You call it November, we call it No-can-ber!

Challenge: Kick the can and make food from scratch this November!

On New Year's Day, my husband and I made our new year's resolution: avoid canned foods. Why? We thought this would be a fun challenge to start making more items from scratch (especially intimidating beans!) and a great way to help us avoid our exposure to BPA.  11 months later, and we've  done a great job sticking to our resolution.  It really has ended up being much easier than we ever anticipated.  The only slip ups we had was the occasional canned tuna. But, last month, I made tuna salad from scratch (pretty proud of myself!) so we are completely canned good free now!

Over the past year, we realized how easy it really is to avoid canned foods when you're determined. Once you make beans, pasta sauce, and tuna from scratch, you'll never want to go back to the canned version.  Fresh really does taste better. That's why we thought it would be a fun challenge to open up to our fans!  I feel like November is often associated with canned foods because of Thanksgiving dinner, so this was the perfect month to get going on the challenge.  Plus, I thought No-can-ber was just too catchy not to use haha.

Throughout the month I will be posting recipes I have used that don't require canned food (and yes, these recipes have their easier canned good version, but the no-can way is better!).  Do you have any no-can recipes you'd like to share with everyone?  Email me your recipe at hello@liveESP.com and I'll try to test it out and post it for others to enjoy as well.

Come take the No-Can-Ber challenge with us! Share this post with your friends so they can join in too :).

What is BPA? Find out more here!

Chicken, Broccoli, & Cheese Casserole

No need for canned soup in this recipe for homemade Chicken, Broccoli, & Cheese Casserole! This is a BPA free and easy one-dish meal your whole family will love ~ even picky green veggie eaters...

Ingredients:

• 1 lb cooked organic chicken, shredded
• 1 cup cooked organic brown rice
• 1 lb fresh organic broccoli, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons of butter
• 2 Tablespoons of rice flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried mustard
• 1 1/2 cups of organic milk
• 1 1/2 cups of organic cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs or slivered almonds for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
2. Melt the butter in a medium stainless steel saucepan.  Add the flour, salt, pepper, and mustard, and cook 2-3 minutes until bubbly and foamy.
3. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thickened.
4. Stir in the shredded cheese.
5. Place the brown rice, chicken, and broccoli in a casserole dish and pour the white sauce over the top.
6. Spread the breadcrumbs and slivered almonds over the top.
7. Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

~ Hannah

Stonyfield Organic Giveaway!

My husband and I often say how unlucky we are when it comes to winning giveaways and contests (we've had a bad streak in those $1 scratch offs, hah!), but a couple weeks ago, I think our luck changed! I entered into the Healthy Child Healthy World giveaway for Stonyfield Organic where I created a superhero profile at www.iwillknowmyfood.com, where for every profile created, Stonyfield Farm donates $1 to Foodcorps to help provide children with access to healthy foods. So far, over $1,500 has been raised!  Creating a profile is very easy...just click the link I provided above and click "Start Here" to create your food superhero profile.  In case you're wondering, my food superhero name was Go Benannahs (a combination of my name and my husband's--Ben + Hannah--and our love for, you guessed it, bananas!).


Despite my predetermined acceptance that I wouldn't win a $50 gift card to Whole Foods, a festive Stonyfield Farm's superhero cape, and a 6-ounce cup of Stonyfield product, I won!  Not only did I win the superhero pack from Stonyfield, but Healthy Child Healthy World is also giving one of ESP's fans a chance to win the same prize!


Contest ends August 6! For US residents only.

To enter into the Giveaway:

• Like ESP on Facebook (yay! if you already do!) ~ https://www.facebook.com/LoveESP

• Tweet about this Giveaway ~ I just entered to win a Stonyfield Super Hero Prize Pack from @Live_ESP! http://acupofesp.blogspot.com/2012/07/stonyfield-organic-giveaway.html

• Leave a comment on this post letting us know you have liked ESP, Tweeted, and why you choose to go chemical-free and organic!

Extra entries (double or triple your chances to win!):

• Like Healthy Child Healthy World on Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/HealthyChild

• Create your own food superhero at Stonyfield Farms ~ www.iwillknowmyfood.com

Superhero Prize Pack Includes:

• $50 Gift Card to Whole Foods (can't go wrong here!)

• Stonyfield Farms Superhero Cape (or as my husband referred to it as a large bib)

• a 6-ounce cup Stonyfield product (great yogurt!)

Good luck...and go benannahs! The more entries the better your chance of winning!




~ Hannah

A Natural Acne Treatment that Really Worked for Me!

Since middle school, I have been struggling with trying to maintain my acne.  I had always hoped it would disappear by my mid-twenties (especially since I would be well passed my puberty stage and awkward phase)…but turned out that was just a hope. I’m 25, almost 26 and still get acne, and based on family history, I know I will be plagued with acne (cystic acne to be exact!) my whole life. 

I’ve tried everything. ProActive, prescriptions from the doctor, over-the-counter washes, creams, gels, spot treatment, you name it!  Nothing seems to work—or at least work well. The acne never completely goes away. In particular, during that “time of the month” a few pinkish bumps usually appear around my cheeks. Acne is annoying, we all know it! And for years I have been determined to find a treatment that can control my acne the way I’d like it—I know I’m not the only one.

Then, a couple months ago my mom’s friend introduced us to the best acne treatment I have ever used—an all NATURAL recipe I could make at home! I know I should have guessed that it would be a natural, organic, pure, easy to make recipe that would cure my acne, but I went with TV ads and my dermatologists orders like many of us do.  Within days of me using this natural acne treatment, my face cleared up. My face is still clear...even through “that time of the month”!  And my face feels smoother and looks brighter. So of course, I have to share this recipe to help all the others out there struggling with their acne.  My mom’s friend helped me, and now it’s my turn.  If you have any question, just email me (Hannah) at hello@liveESP.com and I can try to help!  Also, email me and let me know how it works for you!

Orange Peel Mask and Jojoba Oil – All Natural Acne Treatment

Ingredients:                                                                                                            

-          Organic clementines or oranges

-          Organic lemon

-          Non-fat, plain organic yogurt

-          Pure Jojoba oil (often found at your local natural foods store...found it at Whole Foods)

Directions:

1.      Peel clementines or oranges and allow the peels to dry out until they are brownish in color.  It may take anywhere from 5-10 days for the peels to turn brownish, depending on how thick the skins are.  If you are unsure of the brownish color, feel free to take a picture and send it to me. I’ll try to see if it looks good! 

2.      Once the skin has dried out and is brownish in color, finely grind peels in a food processor (I used our Vitamix).

3.       Mix equal parts of ground peel with plain yogurt—just enough to create a face mask.

4.       Add fresh-squeezed lemon juice into the peel/yogurt mixture.

5.       Apply mixture onto your face and allow it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.

6.       Wash face with warm water.

7.       Place a drop or two of pure Jojoba oil on a cotton ball and apply it to your face.

Apply this natural treatment twice a day!

~ Hannah

Blueberry Avocado Salsa

I have to be honest, I'm one of those few who cannot stand the taste of having avocado plain! BUT (and a serious but!) I do love avocado when it's used in salsas, guacamole, soups, you name it!

Recently, my husband and I joined an organic buying club, and since we've been getting plenty of avocados in each pick up, I've been trying out some new recipes.  This Blueberry Avocado Salsa has to be one of our favorites. I saved two bites (literally two) for my parents to try, and they raved about it too. The salsa tastes delicious plain, on tortilla chips, with veggies (I used a lot of celery and carrots to dip into it), and on a salad.  It's easy to make and a great way to mix up your use of this summer's abundant avocados!

Ingredients (try to use organic if you can):

• 1-1/2 cups fresh tomatoes, quartered
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice + extra for drizzling
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno pepper
• 1 ripe avocado, cut into small chunks

Directions:

1. Pulse all ingredients (except for the avocado) in a food processor. (I used my Vitamix and it worked out perfect!)
2. Drizzle the cut up avocado chunks with lime juice.
3. Stir in chopped avocado into the rest of your salsa ingredients.
4. Serve immediately for freshness!  (And, yes, it was still good the next day).

Father's Day Gift Ideas...and beyond!

Buying gifts is always so hard…especially when you want to show the person you love how much you love and appreciate them in your life!  Well, how about gifts that shower them with good health?  We like the idea of course!  This Father’s Day (or belated!) we are helping you give Dad gifts free from harmful chemicals.  Here are just a few ideas to help you find gifts for this Father’s Day and many more to come:

The Outdoor Grill Dad

StainlessSteel Cooking Tools ~ Any dad who loves to grill will love some of these! Stainless steel is a much safer option than plastic since it is free from BPA and other harmful chemicals. 

Stainless Steel Pints ~ While relaxing outside by the grill, be sure to bring your stainless steel 16 ounces pint cup. They are chemical free, keep drinks cold, and durable!

 

The Camping Dad

StainlessSteel Tableware ~ For those dads who love to camp, how about some stainless steel tableware?  All of these products are lead free, BPA free, and durable for the outdoors.

BambooEating Utensils ~ These bamboo utensils an eco-friendly option to bring on any camping trip!

The Office Dad

ReusableLunch Bag ~ Help Dad avoid costly and unhealthy trips to get takeout food by giving him his own personal cooler/lunch bag to pack a healthy lunch!

 

BPA and Its Effects on In Vitro Fertilization

Because of its flexible but strong properties, Bisphenol A (or BPA) is a chemical commonly used in a huge array of plastic products. Just how common is it? According to one study, as of 2009, 3.6 million tons of BPA are used by manufacturers yearly. You will find BPA in everything from plastic food containers and baby bottles, to household electronics. This wouldn’t be so bad if BPA didn’t have the nasty habit of leaching into things it comes in contact with. For example, food kept in plastic containers with BPA will absorb the BPA and it doesn’t stop there.  When we consume the food, BPA enters into our bodies and can act as an endocrine disruptor, which behaves like or even blocks hormones. These actions mess with our normal body functions and can result in several different health issues, including (but not limited to) various cancers, thyroid issues, and difficulty conceiving.

Recent research has shed more light on the effects of BPA on one specific health concern: women’s reproductive health. In particular, this new research suggests that higher levels of BPA can reduce women’s chances of conceiving while undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments.  The study followed 137 women seeking fertility treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center.   BPA concentration levels were measured in each woman’s urine sample.  Background information was collected on each participant, such as race, age, medical history and lifestyle factors.

The researchers followed each woman’s progress as she underwent fertility treatment, recording successful embryo implantations and failures.  After analyzing all of the data they had collected, the researchers saw a clear correlation between increased BPA levels and decreased rates of pregnancy.  Women with the higher levels of BPA in their urine were less likely to be able to conceive, and this trend persisted when the researchers controlled for the background factors, such as age, that they had collected.

This is the first study to look at the role BPA plays in women seeking fertility treatment, and furthermore, it supports the finding of past studies that have looked at the effects of BPA in animals.  For more information on this study and the effects of BPA explore the links below.

~ Jessica

Resource:

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2012/04/2012-0514-bisphenol-a-impacts-female-fertility/

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2009/06/10/studies-report-more-harmful-effects-from-bpa