From a class member

Hi Erica!! I have been really enjoying this class. My family loves the muffins from the beginning. I made them with homemade applesauce and homemade canned pumpkin!! My one-year-old just adores them!! Even my picky 8-year-old will eat them and loves them. He adores the peanut butter balls!! His attitude has majorly improved with the use of homemade snacks, too. Yay!!

Thanks again for the class!! It's been life-changing!!

~Kristi

Class Testimonial from England

Hi Erica

I just wanted to thank you so much for this course. It is benefiting not only me but my family of a dh and three adult sons so much. Actually I have to confess and say that my family is not aware that mum is doing on the road to cutting out all cane sugar and to getting us all to eat more healthily yet, which has to be a first as in the past they have picked up on it very quickly indeed, and I have received no end of complaints from them.

May the Lord continue to bless you.

Ruth in West London, England

Sugar-Free Spaghetti Sauce

In one of the emails in the class I teach we talk about making pasta and pizza night healthy! Here is a helpful email I got from one of my class members:

I just got my email and when I saw this I thought I should share with you about 2 kinds of spaghetti sauces that I have found that do not use sugar. One is the Classico brand and the other is Bertolli Organic. I use mostly Bertolli because it is organic and I can get it at Sam's club. It is cheaper than purchasing it from the grocery store.

Thanks for the wonderful class! I have truly enjoyed it thus far.

Denise

Class Member Feedback, and Whipped Banana Oatmeal

I got this from one of my wonderful class members and thought you all would benefit from the information!
~Erica

Hey Erica!

I loved your breakfast ideas. My girls love the heart to heart and the honey sunshine as well. I enjoy eating them as well. If you sign up at Kashi they give you coupons to print off for 2 dollars off. I know at our wal-mart the boxes are like 2.98 so you can get a box of Kashi cereal for 98 cents :) Also when you print them off if you hit the back button you will be able to print it again. (there is a limit though.) Then they refresh every so often.

Also my 3 yr old loves oatmeal, and I love making it for her it's very filling and full of great things for her. I thought I would share a recipe I use as well as a lady who has a website with a ton of variations. Anyways, I just thought I would share. http://www.katheats.com/kaths-tribute-to-oatmeal/

Whipped Banana Oatmeal

• 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup 1% or skim milk
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 a banana (I’m usually making this for 2 so we split the banana)
• Pinch of salt
• Stirred in:
  • Wheatberries (or spelt or rye or kamut berries)
  • 1 tbsp ground flax
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For two servings, we start by combining rolled oats, water, and skim milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Slice a banana into VERY thin pieces, leaving just a few bigger chunks. As the oatmeal heats, stir vigorously at times to “whip” the banana into the oats. The oats will take 5-7 minutes on medium heat to fully absorb the liquid. They’re done when they reach your desired consistency! Then we stir in vanilla and ground flax (and often wheatberries) and portion into bowls. Add any toppings you like, such as almond or peanut butter, walnuts or almonds, coconut, crumbled granola plank or bar, or trail mix

Another comment from a super class member!

Peggy has been doing great in the class, and she wrote me this after the fabulous call we had on March 6:

I just wanted to thank you and your Mom for tonight's conference call.

I have a page of notes and a new way to look at salads -- salad doesn't mean just lettuce anymore. I honestly never thought of a bowl of raw veggies as "salad".

I have gotten so many ideas and you always answer -- it's like having a personal coach!

I like the Ranch Spritzer salad dressing, I use it on baked potato, too, along with lemon pepper -- don't miss the sour cream & butter that way.

Your Mom is right on target about planning ahead -- that is one of the best things I have learned from you, it is too easy to "justify" the drive through when you are tired and hungry.

And, I want to say again that making just one change a week has made this less overwhelming, it's not all or nothing -- looking back, I see progress (hey, I couldn't even spell whole wheat flour) but it has been gradual enough that the changes will stick --

I can't say thank you enough. Peggy

Class Member Success!

Guess What?? I just had to tell you -- I am still needing a caffeine boost to get started in the morning, but all the rest of the day I am drinking your special lemonade. This was one of my goals, and I am so tickled -- I will start next week to completely get off the diet sodas. I am adding a scoop of protein powder to a smoothie and that makes a great breakfast for me -- I have MS and sometimes breakfast is more than I can make so this has been a big help to me. Thank you so very much -- Peggy

I love to hear from my class members about how the recipes and strategies are working for them! So many of you are succeeding in making healthy changes and I am very proud of you! Way to go!
~Erica

This Deodorant Passed the 16 Year Old Boy Test!

It's been a very long time since I've been aware of the dangers of aluminum and other harmful chemicals in most deodorants and antiperspirants. I've tried a few natural alternatives like the crystal thing and some other potions, but mainly I have found that they didn't seem to work well and weren't convenient to use.

Since adding the Miessense Organics line of products, my own family has been test driving their deodorant and I just had to let you know what we're finding:

It's easy to use and truly is unscented (Which we like. Scented varieties will come later on.)

I asked my 16 year old son to give it a try. He did, and just came in to tell me that he has no underarm odor in over 24 hours since using it! (and that included him going to a concert where it was hot and sweaty!) If THAT isn't a testimonial, I don't know what is!!!

My husband, a professional firefighter and EMT is also using it and finding it works well.

I've also used it and am also finding it very effective. (My armpits don't stink. There. I said it.) ;)

I am so excited about this!

As I learn more about the toxins in everyday body care products, and how the damaging effects accumulate as we get older, I am thrilled not only for myself, but especially for my children to have a really safe way to take care of these needs that won't cause their health to suffer later on.

You can purchase Miessense Deodorant here.

Green Smoothies--from a class member

Just wanted to pass on what we and many others do to add greens in our diets. We use baby spinach or romaine lettuce along with fruit and must have bananas for smooth texture. You can add flax meal or nuts to add more protein. If you think yuck, just try baby spinach and frozen bananas and you will be amazed! Can’t taste the spinach at all! if you add TONS of strawberries to make it red then noone will know the green is there! Some hard core raw people use cabbage, chard and other greens that are more bitter.

Thanks!

Jeanette

Jeanette wanted me to mention that she was inspired to try this because of Serene Allison's wonderful raw foods recipe book Rejuvenate Your Life. I am a big fan of this book as well!

From a class member

Hi Erica,

I just wanted to say thank you again for the conference call last night. I really enjoyed hearing others questions and ideas. Wanted to let you know I made the fudge recipe for our Valentine's Day treat. I sneaked a little bite and it is wonderful!!!!! That would definitely take care of any chocolate cravings. Oh yeah and tomorrow I plan on making some heart shaped pancakes using the recipe in the lesson :-)

Blessings from my home in WV to yours,
Tammy

From a class member--YUMMY!

Erica,

I just want to tell you that I LOVE your healthy lemonade. As we would say in the South, "That is the best THING I have ever put in my MOUTH."

Also, your applesauce bread is evidently wonderful. I made a loaf of it Monday, and it was gone Tuesday. I say evidently, because I think all I got was a teeny tiny going to be sliver. And I live with a husband and three teens that are NOT health food fanciers!

Thanks!

Joetta

When I checked in with Joetta to see if it was ok with her for me to use her comments here, she said:

If you can give me a recipe using whole wheat flour and honey, and my kids scarf it down in less than 24 hours, then the whole world needs to know! There is hope! (LOL)

From a class member

I just wanted to say a special thank you--
the healthier eating class moves slowly enough that I don't get totally frustrated
and it means so much to me that you really are there to help with questions and suggestions. Thank you so very much.
~Peggy

If you haven't joined my 10-week healthy eating class yet, you should! I get emails every day like this one from people that are finding the information encouraging and practical.

You can read more about it and join at a BIG discount here.

Vitamin Commercial, Take Two

Here is my second attempt to document how well the kids like their vitamins. I hope you get a kick out of the extremely authentic dirty dishes, dishwasher waiting to be loaded, and kids dressed in costumes.:)

Vitamin Commercial, Take One

For awhile now I've been thinking that I should interview my kiddos while they take their Bone Ami and SuperKids vitamins. They love both products and are great about reminding me to make sure they get some each day. Here is a little video of a few of my children. Sorry that it's so dark. (come back tomorrow for another one)

A customer writes about the lemonade

I thought this was a fun little "testimonial" from one of my new customers:

I recently bought some lemon stevia from you, and now I am addicted to your healthy lemonade!!
My kids are so picky and they all just love it, hubby likes it also.
Just wanted to share, I like to put a couple of cherries in the bottom and let the flavors mix. Very tasty and gives the little ones something to look foward to at the bottom.
You may be able to find some healthier ones at a health food store,not for sure.
Just thought I would share.

Laura

Comment from a recent customer:

Your company is great! You offer what most people lack........service!

Service is HUGE to me. I am always so disappointed when I shop somewhere and it is apparent that my purchases there mean nothing. My goal is to get orders out the same day when possible, and the next day without exception. I love to pack up your orders and get them on their way to you speedily. :) I think of how delighted you will be when the package arrives and you say, "Wow! That was fast!" :)

Thanks for your support of my little home business!

Bee Strong Testimonial

I am so excited! This gal just ordered her Bee Strong late last week, and already has it and is seeing amazing results!

Although I know that *I* love my products, it always thrilled me when my customers end up loving it too.

You can read her blog post about Bee Strong here