That's What You Are To Me: An Original Song

 I wrote this song last summer and debuted it at a gospel divas concert. Feel free to comment.The following song is copyrighted material! Please do not copy. Thanks and enjoy!

24 Foods Under 40 Calories (Part 2)

I thoroughly enjoy eating! Nothing is better than knowing that the foods I'm eating are adding to my quest to live a healthy lifestyle. Here is a list of foods that are not only low in calories and nutritious, but also super delicious. Step outside the box and explore filling your plate with some of these powerful superfoods!

10. Grapefruit- 39 calories per half 

A powerhouse for heart health, grapefruit contains vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium, along with pectin, a soluble fiber that may be a strong ally against atherosclerosis. Pink and red varieties also have vitamin A and lycopene, a phytochemical that protects arterial walls from oxidative damage. 

11. Tomatoes- 22 calories per medium tomato

Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant rarely found in other foods. Studies suggest that it could protect the skin against harmful UV rays, prevent certain cancers, and lower cholesterol. Plus, tomatoes contain high amounts of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C.

12. Turnips-36 claories per cup

Turnips are actually the cousin of potatoes. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin C, and have a low glycemic load. Most people only eat the greens that grow on top. Try cutting the turnip root in chunks and adding them on top of the greens for the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking or mashing them with butter and garlic. I also like them diced and tossed into soups or stews. 

13. Watercress- 4 calories per cup  

Watercress is a cleansing cruceriferous vegetable with the fresh crunch of salad greens and the powerful cancer-fighting properties of Brussels sprouts and broccoli. It contains sulforaphane and other compounds linked to lower disease risks. Studies suggest that people who regularly eat these vegetables might also be protected from lung cancer. Try adding watercress to your salad for an extra nutritional punch!

14. Zucchini- 20 calories per cup 

This variety of squash is the ultimate high volume food, meaning you can fill up on very few calories. It’s easy to grow, especially in the summer, packs lots of vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium and manganese. One cup of zucchini has 10% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar and curbs overeating. Zucchini is a very versatile vegggie. Try it in stir fry or simply sauteed with coconut oil, onions, salt and pepper.

15. Spinach- 7 calories per cup 

This dark leafy green is rich in iron, folic acid, and vitamin K. It also contains disease-fighting antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, as well as the phytochemical lutein, which protects eyes against age-related macular degeneration. Use as a substitute for lettuce in salad or lightly sauté with shredded carrot, sliced mushrooms, and garlic for a savory omelet filling. 

24 Foods Under 40 Calories (Part 1)

I thoroughly enjoy eating! Nothing is better than knowing that the foods I'm eating are adding to my quest to live a healthy lifestyle. Here is a list of foods that are not only low in calories and nutritious, but also super delicious. Step outside the box and explore filling your plate with some of these powerful superfoods!

1. Arugula- 4 calories per cup

This delicate, peppery green is amazingly low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It is packed with fiber, vitamins A, C and K, and other nutrients, including potassium. Perfect in salads, soups, or anywhere you would use leafy greens arugula may even boost your romantic life! Evidence suggests that the minerals and antioxidants packed into dark, leafy greens are essential for our sexual health because they help block absorption of toxins that dampen the libido. 

2. Asparagus- 27 calories per cup
Asparagus is traditionally known as a detoxifying food, because it contains high levels of an amino acid that acts as a diuretic, flushing excess fluid out of your system. Asparagus is also a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E, and K, B6, folate, iron, copper, and even protein. I love the tender shoots in their most natural form, raw and tossed into salads or steamed. 

3. Broccoli- 31 calories per cup

Broccoli is low in calories. Not only is it packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, it contains powerful antioxidants that may improve your odds of breast cancer survival and reduce the risk of colon cancer. 
The chemical in broccoli responsible for the protective effect is called sulforaphane, which gives broccoli its slightly bitter flavor. 

4. Brussel Sprouts- 38 calories per cup
Brussels sprouts are super-low in calories but loaded with cancer-preventing phytonutrients and fiber. These veggies, sometimes called little cabbages, get a bad rap, but they taste great roasted or sauteed with a sweet or tangy sauce. 

5. Cabbage- 22 calories per cup
Crunchy, sweet, and affordable! Cabbage is packed with vitamins, minerals, fibers, and several phytonutrients thought to prevent cancer. Glucosinolate is a metabolic detoxifier and sulphoraphane is a powerful anti-carcinogenic. Cabbage comes in several varieties. The recipe possibilities are endless.

Green- Green cabbage is the most common variety.Use it in salads and slaws, stir-fry it, or long-cook it to bring out its essential sweet nature. Look for heads that feel heavy for their size , with tightly packed, moist looking leaves. The queen of slaws, green cabbage can stand up to even the heaviest, creamiest, or spiciest of dressings.

Savoy- cabbage is also known as curly cabbage. With ruffled, lacy, deeply ridged leaves, Savoy cabbages are perhaps the prettiest cabbages around. The leaves are more loosely layered and less tightly packed than green or red cabbage, although its uses are similar. It is delicious thinly sliced in salads or quickly stir-fried. Savoy cabbage is a bit more tender than other cabbages and works nicely as a fresh and crunchy wrap. try using it in place of tortillas with your favorite fillings.

Red- Red cabbage looks like green cabbage except,  it's a lovely magenta color. Red cabbage heads tend to be a bit smaller than green cabbages, but look for similarly tightly packed, moist-looking leaves and heads that feel heavy for their size. Red cabbage is delicious thinly sliced in salads, mixed into slaws with green cabbage, or cooked. Note: red cabbage turns an odd blue color when cooked. Mitigate this effect by adding some sort of acid like vinegar or lemon juice when cooking it.

Napa- Napa cabbage is sometimes called Chinese cabbage or celery cabbage. Unlike head cabbages, napa has long light green leaves that flower off of thick, white stalks. It looks a bit like a cross between romaine lettuce and pale Swiss chard. It has a lovely mild flavor with a peppery kick that is delicious in salads or stir-fry. You can also turn it into spicy kimchi.

Bok choy- Bok Choy  has distinct leaves growing from a central stalk. It looks a fair like Swiss chard but with pale green stalks and leaves. It has a mild but bright cabbage-like flavor. Bok Choy is most often used in stir-frys, but braising also brings out its sweet flavor. Baby bok choy can be cooked whole, if you like, but bok choy is perhaps at its best when the leaves are separated and cooked loose. I love to slice it very thin and use it in stir fry and salads.

6. Lettuce- Calories: 5 per cup 
You can literally eat pounds of any variety of lettuce and never gain an ounce. (I wouldn't suggest trying to eat pounds in one sitting...lol) Romaine lettuce alone is a great source of B vitamins, folic acid, and manganese, which helps regulate blood sugar and is essential for proper immune system function. Choose other dark green or purple varieties such as green or red leaf for the most nutrients, and toss with a zesty homemade vinaigrette. 

7. Beets- 37 per 1/2 cup 

Beets are sweet but have very few calories—so you can have something sweet without the guilt. They also are rich in cancer-fighting antioxidants. Beyond their rich, earthy deliciousness, beets are also a nutritional powerhouse. Rich in iron, fiber, folate, and potassium, they’re an excellent way to boost the nutrition in a salad or eat them as a side dish. They get their gorgeous color from betanin, a potent antioxidant. Don't throw the greens away! Toss them in a smoothie for a punch of greens or add them to stir fry.

8. Cauliflower- 25 calories per cup 

Like other cruciferous veggies, cauliflower is full of cancer-fighting phytonutrients and is a great source of vitamin C and folate. Eat it raw, roasted or lightly steamed florets. Try it in a raw cauliflower salad or steam and mash for a healthier alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. Cauliflower is one of the top superfoods, that may improve your odds for breast cancer survival. 

9. Mushrooms- 15 calories per cup

Meaty and incredibly low-cal, mushrooms are also incredibly diverse. White button, Portobello, shiitake, and Maitake are just a few of the varieties you'll find in your grocery store. Fortunately, just about all mushrooms contain some form of immune-boosting antioxidants, along with potassium, B vitamins, and fiber. Shiitakes, for example, contain lentinan, a nutrient that is thought to have anticancer properties. All varieties of mushrooms are good sources of vitamin D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, copper and selenium.  Try them sauteed, stuffed, marianated....Just get creative!

Kelp Noodles: An Alternative to Pasta

So, what are kelp noodles? They are clear, thin noodles made from kelp, a kind of brown seaweed that is notable for its high iodine content.  And the ingredient list is simple: kelp, sodium alginate (a form of salt), and water.

Why are kelp noodles great? Kelp noodles are a negative calorie food. Negative calorie foods are the foods that take more calories to digest than they contain. Some great examples are cabbage, celery, broccoli, turnip, watermelon and grapefruit.

Not only are kelp noodles a negative calorie food, but they are low carb (1g per serving), gluten-free, fat-free, and contain only 6 calories per serving. To top that off they are filling and delicious. You can’t find a better pasta/rice substitute! Kelp noodles are perfect for people with diabetes or if you are trying to watch your carbohydrate intake.

What do kelp noodles taste like? I think they taste very neutral. They take on any flavor. They’re a little crunchy if you eat them raw like in a salad.

How do I cook kelp noodles? Kelp noodles come ready to use, no cooking required. All you have to do is rinse them with water, drain and add to any dish. Depending on what dish you are adding the noodles to, you may want to cut the noodles into smaller pieces.

I love using kelp noodles in soups and stir-fries but they are great in salads and as a spaghetti substitute! They taste great with pesto, marinara or any wide variety of sauces.

Where can I find kelp noodles? Kelp noodles are sold in Whole Foods, some natural-foods stores and Asian grocery stores and are also available for purchase online.

Bye Bye Dry Itchy Scalp!

I have been natural for 11 years. Over the years, I have tried quite a few products for natural hair. About two years ago, I found this great product at Target. I decided to give it a try because I was experiencing some post partum scalp issues and it was on sale. After using it the first time I was hooked! My scalp felt cool and relieved, but not tingly. The masque made my hair very soft and even accentuated my curl pattern. If you have dry or itchy scalp, I HIGHLY recommend that you try this product. Keep in mind this product is a treatment and is not intended to be used with every shampoo. Also, this masque has a very dinstinct frangrance. It reminded me of candy and bananas.

Shea Moisture’s Organic African Black Soap Purification Hair Masque detoxifies, conditions and soothes hair and scalp with gentle Kaolin clay, herbal extracts, botanical enzymes and essential vitamins. This treatment relieves dry, itchy scalp, removes product buildup and helps by sealing in natural moisture. It even treats dandruff, eczema and psoriasis.

• Made with natural and certified organic ingredients 
• Plaintain Enzyme helps to alleviate itchiness and irritation
• Tea Tree Oil removes buildup and has anti-fungal properties 
• Willow Bark Extract exfoliates and detoxifies hair and scalp

Ingredients:

Deionized Water , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Mangfera Indica Seed Butter (Mango) , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , African Black Soap Extract , Sea Salt , Cetyl Esters , Kaolin Clay , Grapeseed Oil , Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba) , Behentrimonium Chloride (Conditioner) , Salicylic Acid , Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil , Sorbitol Esters , Aloe Vera Leaf Juice , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Rosemary Extract , Salvia Officinalis Extract (Sage) , Plantain Extract

FYI: The Next Time You're in the Grocery Store

5 Label Tricks That Make You Think You’re Eating Healthy

Butternut Squash Soup

20 minutes to delicious and nutritious

Ingredients

2 12oz. bags of ready-to-use butternut squash

1 medium onion diced

2 garlic cloves minced

1 medium granny smith apple peeled and chopped

1 carrot peeled and chopped

28 oz. Swanson Thai ginger flavor infused broth

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Salt to taste

Pinch of black pepper

• Heat the coconut oil in a pot on medium heat
• Add diced onions, apples and carrots allow onions to begin sweating
• Add the garlic, salt and pepper
• When onions are translucent, add the Thai ginger stock
•  Bring to a light boil.
• Add the butternut squash
• Cook for roughly 15 minutes until veggies are tender but not mushy
• Add the veggies to the blender to create a puree
• Add more broth to the blender if needed

Welcome to My Natural Child Blog

Happy New Year and welcome to my blog! I am so excited to begin this year sharing inspiration and information on healthy living, tasty recipes for clean eating, natural hair tips, fabulous health and beauty finds, and my music. I am Zipporah G. Taylor...the Natural Child! Follow me on this journey. Peace, Love and Blessings!