August 16, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Life Force Lesson #10: Exercise Your Freedom of Choice

Free will is the most important legacy we have from the Universal Spirit. We are constantly being presented with choices in life, “forks in the road” that lead to different places. Free will lets us choose. That ability to choose gives us the power to take our life in any direction we want . . . and create our future life.
—Jon Peniel, from The Children of the Law of One

The fundamental religion of this culture is that of human dominion, and it does not matter so much whether one self-identifies as a Christian, a Capitalist, a Scientist, or just a regular member of this culture, one’s actions will be to promulgate this fundamentalist religion of unbridled entitlement and exploitation. This religion permeates every aspect of this culture. This is a big problem, a problem big enough that it is killing the planet.
—Derrick Jensen

Freedom of choice is a concept that most of us in the Western world take for granted. We appear to have countless choices wherever we turn—whether it’s at the supermarket, the department store, the car dealership, a restaurant, or at nearly any other kind of retailer. But there is a difference between the illusion of choice and freedom of choice. How often do we pause to really think about what we’re supporting when we purchase, say, that cartload of groceries, or a new pair of jeans, or a cute new handbag? Does all this choice actually offer us real freedom or is it an illusion of freedom that sneakily enslaves us and harms many others? Well, let’s take a look at one such scenario.

Let’s say you want to buy a trendy new handbag by a big brand name, but you can’t afford it. So you go down to Chinatown, NYC, where everyone knows you can buy cheap designer handbag knockoffs. You figure most people can’t tell the difference between the knockoff and the real thing, anyway, so why not? Well, guess who’s busy making those cute little bags? Little children, particularly little girls, are being forced to manufacture them in terrible conditions. According to certain insiders, these young girls, ranging in age from 6 to 18, frequently get their legs broken so they cannot run and play. Driving this practice are shoppers, who come to the area specifically for this cheap specialty item, keeping it in high demand.

This kind of activity goes on day in and day out around globe, based on common consumer activities, and as members of modern society, we are all complicit. As much as we would like to pretend that we are not to blame for society’s routine injustices (whether wielded against people, wildlife, or the planet), the reality is that every single choice we make contributes either to the destruction of life on the planet or to the healing of it. It does us no good to palm off responsibility to others.

We must always be asking ourselves: Will the next choice I make be healing or destructive? Even if we are not ready yet to eat only local, seasonal foods or give up our cars to rely solely on public transportation, we can still start shopping for our veggies at the local farmer’s market, or decide to take the train to grandma’s house for a change.

We support whatever we spend our money on, and we cannot excuse our purchasing choices just because no activists are posting signs or picketing. It is our responsibility to research and understand where we are spending our money, energy, and resources—not just as a society, but as individuals. In fact, it is in our own best interest to do so, as members of the interconnected whole of life. We cast our vote multiple times a day, whether we know it or not. We, not some phantom authority sitting on high, are the ones with the power to destroy or heal.

Yes, the concept of voting with our wallets is simple enough to grasp, but it’s not always so simple to act upon. Why? Because our world is rife with consumer traps and snares that trip up even the most well-intentioned individuals. Even a pretty basket of fruit might have questionable origins. Still, we can and must continue to educate ourselves, in order to make increasingly informed decisions. Every life-generating step toward authentic health, love, and beauty makes a difference. Indeed, there are a lot of forces and false authorities working against this higher purpose, but that is all the more reason to reclaim our freedom of choice and learn how to wield it! We begin to do this by taking a moment to step back, dial down all the chatter, and start listening to the voice within.

Exercise: Clearing Your Inner-Space for Freedom of Choice

When we’re feeling powerless and inundated by the pressures of modern living—which, in today’s high-speed technocratic world, is the norm for most people—we become extremely vulnerable to all kinds of destructive habits, conditioned thinking, and peer pressure. Often this leads to such behaviors as binge eating and binge shopping, which only bring temporary numbing relief, but leave us feeling even worse and more powerless than before. The next time you feel yourself spiraling out of control in this way, before you completely cave or make another destructive choice, take a moment to try to quiet your mind, find your center, and honestly ask yourself the following questions:

  • How many different voices and opinions are ringing in my ears right now, and which, if any, are authentically my own?
  • Do I really need or even truly want this product that I’m shopping around for? Why am I agonizing so much over which brand or model to purchase? Are all these “choices” truly empowering me?
  • Will eating all this greasy food actually make me feel better, or is it just a mindless habit that supports the food conglomerate and leaves me feeling bloated and ashamed?
  • Why am I running myself ragged to attend all these social functions? Which of them are really important to me, and which are just a matter of keeping up appearances?
  • Why do I spend so much of my free time e-mailing, IMing, and surfing the Internet? Do they really make me feel more connected to others? What am I sacrificing by choosing to do this?

These are just examples of the kinds of questions you might pause to ask yourself. They will help you to realize just how fragmented and scattered your thinking can be (the natural expression of a fragmented self) and honestly reassess your choices before you make another one you’ll regret. As long as you sign away your power and let the world make your choices for you, you will perpetuate all kinds of suffering—others’ and your own. If you do not call upon your own highest authority, these riptides of consumerism and social conditioning will carry you off, farther and farther away from yourself, into dangerous waters indeed. Worst of all, you probably won’t even know it until it’s too late, because you’ll have fallen for the illusion of choice again and again.

So take the time to pause, breathe, center yourself, and weigh your choices carefully. It does require a vigilance and concentration, but exercising your freedom of choice becomes easier with practice, and is ultimately a lot less work than suffering the consequences of mindless living! Don’t squander your life on false values and aspirations. Take this opportunity to ask yourself the important questions in life—e.g., What kind of person would I really like to be? Which qualities do I want to cultivate? What do I most admire in others, and what do I most deplore? Where do I most want to direct my time, resources, and energies? How would I like to impact the world around me?—and let your answers guide your every choice.

This concludes our tenth lesson. In the next edition of The Rose Program Insider, we will talk about the healing power of patience and perseverance.

August 16, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Ana’s Lazy Girl Food Tip: College Life

Dormitory Eating

For all you university students, dorm eating is tricky. Bringing your own mini-fridge or renting one is essential. Stock your fridge with organic dark chocolate, raw goat cheese, and decent Dijon mustard (you can bulk order all of these from www.healthwisefoods.com). Then add some long-life veggies such as cabbage and carrots (Goat Cheese Cabbage Rollups or Dijon-Stevia Carrot Dip, anyone? (Just add stevia to Dijan mustard, et voila!) The Goat Cheese Cabbage Rollups can sit for a while without loosing as much vitality as, say, lettuce. This way, if you can’t get off campus often, you can still have late-night study group snack options. Top your fridge with a bowl of lemons and avocados.

Dining Halls and Cafeterias

The salad bar is the obvious choice. You can make a giant pile of veggies with lemon juice and stevia, and smuggled goat cheese or avocado from your room. But don’t ignore the hot meals. Steamed broccoli, marinara sauce on Italian nights, and baked root vegetables are commonly available. Many meal service providers (including Flick) will offer a steamed fish option, or will make you a fresh omelet. If there’s a sandwich station, you can pillage the Dijon mustard, tomato and red onion supplies. Don’t be afraid to ask for simple specials. Many cafeteria workers will sneak a sweet potato into an already hot oven, offer a steamed veggie without oil if asked, or bring out fresh salad bar supplies when it has been depleted. And remember the power of many: I once circulated a (misguided) petition to get turkey burgers on the menu on burger night, and they obliged! If only I’d known about Sunshine burgers back then!

 

August 16, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Recipe of the Week by Natalia Rose Institute Executive Chef Doris Choi: Delicious Soup Combo

Basil Zucchini Soup

Sauté:

  • ¾ tablespoon organic butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional add-in for spicy flavor)
  • 2 medium shallots, minced
  • 8 cups zucchini, cubed

Seasonings for Broth:

  • 2 bay leaves
  • Handful fresh parsley
  • Pinch salt
  • Pinch pepper

Broth Water:

  • Enough water to cover by 1 inch above the vegetables when held down in the bottom of the pot.

Blending Fresh Seasoning:

  • Handful fresh basil

Garnish:

  • 1 zucchini, spiralized into “noodles”
  • Some fresh basil leaves for garnish

Directions:

  1. Heat the organic butter in a stock pot. When butter is heated, add garlic, shallots, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Sauté for 8 minutes until shallots are translucent.
  2. Add 8 cups of cubed zucchini and let sauté for 1 minute until zucchini starts to become soft. Add 2 bay leaves, a handful of parsley, a pinch of salt and pepper, and the brother water. Let cook until zucchini becomes soft and cooked, about 20-30 minutes.
  3. Transfer the caramelized shallots, garlic, cooked zucchini, and parsley to the bowl of a high-speed blender, such as the Vitamix. Remove the bay leaves (as they tend to get dry). Add 1 handful of fresh basil to the blender with the cooked vegetables.
  4. Begin blending, and transfer only as much broth from the stock pot to the blender with the cooked vegetables and fresh basil as you need to achieve a creamy-smooth consistency.
  5. On the side, spiralize one zucchini with the julienne blade of a spiralizer. Top each bowl of zucchini basil soup with some zucchini “noodles” and some fresh basil leaves as garnish.

 

August 16, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Testimonial from Valerie

Detox 4 Women works. I am a success story. Lost almost all of the last ten pounds after years of trying. The question you asked about whether I have done everything right and still not lost weight was what made me go for it! I love the food, crave the goat cheese and some of the veggies. The wine and dark chocolate make it fun! Also, I eat out a lot and am enjoying it for the first time ever, eating high-quality fish and salads and not having to feel guilty. I am 50 and look 40. THANK YOU.

—Valerie

September 1, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Life Force Lesson #11: Practice, Patience, and Perseverance

Softness triumphs over hardness, gentleness over strength.
The flexible is superior over the immovable.
This is the principle of controlling things
By going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.
—Lao-Tzu

Pursuing an alternative lifestyle is never easy. It often elicits floods of resistance from family and social circles, and requires great patience and perseverance in the face of obstacles. For me, it took more than twelve years of dedicated practice to reach my current level of self-awareness and self-sovereignty. I also had the help and encouragement of extraordinary teachers.

As for the floods of resistance, in my own case, I found that everyone had an opinion—mostly unsupportive, because my approach challenged their values. The obstacles grew based on how far away I veered from my expected course in terms of religious upbringing, social conditioning, peer pressure, and family expectations. But I knew that I had to face these obstacles and fully own my power in order to revive my authentic self, the one who’d been caged and silenced for far too long.

Take the Time You Need to Heal
Our work at Natalia Rose Institute is all about healing, nurturing, and growing, not quick fixes that have no lasting power and usually turn out to be more harmful than healthful in the long run. We are here to support true healing, in the deepest and most expansive meaning of the word—not to keep some kind of false peace with the body until all hell breaks loose again and another ceasefire is required!

We would get nowhere without patience and perseverance. My personality is naturally impetuous. I had to learn patience the hard way—by slamming into walls in my haste to achieve all my goals at lightning speed. I know for a fact that many of you are similarly wired because I read about it in your letters. Well, here in the Natalia Rose Institute community is one place where we serve ourselves far better with a healthy dose of patience and perseverance.

People tend to have a short memory when it comes to cleansing. They think after a week or so of juicing and eating only salads they should be clean. They forget all the soda, processed foods, hormone- and antibiotic-injected animal products, pasteurized cow dairy, birth control pills, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and/or recreational drugs they’ve consumed over the course of their lives—not to mention the generations of compromised DNA they received through their lineage! The cumulative damage to our cells and DNA is profound, not something that can be shaken off after only a week, month, or even a year of cleansing. It takes years to rectify our deep-rooted imbalances and achieve a truly beautiful, clean-celled body.

Keep in mind that raw foods and juices alone are not going to bring you back into alignment. For example, eating all raw or strictly vegan won’t necessarily ensure that you will live better or longer than your non-raw, non-juicing peers. You will also need to remove internal obstructions consistently over time. Eating a cleaner diet is just one essential component of the larger picture. The removal of obstruction (both physical and mental) is the actual fulcrum of healing.

This is where the patience and persistence comes in! You can juice for a weekend and drop a few pounds, but your body will go right back to its old stats unless you remove the obstruction that the juice fast awakened—and then continue to awaken and release more and more of that obstruction. Those that stay in the game, awakening and releasing for months and years, are the ones that reach the ecstasy of cleansing. The extended journey is what eventually cleans and elevates the blood chemistry and unblocks the internal pathways, enabling Life Force to surge and conduct through your body. As the cleansing reaches those depths, the alchemy happens: the internal organs are revived by the higher-caliber blood, skin tissue reflects the strengthened internal body, and energy soars. This is the true meaning of rejuvenation!

Our work here at Natalia Rose Institute is not about covering up our physical imperfections. Rather, it’s about pulling back the curtain on all the internalized toxicity that you’ve been carrying around with you and spent years of your life trying to hide. If you are still new to this work, you probably have some very deep toxicity that will emerge in waves. Don’t be embarrassed. No one who matters is judging you. In fact, here in the Natalia Rose Institute community, we’re all cheering you on! This work only gets better over time. Don’t give up. Give your body a chance to regenerate itself from the inside out.

Stay the Course of Cleansing
Physical aging and deterioration accompanied by feelings of weakness and fatigue are not factors of how many times you have ridden around the sun, but of what you have accumulated as you have gone around the sun! If you cleanse and maintain an alkaline-rich diet of primarily fresh fruits and veggies, and you are still feeling weak or lacking power for your workouts, it is due to one or more of the following reasons:

  1. You are awakening waste without releasing it.You have awakened matter that your bowel cannot release on its own. Therefore, your center is blocked and the awakened poisons are flooding your bloodstream, making you feel ill and tired. You need either bowel cleansing or a less than perfect meal to help ease your bowel’s transition to clean foods—one or the other, but preferably the former.
  2. You are experiencing withdrawal symptoms.You are so addicted to the stimulation of cooked proteins, whey/soy/protein energy bars, coffee, refined sugar, flour, soda, etc. that your body is not coping with the change. The problem is that you’re having withdrawal symptoms—not that the clean diet is failing to deliver energy. You probably need to transition more slowly. People are often deceived into thinking they need meat when, after a week of a meat-free diet, they eat a steak and suddenly feel “energized.”This is a false fire! Acidic, dense substances can never give you real energy, only stimulation. To an unclean body addicted to the stimulation, continuing to consume such substances feels good and familiar. Stopping too suddenly leads to withdrawal symptoms and a feeling of weakness. Hence, people often associate a clean diet with feeling weak. This is why making a gradual transition away from the old foods, rather than going cold turkey, is so crucial. It will help you avoid many pitfalls!
  3. You are still a slave to the old mental programming. Mental programming is a powerful thing. For years you’ve been absorbing the erroneous propaganda that only calorie-dense substances can sufficiently energize you. You’ve also been conditioned to expect quick, linear results from health regimens. But when the average obstructed body undergoes deep cleansing, it must slow down to conduct internal triage. When this happens, you might grow impatient and lose heart, but I urge you to stay the course. It often takes persistence in the face of a temporary impasse to yield a major breakthrough. But you have to stick with it!

Keep an Eye on the Big Picture

The detox lifestyle is largely a case of mind over matter: work to reverse your thinking and align with the greater truth. Most of all, keep an eye on the big picture of cleansing. A clear body is an energized body. Arnold Ehret said it nearly a hundred years ago: Vitality = Power – Obstruction. However, “Power” may not have been the clearest word choice, so, with all due respect to Ehret, let me rephrase this slightly: Vitality = Electromagnetic Conductivity – Obstruction. In other words, when the electromagnetic conductivity can rush unobstructed through the body, you will experience uncompromised vitality!

Every time you’re feeling impatient or a little less energized than you want to feel, ask yourself how clear your pathways are and how well your cells are conducting the electromagnetic power. Even when you’re blocked, this energy is always lying dormant within you, ready to be unleashed. But you cannot expect your body to release all the obstructions and toxicity that it has accumulated over a lifetime and regenerate clean cells overnight. True healing requires visionary practice, patience, and perseverance. If the duration and requirements get you down, just consider for a moment the alternative—hospitals, medication, countless unsexy symptoms and a steady, disempowerment, and a general decline. Green Lemonade, raw salads, and colonics, please!

Do all you can to remove any blockages—physical and mental—and then feel your body come alive with the blissful vibration of life force conducting through you. Your authentic, revitalized self will begin to emerge like a butterfly from a chrysalis, and soon you’ll be able to take wing!

This concludes our eleventh lesson. In next week’s final edition of The Rose Program Insider, we will close with a meditation on our highest aspirations and the true meaning of beauty.

September 1, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Ana’s Lazy Girl Food Tip: Relax & Enjoy

One of my biggest challenges with food and feeding myself properly has been emotional eating. I ate when I was scared, sad, lonely, tired, cold. And I ate to calm social anxiety, to celebrate happy events, and sometimes even to intentionally hurt myself when I was feeling like I’d really let myself down. Author Annie Lamott (one of my favorites) has called this assault eating, and I whole-heartedly agree.

Getting into a place of relaxation and calm before dinner is essential. Natalia always recommends a bath before a meal, and it helps tremendously.

If I don’t have time to take a bath, or if I’m out and about in the city and I am not able to run home it often seems impossible to get focused. Emotional eaters all know that once the ball starts rolling it only picks up speed if there’s no interception.

The quick and easy meditation that I recommend to clients is the one that has consistently worked for me from the beginning. It started as a non-religious way to say grace, and I have realized that gratitude and connection are the most important things for me.

I look down at my food (mostly vegetables) and close my eyes. I get a beautiful picture in my mind of where my food came from. I see a field of greens, tomato and cucumber vines. I can feel the hot sun, and smell the soil, and I silently say thank you. It takes only one minute, but honoring our food is a way to honor the body. A meal of those beautiful growing things is a wonderful way to tell yourself, “I love you.”

 

September 1, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Recipe of the Week by Natalia Rose Institute Executive Chef Doris Choi: Perilla Salad

Perilla Salad

For Salad

  • 4 heads romaine lettuce, shredded
  • Handful perilla leaves, made into chiffonade
  • 2 English cucumbers, julienned
  • ½ package 100% soba noodles, cooked and rinsed well

For Dressing

  • ½ cup Nama Shoyu soy sauce
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger, minced
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper
  • ½ bunch scallions, minced
  • Pinch of black pepper

Shred the romaine by laying down the head of lettuce on a cutting board, stabilizing the top, tip down, with one hand and slicing thinly across after the stem. Chiffonade the perilla leaves by lining them up on top of each other, rolling them up, and slicing them thinly. Using a julienne peeler, such as the Titan brand, julienne the English cucumbers into ribbons. Mix the salad ingredients together, place the cooked soba noodles on top, and dress With the Nama Shoyu mixture.

 

September 1, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Testimonial from Leslie

Hi Natalia,

I am on Day 9 of your Detox 4 Women plan. I have been taking Candex since Day 1 and am about to finish an entire bottle of it. I didn’t have a yeast infection, but I assumed that I probably had too much Candida as a result of taking the pill for 10 years and eating acidic foods for a lifetime (26 years). I have already lost 9 lbs and feel great 🙂 Thank you so much.

Leslie

September 28, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Life Force Lesson #12: Take Root, Take Wing, Radiate Beauty from Within

We humans cannot truly soar until we’ve first cultivated deep, healthy roots. We all want to enjoy the highs of life-including romantic love, professional success, and other forms of excitement and personal achievement-but unless our highs are equal to our depths, our highs will set us up for terrible falls. Chasing after highs without any grounding knowledge is a hollow pursuit indeed.

Yes, I can understand the temptation to escape and hide from yourself when you are suffering from constant stress, illness, and disappointment. And yes, I know that digging deep to the root causes of your suffering and cultivating a more life-generating perspective requires effort, but the rewards of such work are beyond measure. If you want to radiate true health and beauty in this lifetime, there is no other way.

I encourage you to spread your wings and take flight, but just be sure you are not merely trying to escape from your norms. The greatest highs in life come from both internal and external pursuits. There are thrills of the body, the heart, the spirit, and the mind-and when these all come together in harmony, it’s nirvana! Do not neglect the beauty and richness of your inner life for solely external pursuits.

What Is Beauty, Really?

Our culture is obsessed with beauty. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be beautiful and sexy and desirable? Everywhere we turn, there are glossy advertisements for products appealing to this desire to be beautiful, and there are throngs of people who are buying into their promises. We are socially conditioned from a very young age to want the perfect body, the perfect face, the perfect skin, and perfect clothes-and all the trappings of vanity that come with them: sex, money, and power. But if we look closer, what is this obsession with beauty all about, really? Is it just superficial, or does it indicate some deeper biological imperative at work in our lives?

Many people come to Natalia Rose Institute seeking weight loss, rejuvenation, clearer skin, and the other hallmarks of surface beauty. But those who undertake the detox lifestyle discover that they really want so much more. The desire to be beautiful, deep down, is the desire to be given a chance to love and be loved. It is a desire to conduct joy and vitality-to be free to be oneself, not to hide behind expensive fashion trends and status symbols. When you cleanse your heart and your body, you naturally begin to shed the commonly held ideals of external beauty and awaken to the only beauty that matters: the kind that shines from within, emitting a fresh, natural, authentic glow. Any good art designer or plastic surgeon can produce a picture-perfect image based on the current marketing and fashion trends. Real beauty, however, makes you feel good through and through. Beauty is synonymous with clarity, love, and light-and no designer clothing or cosmetic product, no matter how ingeniously engineered, can deliver or even simulate these things for you.

When you release old patterns, aggressions, and fears; when you are pure of purpose and of spirit; when you have laid deep, healthy roots that can freely absorb and conduct clean energy from the soil, air, water, sunlight, and the life circulating all around you, you cannot help but radiate beauty-physically and spiritually. When you are beautiful within, you no longer have anything to hide or cover up. You become lighter and freer and more joyful in your own skin. You open yourself up to light and love and naturally connect with the inner beauty of others. You can finally stop obsessing about your looks because you actually embody and radiate beauty with every breath you take. True beauty, therefore, is the not vanity at all, but the natural expression of a deep and expansive love of life!

Plant Flowers, Don’t Cut Them

There’s a popular dermatologist with a new book out, and on the cover he appears standing with a bunch of freshly cut long-stem strawberries. The title of the book promises youth in no uncertain terms. What is the problem with this picture? Here’s a big hint: It’s why I taught my children never to pick flowers, and why those who know me well don’t bring me cut flowers.

Life cut off from its source is unsustainable. Think of it. The whole concept of this cover image is a lie, but the giveaway of the misguided consciousness underpinning the project is the cut fruit. Most people will see the promise of freshness and beauty in the fruit when those strawberries are in fact an example of life cut being tragically short in the service of instant, short-term gratification! Those strawberries, cut away from the vine of life, will be old and moldy in less than two days!

To put it most simply, life that is firmly rooted to its source will flourish-living long and well. Life that is cut off from its source will draw its last breath from its energy reserves, then wilt until all the energy has been drained away and decay takes over. The same is true for our bodies, for our whole beings.

We humans walk around in our bodies, seemingly unconnected to anything, believing all we need are some calories, vitamins, and omega fatty acids. That’s the herd mentality at work. The fact is, despite our lack of visible roots, we get our energy from the same sources that other living creatures do-from the sun and earth, unseen fibers of living energy that connect all life on this planet and reach across the solar system, and from other plant life and organisms that pass along nutrients to us through the food chain. As long as we fail to recognize our true roots, our true sources of life force, and our interconnectedness, we will never summon enough energy to soar, much less stand tall and proud within our own bodies.

So remember, first plant your roots firmly, and then spread your wings wide. There is no greater high-no greater expression of beauty-than growing and evolving as nature intended!

September 28, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Ana’s Lazy Girl Food Tip: Lunch at the Office

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Eating meals in an office setting can sometimes be a challenge. The trick is to be prepared! Here are some suggestions that have worked for me and for my clients.

  1. Create a small office pantry of non-perishables to make sure that lunch is flavorful and enjoyable. Keeping a small jar of Dijon mustard, stevia, and your favorite herbal tea can help ensure that you’ll love your lunch, and have something warm and delicious to get you through an afternoon slump. Add a fork and a knife and you’ll have everything you need.
  2. Enhance your desk or cubicle with a decorative bowl of edibles instead of flowers. When I worked in an office environment, I brought in a beautiful glass bowl, which I filled every Monday morning with green apples, fresh lemons, and avocados. It was like a beautiful flower arrangement, and kept my desk area looking and smelling sweet.
  3. Keep a selection of delivery menus that you can order from on the days you haven’t been able to prepare. Sometimes it’s easier to order in than to bring lunch from home. Getting or printing menus of local restaurants that deliver salads, steamed vegetables, veggie soup, guacamole, or other fresh, raw, well-combined options is essential. The vendors will get to know your order, and you will have the freedom of not having to bring lunch every day.
  4. Shop for a selection of fresh raw vegetables on Sunday evening so you won’t have to worry about shopping during the busy work week. Keep 5 boxes of organic greens and a selection of chopped vegetables in your fridge at home, so in the morning you can grab a small container of your favorite raw salad toppings and a box of greens and run out the door. (Remember, lemons and avocados await you at work!)
  5. Bake or steam a selection of veggies on Sunday as well, so you can grab and go on the following days. Slow-roasted beets, baked sweet potatoes, and vegetable soup are all great lunch options that can be cooked in advance for the week ahead. If you would like to include a cooked option with your lunch salad, it will be ready to go.

Preparing for your week by doing some shopping, chopping, and cooking will also help you stay committed to your goals. Every Sunday you are renewing your vow to yourself that you are going to spend the week caring for your body and cleansing your blood!

Love,
Ana

 

September 28, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Recipe of the Week by Natalia Rose Institute Executive Chef Doris Choi: Chocolate Fix

CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE

  • 3 cups red beet puree (roast beets in oven at 400°F for 1 hour)
  • ½ cup agave nectar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon red vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • ⅓ cup chocolate powder
  • 1 cup millet flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • Zest of an orange (any type)
  • Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven at 350°F.

Combine all the wet ingredients first, and then mix in all the dry ingredients. (Work quickly because the baking soda and vinegar will start bubbling, and they are what will make the cake moist and fluffy.)

Put the mixture in a mini loaf pan or a cupcake tin greased with a little coconut oil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove when the cakes are slightly soft in middle.

Doris, I honestly never thought I could have my cake and eat it too! – Ana Ladd-Griffin

 

September 28, 2011, The Rose Program Insider Archive

Testimonial from Macha

Dear Natalia,

Thank you so much for coming on the show back in July. Because of you and your books, I have changed my life. I was starting to change my eating habits and then we had you on the show. I was so inspired that I read your Detox 4 Women and Raw Food Life Force Energy books. I did the 30-day detox and since July I have been eating high-vibration foods and feeling incredible. I have a 9-month-old baby and a three-year-old son and my body looks like I am 18. I am toned, firm and lean. My husband CANNOT stop complimenting me. Our relationship went from being good to out-of-this-world amazing.

I never thought I could look and feel this way. I radiate and glow. I am happy. I am inspired. All the moms want to know what I did and I send them directly to you. I know they bought the book because they come and ask me questions (also my local Whole Foods went from having a huge stock of frozen wheatgrass to just one box left the other day)!!!

So thank you! From the bottom of my heart. I feel at 33 years of age a feeling of happiness and vibrancy and deliciousness I always dreamed possible. If you ever want to do a workshop in Great Neck, let me know and I can set it up for you. I’m going to start a meditation class once a week combined with a discussion on how to live in light and create and sustain joy in our lives. I see the women around me hungry for this. I know I was. I think I can shed some light.

With so much gratitude,
Macha