Tag: Clean living

My Clean Living Life – Part IV

I am a super proud Colon Cancer Survivor(since August of 2011) so eating “clean” is an essential part of my life.   I’m also Lactose Intolerant so I’m ever mindful of making the right food and beverage choices.

Here are just some of the products I find make it easier for me to lead a dairy-free life:

I eat cereal every morning so milk is a major part of my diet.  Before I even realized I was Lactose Intolerant I had already made the switch from whole milk to 2% milk and then finally to 1% milk so switching over to Almond Breeze Almondmilk (Original and Unsweetened) suits me just fine.

I love love love cheese so I was super excited when I found out I could still have cheddar cheese, a personal fave, as well as any of the “hard” cheeses as they are easier to digest than the “soft” cheeses and therefore do not upset my stomach.  For cheddar cheese, I prefer the CABOT brand…

When it comes to yogurt there are so many options today but I tend to gravitate towards Yoplait lactose free yogurtas it just tastes better than most of the other dairy-free brands flooding the market.

I used to love to slap a dollop of whipped creme on top of my pie or cake during the holidays.  Instead of using whipped creme, try this simple recipe to make your own dairy -free version:

  • Use one can of full-fat coconut milk (Thai Kitchen organic Coconut Milk is a good brand to use)
  • Plus one tablespoon of  local honey for sweetener (optional)

Whisk the two ingredients together for up to 4 minutes and you’re good to go!

During the dog days of Summer (which is honestly the only time I think of ice cream) one of my fave dairy-free choices is Breyers Lactose Free Natural Vanilla as it’s simply delicious.

If you are a salad lover like me, scratch the heavy blue cheese or ranch dressings (or other milk-based dressings) and switch over to the lighter Balsamic Vinaigrette (Wish Bone makes a tasty version…)

And finally,  I’m an avid snacker so I found that Hummus easily takes the place of  creme (“soft”) cheese, its way better for you plus it tastes good too!  Sabra Classic Hummus (or its many equally delicious varieties) makes a healthy satisfying dip whether you’re snacking on raw veggies, crackers, pretzels, and/or baked chips.  Yummy!

So whether you are Lactose intolerant or not, Bon Appetit!

Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to me!  On August 5, 2016 I will celebrate 5 years (Colon) Cancer free.  Yay!  IMG_7945You see on Friday, August 5, 2011 I had surgery to remove the colon cancer so I count that day in August as my anniversary date as opposed to counting when I actually completed my 12 chemo treatments which, by the way, was in February of 2012.  I’m not going to get into it here as I have already blogged about the actual experience which can be found under Blogs on my site, lajeunehollis.com (“A Place of Desert…”).  

Although I tried unsuccessfully to put on a Colon Cancer Cruise in 2015 (“Colon Cancer Survivors Cruise Info”) it was still a learning experience that left me much richer for it…

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The month of March will forever hold a special place in my  heart as it is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and without the colonoscopy I received back in June of 2011, I would not be sharing any of these stories with you today (“True Blue”).

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Eating healthy and nutritious foods is a way of life for me now, not just a passing fad (“My Clean Living Life – Parts I and II”).

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Working out at The Edge in Hamden is a great stress reliever for sure but it also serves the dual purpose of keeping me physically fit (“Pit Bull or Poodle?”).

And participating in seasonal sports and/or activities on a regular basis brings me right back to my childhood as my parents were always good about keeping all 7 of us Hollis kids busy in a good way (“Ski Date”).

Having good friends to lean on during a major illness (remember that old saying about the fact that you don’t really know who your real friends are until you encounter major illness) rang so true for me.  Also, making new friends as a direct result of my Cancer experience was humbling to say the least (“Friends are like jewels…”).

Family is crucial and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without the love and support of my father and my siblings during this trial (“Easter Sunday Back in the Day”).

And finally,  growing up in a religious household made all of the difference in the world in terms of how I viewed my illness and how I responded to it (“A Desert Place…”).   Having faith and a church home (for me, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden, CT) was completely necessary for my sanity and my survival.  I was then, and continue to be now, truly blessed.

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True Blue

I felt compelled to write this blog today since March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and I am  a Colon Cancer Survivor.   I have to admit that I first started seeing “Blue” on Social Media which reminded me that I too needed to get the word out about the importance of pre-screening for Colon Cancer since a colonoscopy literally saved my life: Black coffee and lemon Italian Ice…eeech!

 

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I realize that I have a story that everyday people can relate to which I witnessed firsthand while sharing it through one of the most popular blogs on The View from Lajeune: A Place of Desert…(almost) 4 years cancer free

 

on News 8 television with Ann Nyberg:  http://networkconnecticut.com/2015/07/colon-cancer-was-no-match-for-lajeune-hollis/

 

on 94.3 WYBC-FM radio with Juan Castillo: My Happy Surprise this week on The Electric Drum?

 

and through speaking about it at my church, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden, CT.

 

People I know from all walks of my life watched me go through colon cancer and beat it so I hope they felt encouraged not only for themselves, but for their loved ones who may or may not one day encounter the C word…

 

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As it turns out, Colon Cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers out there so I felt the urge to create my own fundraising page on the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation (CCCF) website: http://events.coloncancerchallenge.org/site/TR/Events/TributeDonateYourWay?px=1104261&pg=personal&fr_id=1060

 

My page is on this website because I admire the fact that CCCF “has been working since 2003 to fund screening programs for the uninsured and provide much-needed funds to young investigators who are committed to finding a cure for colorectal cancer.”

 

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And the answer is:  I am “true blue” in a good way, for I am not only a Survivor, but a Believer…

 

 

 

 

Bean Clean!

In a perfect world I would always eat clean and get the proper rest.  However, from time to time, I find  myself overindulging on vino and eating food with too much sodium.  It is during these times when I break down and start cooking my clean dishes.  Here’s a recipe I received from my former co-worker Michele which is so easy to make and soooooooooo good!  I call it Clean Bean:

In a large saucepan put about 2 tbsp of olive oil and heat on low heat

Chop by hand or in a food processor 3 to 4 cloves of garlic, 1 large red onion, 1/2 bunch of cilantro and add to heated oil

Sauté until soft

Add 2 cans of kidney beans and 2 cans of black beans with most of the juice drained

Add 1 cup of whole grain or brown rice and 1 and a 1/2 cups of water

Stir well and add 1 teaspoon of black pepper and 1 teaspoon of chili powder.  If it tastes like it needs salt, feel free to add it

Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer.  Cook until all water is absorbed which may take up to an hour.

Add cooked chicken sausage (sliced in to quarters) and cherry or grape tomatoes (sliced in half)

All done!  Yummy! Continue reading Bean Clean!

My clean living life…

So, 4 years ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer (which I will blog about at a later date) but this diagnosis forced me to start cleaning up my life in terms of what foods I put into my body. I started buying and eating more veggies, legumes, beans, whole wheat products, lean meat, fish, chicken sausage, turkey dishes, hard cheeses, low sodium foods, unprocessed foods, organic foods, etc. I also started drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day, taking vitamins and exercising 5 days a week. My sleep habits have always been good (I try and get at least 7 hours of sleep a night). And I don’t use drugs so that was not an issue. I do, however, drink red wine (which supposedly is good for your heart as it contains antioxidants!) and the only kind of chocolate I consume is dark chocolate which again is heart healthy. One of my favorite clean eating recipes given to me by my former co-worker Michele Elliott, has everything I love in it: whole wheat pasta, tomatoes, garlic, spinach, beans and chicken sausage and it’s a breeze to make. Here it is:

Whole Wheat Pasta with Veggies and Beans (and Chicken Sausage):

Cook whole wheat rotini pasta according to directions on box

In large pan sauté in olive oil:
2 to 3 cloves of garlic minced
1 large red onion
1 large bag of baby spinach
one container of grape tomatoes (cut these in half to double the amount)
2 cans of red kidney beans
2 cans of chick peas or garbanzo beans
Add crushed red pepper and black pepper
Add cooked chicken sausage to other ingredients (first cut chicken sausage links lengthwise and then make into medallion size) and bake them in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

Cook all ingredients together on stove for 45 minutes to an hour (until beans and tomatoes are soft).

Add cooked pasta to veggies and beans and chicken sausage.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

1 1/2 cups is your portion.

Bon Appetit!    Here is a picture of my dish:

Whole Wheat Pasta with Veggies and Beans and Chicken Sausage