Amie from The Healthy Apple on Detoxifying Her Life
Amie needed to detoxify her life after learning she was born without a gene that absorbs folate. Check out how she detoxified her life and began using her knowledge and experience to help others detoxify their own life.
Tell us more about yourself and your site. What inspired you to start blogging about food?
My health has led me to the greatest food ever – I suffered for 6 years of my life with chronic pain and visiting every doctor under the sun until I finally learned what was going on in my body. I had 30 lbs. of water weight in my legs and chronic low white blood cells- after exhausting every doctor in the country and Mayo Clinic- I switched to working with a M.D. specializing in Integrative Medicine and he found heavy metal accumulation in my body as well as the fact that I was born without a gene that absorbs folate- which is key for detoxifying. So I had to detox my life- my food, my makeup, my home, my clothes, my cleaning supplies- and give my life a complete overhaul. After being on disability for 9 months- I quit my job and now work with clients one-on-one to help them focus on and eat clean, whole foods because my numerous food intolerance’s and sensitivities have led me to discover creativity in my kitchen each and every day. This is what inspired me to start my blog -TheHealthyApple.com – helping others in the same boat as me to realize that there is flavor beyond sugar and processed, packaged foods- and there is a delicious life beyond food intolerance’s.
What motivates you to eat healthy? How do you continually live a healthy lifestyle?
Eating healthy makes me feel great and I want to feel amazing every single day- therefore I make it my mission to eat Clean and treat my body right so that I can wake up with a bucket of energy to inspire my clients and readers each and every day. I make sure to map out healthy restaurants and food stores when I travel and have meetings. I find the nearest Whole Foods Market and farmers market to load up on lean proteins, healthy fats and fresh produce such as organic chicken, avocado and broccoli- then I request a fridge in my hotel room and stock up so I always have a healthy snack to enjoy in meetings, on-the-go, on airplanes and simply just in my office and home working.
Your site has a great “Shopping List” section. How do you decide which foods to include on your list? Which foods are your favorites?
This is the list that I use most often with my clients although I modify this list for each client based on their needs, any food allergies or intolerances. I work with this Shopping List when I take clients on their food store tours and then we go back to their kitchens to dive into their pantry and explore these new foods on my list. My favorites are organic turkey, chicken, asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, salsa, avocado, chili powder, cinnamon, sea salt and cocoa powder. I could eat endless amounts of veggies with avocado and salsa!
What are a few easy and healthy snacks that moms should give to their children?
Here are a few fun snacks that I love to serve to the families I work with. It’s great to expose children to a vast array of veggies and fresh herbs to expand their palates. Feel free to mix up the veggies by swapping squash with zucchini or subbing peanut butter for almond butter with what you have on hand in your pantry.
Yellow Squash with Almond Butter Dip
Cut one yellow squash into thin slices. Dip into mixture of Greek plain yogurt, ground cinnamon, canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
White Bean Arugula Pesto with Pretzels
In a food processor, combine 4 cups arugula, 1 cup cannellini beans, 4 fresh basil leaves, 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar, sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve with gluten-free pretzels.
Apple Parfait with Salted Pistachios
Cut two apples into bite size pieces. Divide the apple and 1 ½ cups Greek plain yogurt among bowls. Sprinkle with ½ cup coarsely chopped salted roasted pistachios and 1 tsp. unsweetened coconut flakes.
What are three recipes that you recommend moms make for their family?
Start eating to live, not live to eat and learn to embrace simple, clean, whole foods that will give you energy and keep you satisfied for longer. Move away from the diet mentality and eat what your body wants not what someone else’s plan entails as that only brings you farther away from what you will truly enjoy cooking and eating day in-and day out. It’s about being true to yourself and listening to what your taste buds are yearning for- whether it’s Brussels sprouts or whole grain pizza. I tell my clients to start with their food processor – make a simple salsa, guacamole and hummus for the week to use on salads, pastas, pizzas, grains, eggs and proteins such as fish, chicken and tofu. A touch of fresh herbs goes a long way in any of these 3 simple condiments. Here are 3 recipes that I use with many of the mom’s I work with for family meals:
Balsamic Shiitake Mushroom Salad
Creamy Asparagus Red Rice Pesto
How do you save money while shopping for ingredients?
I shop at Whole Foods Market and the farmer’s markets in Manhattan; I buy organic produce for the dirty dozen vegetables and fruits and conventional for the rest- I shop in season and always look for a great deal at the farmers market arriving later in the day for special offers and making relationships with the vendors!
What are you most looking forward to during the summer?
Relaxing at the beach with my family. I’ve been traveling the past month to Portland, Seattle and LA for work and loving meeting new friends and speaking at conferences but I am truly looking forward to taking some time to be with my family at the beach and relax, cook and enjoy the sunshine!
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Site: www.TheHealthyApple.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Healthy-Apple/175491187447
Twitter: @TheHealthyApple
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Email: TheHealthyApple@gmail.com
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