Since I have been sick and dealing with a sinus infection I have been eating certain foods. The best thing I was able to eat was this wild rice and veggie soup I created. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 bag of mixed frozen organic veggies
2 cups of veggie stock
2 cups of water
3 garlic cloves
1 small onion chopped
1 cup dry mixed brown and wild black rice
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
pinch of oregano 
pinch of parsley
pinch of herbs de providence 
pinch of kosher salt
pinch of black pepper


Directions:
-In a small pot, put chopped onion & chopped garlic cloves in with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. 
-Sautee about 3 minutes
-Add the vegetable stock & water
-Add the frozen veggies, cook on med-low
-While you are cooking the veggies and stock, cook the rice in a rice cooker
-When the rice is done cooking add the rice and spices
-Bring to a boil for a minute or two
-Enjoy with some hot sauce or just plain! 

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that are absolutely healthy for during the holiday season! If anyone has any questions about other foods- please feel free to comment below or email me and I will post one of my recipes for it!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a short list of ways to deal with cravings. 

• Toss it (Go through your home and throw away or donate the foods you need to stay away from)
• Breath (Very deep breaths when you are craving the wrong foods)
• Bathe (Take relaxing bath or shower)
• Drink (Slowly sip water for about a half hour)
• Meditation (Think about peace, bliss, or healing)
• Visualize (Picture yourself happy and healthy)
• Pause (Before caving in, pause and relax)
• Switch it up (If you crave ice cream- try making your own ice cream at home)
• Get Active (If are having a bad craving- go for a run or a walk)

Good Luck!

Not only are peppers a great way to flavor your food, but they are amazing for your body and health. I will cut to the chase and then- at the end of the article- a super awesome and yummy recipe for roasted red pepper sauce.



Peppers contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring compounds that are found in plants. Like hormones some phytochemicals can act as messengers in the body. They also have very high antioxidant abilities. They neutralize free radicals in the body (free radicals damage cells). Each color pepper is a different phytochemical. 

There are a number of vitamins that are included in peppers. The top performers are:

• Vitamin A (preserves eyesight and fend off infections)
• Vitamin C (antioxidant, lowers cancer risk, and protects against cataracts)
• Vitamin B6 (Vital for essential chemical reactions throughout the body- which involve brain and immune function)
• Lutein & Zeaxanthin (slows the development of eye diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration)
• Beta-Carotene (protect against certain cancers- especially breast cancer)
• Lycopene (may decrease the risk of ovarian cancer)

One awesome thing that peppers contain is capsaicin. Capsaicin is a powerful antioxidant. Bell Peppers contain none, jalapenos have some, but habaneros have the most in them.  What does capsaicin do?

• Helps raise the metabolism
• Helps prevent against pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancers
• Helps rid the body of nerve pain- after the hot wears off of your mouth!

So what else do peppers do for you? Sweet or hot....

• Reduces inflammation
• Decreases bad cholesterol- helps you control it
• Boost immunity
• Controls arthritis
• Prevents strokes
• Prevents bladder, cervical, and pancreatic cancers

So all in all- peppers are an awesome way to get the proper vitamins and minerals your body needs! The only things you want to watch out for is ulcers and GERD.

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

• 12-15 red and green peppers
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 1/2 onion
• 1 1/2 cup rutabaga
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 5 cloves of garlic

1. Cut the peppers in half and put them on a cookie sheet and put them in the broiler. 
2. Broil until slightly charred.
3. Peel and put in a food processor and process until smooth
4. Put garlic in a frying pan- don't peel it, let it char a little
5. Peel the garlic and leave whole
6. Add carrots, onion, rutabaga, and olive oil
7. Simmer a few minutes with the lid on
8. Add about a cup of water
9. Let cook on medium until the vegetables have absorbed the water- or most of it
10. Put everything in the food processor- including peppers and process until smooth
11. Serve over pasta