Cancer Update

Photo Courtesy of Ashley Gonzalez

     After being 100% RAW for one week Jean said that she felt mentally the most clear that she’s ever felt.  She mentioned that she has been working on learning French for the last 4.5 years, and she noticed that after being RAW for 1 week, she was able to study her lessons so clearly and much faster than usual, with amazing comprehension!  She noted that normally she has to use a dictionary, but this week didn’t have to use one at all.

     At first she thought that she was going to feel like she was starving, but was pleasantly surprised when she did not starve!   She says that she was ready for her next meal but it never happened that she was destitute.

     Fast forward a few weeks and Jean Marie has been doing really great.  She has been able to rest and recuperate, and has a positive attitude (which is a powerful healing factor).  I’m sure she will be doing cart wheels in no time!

Happy Friday!

     This past weekend I was able to spend it with Jean-Marie and her sister Tiffany (and all of the little people). We had such a great time! Tiffany made some really great raw food that totally inspired Jean & me. I think I was sold too since it looked like Tiffany had grown about a foot since the last time I saw her. She looks amazing, along with Jean-Marie. I kept thinking, “This is my friend who has cancer? She looks amazing!” So when they both mentioned that it was her diet, my ears were perked and at attention!!!


     So this is what she prepared for us and it was nothing short of deliciousness!!!

Preping the Raw Almond Cheesecake with cookie crumb crust





Vegan Onion & Sour Cream Potato Chips



Greek Salad



BFF's

L thought that his breakfast was borning without a Mimosa!

Z felt like such a big sister helping to feed baby N

Preperations for the Spring Rolls

Et Voila the finished product. Veggie spring rolls
with homemade peanut sauce (actually almond sauce)

P.S. Today is the last day to submit your entry for the food contest at 5pm (Pacific Time). You know your posting pictures of your food, why not just use the #btanJerinefood (remember it's tanJerine with a J) on Instagram, or you can email us at btanjerine@gmail.com and enter with the chance to win some really great earrings???

Have a great weekend!

Xoxoxo

BtanJerine





Going Raw: Two Foodies On The Road To Going Au Natural

My BFF Jean Marie

     For those of you that are unfamiliar with a RAW lifestyle it is eating a diet solely of fruits, veggies and nuts, and nothing cooked over the temperature of 118. It has been proven that the benefits of living food are at the highest raw or below 118 degrees.  Once cooked the the nutritional value is significantly decreased.  

     Please know that we are no dietary experts or trail blazer in this regard,  we are just a couple of food enthusiast trying to make better, healthier decisions one meal at a time.  So for more detailed information I encourage you to check out a blog we find very resourceful in this regard at justglowingwithhealth.com. 

     
     I had toyed with the idea of being RAW here and there, the first time being after the birth of Z (or while i was pregnant, don’t really remember too well now), but I had absolutely no idea how to do it right and so it didn’t last but a hot minute.  This time i’ve been seriously thinking about it, and trying it with more objective and intent.  It’s such a mental feat that’s the bear that I grapple with.  Immediate reaction with a face of sheer horror, “YOU mean I CAN’T eat bread, pasta, ice cream, or anything hot?”  That’s my heart speaking there.  My head knows all the reasonableness of making such a wonderful decision, but my heart just thinks about the sacrifice. Dumb heart!

     Through my coaching with Christine (at Just Glowing with Health aka Health Yoda), she has really tried to help me to see it as incorporating more fruits and veggies into my life, and not to think of it as a denial of certain foods, but an inclusion of others.  Somehow it feels better to think of it like that.

     Along this same time we got a blow when Jean-Marie went in for a minor outpatient surgery.  The doctor came back and told her that she had CANCER (more specifically a sarcoma)!  When she told me I was in complete shock, and I thought, “this was one of my BFF’s, she’s young, she takes great care of herself, she’s unbelievable positive, and the list goes on...” I really felt like, “that could have been me!” 

     So for that reason Jean-Marie has recently switched to an all RAW diet to kick this cancer.  And as I support her I am also trying to be more conscience of eating more in align with that type of lifestyle.

     Jean-Marie continues to be very positive and such an example for me on how to gracefully deal with the challenges that life throws us.  And so as part of her “posse”, we are going to get through this one day at a time together.  And hopefully you will be encouraged by her story too.  

     Doing such a drastic life change though requires some help, one professional that we rely on is Christine, she’s a registered nurse, a certified holistic nutrition practitioner and a certified natural health practitioner.  She also has a PH.d in  holistic nutrition.  Go Christine!  She is a wealth of knowledge, and author of the blog justglowingwithhealth.com, where she showcases recipes, and tips to being, and staying raw.  She also coaches and has given us one on one coaching which has been invaluable in this process.

          

Before

After

     


















     
     Jean-Marie has been good at trying different recipes that are a bit more complex.  She tried Christine’s Raw Peach Cobbler, and so I had to try it.  The above picture are my results.  And here is the recipe.  Thanks Christine, and can i just say, it turned out amazing!  All of the non-raw friends LOVED IT!

More to come on this new adventure!