The 5-S PLAN and a Recipe Good Enough to Savor!
You’re likely well acquainted with the common guide to eating, the Food Pyramid, that our nation’s major health organizations sanction and promote. Well, I’ve come up with a different kind of pyramid that references not only food to eat and food to avoid, but includes an overall attitude and lifestyle approach to diet. Research shows that when we adopt an eating LIFESTYLE, we’re much more likely to maintain healthy choices.
I call it the 5-S PLAN. Since I have incorporated this pyramid into my life for several years now, I’ve shed pounds, my energy has gone through the roof, and my blood sugar has reached a stabilized norm. But one unexpected benefit that took me by surprise when I got seriously consistent with this plan, was how little depression I’ve had to deal with this past year. I’ve always read that emotions and mental health were closely tied to diet, but now I’m thoroughly convinced because of my first-hand experience.
This no-depression-thing is a big deal. In random and anecdotal surveying, I’ve found that almost all the people I’ve talked to with blood sugar issues, also deal with depression. I think then, that it’s time to pass on the 5-S PLAN. Considering how good I feel, I couldn’t share a more important gift. I want you, too, to experience what I consider to be a new lease on life.
It’s important to note, however, that this isn’t a quick fix to our health issues—it took time to get to our less-than-well state, thus it’ll take time to pull out of it. But I think I can promise you similar results if you CONSISTENTLY give it the year I gave it. So, this said, here’s a different kind of pyramid—Alice’s 5-S PLAN for eating and sustained health:
Sugar-free
Small (portions)
Slow (pace of eating)
Selective (whole foods, plant-based)
Savoring (in gratitude, tasting each delicious bite)
Maybe we tend to make things too complicated. Honestly, I had no idea that when I came up with this simple plan, I’d reap so many good and truly crucial rewards. If you decide to give this lifestyle a try, keep us posted—report in at the end of your year and share your results. I’m pullin’ for ya!
And as a “thank you” for reading through, I’ll close with a family favorite recipe that I found on www.mamasezz.com, that meets the Sugar-free and Selective qualifications. It’s zippy-quick—you can put it together using the microwave, as well as super-easy—you can make it in your slow cooker.
This dessert is perfect for the season we’re coming into—autumn’s apple harvest. See if your folks don’t find it good enough to Savor!
APPLE BASE
5 to 6 apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or date syrup
1 pinch salt
CRUMBLE TOPPING BASE
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats divided
1 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons pure maple syrup or date syrup
1 dash salt
Directions:
Add Recipe to Cook'n
I call it the 5-S PLAN. Since I have incorporated this pyramid into my life for several years now, I’ve shed pounds, my energy has gone through the roof, and my blood sugar has reached a stabilized norm. But one unexpected benefit that took me by surprise when I got seriously consistent with this plan, was how little depression I’ve had to deal with this past year. I’ve always read that emotions and mental health were closely tied to diet, but now I’m thoroughly convinced because of my first-hand experience.
This no-depression-thing is a big deal. In random and anecdotal surveying, I’ve found that almost all the people I’ve talked to with blood sugar issues, also deal with depression. I think then, that it’s time to pass on the 5-S PLAN. Considering how good I feel, I couldn’t share a more important gift. I want you, too, to experience what I consider to be a new lease on life.
It’s important to note, however, that this isn’t a quick fix to our health issues—it took time to get to our less-than-well state, thus it’ll take time to pull out of it. But I think I can promise you similar results if you CONSISTENTLY give it the year I gave it. So, this said, here’s a different kind of pyramid—Alice’s 5-S PLAN for eating and sustained health:
Small (portions)
Slow (pace of eating)
Selective (whole foods, plant-based)
Savoring (in gratitude, tasting each delicious bite)
Maybe we tend to make things too complicated. Honestly, I had no idea that when I came up with this simple plan, I’d reap so many good and truly crucial rewards. If you decide to give this lifestyle a try, keep us posted—report in at the end of your year and share your results. I’m pullin’ for ya!
And as a “thank you” for reading through, I’ll close with a family favorite recipe that I found on www.mamasezz.com, that meets the Sugar-free and Selective qualifications. It’s zippy-quick—you can put it together using the microwave, as well as super-easy—you can make it in your slow cooker.
This dessert is perfect for the season we’re coming into—autumn’s apple harvest. See if your folks don’t find it good enough to Savor!
Healthy Apple Crisp
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
APPLE BASE
5 to 6 apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or date syrup
1 pinch salt
CRUMBLE TOPPING BASE
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats divided
1 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons pure maple syrup or date syrup
1 dash salt
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place sliced apples in a microwave-safe baking dish.
3. Mix remaining APPLE BASE ingredients together and poor over apples.
4. Microwave apple mixture for 5 minutes on high.
5. For CRUMBLE TOPPING BASE, process 1 cup oats in a food processor until it becomes a coarse flour.
6. Add the additional CRUMBLE TOPPING ingredients and pulse until the walnuts break up and the ingredients are well mixed.
7. Spread the crumble mixture over the microwaved apples.
8. Sprinkle remaining ½ cups oats over top of CRUMBLE TOPPING mixture.
9. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
10. Enjoy hot or cold, garnished with dollops of plant-based vanilla yogurt (SILK is a good brand).
NOTE: To make this in a slow cooker:
1. Add apples to crockpot and drizzle with APPLE BASE ingredients.
2. Cover with the CRUMBLE TOPPING ingredients.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
4. When ready to serve, place individual servings under broiler for a quick minute to brown and crisp the CRUMBLE TOPPING.
2. Place sliced apples in a microwave-safe baking dish.
3. Mix remaining APPLE BASE ingredients together and poor over apples.
4. Microwave apple mixture for 5 minutes on high.
5. For CRUMBLE TOPPING BASE, process 1 cup oats in a food processor until it becomes a coarse flour.
6. Add the additional CRUMBLE TOPPING ingredients and pulse until the walnuts break up and the ingredients are well mixed.
7. Spread the crumble mixture over the microwaved apples.
8. Sprinkle remaining ½ cups oats over top of CRUMBLE TOPPING mixture.
9. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
10. Enjoy hot or cold, garnished with dollops of plant-based vanilla yogurt (SILK is a good brand).
NOTE: To make this in a slow cooker:
1. Add apples to crockpot and drizzle with APPLE BASE ingredients.
2. Cover with the CRUMBLE TOPPING ingredients.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
4. When ready to serve, place individual servings under broiler for a quick minute to brown and crisp the CRUMBLE TOPPING.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Sources:
- www.huffpost.com
- www.news-medical.net
- www.eatsmartmovemoreva.org
- www.mamasezz.com
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
