wellpdx

Almonds have often been called “the King of Nuts” because of their high nutritional content and the positive impact they can have on a person’s health. They are high in fats (the “good fats”, monounsaturated fats found in olive oil that are associated with lower levels of LDL cholesterol as well as reduced risk of heart disease) as well as a good source of vitamin E, vitamin B2 and tryptophan.

The nutritional benefits of consuming almonds has been proven in many different studies, but the fact that they taste great and can easily be added to garnish salads, soups and entrees allows the easy integration of these nuts into your every day diet. Almonds can be sliced and browned in the sauté pan to give black rice a touch of nuttiness; almonds can be ground up and added to lentil cakes to give more body to the cakes; these nuts can

LIFE CHOICES
The New Year is a wonderful time to sit in front of the mirror and ask yourself what kind of life you would like to live. We all want health, and success and love, but what are we doing about it today and what are our intentions for this New Year?

There are so many health fads and diets out there that it sometimes seems impossible to ever find the right one. The “right one” has to be a diet that will integrate with your life in the long run. It is no use to lose 30 lbs for 6 months only to gain it back because you couldn’t bear another day of diet food.

Swear off processed foods. That’s a good start. Well, most of them anyway. There are examples all over the world of people living into a healthy old age following various diets, but the only diet that I have come across that has been statistically analyzed is the Mediterranean diet.

The Mediterranean diet is a high fat, low (or no) sugar, refined grains, hydrogenated

The end of the year can quickly become a crazy-making whirlwind of competing demands, so we've compiled some thoughts about how to stay sane and healthy in this powerful time!

On one hand, the end of the year is a winding down, a time of reflection and rejuvenation before the beginning of what's to come. On the other, it's the busy holiday season! And as we all know, that can mean a lot of decisions about what to eat, how to spend our money, who to spend our time with, and on and on and on -- all of which can make us wish we could roll ourselves in a rug and hide in the closet until January. But never fear, sanity is always at hand!

1. Laugh. Even if you have to force it - studies show that the brain doesn't know the difference between a faked smile or laugh and the genuine article. Plus, you never know, it may turn into the real thing!

2. Eat. Denying yourself food amid stressful times leads to nothing good. The brain needs glucose (more of those studies show) to function properly and make good decisions. If you want to avoid binging on things you don't particularly value (candy, etc.) then fill your breakfast, lunch, and dinner plate with beautiful, bright colors (think dark green greens, orange carrots, purple cabbage, red-orange sweet potatoes, black raisins, brown whole grains, and on and on), and delicious flavors! If you need some tasty recipe assistance, we recommend abbys-table.com.

3. Get outside. A breath of fresh air and a little blood movement can change your whole perspective. We know it's hard to get motivated to bundle up and brave the cold, but it'll be worth every second! If it's not, feel free to write to us and complain.

The Open Kitchen throughout this last year has brought farmers, winemakers, chefs and consumers all to the same table to explore our relationship with food. The Open Kitchen project was initially created to break through the barriers that separate people from the food they eat. The wellness series is a new venture by the Open Kitchen to take our knowledge of food and seasonality to the next level: we will be collaborating with naturopathic doctors, chinese medicinal doctors, and healers of all varieties to delve deeper into the healing properties of food. Our first dinner is on November 12th and is a collaborative effort between the Open Kitchen, Dr. Shannon Weeks and Dr. Alexis Shields. Dr. Shields submitted a list of foods that assist in preventing the cold/flu to the Open Kitchen. We then built a four course upscale menu with chef Abby Fammartino around these specific ingredients and scheduled a date for dinner. Naturopathic Physician Dr. Shannon Weeks will guide us through the highlighted ingredients and practical examples of applying food as medicine in our daily lives.

A question and answer period will follow the dinner so that all diners will be able to attain a full understanding about

Health-supportive cooking and counseling is a way to approach food as a part of our healthcare, as medicine, even. Each person's particular needs, habits, their current lifestyle and their goals for achieving a more holistic relationship with food and meal times are taken into consideration.

Coaches, counselors and chefs love to whisk their clients beyond the idea that eating for health is boring and tasteless! Using innovation and creativity in the kitchen is a key skill that can be taught and sustained over a lifetime of very enjoyable meals.

A health-supportive coach or chef utilizes an abundance of seasonal produce and whole foods, ancient systems such as the Chinese Five Phase Theory, and current information about food safety, food allergies and inflammatory conditions so as to offer the most delicious and most healthful food possible.