Ideal Protein Workshop

Ideal Protein Workshop

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All are welcome;)

New IP Veggie

Ideal Protein has just announced a new vegetable that is allowed with no restrictions during Phase 1. The vegetable is something that we are very excited about and think that it will be absolutely wonderful for our clients! This mystery vegetable is called jicama.

You probably just asked yourself “What the heck is a jicama?” Don’t fret, we asked ourselves the very same question. Now that we’ve figured it out, we think it’s awesome and we hope that you do too.

Jicama is a crispy, sweet, edible root that resembles a turnip in physical appearance, although the plants are not related. Jicama has been cultivated in South America for centuries, and the vegetable is quite popular in Mexican cuisine. Jicama has a unique flavor that lends itself well to salads, salsas, and vegetable platters. The roots can sometimes grow to be quite large, although when they exceed the size of two fists, they begin to convert the sugars that give jicama its sweet flavor into starches, making the root somewhat woody to the taste.

The skin is typically peeled before eating it raw. Raw jicama’s taste is described as crisp, sweet and nutty, similar to a pear or an apple, or a cross between an apple and a potato. It is also slow to discolor when exposed to the open air. Because of this, raw jicama is often used on raw vegetable platters. As a snack it is served sprinkled with lime juice a little chili powder.  When jicama is used in cooking it tends to take on the flavors of the ingredients that it is being combined with. Therefore, jicama is a nice complement to various stir-fry dishes because it blends well with many vegetables and seasonings.

Most commonly eaten raw, jicama maintains much of its crispness when cooked and can be used as an alternative to water chestnuts. Jicama may also be cooked on its own as a vegetable, sauteed with other vegetables, used in stir-fries or added to stews. It can also be used as a substitute for water chestnut in Chinese dishes, in which case it should be thrown in right before serving. Jicama is a great source of vitamin C and is fat free—making it a superb on-the-go snack.

When choosing jicama at the store, look for medium sized, firm tubers with dry roots. Do not purchase jicama that has wet or soft spots, which may indicate rot, and don’t be drawn to overlarge examples of the tuber, because they may not be as flavorful. Jicama will keep under refrigeration for up to two weeks.

Go get yourself some jicama and get snacking! 🙂

Here’s a quick idea of how to eat it to get you going:

1. Peel the jicama 
2. Cut your jicama into 1″ cubes or slices (slices provide a juicier taste).
3. Roll and cut some limes in half
4. Squeeze the lime over your jicama cubes or slices
5. Sprinkle salt  or chili powder to taste
6. Enjoy!

Miracle Noodles Questions

We have had a lot of questions asked about the Miracle Noodles and how to prepare them the best way. To assist you, we’ve included some recipe ideas (located under the tab that says “Miracle Noodle Recipes” at the top). We are also looking forward to hearing YOUR recipe ideas as you come up with them, so be sure to share them with us!

The number one question we’ve found ourselves answering is about the texture of the noodles once they’re cooked. Obviously, this pasta isn’t going to be the same texture as “real” pasta. However, if you take the proper steps to preparing your noodles, you’ll find that you can achieve the texture that you’d like. This will take some playing around. You’ll have to try new methods to figure out what you like best. Once you do figure it out, let us know so that we can assist others!

The instructions from Miracle Noodles are as follows:

1. Empty the noodles into a colander and drain the water that the noodles are packed in.

2. Bring a pot of fresh water to a boil on the stove. Add the noodles and boil for one minute, drain in colander and pat dry with a small hand towel or paper towel. If desired, use scissors to cut the noodles into smaller pieces.

Once this is complete, you can add the noodles to your favorite sauce, soup or stir fry, etc. The noodles can be heated in the dish that you are making. We recommend adding them at the end of the preparation process.

-OR-

1. Empty the noodles into a colander and drain the water that the noodles are packed in.

2. Rinse the noodles for a couple of minutes in warm water or soak in warm water while preparing your dish. Drain and pat dry with small hand towel and then add to your dish.

-OR-

1. Empty the noodles into a colander and drain the water that the noodles are packed in.

2. Rinse the noodles for 1-2 minutes in warm water (or boil for one minute) and then dry roast. Dry roasting is a common Japanese method of preparing shirataki noodles. Go to www.miraclenoodle.com/dry-roast-shirataki.html for detailed instructions. Then add the noodles to your dish.

We are also new to Miracle Noodles, so as we discover new tricks, we’ll keep you all updated. We have done a lot of research about the different ways you can change the texture of Miracle Noodles to be the most desirable and stumbled across an excellent string of posts on Miraclenoodle.com in their forum section. For right now, the technique about to be described is our favorite technique for creating soft, delicious noodles.

“I have  found the trick for me is to make sure the noodles are soaked first in cold water, then in hot, and then boiled. Once I boil them (and I do boil them different amounts of time depending on the noodle I’m having at the moment), the ‘rubbery’ texture goes away.

I rinse them very well in water first, a few minutes maybe. Then I soak them in a Tupperware container in cold tap water for maybe 15 minutes, drain them out, soak in hot tap water for another 15-20 mins and then I throw them in boiling water and let them boil for around 15-20 mins also. Now, there are probably tons of ways other people like to prepare their noodles…most are probably not as time consuming as mine are, but that is what I have to do to get them to be just the way I like them. It may also depend on what kind of dish you intend to use them in. 

As you get to know and enjoy the noodles, you’ll discover your own way to prepare them. My sister came to stay with me last week and she was intrigued by these noodles — she decided to have some for lunch and all she did to prepare them was wash them off very well, soak in hot water for about 10 mins and then added them to the soup she was making.”

We also found this method from livestrong.com about cooking the noodles in the microwave. http://www.livestrong.com/article/548763-how-to-cook-miracle-noodles-in-the-microwave/

Another question we wanted to address is the shelf life of the products.

Angel Hair, Fettuccine, Miracle Rice, and Garlic & Herb have a shelf life of 6 months at room temperature.

The variety noodles (all other shapes i.e. Linguine, Orzo, Rigatoni, etc.) have a shelf life of 1 year at room temperature.

Also, we wanted to quickly go over storage of the Miracle Noodle products. Once the bag is opened and you decide to only eat half a bag, place the unprepared portion in water in a sealed container and refrigerate. These noodles will last another 7 days this way. It is recommended to change the water every couple of days. When the noodles are already prepared in a sauce, refrigerate in a sealed container and the noodles will last another 2-4 days depending on the sauce. Noodle leftovers are delicious! Fell free to reheat for a short time in the microwave or on the stove.

If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to ask here, on our Facebook page, or call the office for more information!

Happy Noodle-ing!

Stevia Questions

We have been hearing a lot of questions here at the office about stevia. I would like to take just a moment to address your questions.

What is stevia?

Stevia is a plant from the sunflower family that grows in subtropical and tropical regions, mostly found in South America. (Specifically Paraguay) It is also known as sweetleaf or sugarleaf. The stevia herb contains no sugar so it has none of the same effects as sugar in the body; there are no calories, no carbohydrates, no glycemic index and no effect on insulin levels. This makes stevia a desirable product for people with diabetes. Stevia does not contribute to cavities, as sugar does, since oral bacteria do not feed on it.

Where can I purchase stevia?

Our Ideal Protein clients have purchased Stevia in many of our local stores, including Wegman’s and Tops. (We heard a rumor that Tops is discontinuing SweetLeaf stevia products. Don’t despair–we are working on offering these products for purchase out of out office!) The cost is anywhere between $3.00 and $15.00.

Does stevia come in different flavors? 

It does! This is one of the most exciting parts about stevia. The possibilities are endless! We have heard of many different flavors available: chocolate, vanilla creme, peppermint, hazelnut, cinnamon, lemon drop, English toffee, grape, orange, lemon and apricot.

 Are Truvia and Stevia the same thing?

No!! Truvia is made partly of stevia but mainly of erythritol, which contains sugar alcohols. Truvia also contains something called Rebiana, which is often referred to as the “stevia extract” in Truvia. However, Rebiana is not an ingredient in the stevia plant, nor does it exist in nature. Rebaudioside A is naturally in the stevia leaf by the action of sunlight upon the leaves. Rebiana is produced by the action of stringent alcohols and chemicals on various stevia glycosides. Rebiana is simply the trade name Cargill gave to its chemically derived product in 2008. 9/10 of 1% of Rebiana is in Truvia. The other 99.1% is the eyrthritol. Truvia is really a sugar product! 

What brand of stevia do you recommend?

We recommend SweetLeaf brand. They carry many different flavors. This brand is the most pure and has no additives. DO NOT purchase Stevia in the Raw. It contains dextrose (sugar) and Rebiana (the same chemical in Truvia). NuNaturals is another popular brand that you should avoid. It contains maltodextrin (sugar). You can tell high quality stevia from low quality by the price. We know that stevia can be expensive, but you use such a small amount that it really goes a long way!

I’ve heard it has an aftertaste, it that true?

Yes, Stevia does have a somewhat liquorice-y aftertaste to it. And yes, it does take some getting used to. However, as long as you are using the proper amount, the aftertaste problem is eliminated. (See conversion chart below)

Can you use it to bake?

Yes! Stevia is a GREAT product for baking! Here’s a quick conversion chart to help you when substituting it for regular cane sugar. (From The Stevia Cookbook, copyright 1999 Ray Sahelian and Donna Gates)

Sugar amount	Equivalent Stevia powdered extract	Equivalent Stevia liquid concentrate
1 cup	1 teaspoon	1 teaspoon
1 tablespoon	1/4 teaspoon	6 to 9 drops
1 teaspoon	A pinch to 1/16 teaspoon	2 to 4 drops

Your Ideal Protein World is About to be Rocked!

The cat is about to be let out of the bag: one of our Ideal Protein clients is a diet recipe genius. Seriously, we can’t get enough of her amazing Ideal Protein friendly food.

Today, we wanted to share her latest creation. It’s going to change everything about your diet. You are going to be rejuvenated and recommitted. Everything you ever thought about dieting is about to change. Wait for it….

IDEAL PROTEIN ICE CREAM. You heard us! 100% IP legal, guilt free, delicious ice cream! (We have tested this and can attest that it is wonderful!)

To make this awesome treat, you will need:

3/4 cup water

1 chocolate protein packet

4-6 TB vanilla pre-made drink

1 tsp Truvia or Splenda (optional–most flavors will not need this!)

Optional Walden Farms add-ins:

Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream- add 1 large TB W.F. peanut butter

Double Chocolate ice cream- add 1 TB W.F. chocolate dip or sauce

Chocolate Caramel ice cream-1 TB W.F. caramel dip or sauce

Chocolate Marshmallow ice cream-2 TB W.F. marshmallow dip (this will be added after you’ve blended the ice cream together.)

Chocolate Raspberry ice cream- 1 TB W.F. raspberry fruit spread

Directions: 

Mix water and IP packet in drink mixer. Pour into ice cube tray- 1 IP pack should make 1 tray worth. (When Dr. Lowry made this at home, he realized it’s better to not fill each compartment up all the way.) Freeze for a couple of hours, then take the cubes out and put them into a high-speed blender. Add the vanilla drink (needed for creamy texture), truvia (if needed) and mix-in of your choice. Blend for a couple of minutes. Add additional vanilla drink if needed. The ice cream should look creamy, not icy when it’s done.

This whips up a lot–you should end up with a very large bowl of guilt-free “legal” ice cream.

This works with the vanilla IP drink packet as well for vanilla ice cream. Try adding any of the W.F. fruit spreads to get a fruit flavored ice cream. The inventor of this recipe, Kim, really likes the vanilla drink packet with W.F. orange fruit spread because it tastes like a bowl of creamsicle ice cream!

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, KIM! 

Walden Farms Has Arrived

Exciting news!

We are now a provider of Walden Farms products! This means that we are now a one-stop shop for all your Ideal Protein needs.

WF Products currently in stock:

-Sesame Ginger dressing

-Honey Dijon dressing

-Coleslaw dressing

-Asian dressing

-Chipotle mayo

-BBQ Sauce

-Blueberry syrup

-Chocolate syrup

Why should YOU use Walden Farms products? They are fat free, sugar free, carb free, calorie free, gluten free, cholesterol free, and preservative free.

A Tried and True Recipe

Dr. Lowry and Coreen have discovered something great for Ideal Protein patients! Last night, they made a Shepherd’s Pie that follows the Ideal Protein protocol! This recipe feeds 4.

SHEPHERD’S PIE

1-2 lbs ground beef

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

6 green onions, finely chopped

2 TB lime juice

1 head cauliflower

2 TB butter

Steam the cauliflower until florets are tender. Puree in a food processor with butter until smooth. In a skillet, brown the ground beef for a few minutes. Add cumin, salt, and pepper and cook until beef is done. Add the green onions. Place beef into a baking dish and spread cauliflower on the top covering it. Bake at 325 until cooked through.

It’s THAT easy! The Lowry’s are so excited to share this recipe because it’s delicious! Let us know how yours turns out!

Remember that if you have a recipe to share, we would LOVE to post it!

Stress Management & Chiropractic Care

How well do YOU adapt to stress?

For some, it’s an upset stomach, recurring headaches, back pain, or stiffness in the muscles. Others respond with nervous twitches, sensitivities to chemicals or allergic reactions. Regardless of your particular response, the function of your nervous system is involved. This is why chiropractic care can be so beneficial.

The chiropractic approach to stress is to help normalize the function of your nervous system by removing interferences. These interferences, called subluxations in medical terminology, are caused by spinal joint dysfunction.

Finding the subluxations in your spine and adjusting them can make a profound difference in your response to stress because by restoring better function to the spinal joints, you are allowing the major communication pathway of your nervous system (the spine) to work more efficiently.

Like a relaxing vacation, chiropractic care can give your nervous system a greater capacity to adapt to stressors. Stress has been with us since the very beginning of time. Every era has faced its share of troublesome situations. Today, the stress of work, project deadlines, the demands on your time and money, and personal conflicts take a toll on your health. However, you may be surprised to learn that your feelings of stress and tension may have nothing to do with the stressors in your life. Poor posture, auto accidents, prolonged sitting, injuries, and physical inactivity can pave a road to spinal stress. Muscle tension and chronic pain can cause you to experience many different symptoms, including nervousness and irritability. Emotional stress can cause damaging wear and tear on your body.

Similar to exercise, chiropractic adjustments can help reduce tension in the nervous system, improving your ability to tolerate and adapt to the stresses of modern life. It may not be possible to remove the stresses from your busy life, but you can combat stress with the help of your chiropractor by getting your nervous system in tip top shape.

To IP Clients

As we are just starting to work on the website and we’re still in the process of collecting and testing recipes, our recipe sections are a little sparse right now. Please bear with us as we work to provide you with as many quality IP recipes as possible.

If you have a recipe you would like to share, either bring in a copy of it, leave us a post on our Facebook wall including the recipe, or let Coreen or Sam know what it is so that we can share it with all of our clients!

Thank you!