Try Bee's Wrap Instead of Plastic Wrap

Considering how anti-plastic I am (read the blog) I can't believe it took me this long to find Bee's Wrap®!  It is kind of like wax paper but can really seal when putting over a dish and is reusable for about a year.  

I would suggest buying the assorted pack contains 3 sizes of wraps (Small 7" x 8", Medium 10" x 11", and Large 13" x 14") for $18. It is not just beeswax but also made with certified organic cotton, organic jojoba oil and tree resin.  It is amazing how reusable it is. Wash it before you use it and after every use with cool water and soap and air dry. Each wrap will last about a year with use a few times per week. Wrap cheese, half of a lemon, a sandwich (gluten-free), or cover a bowl. When wrapping this product around food or over a bowl, the warmth of your hands helps the wrap to form a seal. As the wrap cools, the seal will hold its shape.



The only warning it comes with is from the company: beeswax has a natural fragrance that can vary depending on the time of year that it is harvested. Since beeswax is the primary ingredient in this product, each piece will exude that fragrant scent. If the scent if too strong for you, we recommend you wash it a few times before the first use, which may dilute the fragrance. Additionally, during your first use, cover a container that does not allow the scent to directly touch the food. If wrapping food directly such as bread or cheese, use a cloth directly on the food and then Bee's Wrap™. Over time the scent will fade. 

I personally don't mind the scent at all.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

For the Health of it! Sprouted Grains

The health benefits of wheat, rye, rice, quinoa and other grains are entirely dependent on how they are eaten. Refined, processed grains are stripped of most of their nutrients, as the bran and the germ of the grain are removed. When making white flour, most of the vitamins B1, B2, B3, E, folic acid, calcium, zinc, iron, and fiber are lost leaving you with a useless starchy food that has a host of negative health consequences.

Eating refined grains can directly contribute to obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Traditionally, all grains and seeds, including rice were SPROUTED. As much as 20x more nutrients are found in sprouted seeds compared to processed seeds.
Before the usage of commercial farm harvesters, grain naturally sprouted in the field before it was milled into flour. During the industrial revolution grain was quickly harvested unsprouted and moved to storage bins.

Sprouted foods are considered wonder foods. They rank as the most nutritious of all foods available.



Benefits of Sprouted Flour:
Easier to digest - sprouting breaks down the starches in grains to simple sugars so your body can digest them like a vegetable
Increased Vitamin C
Increased Vitamin B
Increased Carotene - sprouting increased the carotene up to eight times
Increased enzymes - enzymes are produced during sprouting
Reduction of anti-nutrients - Sprouting neutralizes enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid which is present in the bran of all grains that inhibits absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc.

Sprouted grains are significantly higher in protein, vitamins and enzymes. In fact, one of my favorite protein powders is Garden of Life because they use sprouted grains for the protein. Sprouted grains have low GI so they are digested more slowly by the body, keeping the blood sugar levels stable for longer, making people feel more satisfied. This leads to snacking less.

Those who have allergies or intolerances to wheat or grains in general may find that they have absolutely no negative health reactions to sprouted grains.

Organic sprouted grains or flour is available here. www.organicsproutedflour.net

Sprouted grains can be found in health food stores too. "Food For Life Ezekiel" has bread and cereals which are tasty. Making your own sprouted food is also an option. Read here for details.