Got home and the kids came over for swimming, food and Madelyn's fireworks!
That chicken laid an egg! This was Madelyn's favorite firework, she kept asking Daddy to do another chicken!
Chase did a great job with the fireworks show!
The big balloon! Taking off!
It's way up dere!
Hanging in the back of the truck, giving plenty of orders!
FIT CLUB WORKOUT
I've already got my morning workout done, I LOVE working out in the mornings and having it over with! I also love working out with friends - so tonight is Fit Club! I'm thinking ChaLEAN Extreme is in order! Burn It Off and Recharge! It's a great, quick workout that gets the job DONE!
I've also started the July challenge - TODAY! We are eating clean, 1 raw meal per day. This means all kinds of goodness getting into our bodies! Eating a raw food diet is one of my favorite ways to eat, but in the midwest, it is hard - unless it is in the summer months when there is an abundance of local, fresh foods available. So, we are just focusing on eating one raw meal per day.
Raw vs. Cooked from Webmd.com
Medical literature on the raw food diet is scant. Research tends to focus vegetarianism and veganism and the health benefits of a plant-based diet, among them lower cholesterol and better glucose levels.
A few studies do appear to back up the belief that cooking vegetables tends to kill important nutrients.
One showed that eating raw, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale) may reduce the risk of bladder cancer. Researchers noted that cooking cruciferous vegetables robs them of their isothiocyanates, agents that alter proteins in cancer cells. They found that even a few helpings a month of raw crucifers seems to lower the risk.
Another study that reviewed findings of about 50 medical studies on the raw versus cooked debate showed that eating raw vegetables helps reduce the risk of oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal, and gastric cancers.
So, you can make your own judgments and decide for yourself. I know that when I eat more raw foods, I feel better, have tons of energy and typically lose a few lbs.
FIT CLUB RECIPE:
Gazpacho Andaluz from Ani's Raw Food Essentials
2 cups seeded and diced ripe tomato
1/4 c finely chopped spanish onion
1 cup chopped bell pepper (any color)
1 cup peeled and chopped cucumber
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 cups filtered water
Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Chill for at least 30 mins before serving.
Discussion: Do you eat many raw foods throughout the year? Do you find one season easier to eat healthy?
