The Beyond Van Gogh Immersive art exhibition at the Ice Palace Studio in Miami was quite a memorable experience that left me mesmerized after seeing this 360 degree digital art extravaganza.
I've never actually seen anything like it. It's so worth seeing and I understand that this exciting exhibit will be in cities across the US as well as Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The life and artwork of the Dutch master, Vincent Van Gogh, was spectacularly projected on the huge surround walls along with exhilarating music, letters that Van Gogh wrote to his brother over many years of correspondence, and quips about his life. The experience transformed me to a different time and place.
You must watch the trailer that I posted from Youtube from the Toronto Exhibition at the end of this post.
You will be mesmerized.
His classic work seemed to crawl up the walls almost being painted right in front of you. Splashes of colors emerged into Van Gogh masterpieces with portraits that seemed to blink if you stared at them long enough.
It was a unique and unforgettable stunning experience.
I believe the exhibit is traveling around the United States. Watch the following trailer. It is amazing.
Covid Precautions:
The exhibit in Miami that I attended limited the amount of people that could enter and the rooms at one time and each ticket holder had a specific time to enter. At the time I went in April 2021, everyone was wearing a mask and the rooms were very large allowing for spacious social distancing.
Overnight oats, or it could be called no cook overnight oatmeal, is not only super convenient, it is super nutritious and delicious.
If you feel that your breakfasts could be healthier, overnight oats may solve your problem. Oatmeal is highly recommended by doctors and nutritionists because oats may help lower cholesterol, keep you regular, and help stabilize blood sugar. In fact, I've heard some doctors say it may be good to eat some oatmeal everyday!
This basic recipe contains lots of healthy plant-based protein, lots of fiber, good fats, and valuable nutrients. It's a super breakfast that is convenient and taste great. Eat in cold or warm it up (I eat mine cold).
I use simple rolled oats. Of course the brand I purchase is certified gluten-free. Please note: Oats are naturally gluten-free, however they also may cross contaminate if grown near wheat or processed in a factory that processes wheat. Therefore to be safe, I always purchase oats that are certified gluten-free.
So excited about my overnight soaked oats because they taste so darn good. There is only a basic and you can use whatever ingredients you prefer.
No more excuses! This is a very healthy breakfast that is easy and convenient! It's ready when you are and it can be a "grab and go" as well..
Kids Love It Too!
Kids can help or make their own overnight oats the night before. They love it because they get to choose their favorite ingredients.The great part is that in the morning a healthy delicious breakfast is already prepared and just waiting for them.
The Basic Recipe
3/4 cup of uncooked rolled oats (I use gluten-free)
1 and 1/4 cups of almond milk ( I use the 30 calorie one)
Berries (1/2 cup of blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries)
1/2 sliced banana or sliced kiwi
1/2 teaspoon (or more) cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric
Other spices of your choice (I like a pinch or two or cardamom or a teaspoon or unsweetened cocoa)
1 teaspoon of ground flax seed or chia seeds
2 walnuts, chopped
Directions:
Use a wide mouth mason jar or any wide mouthed jar. Add rolled oats, nut milk, spices, seeds, and chopped nuts. Add berries and fruit of choice. I like cover with a lid and store for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can eat it with a spoon directly out of the jar cold or warm it up if you prefer.
My Notes:
1. Time Saver:Make multiple jars at a time. This recipe will last for three days in the refrigerator.
2. Snack: Overnight oats are great to keep in the refrigerator as a quick healthy tasty snack too.
3. After School Snack: Overnight oats are a nutritious after school snack.
4. Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, soy-free ( do not use soy milk if you want it to be soy free- use almond or cashew milk)
I just finished reading a non-fiction science based book by Dr. Jon McDougall called The Starch Solutionwhich extols the benefits of eating starchy vegetables such sweet potatoes and white potatoes and starchy whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, millet, etc.
I also read How Not to Die by Dr. Greger who has a free website at Nutritionfacts.org with a wealth of information and a video library about healthy eating for heart health and weight loss and health in general. He has videos on Youtube and he also has a book called, How Not to Diet. I like his nutrition suggestions on his video , The Daily Dozen.
Both diets promote a whole food plant-based diet and suggest ways to help normalize weight, promote excellent health, and even reverse disease.
I adhere to the suggestions from both of these doctors and lots of other docs I didn't mention but to lose weight I am following the Starch Solution which has allowed me to eat lots of healthy carbs, lose weight, and reduce my fasting blood sugars from 112-116 every morning to about 89 - 94 every morning ( It took 3 months). I'll be reporting on my cholesterol levels soon.
Eating carbohydrates has become very unpopular in the US partially because of the popularity of the Atkins diet introduced the 1970's and popularized in 1990's, the Keto diet in the 1920's for epilepsy control and became popular in the last 10 years, and Paleo diet introduced the 1970's and also gained popularity in the late 1990's.
Diets which are high in fat and protein but low in carbohydrates and are the opposite of a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet which is the diet of choice of many well respected doctors and especially cardiologists. Read an excellent article about 18 doctors that drive the Whole Food Plant-Based Food Movement.
Reading The Starch Solution led me to research other articles, Youtube presentations, and other books and websites that all promote a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet.. I was led to read The Starch Solution after seeing the enlightening and amazing video on Youtube of of Plantiful Kiki 's experience .
Kiki lost 70 pounds by eating a whole food plant-based high starch diet. I literally found tons of videos on Youtube by others who did the same. Brittany Jaroudy a success story from Forks Over Knives website .
And Brittany has a website and a Youtube channel just like Kiki- Although, the information I was reading originally seemed contrary to everything I had been taught to believe, I began to understand the science behind it from watching videos from many of the doctors.
10 weeks ago, a close friend and I said we are going to try this way of eating Whole Foods Plant-Based diet that I was familiarized from Plantiful Kiki 's experience. Being a vegetarian, it was an easier for me to make the switch . Yet, my close friend, who was a devoted meat eater, made the switch and is very happy with her menus, her 33 pound weight loss in 3 months, and most of all her amazing renewed energy!
My experience, my close friend's experience and the testimonials of hundreds of ordinary people who share their success stories of recovering from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancers, and a myriad of other ailments such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, bloating, IBS, Chrone's disease, etc. have all benefited and regained their energy and health following a high carbohydrate, low fat, oil-free diet.
One of the most convincing programs I watched on Youtube was presented by Suny Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, New York which sponsored many medical doctors, who have published articles in medical journals, to speak at a conference.
I was fascinated by the work of Dr. Katz who spoke about 20 minutes into the presentation ( You can fast forward to that point)
Also the work Dr. Michael Klaper in a Youtube video called : Olive Oil Is Bad For You
which is an eye opening video and the thoughts are shared by many other medical doctors including cardiologists.
The information is not new, but it is considered cutting-edge because it is finally being publicized by medical doctors including board certified cardiologists, internists, surgeons, and researchers.,
How many people do you know with heart disease or Type 2 diabetes that have been successful reversing their diseases with the medicine and diet prescribed to them. Usually they are able to just manage, not reverse.
Yes, I know it is hard to understand because we have been taught to believe otherwise. But I think you will be hearing more and more about the benefits of high starch low fat eating in the future -
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and am not trying to give medical advice. I am simply sharing information that I found on the Internet or in books that worked for me. ALWAYS check with your medical doctor before making any changes in your lifestyle or diet.
Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for Amazon and I am compensated if you make a qualified purchase when you follow links from my blog. This helps defray the costs of hosting a free blog. I thank you for your support.
This colorful quinoa confetti salad, trimmed in curly red lettuce, is a tasty salad for a spring or summer day.
I often make quinoa and use it as a simple warm side dish, a filling for stuffed peppers, or as an addition to a salad.
The chopped salad, the quinoa, chickpeas, and red curly lettuce around the sides topped with red onion slices.
I brought this healthy salad to a Mother's Day luncheon today.
Quinoa is a light gluten-free grain/seed that is high in protein, fiber, all 9 amino acids, and vitamins and minerals which rightfully earns the name "superfood". Consumed for hundreds of years in South America by the Incas, it has now become a popular food in the US.
The salad base before I added nuts, quinoa, and chickpeas
I diced up cucumber, red pepper, parsley, black olives, celery, green onion, and red onion. I then tossed it in a salad with chickpeas blanched almonds, and cooked quinoa- making it a high protein vegan meal.
Quinoa comes in three colors: white, red, black.. the white is the lightest and I like it best in salads.
Need to know an easy way to cook quinoa so it always comes out fluffy and perfect? Follow my link forperfect quinoa
Cooked White Quinoa
The Dressing-
I use freshly squeezed lemon juice- period.
Personally, I have stopped using oil in my diet. For those following my blog, this explanation will be repetitious.
I don't use oil because I am following the advice of many board certified plant-based doctors and cardiologists who say oil is a highly caloric food that does not contain fiber or nutrients.-in other words it helps make you fat! (I know- there is lots of controversy around that issue) However, until you hear their side of the story, I wouldn't be convinced that it is so good for you.
These doctors suggest it is better to eat fat in its whole form of nuts, olives, avocado etc.
Ingredients:
2 cups of chopped cucumber
2 cups of chopped red pepper
2 cups of chopped celery
1/4 cup of sliced black olives
3/4 cup of chopped curly parsley
1/2 cup of chopped red onion
1/4 cup of chopped green onion
3 cups of cooked quinoa, room temperature
2 cups of cooked chickpeas
Optional: 1/4 cup of blanched almonds
Dressing:
Juice of 1 lemon
optional: 1/4 cup of olive oil mixed with the lemon juice
Directions:
Mix together the cucumber, red pepper, celery, black olives, parsley, red onion, and green onion. Add cooked quinoa, chickpeas, and balanced almonds if desired and toss. Decorate with lettuce leaves and slices of red onion. Dress with freshly squeezed lemon juice or a lemon and olive oil dressing if you eat oil.
Sharing on Souper Sunday where anyone can share a soup, salad, or sammie recipe.
