Distractions

I was recently reminded by a student of mine that I had a blog.  She also reminded me that I have not updated this site in over a year.  Immediately, I was flooded with a little guilt.  I have always been terrible at doing things like writing a journal or taking notes even.  Unfortunately, the same issue has been true for my attempt at blogging.  I have a tendency to allow all the other things in life take over and compromise the activities that I would really like doing.  I suppose this is true for everyone.  I am guilty of  becoming detracted from the things that I deem most important in life.  I often allow experiences like Facebook, or simply checking the news on my cell phone take up mountains of time that could otherwise be diverted to something more meaningful.

I was painfully reminded of these distractions while viewing a video discussion on the blog, tinybuddha.com. In this video, "Tiny Buddha" founder, Lori Deschene, explores how social media can either help us hinder us  in forming meaningful, authentic connections.  This video really challenged me to explore all the distractions that I allow into my life that keep me distracted; creating a continuous stream of data that helps me avoid being present in my life, or for that matter, the lives of others. At any rate, I would like to post this video from the founder of "Tiny Buddha" for others to watch.  



After watching this, I would like to know what distracts you? What would you like to "exchange" for these distractions?

Juicing vs. Blending

Many people who have just recently developed an interest in raw food consumption often ask me what works best – juicing or blending. Though I'm not a nutritionist, I have read several articles and books that have definite opinions about these two methods of extracting raw foods. I hope to be able to offer some insight into the value of each of these methods.

It is fair to say that both methods offer some clear advantages and perhaps, some not so obvious disadvantages. The current method that I use is blending. I feel that with a proper blender, this is an effective method of extracting nutrients and fiber from raw foods. Primarily, blending is an easy way to increase the amount of vegetables, especially greens, into a diet without having to make a meal, or tasting the vegetables too much. I have found it's much easier to drink raw vegetables, and convenient for people who are on the go, or who otherwise might not particularly like the taste of vegetables. Another advantage to blending is that, depending on what is blended, it is very easy to make a drink that is full of various vegetables and greens – thus, also full of essential nutrients and vitamins. There is some evidence that blending can also help with digestion because the content has already been converted to liquid form. In this way, blending is much different from juicing because all the parts of the original contents are still in the final product. Pulp and other fibers which have health value remain to be enjoyed.

Juicing is a method that I have not used yet because I prefer the pulp and fiber of my raw foods to be a part of my daily intake. However, there are many great articles discussing the values of juicing. Some of the things that I have learned about juicing suggest that juicing allows for immediate nutrition absorption because the digestive process is reduced. There is also some indication that juicing can help boost the immune system, depending on what fruits or vegetables are chosen. However, juices will need to be consumed right way for maximum health benefits. If you have to store juice you must store in an airtight container with little to no exposure to light and refrigerate immediately. Light and air destroys much of the antioxidants and enzymes which are the reasons that juicing is so beneficial. I also read that some people prefer juicing because it tends to focus on a few select fruits or vegetables. This is in contrast to blending were taste is not emphasized as much is creating a way to drink raw vegetables conveniently and quickly.

Ultimately, I would suggest that a combination of both juicing and blending be used to provide variety. It is also true that quality juicers can be much more expensive than blenders and this may be another factor to consider when starting a raw vegetable diet. That is not to say that all vegetables should be juiced or blended – certainly there are some great recipes available for both techniques. I encourage you to try both. In my experience, I started out using recipes but have moved away from this and simply create my green smoothies based on personal preference and taste. From time to time I do return to recipe books for inspiration. I hope this helps – I would be interested in hearing about great recipes and other pointers for those people considering whether to juice or blend.

Happy, conscious eating!

– Kevin




Currently Currently Currently

A Time For Change

Over the last few weeks I have had many people approach me wanting to know more about conscious eating and ethical sourcing. In all fairness, I haven't really discussed much of this on Thought, Spot, Space. In fact, my original intention for this blog was to focus primarily on social issues, literature and culture. Though these are subjects I'm very passionate about, it seems that the focus of my blog has been shifting on its own to something much different. On other social media platforms I have been very actively posting my struggle with quality eating as opposed to continually succumbing to the fast food culture that is so much a part of the American diet. My frustration has led me to do more research into foods, food sourcing and conscious eating. I have also taken steps on a personal level to change many of my lifelong practices of food consumption. Last year, I adopted the practice of juicing, or creating raw food smoothies as a part of my daily routine. Most recently, I have dedicated myself to not eating any processed foods, meats or dairy products, for ten days.  This period has come to an end and I have made a decision to continue to focus on raw foods as my primary source of nutrition while eliminating processed foods, meat and dairy products from my diet. This is a huge struggle for me as, I love to eat all kinds of food. Essentially, I have dedicated myself for a time to living life as a vegan. What started out as a personal experiment has quickly grown into something much more substantial. Over the last 10 days, I have had many people come to me and ask where to get more information and resources about raw food consumption, green smoothies, and ethical sourcing of food products. Because of this growing interest I would like to use my blog to begin to share my experiences and to also hold myself accountable to a much larger audience. In the process, I hope to provide some valuable information for people interested in becoming conscious food consumers. In the near future I plan on filling my blog with practical tips on living a healthier, more natural lifestyle and eating in a manner that embraces individual responsibility, awareness, and a greater level of personal health. I hope that as my readership grows, that this blog can become a valuable source for sharing experiences along the way. The exciting thing is, I will be an active part of this process, as I learn and grow with each of you. Till next time.- Happy, conscious, eating.

-Kevin

And While I Am At It . . .

New Year’s Resolutions 2013

1.       Eat consciously

2.       Cycle more

3.       Take time away from technology

4.       Finish my MBA

5.       Spend more quality time with family

6.       Take more pictures

7.       Write a regular blog post

8.       Read more great books

9.       Sleep regularly

10.   Volunteer

What are your most important resolutions?

Been a While

I was recently reminded of how I have let my blog spot kind of wither in the shadow of the holiday season. I hope everyone has had a super holiday and I promise to be more regular on post. Speaking of regular - I watched two movies last night that could potentially change the way I think. At the very least, they have me seriously thinking about food and how I eat. The two movies were Vegucated (2010) and Fat Sick and Nearly Dead (2010). Both of these can be found on Netflix and they are worth watching. Though, I would start with Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and work your way to Vegucated. Once you have seen them, you will know why.

So, I mentioned that these two movies have the potential for some serious change in my life. I am not one to jump on radical diets or fads nor have I really ever limited myself to what I eat -- that's about to change. I love exercise and for those of you who know me, I am a cyclist that consumes my share of pavement once a week. Even with all the exercise I have decided that something is missing from my life. That something is raw vegetables. I have been onto this notion for a while now, even going so far as  buying a Nutri-Bullet and making green smoothies. After watching both of these films I have decided to kick my raw green vegetable consumption into overdrive.

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead shows exactly what I have been saying for so long -- Americans do not eat enough green matter in their diets. I can only speak for myself and it is fair to say that I certainly don't eat many vegetables. As a matter of fact, I rarely eat them at all. This is changing though and, as I embark on my quest for green, I have noticed that I start craving all sorts of things green as I walk through the produce section of the grocery store. I want to make a drastic shift in what I take in because I know that it can make a deference in health but that is not the only reason.

This is where Vegucated comes in -- this is really a documentary that focuses on the ethics of eating. This is something I have given little thought and, I am sure I am not alone here. This movie has the potential to change the way you think about what you eat, either that or taint every piece of meat you consume thereafter.

So, what of all this? As I enter 2013, I am trying to make a very conscious change by beginning to think about what I eat, not only from a health perspective but also an ethical one. I have dedicated myself to more plants for food. I think it is important for me and the planet. Along the way, I hope to inspire a few people. Who knows what is possible? Happy Eating!

A Slice of Pi -

I had the chance to go see Life of Pi this past weekend and I must say, if you are interested in a movie that makes you think--this is it.  It is a film where the viserial and the intellect come together in balance and harmony-a visual yin/yang relationship.  Life of Pi is a tour de force of inner exploration that is unbelievealby well captured on film by director, Ang Lee. 

 Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, Life of Pi is a magical adventure story centering on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zookeeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi is found adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.

The movie is a feast of color and imagination.  As much as the movie is spiritual, it is also simple in much the same way that the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff is simple, or not. In this simplicity of setting and space it is beatifully created and acted from beginning to end.  In all its beauty, the twist at the end is something that will have your brain up working long after the light goes off for many nights to come. 

Have you seen Life of Pi?  What did you think?  What was your favorite part? Why?  Anything that you did not like?

-Kevin
Thought Spot Space

First Things First -

The heroes in my life have always been teachers.  I don’t remember how this started but it remains largely true today.  As a lifetime educator, I am also keenly aware that this must have been an odd sort of behavior as a kid.  Most of my friends liked sports stars or Marvel Comics characters – I liked Mrs. May or,  Dr. Poole.  These were the people that had the biggest impact on my life and I can say, made all the difference in the person I have become.  As such, I have always surrounded myself with a community of lifetime learners.  What an experience it has been, being able to have my heroes around me everyday even as childhood has faded to a memory. 

With this in mind, Thought Spot Space is a creation that stems from that same love of education, literature and culture that has always been a part of those learning communities that I have been privileged to take part.  Enjoy.