Author Christina Avaness
Pam and I had the joy of interviewing Christina Avaness, author of Living Beyond Organic on our radio show, Carefree Food Bytes last Friday, July 10th. Christina is a student of the anceint practice of Rapheolgy and a self coined Food Alchemist. (To understand the difference, it is best to listen to the archived show). What I enjoyed about Christina’s recommended lifestyle, because that is what it is a lifestyle not a diet, is that it is doable! I don’t feel deprived. I do, however, need to think more about what I am eating, shop carefully and dine out smarter! For example, eating out at a typical Mexican restaurant may not be a choice anymore…. but there are great Mexican food (like black beans instead of pinto beans) alternatives!
I have made two dishes out of Christina’s book, the EZ Yam Pie and the Bison Tacarito. Both were excellent! In fact, I served the EZ Yam Pie to my book club and everyone insisted on the recipe! The bison tacos were great! I didn’t tell my guests what they were eating until after they told me how wonderful they were – I didn’t want to have there taste buds clouded with doubt before they tried it.
I got the bison at Whole Foods. This is where the shopping may take you a little more time to do than you may be used to. Christina has a website lborganic.com where she sells quite a few products that may be difficult to find (like duck eggs, even whole foods doesn’t have these; but your farmers market may). Many of the items in her book, however can be found at a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and many of them are pantry staples so you are only purchasing them once in awhile.
Living Beyond Organic
Her book is focused on foods identifyed as Super Enzyme Foods. From an except in her book, “Enzymes possess life energy and have dual capabilities, functioning both chemically and biologically. Enzymes are the super energy that makes all digestive processes and bodily functions possible.” Eating foods high in super enzymes, according to Christina, will heal our bodies. She has a 21 day challenge. I thought to start it this past weekend, but fell off the wagon, so to speak with some bad choices… like eating at a favorite Mexican Restaurant last night. However, Christina did say that making small but significant changes are effective. And so off to Whole Foods I will go today for Sucanat, brown rice syrup, organic heavy whipping cream etc. And tonight I am going to try out a new recipe and share it with Pam and her family. Hopefully I will get some great feedback! Since Pam and I were just on the Donna Seebo radio show on Monday talking about quiche, I am inspired to make The Ultimate Quiche! Need to call Christina for some duck eggs……
