See link below for a delicous recipe.
Giant Zucchini Bread
I've written several small articles for a great blog/site called YogaCityNYC. My most recent involves a giant local zucchini and a loaf of bread. Enjoy!
See link below for a delicous recipe. Giant Zucchini Bread
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The amazing Jasper Grant and b-side productions recently featured me and my journey to wellness... Check it out here: What's Feeding You?
Thank you Jasper! b-side productions is an organization created by artists for artists in order to foster, renew and reinvent theatrical tradition. Last week I turned 41 years old, and I have to say, it feels good to be in this skin, in this body and in this mind frame. For many people, the teenage years are associated with fear, confusion, low self esteem, depression, etc... But for me, those feelings bombarded my head in my late 20's and early 30's. During that time, I carried such confusion about my life and my future. The things that used to bring me joy were no longer cutting it. I had no answers.
Early in 2010, my husband decided he needed to make some changes in his diet. I had nothing to lose and was feeling a change might be a good idea, so I eagerly joined him. We decided upon a daily morning smoothie, no meat for 30 days, no alcohol for 30 days, and our first 5K run that upcoming April. At the end of that month, I felt so clear, so light, so bright, so energized... There was no way I was stopping. Because of the accomplishments of those first few goals, we decided that after 5 years of dating we were finally ready to get married. Our lives were suddenly filled with a future. I felt alive again after several years of spiraling downward. I couldn't believe it! And it had nothing to do with booking a gig, performing on a stage, or nailing an audition. What was happening?? After finishing with the craziness of my small wedding (I don't know how people plan big ones), I quietly made the decision that the world of show biz was no longer something I needed or desired. I didn't really talk about, I just slowly slipped out. With that choice, came more confusion and some sadness, but I dove into my new journey of becoming healthy inside and out. It became my mission. Fast forward to 2016 - I am healthy (always working on it), I am proud of all my accomplishments, I am more confident, I have more energy, and the list goes on... but when I turned 40 last year, it was a bit of a shock. In my heart, I started having crazy thoughts. I began to notice other 40 year olds that were dancing around me. I thought, "I could never". My husband, being so intuitive, secretly purchased me private studio time so that I could dance on my own, alone, for me. One year later, on my 41st birthday, I finally had the courage to get my butt in there and give myself a place to start. That's all I needed - a place to start. And although it was an emotional hour, I felt good. I felt good to be just doing it for me. For pretty much the first time ever, I was doing it for me. I think I'll do it again soon. Recently, I've been reading an amazing book called The Omnivore's Dilemma written by the one and only Michael Pollen. As someone who studies nutrition and wellness, I already know that if the walls at a factory farm could talk, we'd all be horrified. This is no secret. Michael Pollen reveals in his writing the details of what he's personally witnessed at several different types of farms across the country. One particular chapter, The Animals, sits with me deeply. I'm choosing to share a small section that I came across yesterday because I woke up this morning still thinking about it. This made me realize sharing was necessary. "Piglets in these CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation), are weaned from their mothers ten days after birth (compared to thirteen weeks in nature) because they gain weight faster on their drug-fortified feed than on sow's milk. But this premature weaning leaves pigs with a lifelong craving to suck and chew, a need they gratify in confinement by biting the tail of the animal in front of them. A normal pig would fight off his molester, but a demoralized pig has stopped caring. 'Learned Helplessness' is the psychological term, and it's not uncommon in CAFO's, where tens of thousands of hogs spend their entire lives ignorant of earth or straw or sunshine, crowded together beneath a metal roof standing on metal slats suspended over a septic tank. Farmer's therefore, typically dock or snip off the tails at birth. It's not surprising that an animal as intelligent as a pig would get depressed under these circumstances, and a depressed pig will allow his tail to be chewed on to the point of infection. Since treating sick pigs is not economically efficient, these underperforming production units are typically clubbed to death on the spot." Why am I telling you this? I feel it is my duty to inform people of what's going on. Every time you order bacon at a restaurant to participate in that trendy thing we call brunch... you are directly contributing to this horrific industrial machine. I try my best every day to avoid negative thoughts and behaviors, but I feel I must share this so that others might rethink what they eat. Please avoid animal products unless they come from a small local farm that is to be trusted. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing your farmers. Check out this beautiful farm in Virginia that does things the right way, how nature intended. These people work hard all year, and personally I would rather pay more money to receive food from farmers such as this than pay less for farms that receive government money to produce and sell in a cheaper way. Polyface Farm I had two, easy to make holiday party recipes featured with YogaCity NYC! Check it out! Mmmmm.... pomegranate.
Soul Food Celebrates With Pomegranate Between now and Sunday at midnight you can receive 20% off my 7 Day Detox!
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Jackie Batruch
My Rooted Balance is a blog about how I make things work in my own life in Brooklyn, NY. No matter where you are, life can be fun, active, healthy and truly balanced. Live life to the fullest and always remember to inspire others along the way! Archives
January 2018
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