Carambola/Star Fruit

So about a week ago my Dad proudly stopped by to deliver some provisions he had grown himself. I was particularly happy because included in the delivery was avocado also known as pear and limes and I love me some lime aid. Added to this special delivery was the fact that these foods were organically grown. Also included was some Carambola commonly known as star fruit which has inspired me to write this blog post. So I went ahead and did some research this fruit is beautiful to look at for me it screams exotic. When it is ripe it becomes a golden color and is very refreshing but it can also be had on the way to becoming ripe. This fruit provides an effortless garnish imagine all you have to do is slice it and tah dah stars everywhere. This fruit that is indigenous in the Far East land made its’ way across the globe to the Caribbean. What can you do with this fruit you say? In addition to using it as a garnish for meat, fish or poultry, you can use it to make a refreshing juice be sure to add some ginger, in fruit and vegetable salads, as your fruit addition to your smoothies. How do the nutrients stack up? It has ~60 calories in a cup it has fiber, lots of potassium and vitamin C along with other nutrients. So go ahead make your next salad or smoothie exotic add some star fruit! love di june plum!

Make it Brown Rice instead

So I woke up this am all excited about heading home soon. And then I started thinking about the way my eating has changed and how I apply the nutrition I know to my own life. Today I will say a little about brown rice. There is a push on a global scale to encourage the consumption of whole grains, this group of foods are beneficial for colon health, keeping cholesterol in check, heart health, and helping to keep you feeling full longer when compared to refined carbohydrates. So brown rice is one way to introduce whole grains into your diet and benefit form all the good it has to offer. I often hear persons who have been eating white rice all their lives tell me they cannot eat or do not like brown rice. Some of the complaints; it takes too long to cook, it does not taste good, it is tough. So although there might be some truth here any change we want to make especially where eating is concerned may take some getting used to, yes we may have to acquire the taste. So my suggestions are instead of using water use low sodium broth (vegetable, chicken or beef) or if you have created a home made version use it to cook your brown rice it will pack those small wholesome grains with plenty flavor. Yes brown rice does take a little longer to prepare so here is a tip turn up the heat very high making the pot boil rapidly once half of the liquid has reduced go ahead and turn the heat down to low and allow rice to complete cooking.Small changes can have a lasting effect so maybe introducing small portions at a time will make the change stick. So go ahead pick up a bag of brown rice and add it to this weeks menu, your body will thank you. di june plum

The budding is complete.

Hello all my readers in 'bloggosphere'. It is official I am registered so officially I am no longer budding instead I have bud :) So now is the time to begin looking to the future for real this time. I know my usual modus operandi has been to be missing in action for long periods of time and I really am wanting to try to change that. What I want to do is to find a direction, a niche for my blog something or things that will set it apart, and bring something new to the table. I have some thoughts of where I want to take you, maybe do a relaunch a rename or a revamp. So watch this space for my next move. My passion has been realized and it is all Glory to God! di june plum