Ego and Lessons Learned

Some of you may know this but I recently bought an Ebook from a fellow IIN classmate. Sadly, I found it was poorly written and contained man simple spelling and grammar  errors. I contacted the author who, at first, claimed to not know about the errors. She sent it back to her editor and sent me a 'revised' copy. That copy contained the same errors. I requested my money back and she has continued to argue with me over it.

I would hope that, if I was faced with the same situation, that I would handle it differently. Not only do I have many years working in customer service, I have the integrity to say "I'm sorry you're unhappy, what can I do to fix this?" If it couldn't be fixed, I would be more than happy to refund the purchase.

So here's the thing. Would you put ego in front of personal integrity? Would you let it go and consider it a lesson learned? I feel that your personal integrity is incredibly important. It tells people that you can be trusted. It's also part of your Karma. Treat people well, do the right thing, and you will get the same treatment. Don't forget to stand up for what is right and wrong, though. 

Cleansing vs. Fasting

I read an article in the May 2013 issue of Marie Claire magazine that got me going! It spoke about the current fad of going on juice  'cleanses'. The thing is, what they're calling a cleanse is really a fast. Anytime you don't consume enough calories to sustain life....that is a fast.  I believe that a cleanse is done in order to reset your health and that it must contain enough calories and real food to keep your body and mind clear. A good cleanse will include lots of leafy greens, healthy fats, some protein, a fair amount of clean water and herbal tea, and possibly some nuts or seeds. It will not consist of all liquid!

Going back to the article-The women interviewed for it all claimed to feel absolutely amazing until they fell off the fast. And boy did they fall! They all went into a huge binge cycle. Some of them purged and some felt the only way to get back into control was to go back on the fast. Instead of learning to eat properly, they all started to rely on this very expensive product. Not to mention, the damage that was being done to their bodies by the cycle. Just for the record, the tone of the article was strongly against these fasts as they can lead to disordered eating.

This is why I advocate for Real food. Whole food like greens and vegetables; fruit, nuts and seeds, organic meat. Cut back on the processed stuff and the sugar and the take out. I've learned to make the most amazing teriyaki chicken and beef in the crockpot. Hamburgers at home take less time than going out to a restaurant. Eating this way allows you to be strong, healthy and vibrant. It also doesn't mean perfection. I'll admit to not being perfect which is a whole post unto itself!

Grateful

Do you ever have one of those days where you are filled with gratitude? Today is one of those for me. I'm  on a wonderful path in my life. I have two amazing kids and a supportive, wonderful mother. Great friends and extended family. I live in a beautiful place. Granted, not every little bit of my life is perfect- far from it! But, for today, I'm sitting in gratitude for all of the gifts.

How to make a World Famous Frittata!

I'm sad to say that there wasn't enough interest in my Dinner Planning E-course to make it a go. However, this is good news for you all as I'm sharing one of my favorite recipes from it. This is infinitely adjustable and a family favorite at my house.

World Famous Frittata

Ingredients:
8 large eggs
1 large or 2 medium sized potatoes
2 cups of filling. This can be cooked meat, raw veggies, sundried tomatoes, chopped spinach or other greens, anything you like with eggs. Ham, spinach, and broccoli is one of our favorite mixes.
1/2 cup grated or crumbled cheese
1 cup milk or cream
1T flour
Salt and Pepper and any other dry seasoning you like. Approximately 2 teaspoons
2T butter

Optional:
Salsa, sour cream, avocado, green onion, or parsley to top your frittata after you finish preparing it.

Directions:
Place an oven safe skillet or Dutch oven into the oven and preheat to 350. Scrub your potatoes and slice them approximately 1/2" thick.  Crack your eggs into a bowl and beat lightly. Add the milk and flour and whisk until flour is combined. Add fillings, salt and pepper and any other dry seasonings to egg mixture. When the oven is preheated, take the pan out and melt 2T butter coating the bottom of the pan. Place the sliced potatoes around the bottom of the pan forming a 'crust'. Place the pan back into the oven for 10 minutes. Pull the pan out, add your egg mixture, and top with cheese. Bake the frittata for 30-40 minutes, until it's firm in the center. Allow the frittata to cool for a few minutes. Slice, add any toppings you'd like and Enjoy!

Notes
This works beautifully with non-dairy milk and gluten free all-purpose flour.
Makes a great 'Meatless Monday' meal.
I use Costco's organic no-salt seasoning for my 'dry' seasoning

Registration is Open!

Registration is open for my e-course! Just click on the little button that says 'add to cart' and follow the instructions. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments or email me directly at rasawellness@gmail.com. I can't wait to share this with you.

Dinner Planning Made Easy FAQ's

I am having such a great time writing this course! I've had a few questions along the way and I'd love to address them here.

 Q: Is this a self-guided course or is it structured?

A: It’s structured as it’s set up as 4 weeks of learning and the recipes and shopping lists will be released once a week. This course is self-guided as to how you make it work for your family.

 

Q: What if I'm just too tired to make the dinner I planned?

A: Always have a backup plan! Mine is usually grilled cheese and tomato soup. Never beat yourself up over using your fall back. The goal of this e-course it planning, not perfection!

 

Q: What if someone in my family has food allergies or sensitivities?

A: With nearly all of the recipes, there are low allergen substitutions which may be a little more expensive.

 

Q: Will I have to cook EVERYTHING from scratch?

A: Not at all. I’ll tell you how to make your own beans and stock from scratch if you want to. There are times when this will work for you. Other times, just find the best quality packaged products you can find.

 

Q: Do I have to buy all organic for this course?

A: No, but I would recommend at least using the EWG’s DirtyDozen as a guide for what to buy organic. I try to buy as much organic as possible but I know that it’s not always in my budget. I’ll go over details in the introduction.

My Dinner Planning Workshop

I'm excited to announce my dinner planning online workshop! Like many, I have a hard time getting a healthy dinner on the table for my family. When I see 'quick' recipes advertised in magazines or on Pinterest, I'm disappointed that they often include packaged seasoning mix, cream soup or other highly processed ingredients. I've done some...ok a lot of digging to find and create menus that my kids like and are low in processed food. The key to getting the healthy meal on the table quickly is planning.

In this 4 week workshop, you'll learn:

Strategies to plan your dinners and shopping list for the week
20 main dish recipes that are healthy and delicious
Where to find new recipes
How to make your own seasoning mixes and sauces
Tips to help get dinner on the table faster
Access to a private blog and Facebook group

The cost for all of this is only $49! And, if you refer a friend, you'll get $10 back!
The course starts Monday, April 8. Registration will open March 18. The private blog and Facebook group will open on April 1.