Good mood food!

Good mood food! Oh my gosh all of the health benefits! I like to know the foods that I am eating and how they are Nourishing my body!!  

Dr Andrew Weil just lectured for my school and I love him! Dr. Oz has a good little snippet about the anti-inflammatory diet coined by Dr. Weil a leading Dr in the specialty of Integrative medicine. He believes proper nutrition is the cornerstone to health!

http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/dr-andrew-weils-anti-inflammatory-diet

Know what your foods can do for you!! 

*Lamb : Rich in CLA a depression and stress fighter. This meat will help you reduce stress! This is a great website I found about the health benefits of grassfed organic Lamb! Grassfed provides a significant amount of omega 3 content as opposed to conventionally raised! It was stated in the article  that the meat from a grassfed lamb contains 25% more omega 3's when compared to conventional lambs and 49 % more ALA  the basic building block of omega 3........ 

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=117 

• "Lamb is a good source of vitamin B12 and also provides important amounts of the B vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, and choline. Vitamins B6, B12, folate, and choline are especially important for healthy metabolism of homocysteine and can help prevent unwanted accumulation of excess homocysteine in the body. High blood levels of homocysteine are a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease." ~Interesting info found on www.whfoods.com 

*Avocado: 

*Labelled "A real Super Food" By Dr. Mercola and whfoods.com

*Mood food containing ******serotonin****** a feel good neurotransmitter 

*Vitamin E and healthy good quality fats are amazing for inflammation and more supple looking skin!

*Fiber

*Potassium

*B vitamins 

*Folic Acid great for the mama's!! 

*Sweet Potatoes: Also a *******serotonin******* stimulator!! Sweet potatoes stimulate your brain to produce serotonin a brain chemical that regulates mood as well as appetite and sleep. 

* High in vit b6

*High in vit c

*Vitamin D

*Iron

*Magnesium the antistress mineral

*amazing fiber content

*Rich in beta carotene

*Great source of manganese a trace mineral

*Rich in vitamin E

*Bananas/plantains: Teeming with tryptophan a building block for the happy hormone you guessed it *****serotonin****** This amazing fruit is also packed with b vitamins to combat stress & potassium which enhances mental alertness this is the perfect pick me up!! 

*Dark chocolate: This "feel good food" can tweak your brain chemistry and biologically revamp your mood!! Dark chocolate (I recommend over 70% cacao to receive maximum health benefits) raises the  brain chemicals phenylethylamine and endorphins that produce a natural euphoria! On top of all of all of that feel good we are able to fight heart disease with its rich antioxidants, phytonutrients and cancer fighting properties!! 

Lamb shanks, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, avocado cups, salad, lemon cucumbers, honey goat cheese and organic popcorn without that nasty canola oil but instead olive oil! I used more clarified butter over the top and I sprinkled some Himalayan sea salt over the popcorn too!! For dessert we had fried plantains (in coconut oil) with melted cacao, almond butter and honey! We also had almond flakes and coconut flakes on top!! Such a fun night with our friends Tim and Janine celebrating the season opener of the Bachelor last night!!! 

Here's what we made! Everything was gluten free, diary free except we always use butter and goats milk! 

*Organic grass fed, free range antibiotic free, hormone free Lamb slow cooker set up serves four:

First I threw the New Zealand Lamb shanks (Trader Joes) into the slow cooker! 

Next I cut up the organic sweet potatoes into circle cuts. (Trader) Threw those in ( I used 5 sweet potatoes)

Next I cut up a large onion

After that I tossed in a few cloves of garlic chopped and whole

Then I added Himalayan sea salt and pepper 

Turned on low and cooked for 8!hours. Can use high heat for 4 hours! 

The meat was falling off of the bone and we were all drooling!! 

I prepared the rest an hour before they arrived! 

*Salad:

Organic kale and spring mix

1 stalk of hearts of Palm 

5 organic baby tomatoes quartered

Almonds

1/2 avocado

One organic green apple

Salt and pepper

One large lemon squeezed over the apples and salad ( prevents browning) 

1/4 cup goat feta

Olive oil to taste when ready to serve

Avocado cups:

*Halved avocados

Quartered baby tomatoes

Almond slivers

Chopped Basil from my window garden plant

Tumeric *super food* sprinkled 

Himalayan sea salt

Cracked pepper

Olive oil and vinegar drizzled over top when ready to serve

(To keep the Avos fresh I squeezed a small amt of lemon over each half to prevent browning)!works swell and adds flavor!!

*Goat cheese honey and "Mary's Gone Crackers" I get her crackers at Jimbos here in Encinitas. But I believe Sprouts carries this brand too!! These crackers are all gluten free and a lot of the contain flax and other yummy seeds!! 

*Cucumber lemon pico de gallo!!

One large organic cucumber sliced into circles

1/2 of a lemon squeezed all over cucumbers

Pico de Gallo seasoning.

H. Sea salt

Dessert!! Plaintains with Chocolate almond butter drizzle!! 

2 large plantains cooked till brown in large pan in 3 tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 cup 70% cacao or more (use 1 brick of chocolate) 

2 tablespoons raw or roasted almond butter (trader) 

1-2 tbsps coconut oil

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp raw honey

Be sure to melt together in a small pot on stove or in a small fondue. (Bonus ... My crockpot (I've had for years!!) came with a fondue!!Amazing!!!!!) 

Toppings:

 

Once plaintains are brown and chocolate is melted, section out your bananas into small bowls for you and your family or guests! 

Get creative and sprinkle whatever you like! I used...

Almond slivers 

coconut flakes

more cinnamon

raw honey drizzle

This was a Crowd pleaser !!!

Xo: {Hayley}