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Whenever I take a trip to Whole Paycheck, I mean Whole Foods, which doesn't happen as often as I might like, lunch is almost always planned at the hot and cold salad bar. There's just so much to choose from and you want it all! Every kind of veggie and greens you can think of, hot soup, I still have yet to try out the stir-fry station, and the bakery goodies are so tempting. But one of my favourite things to get is the Detox Salad. I've really wanted to re-create this one for a while now. I love how they list the ingredients on the label. The ingredient list is quite simple. There's broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, sunflower seeds, currants, parsley, lemon juice, raisins, kelp granules, salt, and pepper.

No wonder it's called a detox salad. Talk about your raw cruciferous vegetables! The broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots are the main body ingredients to the salad. They contain tons of vital nutrients that will help your body's natural detoxification system along the way and give it a little boost.

I love having this salad for lunch because it's one of those fast make ahead lunches that will have you set for the whole week. 

It's super healthy and tastes great!

Once you start to add the sunflower seeds and dried fruits the salad really starts to come together. The sunflower seeds add some extra satisfying crunch and the currents and raisins give it some much needed natural sweetness to contrast the raw veggies.

The parsley and lemon juice add a nice fresh taste, but little did you know they also play a part in the detoxifying process. I didn't bother to add the kelp granules, but I did add pumpkin seeds.  

Of course you could most definitely add whatever fresh herbs you prefer. I imagine mint and diced pinapple would be quite good in this together.  

Detox Salad gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian (makes 8-10 cups)

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Ingredients: 

• 2 heads of broccoli (stalks removed, and cut into florets)
• 2 1/2 cups of roughly cut cauliflower florets
• 3 large carrots, roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup dried currants
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/8-1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Directions: 

1. Place the broccoli florets into a food processor and pulse until chopped very fine. Empty out into a large bowl.
2. Do the same with the cauliflower florets. Depending on the size of your food processor you may have to work in batches. 
3. Next add the carrots and pulse until finely chopped and add to the bowl along with the broccoli and cauliflower. Give it a good stir to mix everything together.
4. Stir in the parsley, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins and currants. Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper.

To store: keep refrigerated in a tightly sealed container. I like to keep it in a big sealed glass container because I find that the glass keeps the salad fresher than plastic. 

Before I started eating healthier, I never really put much thought into getting the proper nutrition my body needs. I still remember the days when I used to just eat something because I was A) hungry, B) lazy and in a hurry, or C) I wanted it, and it was convenient. All the while without giving a second thought about whether it was good for me. Those were the teenage days. At least the early ones anyway.

Boy how things have changed!

After realizing how crappy my body felt and that it was making me miserable I decided to make a big change in my eating habits and lifestyle, and focus on my health. First went the pop. Then went the rest of all the junk and fast food.

I started lifting weights and within a few months I started to see noticeable definition. I was already fairly active, but the weights made a big difference. After all, muscle burns more calories than fat!

These days I feel like the picture of health and I'm a whole lot happier for it.

I love feeling in shape and toned.

I love the way I feel after I eat something that's bursting with nutrition. Everyday doesn't need to be perfection, but as long as the overall 'big picture' is one that is balanced, I'm happy.

I don't worry about counting calories anymore or bother with products that promote themselves as fat-free or sugar-free; they are just lined with chemicals and other unnatural ingredients. Eating clean gives me the proper nutrition my body needs from real whole foods. Just eat a rainbow of real food.

I like to start my day off sometimes with a nutrient packed smoothie. If I don't get one in the morning I'll also have this for lunch. This guy is gluten-free, vegan, lactose-free, and made with Vega one chocolate mix. It has the equivalent of 3 servings of veggies (+ added fruit), 21 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber, antioxidants, and 50% of your daily intake of vitamins & minerals. It's also low glycemic! Vega is also wonderful If you're looking to lose weight, because of it's low GI rating you keep your blood sugar low and get the maximum amount of nutrition at the same time. It's perfect for supplementing 1 or 2 of your daily meals with in addition with healthy snacks. That's exactly what this smoothie is designed for.

Love, love, love Vega! I must write a review of this stuff. I'm way overdue for it.

Funky Monkey Smoothie (serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 large tbsp natural peanut butter
• 1 scoop Chocolate flavored Vega One
• 3-4 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Place ingredient into blender in this order: frozen banana, Vega powder, peanut butter, and almond milk.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add ice cubes and pulse.

It almost tastes like a peanut butter cup; my favorite cheat of all time!

This recipe is being shared at Fit and Fabulous Fridays.

I was first introduced to apple cider vinegar at a young age when my grandmother started using it as a natural remedy for her arthritis. She took just a few teaspoons of the stuff everyday and in a short period of time she started to notice her pain was diminishing. Back then of course I had no idea what ACV was, nor did I probably care. But, today when I think back I realize my grandmother was onto something.

Everybody seems to be jumping on the apple cider vinegar band wagon now, myself included. And why not? It has so many wondrous benefits. Its wonderful that such natural remedies for common ailments exist and we don't have to rely on drugs and prescriptions all the time.

The only downside to it is if you take too much it can consequentially thin your blood. That's what happened to my grandma when she started getting nose bleeds. So although it's very good for you shouldn't consume it too often; you'll still reap the many benefits.

Here are 10 benefits of apple cider vinegar:

1. Detoxification
   By drinking ACV diluted with water, it gently removes toxins from your body and liver due to its unique acids and ability to break up mucus within the body. It also encourages the lymphatic system to eliminate waste.
   
   
2. Digestive Aid
   Common indigestion and gastrointestinal discomfort, including heartburn (acid reflux), constipation, and upset stomach caused by certain foods can be alleviated by taking ACV right before meals.
   
   
3. Weight Loss
   Apple cider vinegar stabilizes blood sugar levels and is said to break down fats for your body to use as energy instead of storing them. You must be eating a healthy balanced diet at the same time though; this is no diet fad.
   
   
4. All Natural Wart Remover
   I have personally tried this one myself and I can tell you that it works. Its cheaper than spending $20 or $30 on wart remover kits and it's effective. All you need is some apple cider vinegar, cotton balls or the end of a Q-tip, and band-aids. Every night soak a cotton ball in ACV then apply it to the wart and hold it in place with a band-aid. Leave it on all night and repeat until it is completely gone.
   
   
5. Clear Skin & Shiny Hair
   It also works wonders as a skin toner and can help clear up acne. The acetic acid promotes blood circulation and helps regulate the pH levels in of the skin and body for a healthy alkaline state. Some people believe it also clears their skin when taken orally. Here is a link worth checking out if you're interested in making a skin toner with apple cider vinegar - Making Your Own ACV Toner.
   
   
6. Helps With Arthritic Pain, Stiff Joints
   ACV is rich in essential nutrients know to aid in pain relief due to stiff joint and arthritis including magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron and many more. You can take it orally (1 tsp in water before meals or mixed with a bit of honey and added to a cup of green tea) and you can also apply it to affected areas.
   
   
7. Fights Allergies
   A natural way to relieve itching, sneezing, and stuffiness when taken orally.
   
   
8. Reduce Bad Cholesterol & High Blood Pressure
   When taken orally it has been shown to help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.

Apple cider vinegar is pretty potent stuff. When I take it I will add a couple of teaspoons to 1 cup of luke warm water to dilute it, which is also easier on the enamel of your teeth.

Common Questions About ACV:

• What brand should I buy?
  Always look for organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar that has "the mother". I like to use Bragg's, which can be bought at many grocery stores including Whole Foods and Zehers. You can also purchase it online here.

• When should I drink it?
  It can be taken anytime, but I prefer to take it first thing in the morning before I eat breakfast and/or before eating a meal.

• What is "the mother"?
  The powerful benefits of apple cider vinegar are found in that cloudy brownish tinged stuff floating towards the bottom of the bottle. This is "the mother" and is formed from the pectin and residue from the apples. It contains all the minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins.

Remember that apple cider vinegar is just like other vinegars and can be used in all sorts of cooking. It makes a killer addition to marinades and is also great in salad dressings.

Just keep in mind when taking it orally to always dilute it first either with water or juice. If the taste is still too strong you can always add a bit of stevia too.

So like the Buckley's cough medicine says, "It tastes awful. And it works."

If you would like to try apple cider vinegar for whatever is ailing you, I would highly recommend Bragg's brand, It's made from certified organic apples and has the "mother". I would love to hear if you have tried ACV and experienced positive results.