Beet; Misunderstood.

Beets have been given a bad rap. (Ahem...GSR? You know who I'm referring to...right?) Usually thrown carelessly on a vegetable tray, left to fend for themselves, beets have rarely been given the benefit of the doubt. With their earthy flavor, and deep red color, they make a great addition to any meal. Beets can be grated raw over a salad, or cooked and made into soup, eaten as a side, or sliced cooked on a salad, which incidentally is the way I like them the best.

Beets are rich in folate, a water-soluble “B” vitamin that helps produce and maintain new cells and has been known to help prevent changes to DNA that may lead to cancer. Beets are also a good source of manganese, potassium, fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and phosphorus. So, when your mom used to urge you to “eat your beets!” she knew what she was talking about. Always listen to your mother.

Usually, I buy my beets at the market and cook them at home. I clean them and place them in a covered casserole dish with about ¼ cup water (just to cover the bottom of the dish) and microwave them for between 12-15 minutes. Always leave the skins on while cooking beets, it helps keep the nutrients inside as well as the beautiful red color.

My favorite way to serve beets is usually with a nice fresh herb salad…Earthbound Farms prepares a great pre-washed mix. Toss the salad and beets along with some chunks of avocado, red onion, walnuts and the following dressing that will help bring out the flavors of this colorful salad. You can also add fresh pears, or you can sauté them in a little oil and let them caramelize and add them to the salad as a sweet kick!

“Creamy” Mustard Vinaigrette

½ cup Champagne Vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 large clove pressed garlic
¾ teaspoon salt
Pinch of fresh ground black pepper
½ cup good extra virgin olive oil.

In a small bow whisk together the vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified.

I store my dressings in mason jars, which makes it easy to shake and mix after they have been sitting in the refrigerator.

How It All Began-Updated April 14th 2013

It all began twelve years ago when I started having symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. At first, the pain was sporadic, starting out in my chest and one finger, then the next day moving to a hip, then a shoulder, then a knee...And it stayed this way for a few years.

I was run through the gamut of tests and x-rays and triple-phase-bone scans, put on a mess of drugs and told that it was some type of “inflammatory arthritis”, until one day in December of 2005 when the diagnosis finally came back as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

At that point in my life I could barely walk, get dressed, or even comb my hair without help. Being an independent person I was at my wits end. I was sick of the drugs, the side effects, and the pain, so I decided to try some alternative treatments.

I began researching diet and its effects on R.A. More importantly, a gluten-free, plant-based diet. After eliminating gluten, I noticed a huge improvement. My knees no longer “clicked” and I was able to start exercising again. In just under 6 months I was able to go from not being able to walk down the block, to being able to finish an hour-long advanced step aerobics class with hardly any pain.

I continued on this diet for nearly two years when I modified it by eliminating dairy and processed foods as well as all animal products with the exception of fish, and found that the pain was decreasing even more. I started taking spin classes at the gym, incorporating more strength training and working on my flexibility and core with yoga classes.

Although I've been off all prescription drugs since late 2005, I also incorporate other holistic practices in my self-care routine.  I see an herbalist, and I also see an acupuncturist both of whom have helped me regain balance in my body and have aided my healing process even further.  Not only do I feel better in terms of my arthritis, but I also feel more at peace. I’m not as tired as I used to be, I have more energy and feel like I can do just about anything I could do before the RA. I often tell people I feel better at 37 than I did at 27.

One of my biggest supporters (besides my family and friends) is my family doctor. Every year when I visit him for my yearly exam, he has me speak with his intern.  He asks me to share my story to make them aware that there are people like me out there who thrive on managing their illnesses naturally, without the use of prescription drugs. He has witnessed me at my worse and has watched me as I have taken control of my health, putting what was once debilitating into complete remission and even reversing the swelling and damage that had been done in my joints, something he said according to the text books and everything he clinically knew about RA, "was not supposed to happen."

Through my 8 years of taking my health into my own hands, I have learned that although the choices we make surrounding what we eat are vital to our overall well being, other factors such as stress management, exercise, healthy relationships, a soothing environment, self-care, and living consciously are equally as important to living a healthy, balanced life.  I have recently enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's Health Coach Training program so I can better communicate what I know and have experienced to help others.

The Healing Plate is a place of community and was born out of the desire to share what I have learned about how the food we eat affects our overall well-being and how we can become more balanced by incorporating holistic lifestyle choices.  I want this website to be an inspiration to those who are struggling, or have struggled with illness, or for those who just want to take back their health.  Together, we will learn that incorporating more whole foods does not mean you have to sacrifice taste, or the pleasure of eating great cuisine, it simply means you can start living a more healthy, vibrant life.

I strongly believe in bio-individuality, what is one man's food is another man's poison and I don't expect every one who participates here to become a vegetarian, nor should they be!  What I would like to see however, is a change of consciousness. Buy local, buy organic. Be willing to spend a little more to buy organic and support your local farmers and those who do things the right way. Try to eat more veg-friendly.  Be aware of where your food comes from and make conscious choices as to what you buy and whom you support...You don't have to completely give up what you're doing now to make a difference!