Food of the Month - Lemons

We all know that there's no miracle pill that you can take every day to ensure you maintain optimal health, but did you know that there's a miracle fruit that comes pretty close?  This week's Peas Perspective is focusing on the fragrant, tart and unbelievably healthy LEMON.

This miracle fruit not only makes water, iced tea and your other fizzy beverages taste better, lemons are packed with nutrients that will keep you and your family happy, healthy and glowing.

Starting each morning with warm water and lemon is not only a tasty morning beverage it's an alkalizing elixir that balances the PH levels in your body which can help with inflammation and indigestion. Yep, you heard that right, drinking this first thing in the morning can help stop indigestion even before it starts.  With that being said, if you feel like you're having trouble digesting after a large meal, drinking some lemon water can get things moving again and help stop belching and bloating.

Drinking lemon water throughout the day can boost your immune system, enhance your mood, clear up troubled skin and even freshen your breath. Stock your desk drawer at work with a few lemons and every time you fill up your water bottle, squeeze a bit of lemon into it. Also, if you find yourself in a 3pm slump or feeling stressed out, scratch the lemon peel with your finger nail and breath in deeply; the smell of lemons has been known to reduce anxiety and and increase energy.

When you're winding down after a long day and getting ready for bed (before you brush your teeth of course) have another glass of warm water with lemon.  Not only will this beverage help with relaxation it also completely hydrates you for your long night sleeps and alkalizes your body so you can feel like your healthiest self while you float off to dream land.

So remember, when life gives you lemons, say "Thank you!" and add a squeeze to your water!

A Dinner Story

Happy Friday peas-ful pea-ple! You made it through the week and congratulations are in order.  To end the week and begin the weekend festivities, we've brought you A Dinner Story.  This week we're celebrating Amber Estrada, a wonderful Mom of two totally adorable kids! Get ready for Amber's awesome meal ideas as well as some great tips on how to eat healthy during the busiest of weeks. 

Three cheers for Peas!

Where do you live?

"Livermore, California."

What are your kid's names and ages?

"Adeline 3years and Antonio 1year."

What meal do you make that you know, no matter what, your family will devour?

"It’s a tie….Macaroni & Cheese (they don’t even know it has vegetables hidden in) and homemade pizza."

What's your favorite Saturday morning breakfast to enjoy as a family?

"Scrambled Eggs, Turkey Bacon, and Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins…YUM.  We try to include the kids in the cooking as much as possible, so Saturdays are great because we’re not as rushed as the weekdays and we have lots of fun together in the kitchen."

What's your favorite Peas of Mind Product?

"The entire family loves Veggie Wedgies – we devoure Broccoli, Carrot, and Apple!  When we asked which flavor was our kid’s favorite, Adeline declared she loved them all and Antonio cheered (I’ll take that as all of them as well)!  Adeline is a very picky eater so her love of Veggie Wedgies shows how fantastic they are!"

How many times per week do you cook from scratch?

"At least 4 nights a week; we spend time on Sundays prepping food for the week so we can still have healthy options with our busy schedules."

What's your go to "I'm feeling unhealthy and need a nutrient-power punch" meal?

"Salmon, Quinoa, and Brussel Sprouts."

What kitchen tool could you never live without?

"Our food processor/blender is a necessary tool used daily!"

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

"Hawaiian Pizza."

Home Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Here in San Francisco spring is in full bloom.  All around the city, folks are having outdoor picnics while soaking in the sunshine and enjoying everything this delightful season has to offer.  Unfortunately for some, spring is a lot more than sunshine and flowers. The American Association of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) reports that 36 million people in the US sneeze at the scent of blossoms and tear up at the sight of a flowering weeds all due to seasonal allergies.  But have no fear allergy sufferers, Peas of Mind is here to help reduce these symptoms with some simple home remedies.

 First things first, make sure your home is a sanctuary from your allergies by dusting and vacuuming every single surface in your house (don't forget about your drapes and curtains which can easily collect pollen and other allergy-causing culprits). If you live in an especially humid area, you may want to get a dehumidifier. This will remove mold causing moisture from the air (but be sure to change the filters once a month). 

Now that you’ve ensured that your house is allergen-free, it’s important to keep it that way.  Keep your windows closed, especially between the hours of 5am and 10am when pollen tends to be at it’s worst and when it’s windy outside.  If you shower in the morning, you may want to switch to nighttime showers to remove any pollen from your hair and body before you crawl into bed.  With that being said, it’s also a good idea to change your sheets once a week to ensure that the coziest place in your house doesn’t cause you to sniffle and sneeze all night.

Educate yourself on your allergies by visiting the AAAAI's website.   This website has daily pollen and mold reports which will allow you to prepare for your day according to the pollen and mold levels.  Also if you don't know what's causing your allergies, these reports may help you narrow down the trees, weeds or types of mold that could be the culprits.

When it comes to severe allergies, it’s always best to consult your doctor but if you're just suffering from some annoying sniffles and sneezes, there are many at home remedies hiding in your kitchen cupboard:  

• Peppermint tea not only helps clear your sinuses, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory and a mild anti-bacterial.  Make the tea extra strong by using both a tea bag and fresh mint.
• A teaspoon of raw, local, unfiltered honey everyday has been known to act as a vaccine by building your immune system's defense against the allergens in your environment.  Check out your local farmers market and make sure that the honey is from your city. This ensures that you're ingesting the same pollen that's causing your allergies.
• Stinging nettle tea does not only aid in feeling better from allergy symptoms, it’s also been known to help stop the symptoms before they even start.   Stinging nettles contain natural anti-histamines and are power-packed with nutrients which can boost your immune system.  It’s important to make the tea EXTRA strong (steep the tea bag until it's dark green) and drink it daily (it will work even better if you start drinking it a month or two before allergy season begins).
• Cucumber slices on your eyes are no longer just for the spa. These cold, cooling veggies are known to reduce the redness and puffiness around your eyes caused by hay fever.
• If you're up for it, wasabi and horseradish is another delicious decongestant. Not only will these spicy root vegetables clear your sinuses they also have anti-inflammatory properties.  So go get some lunchtime sushi, add a heap of wasabi, take a deep breath and enjoy nature’s tasty remedy.

Kitchen Staples that will give you Peas of Mind!

Here at Peas of Mind we’re always trying to find simple and quick ways to eat healthy.  Over the years we’ve found a few kitchen staples we like to always have in our fridge, freezer and pantry and thought it was about time to share them.  These ingredients are not only cost effective they are also totally versatile and can be used in dozens of different ways for quick, nutritious and satisfying meals. 

Pantry

Quinoa: This ancient grain is a complete protein and super easy to make.  It takes half the time of white rice to cook and has a nice nutty flavor that can be used in place of rice, in soups and as the base of a salad. 

Quinoa Pasta:  An absolutely delicious gluten free pasta option PLUS it’s a protein powerhouse. It cooks up in under ten minutes which means that while your pasta is boiling you can heat up some marinara sauce, add some finely chopped kale, sliced mushrooms and fresh herbs and you have a deliciously complete meal in under 15 minutes. 

Garbanzo beans: Whether you choose to call them garbanzo beans or chickpeas they’ll always be PACKED with calcium and fiber. By adding these to a salad, a veggie-stir fry or using a blender and puree them into hummus you’re making sure that you get a major dose of protein and ensuring that you’ll feel nice and full.

Coconut Oil: We are using coconut oil in place of butter in baking, pan-frying with it and using it as our starter oil when cooking garlic and onion for any dish.  It’s been shown to help the body absorb vitamins, fight off viruses and reduce inflammation not to mention the fact that it’s buttery and delicious! And even though it's not the cheapest of oils, a little goes a long way.
Oats: Besides the obvious breakfast porridge, oats can be used in many different "non-breakfast" ways. Sub oats in place of flour in cookies and crisps, cook into a savory porridge with herbs and mushrooms then cut it into squares and pan fry it with coconut oil for a delicious savory polenta like side dish and  use as a healthy option to crust fish in.

Freezer

Frozen Brown Rice: This is our favorite “I’ve got NO time to cook” grain option.  It takes 3 minutes to heat up, can be found at Trader Joe’s for under $4 and is totally nutritious. 

Veggie Wedgies, Peas of Pie and Pull-a-parts: We always have our freezer stocked with Peas of Mind product because you never know when you’re going to need a meal in under 10 minutes and how great is it that you’re feeding your family their favorite foods and sneaking in all the goodness that comes along with veggies.

Produce

Lemons: Lemons are packed with vitamin C and have been known to reduce heartburn by alkalizing acid in the body.  Lemons also help your body absorb iron so adding a squeeze of lemon to your veggies, fish and sauces is not only fresh and tasty but it's also really good for you.

Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs can bring your color-less leftovers to life, add fresh and bold flavors to simple meals and are packed with a surprising amount of vitamins and minerals.  

Apples: This time of year is a great time to always have apples on hand.  They are a great snack (apples and peanut butter tops the list as one of our all time favorite snacks) cut up and topped with oats, coconut butter, sugar and cinnamon to make a super quick and yummy apple crisp or toss in a smoothie for added sweetness and fiber. 

Kale: This is one of the most vitamin packed foods you can eat (I’m pretty sure Popeye was eating Kale not Spinach all those years).  Whether you’re adding it to your smoothies, stir-frying it with oil, lemon, salt and pepper, subbing it for lettuce in a sandwich, finely chopping it and sneaking it into your pasta sauce or adding it into your homemade pesto, it’s an incredible food to add into you and your family’s diets. 

The following are some honorable “kitchen staple” mentions:  black beans, pecans, peanut butter, sesame seeds, olive oil, frozen fruit, canned tomatoes, cheddar cheese, pan spray and tofu.

So add these items to your shopping list and get creative in the kitchen. We'd love to hear about any recipes that you come up with using our kitchen staples, feel free to comment below.