive Eaters,

My friend Jeff sent me a hillarious/grotesque/thought provoking/mortifying video today. As many of you know my goal is to bring as much fun and positivity to living a positive and healthy lifestyle as possible. Let's face it - we crave things that are attractive and pleasurable. We will pursue those things with reckless abandon leaving far behind the concerns of our friends, finances and especially our body.

Eating healthy is often seen as the "right" thing to do. However, it is caught with the stigma of being boring. This is simply not the case. Eating healthy makes us feel good, look attractive and brings a sense of adventure and unknown into many of of our food choices. These are all the same categories that make up a great suspense or romance novel.

The establishment in this video is attempting to stimulate all those pleasure centers with their outrageously awful menu. I watched this video and I felt sick to my stomach...however saw the humor in it as well. I will post it below and offer up several questions to ponder. I cannot wait to see what comments and emails I get regarding this.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

- Does this place get a pass because they are being truthful?
- What are your thoughts on the "you only live once" mentality?
- Should this place even be legal?
- What can healthy restaurants learn from this?
- Would you ever eat at the Heart Attack Grill

I cannot pass judgment. I used to eat a one pound hamburger and guzzle down a large milk shake every Monday just to make my friends laugh...until I landed in a real hospital.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Vaccination Fascination

Hi Everyone,

The flu vaccination seems to be the hip thing nowadays. Everyone is lining up to get one and the blog boards are abuzz. Everywhere I turn people are getting injections, asking about where they can get an injection or asking me if I am going to get one. I feel like I walked into a scene from the movie Requiem for a Dream (I would post a clip below...but the movie is a little too graphic for this blog).

Many people are asking me my take on the flu vaccine. Whether it be swine flu or this season's version of influenza, there is a lot of questions about the safety of the vaccine and who needs to get a shot. I am not a medical professional and am not at liberty to say who needs to be vaccinated and who does not. I will say a couple things about this matter though.

As many of you know, a vaccine contains a severely weakened or dormant version of a virus. This is injected into someone so that their body might build up the appropriate antibodies against the virus. I believe Louis Pasteur got the credit for this medical breakthrough and even won a Nobel prize for it. Vaccines are responsible for eradicating epidemics and thanks to vaccines certain diseases now only exist in history books. They truly are a medical marvel.

Many of us receive vaccines shortly after we are born and throughout our childhood. We go on to live happy lives free from the dangers of tuberculosis, polio and the measles. Today's children can expect to receive between 12 and 16 vaccinations before they reach age 13. This is up from the standard 4-6 vaccinations received commonly during the sixties and seventies.

Many of the studies done on vaccinations prove them to be perfectly safe. However, many studies are only focusing on the safety of that one particular vaccine. The most toxic chemicals in most vaccines are the preservatives used to keep the vaccines fresh since they are now mass produced (once again a difference between vaccines today and vaccines forty years ago). Many of these preservative's contain heavy metals such as mercury. The amount of preservative in one vaccine is perfectly safe....the amount of preservative in 12-16 vaccinations is up to debate. Studies regarding the safety of multiple vaccinations and their safety over a particular time span are hard to come by.

It is my belief that vaccinations are essential for certain diseases and save the lives of people in certain populations. My father, for example, is a transplant recipient and a strain of the flu could land him in the hospital. I on the other hand will not be receiving any vaccinations. The most important defense against disease is maintaining one's overall health. I work hard to maintain my immune system so that I can keep the number of vaccinations and chemicals in my body at a bare minimum.

I find it interesting that people line up to receive the flu vaccine in order to protect their health. I see no such lines outside health clubs (which would be great since I work at one!). We are far from a fruit and vegetable shortage in this country. Companies provide vaccinations for everyone of their employees, even in this down economy but they will cut health care benefits. They scoff at the idea of initiating a company wide wellness plan when profit purses are thin, yet hand out pharmaceutical company sponsored pamphlets regarding the dangers of Swine Flu (or as my friend Steve calls it Bacon Lung). There is definitely a vaccination fascination abounding within our society.

This blog is about making "health care" a fun and positive experience. I will do my part in helping to maintain your health during this cold and flu season. I will post some great immune boosting recipes along with remedies I learned from many of you. Whether you are vaccinated or not it is always important to protect your health.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

PS

If you get vaccinated for the Swine flu make sure you ask the nurse if it is okay to eat pork chops now :)

Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque and Pumpkin Ice Cream!

Here are two great fall recipes I've thrown together in the last couple weeks. The first one is a soup recipe that I adapted from a recipe I found in Eating Well magazine. The author was cookbook author Nancy Baggett.

The second recipe is one I came up with, spinning off my summer post on vegan ice cream. Please let me know if you try either of these. I am so happy fall is here! There are so many delicous recipes you can make with seasonal vegetables!

Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque

2 large Sweet Potatoes
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Yellow Onion
1 large Yellow Onion
3 Cups Tomato Juice (I used juice from a juicer, canned is an option as well)
1 chopped Red Pepper or chile pepper depending on how spicy you want it
2 tablespoons minced Ginger
1 teaspoon Allspice
15-20 ounces of vegetable broth
2/3 cup natural Peanut Butter
Optional 1/2 cup tomato pulp from juicer

1. Bake or steam sweet potatoes until soft and peelings fall of naturally.
2. Heat olive oil in large sauce pan and add onion. Cook until onion browns and then add garlic and ginger. Stir in juice, peppers and allspice. When mixture boils back off to a simmer.
3. Remove peelings from sweet potato. Take one potato and blend it in a blender with vegetable broth and peanut butter. Take the other potato, chop it up and add it to soup pot.
4. Combine puree and soup mixture. If you ar using the pulp from the juicer stir it in at this time as well. This is definitely a hearty soup and you are sure to enjoy it.

Coconut Pumpkin Ice Cream!

2 cans of Coconut Milk
2/3 a can of Pumpkin Puree
3/4 cup Maple Syrup
Spices: Ginger, Cloves, Cinnamon and Nutmeg or Pumpkin Pie Spice

1. Blend coconut milk, pumpkin puree and spices
2. Place in ice cream maker and add maple syrup to taste
3. Let this spin in ice cream maker for twenty five minutes or more.
4. Add to re-used and washed ice cream pint containers.

This ice cream goes great with warm ginger bread!

Stay Positive,

Matthew