Nutritional Yeast - where have you been all my life????

Oh boy, I am in heaven right now; there's a party in my tummy. I just tasted nutritional yeast for the first time in my life!!!!!!! It's delicious!!!!
I just made 'raw popcorn', which has nothing to do with popcorn - it's 10 times better : )
So, what is nutritional yeast?

Definition: Yellow in color and with a nutty cheesy flavor, nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast that is a favorite amongst many vegans because of its unique flavor and similarity to cheese when added to foods. Sprinkle some on hot popcorn or garlic bread, or add a generous spoonful to a stir fry or pasta sauce. Nutritional yeast is also the only reliable food source of vitamin B12, so if you're vegan, it's a good idea to add some to your food regularly. Nutritional yeast can be found in the bulk foods or supplement section of your health food store. You can look for either nutritional yeast flakes or powder.
This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Protein, Magnesium, Copper and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid and Zinc.

Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/custom/1323565/2#ixzz1dwKSe65c

weaknesses...

President Lee’s comments suggest some specific things that you can do to overcome your weaknesses. First identify what your weaknesses are. Make a list with your greatest concern at the top and so on in descending rank. Remember, this list is very personal and should be kept secret and private. It is a matter strictly between you and your Savior, and you should never share it in class or in public.
Each morning review your list, particularly noting the problem you want to work on that day. Then pray to the Lord, entreating him for power and promising him you will do all you can. That night report to him on your success or failure. As you find yourself improving (and you will), pray for forgiveness and additional strength. Keep constantly in mind the joy and love your Heavenly Father is feeling toward you because of your efforts. Remember also that your weaknesses can become your strengths; indeed, as each is overcome, it can be a rung of power leading upward to God and your eternal home.

Very well put

• I read this on a blog called Disease Proof and LOVED IT ! It is exactly what I've been going through, and what I've been learning concerning food addiction and concerning staying as far away as possible from the food that  equals trouble for you. Being 100% obedient is easier than being 99%.
•  
• “How closely do I really have to follow my eating plan/abstinence plan?” 

• “How many times a month can I cheat and still have success?”

• “I’m not hard core, but I follow the plan about 85% of the time; that’s good enough, isn’t it?”   

Of which my classic answer to all three questions is, “It all depends on how hard you want to make it on yourself.” 

It’s much easier and simpler to give 100% right from the beginning and keep the pilot light of addictive cravings extinguished, than to be continually fighting obsessive compulsions that are brewing beneath the surface. Been there. Done that. And it’s hard, hard work to keep cravings from becoming an all-consuming monster. In fact, it’s exhausting because it’s a next-to-impossible feat to accomplish!

Plus, it only takes the tiniest spark to ignite the pilot light of cravings to full power again, and that’s THE most dangerous place to live! 

One can do all the work of routinely preparing and eating high-nutrient foods, and get the majority of one’s health restored; but it may only take an emergency phone call, or a sudden traumatic event, or a stress-filled day with the kids to instantly ignite the raging flame of addiction.  

It’s just not worth it. 

Give yourself a break today and make life so much easier.

Give 100% and extinguish the pilot light!     

The willful decision to see how much one can cheat and get by; how much one can straddle the fence, or how much one can habitually overeat . . . . and still keep the addiction eradicated . . . . that’s what I'm referring to as being the next-to-impossible feat to accomplish.

It can't be done!

I repeat ~ it can't be done.

With repetitive compromises, the addictive cravings are rumbling beneath the surface, and it just takes a tiny spark to ignite them to full strength and power!

For one to be truly free, the pilot light needs to be extinguished and remain that way . . . .for life.

AND to live in denial of food addiction's power is to remain its prisoner, or worse yet, the path right back to captivity.

Choose the easy way and keep the pilot light extinguished at all times.
Quoted from:
http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/inspiration-extinguish-the-pilot-light-part-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DiseaseProof+%28Disease+Proof%29

I agree with this completely. I've had moments when I know clearly that I'm 'cheating'. And I think to myself that I can always quickly go back to my 'abstinence'. No, not true. Once you've received the miraculous help to stay away from your food addictions, you better not go back... in fact, don't even look back, or think about 'back'. Just move forward. One day at a time.

Commitment

My husband is off to another trip (this time to Florida), but guess what?
This time I'm COMMITTED.
Sure I'm still a little nervous and anxious about being without my best friend, but this time I'm not going to "drown" my feelings with food (e.g. nutella, white bread, etc.). I trust in the Lord and know He will help me feel safe, calm, happy, organized, and loved.
I am committed to eating 100% raw while J is away.

I'm so imperfect...

... and that's OK : )
I haven't written in a while, and I feel like there's a lot I want to  share about the lessons I'm learning while doing the 21 day Raw Food Challenge.

Everything was going well. I was eating 100% raw, feeling great, being at peace with myself and being very thankful that Heavenly Father was helping me do what I have tried so many times (on my own) and had never been able to accomplish. For 8 days straight I ate a raw diet, it didn't feel like it was hard at all to choose raw foods, and I wasn't feeling deprived. This is nothing short of a miracle in my life. I felt like Peter - walking on water, doing the impossible.
And then something happened. Like Peter (when he saw Jesus walking on water and then asked Him to bid him to come) I was focused on spiritual things. But then, Peter took his eyes off the Savior. He changed his focus  towards wind, waves, the fact that what he was doing was unprecedent, who knows... and he started to sink.
I somehow took my eyes off of my Savior too and lost the miracle that was happening in my life. I remember thinking: this is pretty impossible! How the heck am I being able to eat only raw?  And see, I am not able to eat only raw, He makes me able to eat only raw.
Also, my husband went on a short trip  and staying at home alone with our two children gives me anxiety. Since I'm an emotional eater I numb my anxiety with food - and cooked food does a much better job at numbing than raw food. I was foolish and thought: I can eat some cooked food and then go straight back to eating all raw. But no, that's not true (for me). I had the Lord's help and I took it lightly. After eating cooked food I wasn't able to go back to 100% raw for several days...

So, lesson #1: recognize that I can't, but He can. And acknowledge His power in all I am able to accomplish/do.
Lesson #2: keep the focus on spiritual things, putting prayer and scripture reading as a priority.
Lesson #3: never "throw" the Savior's help out the window thinking I can easily get it again as soon as I decide to turn to Him again.

I'm learning, we're all learning. And I guess that's how it's supposed to be.

Is there such a thing as "Sugar (or food) Addiction"?

Aaarrrrrrhhhhhhh! I'm kind of upset right now because I see how Satan is so cleverly trying to lead us all into self destruction. He is using all the weapons he can think of - including FOOD! People's health now a days is a mess and most of it can be tracked down to the way they eat (high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, bone problems, even depression and cancer are related to what we eat...). And now Satan is trying to make us believe that there's no such thing as sugar addiction or food addiction, and that it is OK to "indulge" a little in whatever it is that we're craving.

Sure!!! I say. Go ahead and eat those things that you know (in fact, you've proven) will make you feel sick and loose control. (sarcastic tone).
Earlier this week we went to our Church's Trunk or Treat. We took some non-member friends and as I was explaining that I don't eat things that have sugar, one of them said: "No one should abstain completely from something they crave. Otherwise they are just setting themselves up for failure. As long as you eat just a little bit here and a little bit there you'll be OK."
To which I replied (in a very friendly way): "Sugar has a really negative effect on me. It gives me insomnia, makes me feel depressed, gives me stomach aches, and makes me have really negative thoughts about myself. The reason I know I'm addicted to it is because I can't have JUST a little bit here and there. When I have sugar and want more, and more, and I'm not at peace until whatever it is that has sugar is GONE! Sugar is bad for me, and just a little bit of it wouldn't help my life in any way.
It's just like someone who is addicted to alcohol. They can't take not even one ounce of alcohol. They need to stay away from it, period."
Now, this is not why I'm upset (like I wrote in the beginning of this post). I'm upset because I just received a magazine from AFFA (fitness) and on the cover you read: "Are you addicted to sugar?" and I was all excited about reading an article that would expose the dangers of indulging in sugar. But instead they have an article that affirms that scientific research shows that there's no such thing as sugar or food addiction, and that if people are craving chocolate they should go ahead and eat just a little bit.

PEOPLE, if sugar is a poison to you, then even just a little bit will be BAD for you.
Drugs are bad for you and if you crave drugs you still should not take drugs. Pornography is bad for you and even just a little bit will hurt you spiritually (not to mention that it'll hurt those who love you and area close to you).
I've read sooooo many books, blogs, and articles that explain in detail how sugar is an addictive substance, and how it is poisonous. I'm not going to spend the time listing them all here though. I believe that if someone is really interested in learning more about a certain subject, then they should put forth the effort and time themselves in gathering the information they need.
So people (articles, friends, acquaintances, magazines, scientists, etc) don't tell me that there's no such thing as sugar addiction please.
I know I am addicted to sugar, I know I shouldn't partake of it if I want to feel at peace with myself and stay healthy. And I know A LOT OF PEOPLE who are addicted to sugar as well.  Some recognize it, others don't.