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Body Inspiration Nutrition

Getting Proper Nutrition, Pt. 1

Over the weekend, ten of my co-workers and I  visited with a nutritionist at one of our local grocery stores.  I’ve been really impressed that Martin’s Foods has a full-time nutritionist in six of their stores.

The goal in our meeting with Lisa was to help us find easy ways to stick to the Full Plate Diet, which encourages participants to eat at least 40 grams of fiber per day. According to the American Heart Association, the average American gets less than 15 grams per day. She gave us so much great information that I’m sharing it with you over a couple of days.  Today, I’m focusing on fruits and vegetables.

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Main Course Soup On Saturday Soups and Stews Vegan Vegetarian

Potato and Leek Soup

Since it looks like its cold just about everywhere, I know we’re all looking for some comfort food.  Most recipes for Potato and Leek soup include heavy cream, chicken broth and butter as ingredients.  One recipe I found online included a full pound of bacon.  Oh my…

In my desire for something more healthy, I wanted to lighten things up.   Give this easy and filling recipe a try.

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Inspiration Prayer Spirit

Friendship

I’m sure you know the old expression, God doesn’t give you something that you can’t handle. Lately, I was beginning to doubt it.

Quite a few people I know have been going though hard times recently, and all at once they were coming to me with their problems.  I think of myself as a pretty strong person, with a solid faith and I’m known to give pretty good advice. When things come at you in waves, however, it can be a bit overwhelming. Maybe you’ve experienced something similar?

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Ignatian Spirituality Inspiration Prayer Spirit

Is God There?

Last night I was talking to my fourth grade class about God’s presence in their lives. As we sat in the sanctuary of our church, I asked them to think about ways God shows Himself to them throughout their day.  Looking back to the previous week, could they see Him in the everyday events of their lives?   Sometimes yes, sometimes no was the answer I got.

Most of us would probably answer in the same way.  My trusty spiritual companion St. Ignatius, would ask us to go a little deeper.  He’d ask us to find God in all things. God, who is always present,  is also constantly trying to teach us something.  The question is, do we who have eyes to see and ears to hear (Matthew 16:17) paying attention?  St Ignatius to the rescue.

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Inspiration Mind Spirit

I’ll Be Happy When…

This is a guest post from a therapist friend of mine.  She wanted to add her thoughts to my recent posting How Much Longer?.  I’m glad she did 🙂

I’ll Be Happy When…

It seems all of us are waiting for something or someone.  Right now, as was mentioned recently on Making All Things New, many of us are waiting for Spring.

While looking forward to a warmer month, a vacation, a long awaited homecoming of a loved one, a job offer or even something as simple as a kind word or a phone call, is a good thing, we have to be careful not to postpone happiness or joy.

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diabetes Ignatian Spirituality Inspiration type II diabetes

Was It Really Random?

Yesterday, forty-two people from our Hispanic community were screened for Diabetes.  They had previously taken a risk assessment at a Faith Fighting Diabetes event, and the results showed that they were at high risk for either having the disease or were pre-diabetic.

It was very humbling for me to walk into the crowded waiting room and see all the people there.  This was the first screening we had set up. Knowing that these people were there because of something that happened to me is what humbled me.

Categories
Main Course Soup On Saturday Soups and Stews Vegan Vegetarian

Minestrone

Anyone who loves soup knows that there are thousands of versions of Minestrone. Loaded with flavor, it’s a simple soup to prepare.  This version is adapted from one found in Twelve Months of Monastery Soups by Brother Victor Latourrette.  He and his brother monks live at Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery in New York.

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Gardening Inspiration

How Much Longer?

With all the winter weather we’ve been having lately, I think everyone’s been asking, will spring ever get here? My mom in California is asking.  My friend in Utah is asking.  My friend in Mississippi is asking.  My dog, if she could talk, is asking.

March 20th is the date.  Less than eight weeks.  It couldn’t come any sooner.  The thing is, those of us who live in Maryland know that February tends to bring the most snow to our area.  Ugh.

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Inspiration Mind Prayer Spirit

Staying With God

God never forsakes us; we forsake Him.  We get so caught up in our concerns and anxieties that we sometimes forget to open our eyes  and hearts to His presence. We become self-absorbed.

When this happens, we allow ourselves to fall into habits and behaviors that we know are not the best for us.  Very quickly other things/people can become our god, and we slip into a of shadow of our true self.  This is the place where all the things we want to keep hidden about ourselves exist.  Lives and marriages are lost here.

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Blogging Body diabetes Fitness Inspiration type II diabetes

Could This Be Us?

Since I started this blog last March, I’ve been writing about the great need to work on improving our overall health. I’ve brought up the shocking statistic that by the year 2050 one in three Americans will have Type II diabetes.

Those with ethnic backgrounds will have it even worse.  Unless things improve quickly, a full fifty percent of Hispanic and African-American children born in the year 2010 will develop the disease.

If you doubt these numbers, I want to tell you about the tiny island of Nauru.  It has the unfortunate designation as the fattest country on the planet.  Only 8.1 sq. miles, it has a population of around 10,000.  It’s the smallest independent republic on earth, but the waistlines of those who live in what should be an island paradise are anything but small.