A cozy little lake life: Monday's Meals

During the first weekend in August there is a huge street fair/food fair/art and music festival in town. Just like every year my family and I went to check out all the wonderful sights, sounds and flavors. Little did we know that waiting for us at the fair was one very small booth that would alter our life path forever.

Walking down the street looking at all the wares and whatnot on display, we were stopped with the question, "Do you have back or neck pain?" What resulted from that was joining a chiropractic group (Maximized Living,) that does so much more then adjustments of your spine. They also do adjustments of your lifestyle. Did you know that we are designed to live well into our 100s. So why as a nation are we so sick and dying in our 70s?

Back in August, my husband and I both discovered that our spines are in bad shape (literally). I was not too surprised about that since I had been suffering with chronic pain since my teens. What did surprise me was just how bad it was. So we both decided that it was not something to put off and signed up on the spot. We also discovered That there are 5 essentials of a Maximized life. Besides having a spine that is aligned to allow for maximum nerve signals to go out into your body there are 4 more principles to get you back to optimum health. They are your mindset, your nutrition, your exercise and reducing your exposure to toxins.

This brings me to Mondays theme. Monday's Meals, is my chance to share some of the the very different and yet amazingly yummy dishes that we have started eating in our household this past month. You may notice that this meal plan is quite similar to the paleo diets out there with one HUGE difference. Absolutely NO sugar. None. Not even honey or Maple. Heavens even most fruits, especially all those delicious ones that are in season now. What does that leave? Berries, green apples and Stevia. This very strict no sugar rule is not forever it is just for the detoxification period. Believe me it is a detoxification period. There were some very dark days there at the beginning.

The very first challenge was finding some breakfast options. I love breakfast, but eggs get boring really fast for me. Plus sometime I just want the ease of a fast cereal breakfast. The following is actually two cereal options that I found to be delicious when combined.

The first is a Granola, minus the grain or "Nola." The second I call candy bar cereal because it smells just like a "Mounds" candy bar when you are making it.

Ingredients:

The first the "Nola" is very simple,

1/4 cup whole flax seeds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup raw walnuts
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Grind the nuts and seeds in a food processor or blender then add the cinnamon. Serve with whole raw, organic milk or almond milk.

Very important for the nuts to be raw though. You should not eat roasted, because the nut oil goes rancid in high heat.

The second cereal: Candy Bar Cereal--

1 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp Stevia
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract.

Heat coconut milk and cocoa powder on stove over low heat. When mixed remove from heat and add Stevia and vanilla, blend again then add shredded coconut. Spread mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet.
Bake for 20-25 min at 350 degrees. Stirring at 10 minutes. Make sure it does not burn. Store in an airtight container.