Being gluten free used to be quite a challenge during Passover.  Fortunately a couple of years ago I discovered gluten free matzo produced by a rabbi in Israel that is actually really good.  I tinkered my famous apple crisp dessert, which is usually made with quinoa and gluten free oats, last year to make it kosher for passover.  I think it is quite delicious and hope the gluten free Jewish community enjoys my recipe.  If you are not gluten free you can use whole wheat or spelt matzo.

Gluten Free Matzo Apple Crisp:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core and slice the 5-7 organic apples. Grease the casserole dish with canola oil spray. Place the sliced apples in the casserole dish. Pour the lemon juice and vanilla extract over the sliced apples and mix it around for even distribution. Combine the agave nectar, crumbled matzo and 1 heaping tsp. of cinnamon in a bowl. Add in handful of raisins or cranberries, if desired. Use a spoon or your hands to blend the mixture together to form a firm texture. Place the mixture over the sliced apples. Bake in the oven for  about 40 minutes or until the topping looks crisp.

I recently dined at Pure Food and Wine, a gourmet raw vegan restaurant in New York City. “Pure Food and Wine’s menu of raw vegetable concoctions may make this the Big Apple’s most unusual restaurant—as well as one of its best.” –Forbes December 2008. I am by no means a raw foodie or even vegan for that matter, but definitely would consider myself a flexitarian, meaning I enjoy meatless meals as well as a great piece of red meat on occasion.  Being a health coach I am very open to different dietary rules and always love dining at restaurants which cater to the healthier foodie.

My dining experience was extremely enjoyable at Pure Food and Wine.  The first thought I had when I walked into Pure was SEXY!  That’s right, in fact the red chairs and dimly lit dining room probably make most people consider the restaurant to be a great “date” place rather than a raw food and vegan establishment.

I dined with my husband who is more of a carnivore than me along with a friend and her boyfriend (who also is a carnivore).  My friend and I LOVED the experience while our significant others appreciated the uniqueness of the restaurant and its offerings (including all alcoholic drinks are made with a sake base – think mojito or martini as well as cobb salad with cheese-less blue cheese) .  While there were a couple of jokes amongst the carnivores about grabbing “a slic

e of real pizza” or “going to one of the many steakhouses in the area”, I think Pure Food and Wine can definitely be appreciated by all.  The presentation and food descriptions are quite intriguing and for those who are gluten intolerant like me, there is even a separate menu, which made life very easy.  Some of the highlights were the nori sushi rolls, plate of assorted cultured tree nut cheeses with rosemary chips, zucchini and local hothouse tomato lasagna (which actually satisfied my carnivore husband’s appetite!), corn tamales and sweet pickled beet and rosemary cashew chevre ravioli (although I will say using the word ravioli might be a stretch here).

I think the desserts need their own paragraph!  I have been to One Lucky Duck (outpost of Pure Food and Wine) in the past and devoured the tiramisu. I was nervous when it did not appear on the restaurants menu.  Apparently it is available by request, but I decided to try something else new and exciting.  I went with a coconut dessert the waiter recommended and I must say regretted it!  However, my husband selected the chocolate passion fruit tart and it was AMAZING!  The passion fruit curd had enough tartness to balance out the chocolate cacao nib ice cream.  I think it

might be up there with their tiramisu for next time.  My friend had the chocolate cake which also was delicious and not overpowering with sweetness, probably because they don’t use any refined sugars to sweeten their treats (think agave nectar).  While I realized I also wanted to taste some of the homemade sorbets and ice cream I actually was quite satiated and had little room for anything else.

A side note observation: I certainly notice when I don’t eat meat, especially for dinner, I experience a different kind of satiety and actually prefer it.  While my husband does recognize this difference for himself as well, I think it might take a little more than an enjoyable meal at Pure Food and Wine to “officially” choose a vegetarian lifestyle over his favorite steakhouse.   For more information on Pure Food and Wine or One Lucky Duck please visit their website.

I recently interviewed Jen Maidenberg aka The Wellness Bitch on my radio show and was so excited about her energy, passion and enthusiasm towards wellness I asked her to share some of her wonderful, witty and insightful “bitchiness” with my readers.

What Michelle Obama’s got right

Everyone seems to be talking about how brave Michelle Obama is to be taking on the challenge of childhood obesity.

I know I should be thankful that someone of influence is finally taking on the sad spiral downward that is the health of our children. I’m optimistic, let’s put it that way.

I don’t know how brave it is, though. It’s long overdue, especially from a woman of influence who is also a mother.

In Newsweek this week, Michelle explains why she is “on a mission.”

What she’s got right:

“The well-being of our kids has too often gotten lost in the shuffle.”

“Our kids didn’t do this to themselves. Our kids don’t decide what’s served in the school cafeteria or whether there’s time for gym class or recess. Our kids don’t choose to make food products with tons of sugar and sodium in supersize portions, and then have those products marketed to them everywhere they turn…We’re in charge. We make these decisions.”

Thank you, Michelle, for calling it like it is. It’s the grownups in charge who are wronging our children. It’s the food industry; and the government that coddles the food industry; it’s the school administrators; it’s the uneducated, disempowered, and sometimes lazy parents.

But what I’m concerned about, is the single-focused mission of “Let’s Move:” “To solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation, so that children born today can reach adulthood at a healthy weight.”

Is that really the problem at hand, Michelle? Is it all about the weight?

You know it’s not.

You go on to say:

“Let’s Move is about families making manageable changes that fit with their schedules, their budgets, and their needs and tastes. It’s about giving parents the tools they need to keep their families healthy and fit, and getting more nutritious food—more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less sugar, fat, and salt—into our nation’s schools. It’s about helping grocery stores serve communities that don’t have access to fresh foods, and finding new ways to help our kids stay physically active in school and at home.”

This should be your mission, Michelle. This should be your statement. This is what grownups need to hear, and just as important, it’s what our kids need to hear.

If it’s all about the weight, what is the message we are sending our children?

The true message is not about weight. It’s about WAKING UP.

TIPS: Write letters to Michelle. Engage your principal in a wellness plan for your school. Share what you know with your children.

Jen Maidenberg is the owner of Mindful Living NJ and blogger for The Wellness B*tch.  Jen is also a mother of three who has her own holistic story. She used to be a reporter, and looks at thewellnessbitch.com as a way of reporting news to you; news about your body, news about your mind, news about your spirit.

Justin Timberlake sings about it, “I’m bringing sexy back”,  however many women don’t feel as sexy as they used to.  Feeling sexy is not something you can flip a switch for, it takes work and awareness.  Our brains need to be retrained to change the way we think about ourselves.  As women, we need to be in touch with the feel good things in our lives (sights, sounds and even experiences) to help us feel more confident, vibrant, sexy and attractive.  Feeling sexy is an attitude with many benefits besides the obvious; which include feeling less stress, tension and anxiety.  Believe it our not how we feel about our sexiness overlaps into all arenas of our life: career, relationships and even self-confidence.

Looking for ways to feel sexier right now?

1. Wear clothes that make you feel sexy
2. Arrange some “me” time with friends or solo
3. Exercise to release endorphins which in turn make us feel good (aka sexy)
4. Practice mindful breaths to help you remain calm and focused
5. Get rid of your granny panties
6. Dance to your favorite music (think Justin Timberlake)
7. Stand in front of the mirror naked and think of one thing you love about yourself
8. Turn off life’s distractions for at least 5 minutes each day and focus on yourself
9. Be spontaneous to create excitement in your life
10. Pamper yourself with a manicure, pedicure, wax or massage

The term omega-3 fatty acids is extremely popular.  There are many studies that show the benefits of eating omega-3 also known as essential fatty acids. Our bodies cannot produce omega-3s yet they are essential fats we need which can only be supplied through the foods we eat or supplementation.   During the fat-free/low-fat days people avoided all fats, including essential fatty acids.  It is imperative for your well-being that you consume omega-rich fats.

Some people have an aversion to eating salmon or sardines (which are excellent sources of essential fatty acids) so I would recommend adding flaxseed, avocado or walnuts.

Studies show a daily intake of omega-3s, also known as EFAs, is linked to lower levels of inflammation, which is believed to be the underlying cause of heart disease and diabetes.

What are some other benefits of omega-3 fatty acids?

• Help prevent depression and learning disabilities)
• Reduce inflammation in the body
• Help protect against certain cancers (breast, liver, colon and prostate)
• Ease asthma, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis
• Promote neurological and visual development during the last trimester of pregnancy

It does not matter whether you consume your omega-3s through your food or supplementation as long as you start indulging in the benefits of them today!

After a rather harsh couple of winter months for most of us, spring has started to show its face in the Northeast.  Spring time is all about rejuvenation and getting ourselves ready for the warmer summer months.  For many of us this entails a “spring cleaning” of our body, wardrobe or even mind.  Unfortunately the thought of cleaning can be a bit overwhelming.  If you find yourself having a difficult time motivating to clean try the following tips to get started:

1. Set an obtainable goal such as focusing on one drawer or section of a closet at a time. 

2. Have your favorite music playing while you are cleaning.  Maybe even make a mix of inspiring songs.

3. Once you have completed your goal, indulge in some much needed self-care (warm bubble bath, massage or even a fun outdoor activity).

The other day I was at the gym decompressing after my workout when I overheard two teenage girls talking while walking out of an exercise class.  One of the girls was quite trim while the other was a little on the heavier side.  The heavier girl said “I am starving”, to which the trim girl responded, “You’re starving or starving yourself?”.  Upon saying this the heavier girl glanced over at me with an odd look on her face as she proceeded to put on her jacket and presumably grab a bite while her trim friend entered the gym to continue her workout.

Maybe it is my profession or maybe it is the obsession our society has with eating, starving ourselves (dieting), exercising and losing weight that made me analyze this conversation to the point of a blog topic.  At what age did we learn what the word “starving means?  How many people, kids in particular, do you know who say “I am so hungry I could eat a horse”?  Do we even know what that means?  Probably not literally, but it certainly leads us to believe that the person is extremely hungry, in fact starving.

This leads me to more questions:  What kind of nourishment is it we are searching for when we use the term starving?  Is it food, attention, love or even approval from others?  Would I have thought any differently of the conversation between the two girls if the heavier girl asked the thin girl if she was “starving or starving herself”?

With anorexia on the rise among children as well as women, I am very aware of the signs or possible signs. In my opinion as a society we seem to be extremely focused on nourishing ourselves through food, rather than exploring what other ways we can satisfy ourselves.  We either deprive or overindulge ourselves with food without much of a happy medium most of the time.  Maybe the thin girl was asking her friend the question she really wanted to be asked herself, “Are you starving yourself?” as a way of checking in or finding the support, love of comfort she needed.