Posted on

A New Year, A New Me

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted and in the spirit of holding myself accountable, there is a reason why. I spent February trying to figure out my food boundaries – what I could get away with eating without gaining weight or breaking out. Turns out, there are none. The only way to conquer this it to stay consistent with it all, and although I dropped four pounds this month, it’s been a yo-yo with those four. I’ve got that lesson, and I’m done playing with the rules to a game I already know.

Further, eating anything outside of my new eating plan has an almost instant effect on me. I feel weighted down and sluggish, and my body cannot wait to purge itself of the junk. No more compromises with my health and I’m determined to end this month on a strong note.

To keep myself motivated I’ve been rewatching the documentaries that put me on this path and came across this amazing video of a 70-year old woman who has eaten a raw vegan diet for over 25 years. Folks at work side-eye my homemade green juice, but maybe after watching this, not so much! Here’s to our health!

 

Posted on

Eating Right: African Sweet Potato Soup with Peanut Butter

As I make a modified vegan diet my lifestyle (I say modified because I eat seafood at least once a week) the search for delicious recipes is essential. I cannot abide by food that doesn’t taste good – I enjoy food too much to endure a lifetime of bland, tasteless food.

I decided to start experimenting with soups since one-pot meals are easy and the weather is cold. I searched for soups that include two of my favorite foods – black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes – and came across a few recipes. However, when I found one from the Gluten-Free Goddess website that included natural peanut butter, I got excited. Peanut butter is another favorite of mine since its flavor satisfies both a sweet and savory craving. I made a big pot of this, and my meat-eating hubby tasted it and went back for seconds, in spite of me tempting him with my famous turkey burgers. Try this with a good cornbread muffin – you just might like it.

African Sweet Potato Soup with Peanut Butter, Black-Eyed Peas and Beans

1 tablespoon light olive oil or peanut oil
1 tablespoon red or green Thai Kitchen curry paste– hot or mild, to taste (start with less if you prefer it mild)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 medium red onion, peeled, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium sweet potato or yam, peeled, diced
1 large yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, diced
1 jalapeño or other hot chile pepper, seeded, diced fine
1 14-oz. can black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained
1 14-oz. can white beans, rinsed, drained
1 14-oz. can black beans, rinsed, drained
1 quart light broth
1/2 cup 100% natural peanut butter melted in a half cup of boiled hot water (for one cup total)
1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Juice from 1 big juicy lime
2-3 teaspoons organic brown sugar or raw agave nectar, to taste
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
For garnish:
Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
Heat the light olive oil in large soup pot. Add the curry paste and cinnamon; stir for a minute to infuse the oil with spice. Add the onion, garlic, sweet potato, yellow pepper and jalapeño. Stir and cook the veggies for 5-7 minutes, until softened.
Add the black-eyed peas, white and black beans, broth, melted peanut butter, red pepper flakes and cilantro.
Bring the soup to a high simmer, cover, and lower the heat; keep the soup on simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Stir in the lime juice and brown sugar or agave. Season with sea salt and ground pepper, to taste. Warm through and taste for seasoning adjustments.
Posted on

Eating Organically

I completed my 15-day fast, and to be quite honest, I snuck some hummus in there around day 12. Overall, I’m proud of my accomplishment because more than anything, I “get” how much control I have over my food choices and that cravings are evil tricks of the mind.

Since then I have committed to shopping and therefore eating organically. It has not been as hard as I imagined, but it demands that I organize my time well in order to cook more often. It also means more meatless meals, which is an adjustment for my family, but they are taking it all in stride.

Folks often associate an organic diet with a huge budget, and although  grocery store prices are marked up, I have found the best resource in my local farmer’s market. Buying it direct saves money and you will find tons of seasonal produce and other groceries, including eggs, breads and grains. For those things I can’t find at the farmer’s market, I’m leaning on Simply Wholesome, Sprouts and Trader Joe’s to provide.

I’m three days shy of making this diet change a 21-day habit and I’m looking forward to what I discover about myself, my body and the healing nature of the foods I’m eating. As for my skin? It’s on its way and I believe as long as I stay consistent, I’ll see the progress I want.

Posted on

Black Myths: The Urge to Eat the Swine

With Thanksgiving around the corner I came across an article that may be helpful, humorous, and informative to some of you pondering on having The Ham, over for dinner. Here are a few myths and religious beliefs that are out there regarding Blacks and eating pork. Read on!

I get really excited when I meet a black man who eats pork. This is not so simple if you live outside the South and want to date a man younger than 45 years old. In certain parts of the black community, eating swine is a cultural no-no.

Alas, this can be a dating challenge in my world.

I went on a blind date with a guy who didn’t eat pork. I know this because he had trolled my Facebook page and had seen that I was a “fan” of bacon. He confronted me and turned up his nose as I rhapsodized about the beauty of bacon. He told me why he didn’t eat pork by quoting a 20-year-old Rakim rap song.

We never went out again.

Recently a friend came by my house, and I had just finished cooking my favorite Saturday snack of sliced avocado with crumbled bacon. The lingering smell of fat offended him. I had to tune out as he extolled the virtues of turkey bacon. Turkey bacon is crap.

Pork bacon, on the other hand, makes me smile. The juiciness of a pork roast is more succulent than a pot roast. Broiled pork chops with balsamic vinegar and fresh basil is a quick, yet fine, meal. Luckily for me, pork is the “it” meat in many restaurants — from pork belly to high-end pork rinds. Yes, there is such a thing as high-end pork rinds.

For some black folks, however, the pig is not the “other white meat.” Instead it represents filth and a nasty animal that will afflict you with all kinds of diseases. (See Elijah Muhammad’s How to Eat to Live.) Anti-pork ideology is a throwback from the black power era, when militants demonized pork. “Pig” also became a pejorative for the police.

As black consciousness in the hip-hop generation — those growing up in the 1980s and 1990s — blossomed, pork didn’t fit into the diet. In Ice Cube’s classic “It Was a Good Day,” he raps: “I don’t know but today seems kinda odd/No barking from the dog, no smog/And momma cooked a breakfast with no hog.”

I don’t begrudge eating choices that are based on religion. But even for non-Muslims, this no-pork edict is weighty. When my friends and acquaintances deride pork, I think it’s more out of habit than based in fact. Something clicked in the black community about the pig.

Leni Sorensen is an African-American research historian at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate who specializes in food. She says it’s a myth that slaves ate parts of the pig because it was the nasty animal that slave owners dumped on them. A butchered hog was not considered a punishment for slaves.

Sorensen says everyone back then chowed down on the hog. “Pork was the primary protein because it stored easily, salted easily, cured easily. It was more subtle and varied,” she explains. White elites called all pork “ham.” And the idea that pigs are inherently dirty? Not true, she says.

“Certain kinds of political ideas come out of the last third of the 20th century. I do think much younger people have bought into layers of mythology,” Sorensen says. Black people today — especially urban Northerners — are less connected to agriculture, soil and cooking. Sorensen also says that many urban blacks, as a result of political ideology, began rejecting soul food or traditional country food that harks back to their ancestors’ Southern roots. In a way, they’re rejecting images of an enslaved past.

Full disclosure: I stopped eating pork at age 12 because of aforementioned peer pressure not to eat “swine.” A close friend and neighbor shocked my impressionable mind about the “disgusting pig.” My bemused parents indulged me and would fry me up turkey bacon. They also talked about me when I once sneaked a barbecue rib, all the while protesting that I didn’t really eat pork.

But all roads lead back to bacon for me. At age 22 I had a piece of real bacon, and I’ve never looked back. I couldn’t believe what I had given up! To this day my mother says she doesn’t trust anyone who doesn’t eat pork. I think she’s joking.

I know that the American diet is fatty. Black people have higher rates of diabetes and hypertension. Healthier eating is paramount for our individual and collective survival. One friend who stopped eating pork says she did so because her family cooked too much of it in every meal. I get that. My relationship with food involves moderation, culture and socialization.

The pig is not the sole culprit when it comes to bad health. I have a small group of pro-pork foodie friends who trade emails about bacon marmalade, heirloom pigs and pork recipes. We realize we’re an anomaly, but slowly we’re trying to convert our peers. (Seriously, take a bite of real bacon.)

I’m dating a new guy — a wonderful, engaging man. On our second date, he ordered pork chops. Jackpot! I shouldn’t have been surprised. He’s 45 years old.

Source: The Root

Posted on

25 Rules Men Should Follow After Turning 25

1. Acknowledge and appreciate that 25 is official Grown Man Status! Welcome to young adulthood. New mature age bracket! Embrace It!

2. No one will take you serious with just words. 25 is about following through and taking action. Stop telling people what your plans are and what you are about to do. Start showing people what you are capable of. Let them see you are a major player in the game and u going places.

3. This is the age where you began to be who you are. Three years out of college, a few dead end jobs under your belt, a few ex-girlfriends – and now you have to start being stable. Develop a certain seriousness about yourself.

4. Stop trying to impress the fellas by pretending to be “The Man” and just be a man. Its cool to brag about how many chicks you get when you were in college and young and dumb. Now that you are 25 you have to start looking at females as potential wives or a mother of your children. Treat one girl special and make the effort to please her.

5.If your “Niggas” are not adding value to your circle or investing in the plan they are LEECHES and holding you back. Your circle of homies should all be unique and bring something to the table besides a handout.

6. Instead of copping a pair of Jordans or buying weed, start upgrading your wardrobe. Purchase some neckties, v-neck sweaters, and own several pair of dress shoes.

7. Support the ideas and the work of your peers. Be ambassadors for them. Each One Teach One! Success is NOTHING without being able to share it with people you love. There is an abundance of opportunity for all of us.

8. Develop a stronger bond with your relatives. Getting older means someone close is getting closer to going to Glory. Sometimes we forget the ones that tolerated us when we weren’t so great. Be a better relative. You never know who looks up to you.

9. Be an expert in all current events. Read newspapers, go to the library, exercise your brain. The more you know the more you grow.

10. Start going to the gym. Beer and pizza after 2 am will catch up with you if you don’t work out. Make sure you are physically fit.

11. Start eating proper meals and slow down on the fast food and snacks. As a minority we have a tendency to eat bad foods and die from food related illnesses. Eat more fruit and drink plenty of water.

12. Look the part, you’re 25. Have a certain memorable thing about you. Make sure its something that sets you apart from everyone else. Be neat, and refreshing.

13. STOP Complaining and START Doing. At 25 it’s no one fault but your own for the way things are going in YOUR life. Man Up. Be the Change you think you deserve.

14. Know your status and have the papers. Get tested, use protection. Understand that your special thing isn’t for everybody. Be exclusive and selective. Your grown – now act like it. You’ll get farther than you think.

15. Develop a better relationship with God. Understand that he is the beginning and end to all you do. He comes first.  Never under value the power of GOD.

16. Find a church to go to and listen to the word. Get a great start for each week. Have something to believe in and see by FAITH!

17. Keep nothing less than $1000 in your checking account. At 25, emergency money is very necessary. You never know when you might be in a bind. Start learning how to live on a budget. Don’t spend foolishly and don’t go above your means. Set aside a certain amount and stick with it.

18. Invest in black businesses, communities, and people. This will create opportunities for everyone. Lend a hand when needed. Be a role model. Speak at elementary schools. Help out in the neighborhood. Become financially literate and fiscally responsible.

19. Volunteer your time. Network. Have business cards on you at all times. Always be prepared. If you love it you’ll do it for free. You never know who knows who. Do it with a smile.

20. Keep your house and car clean. Cut the grass around your place. Wash your car twice a month. Handle your responsibilities. Don’t get comfortable or lazy.

21.Think for yourself. Don’t let your friends or family control your final decision. It’s cool to take advise from people and get ideas, but don’t try to please everyone.

22. Live on purpose. Don’t be superficial or a jackass. Don’t pretend to be something you are not. Understand your position and make the most of that. Aspire to inspire without looking for a handout. Make the opportunities come to you.

23.Be a man of your word. Develop trustworthy traits and good business habits. At 25 people should trust the fact that they can count on you. Honesty and loyalty is key at this stage in the game.

24. Get your passport game up. Travel the world. Take trips as often as possible. Visit other continents and learn different cultures and languages. Have a global understanding of life and the economy.

25. LIVE IT UP! Enjoy every minute of it. Don’t turn 30 and say I should have done this or I could have done that. The time is NOW. There is no right opportunity to wait. Waiting is a verb created by fear. At 25 you should be FEARLESS! Thoughts, ideas, goals, and ambitions happen for a reason. Stop waiting and start living. Be all that you want to be. 25 is where you go from talking to doing. Make it happen. Enjoy being 25!

 

Aubrey Grier resides in Atlanta, GA and is the voice behind The Authentic MANual. Aubrey comes to us with over 10 years of writing experience and worked previously for Clear Channel Radio. Check him out on Black Is for life tips and relationship advice for Black men.

Posted on

Let’s Face It: Skincare Tips for all Ages

From the on-set of pubescent acne to the wisdom lines of middle age, all women can have radiant skin. Here are few tips to maintain a healthy glow through the decades:

3 of a Kind

Look for a 3-step cleansing system to clean, tone (exfoliate) and moisturize your face according to your skin type. Most major cosmetics lines carry a 3 or 4 step cleansing system.

Rays today, Lines tomorrow

Always use sunscreen. Protect your skin against harmful UVB/UVA rays to ward off signs of premature aging. Choose a daily moisturizer with a SPF of at least 15.

You are what you Eat

Stay away from fried food and any food that could potentially cause a breakout. Instead choose a healthy snack like strawberries, blackberries or plums that are rich in anti-oxidants that may soothe irritated skin. Add walnuts and salmon to your diet, both contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain your skin’s natural oils for a more youthful appearance.

Get to Steppin’

Want beautiful skin? Get moving! Exercise coupled with at least eight glasses of water is one of the best ways to improve your complexion. Try walking, swimming or biking to get your blood flowing to speed-up the rate of skin cell-turnover leaving you with newer, healthier skin cells on your facial surface.

TEENS

Raging hormones are usually to blame for acne in teens. Between the ages of 13-17, oil glands may be producing too much oil causing pimples to appear. Teens with acne should be sure to cleanse with a mild cleanser twice a day. The cleanser should contain acne-fighting meds like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Be sure all products are oil-free and “non-comedogenic” (does not clog pores). If breakouts persist, consult a dermatologist.

20’s

It is always tempting to go to sleep in makeup after a long night but suppress the urge. Keep non-scented baby wipes or makeup remover wipes on your nightstand. At least you will remove the surface makeup, dirt and oil that will surely turn into a pimple the next morning. The fast life of your twenties will definitely show on your face in your thirties if precautions are not taken.

30’s

Now is the time to preserve the skin that will carry you through middle age. In addition to using a 3 or 4-step system, thirty-somethings should add an eye cream in the day as well as before bed. Adding moisture to the eye area will decrease the chances of “crows feet” lines around the eyes. A separate moisturizer for the eyes is important because the skin in the eye area is much thinner. Facial creams can sometimes be too harsh.

40’s

By the time you reach your forties, your skin has undoubtedly gone through several phases. You may notice that your skin has become increasingly drier over the years. Now is the time to add a night cream with a thicker consistency to replenish the natural oils that have been lost. This may also be a time to consider cosmetic fillers like Botox or Restylane to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

50’s and Beyond

Now that you have mastered the skin care regimens of previous decades, you may opt to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation or age-spots by using a skin brightening system. Acne may also once again become and issue due to the fluctuation of hormones in menopause. Be sure to see a dermatologist if acne persists.

Mikki Bey is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist who believes in the power of the universe to bring her all the desires of her heart. Fearless, determined and capable – she’s a bad mamajama! She can be reached at mikki@mikkibey.com.

 

Posted on

Summer Is Near – Step It Up!

I gained a new friend at the end of January – a workout buddy – and the alliance has been a blessing for both of us. Several weeks of early morning, hour-plus long walks, changes in our diet, and a partner to share the load has helped boosts is into high gear for our preparation for summer. And we’re not alone – we are surrounded by others, whether we are walking the hills of View Park or the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook.

But with a shift in weather conditions, our workouts have slowed down to halt. The rain made us want to sleep in later, but the rise in temperature reminded us that summer is drawing near and we need to be summer body ready. Here are some tricks we employed to stay in the groove towards our fitness goals:

Workout tapes: This is an old school solution, but there’s a reason why fitness tapes are a million-dollar industry. No need to dust off an old Jane Fonda or Richard Simmons tape. Check out videos by Jillian Michaels, or the new Insanity and P90X programs for something high-impact and effective.

Exercise TV: If you are a Time Warner subscriber, this station is gym (no pun intended) within your living room. Yoga, pilates, cardio, and dance are all as close as your remote control. Feel free to try a different workout every day.

Michael Jackson The Experience: It might sounds ludicrous to use a video game to get a good workout, but leave it to MJ to provide us with a legacy that’s not only fun, but makes you sweat. This game is especially fun when done with a partner so recruit your significant other or kids to dance with you.

Change your diet: The warmer weather makes it easier to give up those comforting fall favorites for lighter fare. Replace heavy sandwiches, stews, and soups for salads, wraps, and fresh fruit. Also, drink plenty of water instead of juice and lemonade to stay hydrated especially in the heat.

Don’t give up: Sometimes the scale doesn’t move as quickly as we want and working out seems pointless. However, being consistent has it rewards. Not only will it give you better cardiovascular health, it helps you build a life-long habit that will aid you in maintaining good health.

Stay focused. Summer is almost here!

Posted on

The Black American Diet

Moving to Leimert Park from the Mid-City area of Los Angeles was a dream for my family and I. We are within 5 minutes from both sets of grandparents, daycare is within walking distance, and our grocery stores, boutiques, and all sorts of shops are in abundance in this area. The drawback of moving over here has been our food options on nights when I don’t feel like cooking. In Mid-City we had a plethora of options to choose from. Chinese, Sushi, Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Vegetarian foods were all within a short distance and many of them delivered. Here in Leimert, our food options are extremely limited. The only places that deliver are Pizza Hut and Dominoes; the closest food spots are M&M’s Soul Food, McDonald’s, and Krispy Kreme; and healthful options are just far enough to be inconvenient on weekday night.

In my old neighborhood, the demographic was extremely diverse. We had a little bit of everybody over there off of Venice and Fairfax, but as you moved north, there was a larger proportion of White and Jewish residents in the neighborhood. Here in Leimert the demographic is predominately Black with a fair amount of Asian, Hispanic, and White residents in the neighborhood. Yet, food-wise, we are getting the shaft.

Why is this? Why is there always a disproportionate amount of unhealthy food in Black neighborhoods? When you think about it, it sets up Black middle to low-class families at a major disadvantage when it comes to their health. A single mother who works 40+ hours a week and has to depend on the convenience of fast food to feed her family doesn’t have the time to consider that the meals she serves her children are 1000 calories or more. Furthermore, the food that they are eating is setting them up to be predisposed to the many health issues Black folks fall victim to, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. So often we aren’t taught what to eat or how to eat – we just eat what’s been given to us, and maintain that same diet throughout our adult lives. The end result is 65% of Black Americans being overweight.

Filmmaker Storm Talifero, who has also been a raw vegan for the last 30 years is putting together a film project called B.A.D. (Black American Diet) which is currently in production. The film showcases how Black people (and all people) can adopt healthier ways of eating by making better food choices every day. Although we are at a disadvantage because our neighborhoods are littered with fast food (2300 fast food restaurants in South Central compared to 7 in Santa Monica) there are options around us that will make us healthier and assure that our children don’t fall victim to these diseases that are killing us in mass numbers.

We will keep you posted on the progress of this film, but please check out the trailer and pass this information on. The more support this film receives, the quicker it can get made and be in our hands.